If you’re searching for a new office desk, you may come across a desk that moves up and down. But what are they usually called, how do they work, and why is everyone talking about them?
This guide explains everything you need to know about height-adjustable standing desks, the different types available, and some of the top picks for 2024. It’s perfect for anyone curious about this popular trend and how it’s changing our work!
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Top 10 Standing Desks in 2024
Best Overall: Meet&Co SENDI Series B
The Meet&Co SENDI Series B is notable for its impressive work surface, which not only surpasses competitors in appearance but is also thicker. The waved edges and hidden charging outlets for phones and laptops are particularly appealing. Additionally, Meet&Co offers a selection of accessories, including cable-management trays and monitor arms, to enhance your workspace.
This desk is available in various materials, such as white, walnut, black, and dark wood. While the range is not as extensive as some other standing desks, each option is visually appealing. The trapezoidal solid wood legs ensure exceptional stability. This model features a programmable control panel that allows you to set four preset heights, along with a small LCD indicating the current height. This feature, commonly found in many standing desks, is a worthwhile investment.
Best Budget-friendly: Flexispot E5 Pro
The Flexispot E5 Pro is a motorized standing desk with a solid frame, impressive lifting power, and easy-to-use controls. The workspace is spacious enough for monitors, computers, printers, and whatever else you need to get through your day.
Even though it’s a budget-friendly option, the desk’s legs move the desktop up and down quickly and quietly. It’s sturdy, offers much workspace for the price, and has a great height range. It’s a fantastic choice if you need a quality desk but are on a tight budget or want to save money for other things.
The Flexispot E5 Pro offers great value for money. Despite its lower price, it’s still high quality with great materials. Plus, Flexispot backs it with a five-year warranty on the frame and a two-year warranty on the electronics, which is pretty rare for budget desks.
Best L-Shape: Brodan Electric Standing L Desk
The Brodan Electric Standing L Desk is quite spacious. Its L-shaped design makes it easy to fit into a corner but requires a significant amount of room. If you have enough space, this desk is an excellent choice; otherwise, its size may surprise you. It features built-in power outlets on the desktop for convenient device charging, and it’s constructed with high-quality materials that ensure smooth operation.
The L-shape can be configured with the additional piece on either the left or right side of the main desk. The solid wood desktop not only looks good but also adds stability. Thanks to its user-friendly design, users will find it easy to adjust the desk height. The sturdy legs provide excellent support, and the anti-collision sensors enhance safety during height adjustments.
Overall, this desk offers good value. With its durable construction and efficient motors, it stands out as a reliable option. At the same time, we would appreciate better cable management solutions that don’t detract from our recommendation of this desk as a strong choice.
Best for Gamers: SecretLab Magnus Pro XL
The Magnus Pro XL features a distinctly industrial design that caters to gamers. At 70 inches long and primarily constructed from metal, this desk requires more than one person for assembly, but the final result is impressive. It includes a five-setting height adjustment system, and during testing, the motors proved to be the quietest we’ve encountered. The height adjustment is smooth, and despite its substantial weight, it rises quickly and effortlessly.
If you can afford the additional features, consider them. This gaming desk offers excellent cable management with its built-in power supply and a large cable trench at the back. An optional magnetic conduit can help conceal any unsightly cables, and you can connect your gaming tower to the leg, allowing it to move with the desk to prevent cable strain.
The primary drawback is the price, which can reach $1,700 when fully equipped, though opting for fewer extras can lower the cost. If gaming is a significant part of your work and you need a spacious desk, we highly recommend the Magnus Pro XL.
Best for School: Flexispot Q8
If you’re looking for the perfect standing desk for students, it should be spacious, stable, quiet, and have storage space along with wired and wireless charging. The Flexispot Q8, a 55-inch standing desk, fits the bill perfectly.
The Flexispot Q8 is a fantastic and reliable desk. The height adjustment is smooth and operates quietly at just 45 dB. A slim drawer underneath (66.6 x 31 x 5cm) is excellent for storing reports, paperwork, stationery, and even your laptop. Flexispot also offers various desk accessories, like a monitor stand and extra cable management options.
Priced at $700, this desk offers great value. Plus, it’s often on sale, especially during back-to-school season, making it a feature-packed and attractive option for students.
Best for Executive: Meet&Co ASTRA
An executive desk should convey a sense of quality and elegance in the space it occupies. Many desks on the market need more essential components or appear less expensive than their price suggests. However, the ASTRA from Meet&Co stands out. Its attractive design is very sturdy, suggesting durability for years.
The standing function operates effectively, and it is equipped with sensors to prevent the desk from lowering too much. Additionally, it includes a convenient pop-up charging station. The L-shaped design offers ample storage space, and the veneer finish gives the overall style a sophisticated look. If you’re looking for a height-adjustable desk that can enhance the professional atmosphere of an executive office, ASTRA is an excellent choice.
Best for Big and Tall: Herman Miller Renew
The Herman Miller Renew is their premium option, featuring a distinctive combination of Graphite Satin and polished aluminum frames. This unique look isn’t found in any other desks on the list. In this color scheme, both the foot and motor box are polished aluminum, while the vertical frame and integrated cable management are in Graphite Satin.
The Renew offers five surface color options and three finishes. The wood veneer surface has a textured feel, which is the roughest among the desks tested, but it shouldn’t pose any issues when writing on paper.
In terms of stability, the Renew frame remains solid at all sitting heights. Its steel frame is manufactured by OMT and includes the older LogicData compact control box with Ketterer gears and motors. It has a lifting capacity of 200 pounds and can adjust at a rate of 1.5 inches per second under this load. The desk features a distinctive paddle mechanism for height adjustments.
Herman Miller provides a 30-day return policy for the Renew desks, which differs from their policy for ergonomic chairs. There is a 10% restocking fee, capped at $500. While Herman Miller covers return shipping, the original shipping and installation costs are non-refundable. Customers are also advised to keep the original packaging to ensure the desk can be returned in like-new condition.
Best Compact: Branch Duo
The Branch Duo Standing Desk is the brand’s upgraded version, featuring several fantastic improvements from the earlier model. It has a frameless design, which frees up space for an optional desk drawer. Plus, it comes with a new OLED control paddle that nudges you to stand up when it’s time. Branch also offers an optional cable management tray that you can attach to the back, along with a custom power strip that screws on easily.
What really sets the Duo apart is its size options. In addition to the standard 48 x 25-inch model, a compact 36 x 24-inch version is perfect for smaller workspaces or apartments. Branch even includes reusable inserts, making it easy to take apart if you need to move.
Best Storage: Realspace Smart Electric Height-Adjustable Desk
The Realspace Smart Electric Height-Adjustable Desk stands out among the other options for several reasons. It features smart technology that allows control via an app or voice commands through Google Assistant and Alexa. Additionally, it includes spacious drawers for storage and three USB ports on the side for charging devices. The desk comes mostly pre-assembled, requiring just the installation of the legs and keypad, which took about half an hour.
The built-in drawers provide ample space for a laptop and other accessories. However, the design limits the weight capacity to 88 pounds. While this should be sufficient for most users, those planning to use a large gaming PC and multiple monitors might want to consider other options, such as the Meet&Co SENDI Standing Desk.
Best Assembly: Uplift Standing Desk V2
The Uplift Standing Desk V2 was surprisingly easy to install and offers a high level of customization compared to other standing desks. Users can choose from five desk sizes, several frame colors (gray, dark gray, white, or black), and more than two dozen desktop options, including laminate wood and solid wood varieties. Additionally, various accessories are available, such as grommet covers for added storage, power outlets, and more.
Customers can also select from five black keypads and three gray and white options. For added convenience, a wireless foot switch allows users to adjust the desk height with a pedal.
We evaluated the 48 by 30-inch version featuring a white frame and rubberwood desktop, equipped with one cup holder grommet and one power grommet for easy access to two outlets. The paddle keypad allows for straightforward height adjustments. Overall, this desk is sturdy and appears to be built for long-term use.
How to Choose a Desk that Moves Up and Down?
While many standing desks have similar features, several important considerations should be made before making a purchase. I’ll discuss these factors in more detail below. Choosing the right standing desk for your space and needs from the start is much simpler than buying one randomly, discovering it doesn’t meet your requirements, and having to return it.
Desktop Material
Most standing desks are available in various materials, each with corresponding price points. Laminate surfaces, which consist of a wood veneer over a core, are generally the most affordable. On the other hand, solid-core desks made from woods like oak, maple, or mahogany are more expensive. Bamboo desks fall in the mid-range, offering a good balance between cost and durability.
Stability
As you raise a standing desk to its maximum height, the risk of wobbling or tipping increases, particularly if it holds heavy items. If possible, it’s advisable to test a standing desk in person by elevating it to its highest position and gently rocking it to assess its stability.
Height Adjustability
This refers to the adjustable height range of a standing desk. Most desks can be adjusted between 25 inches and 50 inches. Higher-quality desks offer a slightly broader range, though the difference is usually just a few inches on either side.
Weight Capacity
If you intend to use your standing desk for more than just holding your computer, such as sitting on it, it’s essential to consider its maximum weight capacity. Less expensive, smaller desks typically support less weight compared to more costly models.
Easy Installation
Putting together a standing desk is pretty straightforward – all you need is a screwdriver and a bit of patience. Every model I’ve tried came with the necessary screws, Allen wrenches, and easy-to-follow instructions. That said, some desks are simpler to assemble than others, and for those with larger tops, you’ll probably need an extra pair of hands, especially when it comes to flipping them over.
Motorized or Not
How much effort are you willing to invest in adjusting your standing desk? Most standing desks are motorized, allowing you to change the height with just a button. A manual standing desk might be a good option if you’re looking to save some money and don’t plan on moving the desk around often. These typically feature a hand crank for adjustments, which doesn’t require excessive strength, but you will need to put in some effort. There are also pneumatic standing desks, which you can adjust simply by lifting or lowering the desktop. They tend to be a bit pricier, but many find them worthwhile for their convenience over time.
Customizable Options
In addition to surface size and material, reputable standing desk companies often provide various customization options. These can include accessories like cable management trays—an essential addition for any standing desk—different control mechanisms for adjusting height, various leg styles, frame designs, and more.
About Meet&Co
In a nutshell, desks that move up and down are often called height-adjustable standing desks. They’re super helpful for today’s office workers, and there are tons of stylish options.
If you’re looking for high-quality, affordable, adjustable standing desks, Meet&Co Office Furniture is the place to check out. No matter what you’re aiming for with your new desk, they’ve got you sorted!
