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The 8 Best Standing Desks In 2025, Tested In Our Home Offices
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We tested the best standing desks and standing desk converters in real-life conditions (aka our own home offices) to see how they hold up to daily use.Jaclyn Turner; Alex Temblador/Business Insider
The best standing desks allow for seamless transitioning between sitting and standing throughout the work day as a way to encourage healthy routines and even boost productivity. Not only have adjustable height desks taken over our home offices and many corporate workspaces, experts say standing throughout the work day reduces sedentary behavior, even easing aches and pains. However, recent research shows that it's about finding a happy medium between sitting and standing, not just standing for long periods of time, which can lead to circulation issues.
Our team tested dozens of standing desks and converters and considered factors like height range, noise and speed, desktop size, and design customizations. Our best overall pick is the Uplift V2 Standing Desk; its various heights, vast customizations, and add-ons make it a great well-rounded desk for multipurpose use. If you are looking for an option that won't break the bank, the Flexispot E2 Essential Standing Desk is our top budget pick. It has far fewer customizations and about half the lifting capacity, but offers four memory pre-sets and operates smoothly and quietly.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests home products.
Our picks of the best standing desks
Best overall: Uplift V2 Standing Desk - See at Uplift
Best budget: Flexispot E2 Standing Desk - See at Amazon
Best for cable management: Secretlab Magnus Pro - See at Secretlab
Best heavy duty: Flexispot E7 Pro Standing Desk - See at Flexispot
Best for small spaces: Branch Duo Standing Desk - See at Amazon
Best with drawer: Burrow Copilot Standing Desk - See at Burrow
Best converter: Vivo K Series - See at Amazon
Best for tall people: Autonomous SmartDesk 2 - See at Autonomous
Best overall
The Uplift V2 Standing Desk is easy to use and highly customizable, making it the best standing desk you can buy. With various options available, from desktop material to frame type and keypad functionality, most people will be able to find the size, look, and functionality they need. If you're overwhelmed with options, Uplift offers a few pre-configured options.
Tester Jamie Davis Smith said, "I feel like they anticipated my every need. The Uplift looks great, has every accessory I could want to maximize space and boost productivity, and I can move the accessories around to meet my needs."
The Uplift is fairly easy to assemble, taking about an hour and a half. This isn't necessarily a short amount of time, but the process went smoothly thanks to pre-drilled mounting points and the inclusion of all the necessary tools. We did run into a hiccup, however, when trying to add an optional drawer accessory that required the use of a drill.
The Uplift Standing Desk is the best standing desk you can buy: it's sturdy, customizable, and encourages productive behavior.Jamie Davis Smith/Business Insider
The advanced keypad displays the table's exact height and has program presets for sitting and standing. An optional Bluetooth adapter lets you control the desk with your phone, track sitting and standing time, and set reminders to stand. Adjusting positions is swift and easy; the motor is overall pretty quiet, and didn't disrupt during video meetings. At raised heights, it didn't wobble and felt stable; it has the ability to support and lift over 300 pounds.
Senior reporter James Brains has also been using a Uplift desk since 2018, a testament to its durability. "With my normal usage, it never seemed to strain. There was no wobbling either, I never had any concern that it might fall over," he said.
Since adding the Uplift to her workflow, Davis Smith has added a second monitor and a walking pad to her setup. "I've been more productive and feel healthier since using the Uplift. I can't imagine ever going back. My husband is thinking of ditching his desk to get an Uplift, too."
Read our full Uplift Standing Desk review.
Best budget
There's no way around the fact that standing desks are more expensive than traditional desks, but FlexiSpot's budget-friendly offering comes in at around $200, which is about as low as you'll find for a motorized standing desk that is still spacious and sturdy. Flexispot makes a confusing and dizzying array of models, but the E2 is its least expensive option. The E2 Pro is the exact same desk but with a slightly more robust control panel that has USB ports and can be programmed for four presets. The difference between the models is $50. On Flexispot's website, you can customize the desk with a range of desktop materials and accessories, but if you suffer from decision fatigue, you can just buy the whole thing pre-configured on Amazon.
We tested the Pro version of the E2 and found the overall desk quality comparable to some of the more expensive models we've tested. The desktop has enough space for two monitors and other items like supplies. With a simple two-button push system, it lifts to your desired height at a smooth and quiet rate of one inch per second. Importantly, it doesn't look cheap, which is an issue we've seen with other budget-standing desks.
At about $200, the Flexispot Standing Desk provides great function at a lower price point.Kelly Burch/Business Insider
The biggest drawback of the desk is that the assembly instructions aren't clear and some parts don't fit together as well as they should. Fortunately, assembly is usually a one-time task; since putting all the pieces together, our desk has run smoothly, quietly, and without issue.
Read our full Flexispot standing desk review.
Best for cable management
The Secretlab Magnus Pro is a desk designed for gamers, but you don't need to be one to love it. It offers tons of customization options to make your perfect desk setup. The metal desktop comes in two spacious sizes, with over a dozen different leather Magpad Desk Mats to choose from. These magnetic leatherwork surfaces sturdily roll out over the metal surface to provide a matte, non-skid workspace that didn't budge during hours of testing. From there, you can add accessories like cable management sheaths, monitor arms, RGB lighting, and PC mounts.
The Magnus Pro has incredibly thoughtful cable management and supportive add-ons, making it a great choice for gamers, streamers, and anyone using multiple monitors and accessories.Sarah Saril/Business Insider
Though its smooth motor, stable desktop, and vast customization options are huge selling points for the Magnus Pro, where this desk shines is its cable management. Pesky cables are the OCD standing desk user's worst enemy, and this desk tames them with a hidden channel at the back of the tabletop for extension cords, chargers, and power cables. The desk itself acts as a power hub of sorts by plugging into your power socket from the leg's base, then rerouting power to an outlet at the top of the desk for you to plug all of your electronics into. It means that all of your cords are connected to the top of the desk, so when you raise or lower it, nothing gets tugged or tangled with the movement.
During testing, I found this to be a flawless solution in motion. After days of usage, I was blown away by how freely I could move my desk without fretting about yanked cables. Really, the Magnus Pro is everything it promises to be: a stable base with unrivaled cable management and premium add-ons that just make it better.
Rather than suffering from typical standing desk fallbacks, the Magnus Pro's main setback is just how difficult it is to assemble. Like Ikea furniture on hard mode, this desk arrives in pieces, all of them flat-packed in separate boxes. Though the instructions are detailed, putting it together is a real project that involves a fair amount of crawling around and heavy lifting. It's an incredible desk that I highly recommend to everyone, but you need to be ready for some difficult assembly. — Sarah Saril, deals editor
Read our full Secretlab Magnus Pro Standing Desk review.
Best heavy duty
In terms of crowning a best overall, it was a toss-up between the Uplift and Flexispot's E7 Pro.
Uplift had a slight edge in terms of total customization and ease of installation. However, Flexispot is remarkably budget-friendly, and its pro model can lift upward of 440 pounds. This makes it ideal for people with heavy gear to load up the desk and provides added peace of mind if leaning on the table with body weight.
"I couldn't believe how well it did during the weight testing process — lifting and lowering my entire body with ease," said tester Alex Temblador.
The Flexispot is another heavily customizable option available in multiple sizes and desktops, including chipboard, wood, bamboo, or as a frame-only option. Of the control panel, Temblador liked that it was easy to program the standing and sitting heights with four presets and a digital height display. Push one button and watch it reach your desired height in less than 8 seconds, moving an inch in less than two seconds. "I liked that the control panel had a USB port, as it made charging my phone while I worked much easier."
With a maximum standing height of 50.6 inches and a minimum height of 25 inches, it's well-suited to people of varying heights. The C-Frame has a solid carbon steel base that provides stability and a three-stage lift system. It also comes with an extended cord management tray. However, it's not as quiet as some of the other models we tested, hitting about 61 decibels, but not disruptive either.
Assembly can be a little difficult with the instruction manual and tools provided, but it's hard to beat the price of this standing desk, especially when you compare it to others on the market.
Read our full Flexispot E7 Pro Standing Desk review.
Best for small spaces
Our search for a compact desk led us to the Branch Duo Standing Desk, an easy-to-use option that moves seamlessly and quietly to reach your desired height. It's available in three different sizes: 36 x 24 inches, 48 x 24 inches, or 58 x 27 inches, but the smallest option is sized well to fit into a tiny office or apartment.
It's customizable with three different leg options and five different tabletops, so there's bound to be an option that will fit in with your decor. You can choose to make the desk monochromatic or add a wood tone to the top. This desk also comes with multiple add-ons, including a front drawer for extra storage and cable management.
Rebecca Shinners/Business Insider
Our tester Rebecca Shinners lives in a studio and appreciates the desk's sleek, modern design with rounded edges and that the control panel isn't overly technical-looking. Yet, it wasn't super intuitive from the get-go. To raise the desk to your desired height, you hold the control panel up or down, but programming took getting used too. It moves quickly and smoothly and is stable at all heights, supporting up to 275 pounds of weight. Plus, you can set it with two presets, one for sitting and one for standing. There's also an option to set a reminder to stand up to add more movement to your day.
Shinners noted that at 5 feet tall, the desk worked well for petite heights, but its 20-inch range of movement (from 27.8 to 47 inches) makes it a good option for users up to six-foot-one. It ships in two boxes and was mostly straightforward to set up, but some of the wiring was tricky to secure into place and required two people.
For something even smaller, we've previously recommended and reviewed the Ergotron Mobile Desk, a portable 24 by 22 inch worktop on wheels with a manual lift design that is appropriate for laptop work.
Read our full Branch Duo Standing Desk review.
Best with drawer
Burrow is perhaps most notably known for its modular and easy-to-assemble sofas. The brand ventured into the home office category with the Copilot Standing Desk, which was designed following feedback from a customer survey about the ideal aesthetics, interior storage, and cord management needs for a standing desk. As a result, the Burrow Copilot Standing Desk features a stylish hardwood tabletop (available in oak or walnut), adjustable and stable steel legs, and, most notably, a built-in drawer with a luxe soft-close mechanism and amply sized to hide away a 17" laptop, extra papers, or small office supplies.
Beyond being incredibly functional, the Copilot caters to my need for something beautiful too. Very few standing desk brands offer any sort of built-in storage, let alone one that blends into a home office setting. Other design considerations include a hidden monitor mount and a cord organization compartment.
The Burrow Copilot standing desk, with its mid-century modern inspired design, has a built in drawer and ample cord management space to minimize clutter.Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
The desk incrementally adjusts from 28.5" to 48" inches. The control panel displays the exact height and has buttons to program three pre-set options. It is situated on the right side, which is convenient for right-hand users, but perhaps less so for lefties. When I'm ready to shift between sitting and standing, the desk smoothly lifts with a low hum to my desired height. I'm comfortable leaning into the desk with my weight at taller heights, but it may wobble if you try to force it.
The Burrow Copilot desk shipped in two packages and included all the necessary tools and instructions for assembly. With the help of another person, I attached the legs, added the motor components, and flipped it right side up, which took me about 40 minutes.
Burrow also sent me a power block that tucks into the cord storage compartment to limit the number of wires I had stemming from the desk, but I found its boxy design kept my laptop brick charger from letting the lid sit flush. I had better luck turning a traditional surge protector on its side. — Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor
Best converter
If you already have a desk that you like, a standing desk converter gives you the option to adjust your workspace to a height of your liking without buying a whole new desk. The Vivo K Series is the best overall pick from our guide to the best standing desk converter and offers a full range of customization both in height and width. This model is available in six different widths, from 26 to 42 inches. Our tester used the 32-inch version, which boasted plenty of space for a laptop and an additional monitor.
Unlike other converters, the Vivo K Series has an x-shaped frame (similar to an ironing board), so the height adjustment goes straight up and down. This is ideal for small desks and workspaces. Our tester noted that the converter fit on her own desk with a width of only 16 inches and that it was easy to tuck away when she wanted a more traditional workspace.
The Vivo K Series was the best overall pick in our guide to the best standing desk converters.Kelly Burch/Business Insider
This converter was comfortable to use and visually pleasing, with rounded edges and a curved keyboard level. You can choose from six color options to match your workspace.
The only issue we faced was with the assembly. This small converter took around 15 minutes to assemble, and though the process was intuitive, the instructions were not entirely clear.
Best for tall people
If you're under 6'7", the other picks in this guide should accommodate you just fine, but if you're any taller, you may want to consider the Autonomous SmartDesk 2, which adjusts to 52 inches for people up to 7'1" tall. It also has the fastest height adjustment speed we tested, at 2.3 inches per second, and the lowest noise at 45 decibels. In comparison, our top pick, the Uplift, moves at 2 inches per second, with a noise level of 48 decibels.
Former reporter Jada Wong tested this desk over six months, adjusting the height several times a day, and never worried that monitors would fall off (though they wobbled at the highest height). The frame is sturdy, and the XL table length comfortably accommodates two 32-inch monitors and two office chairs. However, it's not as customizable as the Uplift. Customizations include a selection of two top lengths, five top materials, and three frame colors.
The Autonomous SmartDesk Pro has an incredible adjustment range that makes it a good fit for people of all heights.Jada Wong/Business Insider
Each Autonomous standing desk comes with one or two grommets (holes for passing cables through) for a standard or XL top. There's a programmable control panel to adjust preset heights for different users easily. There are other add-on accessories that cost more, including monitor arms and trays.
Setting the desk up took about an hour and a half and required two people. The instructions are clear, but watching a video was easier and more efficient.
What to look for in a standing desk
In addition to desk size and style, consider factors like height variance, noise, speed, and the weight it can support.Jada Wong/Insider
Height range: Finding the best standing desk height for you will take some trial and error, so we prefer models with a large range between minimum and maximum heights. This is especially important if you're sharing the desk with multiple users of different heights. Every pick in our guide will accommodate users up to 6'7", but if you're taller, you may want to consider the Autonomous SmartDesk 2, which will fit users up to 7'1" or a combination of a standing desk with a standing desk converter on top to lengthen the height range.
Maximum weight supported: If your desk is laden with heavy monitors and other equipment, it's important to get a sturdier desk. You'll also want to make sure the desk doesn't feel wobbly or sway when you lean on it with your body weight. The Flexispot E7 Pro has a 440-pound weight limit, but Uplift, Burrow, and Autonomous offer substantial limits of at least 300 pounds, too.
Length and depth: While your desk should comfortably support your laptop and monitor, you must also ensure it fits within your office space. Several of our picks offer customizations for tabletop dimensions.
Electric vs manual: Electric standing desks are faster and sleeker but are much more expensive. Some manual options are laborious to adjust, so it's unlikely you'll want to do so every day.
Noise and speed: If you're working around other people, you want a desk that quickly and quietly adjusts to minimize disturbances. All the desks we recommend fall at or below 50 decibels when adjusting, comparable to the sound of an AC unit running.
How we test standing desks
When testing the best standing desks, we changed from standing to sitting positions throughout the day.Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
Over the past three years, we've tested over two dozen standing desks and converters. Every one of our picks was tested in real-life conditions for several months at a time. Here are the main criteria we use to determine the best standing desks:
Setup: We built each desk ourselves using only the included instructions and timed how long it took us. We considered the clarity of the instructions, whether you needed help to unbox and assemble the desk, and any other hiccups that might come with setup.
Height adjustment: We adjust the desks several times from their minimum to their maximum height, both empty and with 100 pounds of weights or books laid on top, noting how smoothly the desk adjusts and whether the desktop feels sturdy or wobbles. We dial in our own ideal desk height for both sitting and standing and then time how long it takes for the desk to make the adjustment and how loud it is in decibels. During the testing period, we adjust the desk daily in everyday use, changing from standing to sitting positions several times throughout the day.
Customization: If a desk offers the ability to program presets or a schedule, we evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of those features. We also note the available customizations for the desk design, including materials, finishes, sizes, and accessories like cable management, drawers, and monitor arms.
Standing desk FAQs
There are many benefits to owning a standing desk.Jenny McGrath/Business Insider
Why buy a standing desk?
During the workday, you should be doing a mixture of standing, sitting, and moving, if possible, said Alan Hedge, a certified ergonomist and professor emeritus in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University. "Mixing things up reduces any negative effects [of sitting or standing] in terms of musculoskeletal discomfort, your level of alertness, or productivity," Hedge said. Standing desks make it much easier to transition from sitting to standing while still keeping proper posture and ergonomics in mind.
What are the benefits of using a standing desk?
According to experts, using a standing desk can reduce neck and upper back pain, help you burn more calories than sitting, and potentially lower blood sugar levels.
Of course, for a truly healthy work setup, you'll want to invest in one of the best ergonomic chairs to keep your posture in check when seated.
Is standing at your desk healthier than sitting?
A standing desk alone isn't going to improve your occupational health. According to Hedge, people tend to hunch over their standing desks after just 10 minutes. Mix sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day for the biggest impact.
How long should you stand at a standing desk?
Hedge suggests a 20-8-2 pattern based on his research and real-world testing: Sit for 20 minutes, stand for 8, stretch or walk around for 2, and repeat. These numbers aren't absolute, but what's most important is not to stay in one position for too long, Hedge said. We also recommend looking at our guide to the best standing desk mat if you find you regularly fatigue while standing.
What is a good standing desk height?
In general, you know you're at the right standing desk height when your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle and your shoulders feel relaxed when working at the desk. These charts from Uplift, BTOD and Autonomous provide specific settings to try for your height if you need a starting place.
Best overallOf all the standing desks we've tested, we think the Fully Jarvis Standing Desk is best for most people.
Simon Hill/Business Insider
The Fully Jarvis Standing Desk is a great desk with a good height adjustment range, an easy-to-use mechanism, and the ability to accommodate different setups. It's reasonably priced and has a strong warranty.
The Jarvis has excellent stability. I have two 27-inch monitors on dual gas-powered monitor arms attached to my desk. It moves with ease, and I can lean on the desk without fear. There is a wobble at higher levels, and the monitors sway slightly when bumped. The adjustment is quick, but has a high-pitched noise as the motor works. It's not terribly loud, but you won't want to adjust it during a call.
The desktop is available in varying sizes and rectangular or curved options. You can use your own accessories, but Fully has some as well. These options cost extra and some require additional assembly. The most essential is the programmable memory panel, which saves four height presets; a useful add-on if you share a desk. Fully also offers an extended range for an extra $20, enabling the desk to go from 24.5 to 50 inches for shorter and taller heights. The Fully Jarvis is cheaper than most alternatives, even with a couple of custom options and extras.
I've been using the Fully Jarvis for a few years, and the mechanism still works smoothly. I have the older control panel with physical buttons; the newer version is a touch-sensitive OLED, which may not be quite as responsive, according to some reviews. — Simon Hill, contributor
Best budgetAt about $200, the Flexispot Standing Desk provides great function at a lower price point.
Kelly Burch/Business Insider
Flexispot's budget-friendly offering is spacious and sturdy, and assembly shouldn't take any longer than an hour. While it lacks the customizations of the other two true standing desks in our guide, it's more than appropriate for anyone who just wants a straightforward standing desk.
It lifts to your desired height at a smooth and quiet rate of one inch per second with a simple two-button push system. The desktop has enough space for two monitors, plus other items like supplies. And the overall desk quality is great.
The biggest drawback of the desk is that the assembly instructions aren't clear and some parts don't fit together as well as they should. Our advice is to take it slow and enlist a friend to help. Once you get past the assembly process, you'll be able to enjoy the standing desk with little to no problem.
Read our full Flexispot standing desk review.
Best smartThe Autonomous SmartDesk Connect can be set to adjust automatically on a schedule, so you have no excuse not to stand during the day.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
If you're someone who won't work up the motivation to adjust your desk on your own, the Autonomous SmartDesk connects via WiFi to an app on your phone so you can set your desk to adjust on a schedule. I set my desk to adjust to standing for most of my meetings, which I find helps me focus better during them.
The app integration is pretty basic. I set all my schedules manually, but I hope a future update will include integration with Google Calendar so I don't have to add a new event to the app every time there's a new meeting on my calendar. Onboard controls allow you to still raise or lower the desk on demand. The desk moves smoothly and quietly, and as a tall person, I really appreciate the wide adjustment range of 23.6 to 49.2 inches, which gives me plenty of room while both sitting and standing.
Aside from the app integration, the desk itself is very simple and clean in its design. You can choose a range of top and leg colors, but the overall feel is industrial minimalist. The desk is pretty large; the smallest size is about 4.5 feet long. I don't use a monitor or any external accessories, so my desk looks comically bare with just my laptop on it. It was also a beast to put together; it took me about two hours on my own and required a power drill, and I had to consult various assembly videos and online guides to get it right. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor
Best converterThe Vivo K Series was the best overall pick in our guide to the best standing desk converters.
Kelly Burch/Business Insider
If you already have a desk that you like, a standing desk converter gives you the option to adjust your workspace to a height of your liking without buying a whole new desk. The Vivo K Series is the best overall pick from our guide to the best standing desk converter and offers a full range of customization both in height and width. The series has converters in six different widths, from 26 to 42 inches. Our tester used the 32-inch model, which boasted plenty of space for a laptop and an additional monitor.
Additionally, the series offers customization vertically. Unlike other converters, the Vivo K Series has an x-shaped frame (similar to an ironing board), so the height adjustment goes straight up and down. This is ideal for small desks and workspaces. Our tester noted that the converter fit on her own desk with a width of only 16 inches and that it was easy to tuck away when she wanted a more traditional workspace.
Further options for the Vivo K Series include six color options to match your workspace. This converter was comfortable to use and visually pleasing, with rounded edges and a curved keyboard level.
The only issue our tester faced was in the assembly. She noted that it took around 15 minutes, including tool gathering time. Though the process was intuitive, the instructions were not entirely clear. —Eli Long, contributor
Best for small spacesThe Ergotron Mobile Desk has wheels and a slim profile, making it a great option for small spaces that don't have room for a dedicated workspace.
Su-Jit Lin/Business Insider
Ergotron's Mobile Desk is perfect for people who like to work from various areas in their homes or live in small spaces that don't have room for a large, static desk. The wheels on this desk make transitioning from working in your kitchen to your bedroom a breeze. Our reporter loved the portability of this desk and how easy the wheels were to move across floors and even carpets. The Scandinavian design and simple finishes make this desk blend seamlessly into your home.
Putting this desk together took roughly three minutes — about a minute per part. The assembly didn't require any additional tools; you only had to snap each part in place. At its lowest setting, the desk was fully functional at the average couch height. In the 45" setting, some taller individuals may find it too short for comfort.
This small desk is best suited for laptop users who don't need additional monitors and keyboards. We also thought the included cup holder was an unnecessary use of a small space and didn't fit many cup sizes.
Read our full Ergotron Mobile Desk review.
Best for cable managementThe Magnus Pro has incredibly thoughtful cable management and supportive add-ons, making it a great choice for gamers, streamers, and anyone using multiple monitors and accessories.
Sarah Saril/Business Insider
The Secretlab Magnus Pro is a desk designed for gamers, but you don't need to be one to love it. Packed with features, it offers tons of customization options so you can make your setup perfect. The metal desktop comes in two spacious sizes, with over a dozen different leather Magpad Desk Mats to choose from. These magnetic leatherwork surfaces sturdily roll out over the metal surface to provide a matte, non-skid workspace that didn't budge during hours of testing. From there, you can add additional accessories like cable management sheaths, monitor arms, RGB lighting, and PC mounts.
Though its smooth motor, stable desktop, and vast customization options are huge selling points for the Magnus Pro, where this desk shines is its cable management. Pesky cables are the standing desk user's worst enemy, and this desk tames them with a hidden channel at the back of the tabletop for extension cords, chargers, and power cables. The desk itself acts as a power hub of sorts by plugging into your power socket from the leg's base, then rerouting power to an outlet at the top of the desk for you to plug all of your electronics into. It means that all of your cords are connected to the top of the desk, so when you raise or lower it, nothing gets tugged or tangled with the movement.
During testing, I found this to be a flawless solution in motion. After days of usage, I was blown away by how freely I could move my desk without fretting about yanked cables. Really, the Magnus Pro is everything it promises to be: a stable base with unrivaled cable management and premium add-ons that just make it better.
Rather than suffering from typical standing desk fallbacks, the Magnus Pro's main setback is just how difficult it is to assemble. Like Ikea furniture on hard mode, this desk arrives in pieces, all of them flat-packed in separate boxes. Though the instructions are detailed, it's a real project to put together that involves a fair amount of crawling around and heavy lifting. It's an incredible desk that I highly recommend to everyone, but you need to be ready for some difficult assembly. —Sarah Saril, associate editor
Best for tall peopleThe Autonomous SmartDesk Pro has an incredible adjustment range that makes it a good fit for people of all heights.
Jada Wong/Business Insider
The Autonomous SmartDesk Pro has the fastest height adjustment speed, at 2.3 inches per second, and the lowest noise at 45 decibels. In comparison, our top pick, the Fully Jarvis, moves at 1.3 inches per second, with a noise level of 50 decibels. These factors are important if you adjust often.
The frame is sturdy, and the XL table length can accommodate two 32-inch monitors and two office chairs comfortably. It's not as customizable as the Fully. There are seven top-and-frame combinations. Further customization includes a selection of two top lengths, five top materials, and three frame colors.
Each Autonomous standing desk comes with one or two grommets (holes for passing cables through) for a standard or XL top. There's a programmable control panel to adjust preset heights for different users easily. You can adjust using the up and down arrows. The panel comes with the base price, which other brands charge extra for. There are other add-on accessories that cost more, including monitor arms and trays.
Setup took about an hour and a half and required two people. The instructions are clear, but watching a video was easier and more efficient. Testing this over six months and adjusting the height several times a day, I never worried my monitors would fall off, though they wobbled at the highest height. That's on par with the other standing desks in our guide, though. — Jada Wong, contributor
What to look for in a standing desk
Height range: Consider your own height and the measurements of the chair you typically sit in when deciding on a standing desk. Most sit-stand desks have a range that fits many heights. Some go as low as 23.6 inches or as high as over 50 inches (which should accommodate users up to 6'8"). Pricier desks will let you adjust fairly precisely to about 0.1 inches. If you're using a standing desk converter, make sure to factor in the height of the table you'll be using it on.
Maximum weight supported: If your desk is laden with heavy monitors and other equipment, it's important to get a sturdier desk. Our top pick, the Fully Jarvis, has a 350-pound weight limit.
Length and depth: While your desk should comfortably support your laptop and monitor, you also need to ensure it fits within your office space. Several of our picks offer a few choices for tabletop dimensions.
Electric vs manual: Electric standing desks are faster and sleeker but are much more expensive. Some manual options are laborious to adjust, so it's unlikely you'll want to do so every day.
Noise and speed: If you're working around other people, you want a desk that quietly adjusts. Motorized desks offer decibel ratings as part of their specs so you know what to expect. For those who frequently change from sitting to standing, a quicker adjustment is a good feature to look for.
How we test standing desksWhen testing the best standing desks, we changed from standing to sitting positions throughout the day.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
There are a lot of things to consider when looking for the best standing desks. We tested each standing desk in everyday use, changing from standing to sitting positions several times throughout the day.
Here are the main criteria we consider for the best standing desks:
Height adjustment: We're interested in the full range of height adjustment for each standing desk, how well the mechanism works to raise and lower, how quickly and easily you can adjust it, and how noisy it is. A good standing desk will offer presets for different heights and an easy mechanism for adjustment.
Customization: Any piece of furniture must fit in with its environment, so the materials and desktop finishes are important. It's also important to look at how big each standing desk is in terms of the overall footprint and the available desktop space. We also consider the availability of customization options and add-ons, like cable management, drawers, and monitor arms.
Stability and durability: A wobbly desk can be very distracting, and stability is often a problem when standing desks are adjusted to their height limits. We look at how the desk copes with bumps or being leaned upon and how being fully loaded impacts stability. Other important factors include the weight limit and the return policy.
Setup: Some assembly is usually required, but you don't want to spend all day building your standing desk. We look at how quickly you can have it set up out of the box, if you need help to build it, and whether there are any potential issues with setup.
Standing desk FAQsThere are many benefits to owning a standing desk.
Jenny McGrath/Business Insider
What are the benefits of owning a standing desk?
Benefits of using a standing desk include reduced neck and upper back pain, burning more calories than sitting, and potentially lowering blood sugar levels, according to experts.
Is standing at your desk healthier than sitting?
A standing desk alone isn't going to improve your occupational health. According to ergonomist Alan Hedge at Cornell University, people tend to hunch over their standing desks after just 10 minutes. For the biggest impact, mix sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day.
How long should you stand at a standing desk?
Hedge suggests a 20-8-2 pattern based on his research and real-world testing: Sit for 20 minutes, stand for 8, stretch or walk around for 2, and repeat. These numbers aren't absolute, but what's most important is not to stay in one position for too long, Hedge said.
What is a good standing desk height?
In general, you know you're at the right standing desk height when your elbows are bent at a 90-degree angle and your shoulders feel relaxed when working at the desk. These charts from BTOD and Autonomous provide specific settings to try for your height if you need a starting place.
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