When testing out the best standing desks, I'm looking for several core features: good height range, stability, quiet operation, programmable control panel, and ideally extras like cable management and USB and wireless charging.
After reviewing over 40 different models in real-world settings, these are the ones I rate, with a full range of height adjustable sit-stand desks for boosting your productivity.
The FlexiSpot E7 is the best standing desk overall - for me, this one balances near-perfect build quality and operation at a reasonable price. Since it's pretty quiet, too, it's ideal for shared workspaces as well as home offices. But I've included plenty of alternatives for businesses, gamers, and anyone on a budget who wants a cheap standing-up desk.
For more office essentials, I've also rounded up the best office desks and best office chairs based on over fifty in-depth reviews.
The quick list
The best standing desk overall
The FlexiSpot E7 is our top pick for anyone who wants a stable, height-adjustable standing up desk. Operation is smooth and quiet, and we found it perfect for offices and home offices.
The best standing desk on a budget
We’ve had some great experiences with Fezibo desks, and this is one of the cheapest around. Has all the key features I’d look for in a sit-stand desk, without breaking the bank.
The best standing desk for the home office
One of the best standing desks we’ve ever tested, the Branch Duo is beautifully designed, can be accessorized and, impressively, comes with a 10-year warranty.
The best standing desk for gaming
Our top-rated choice for gamers, this desk is specifically designed for gaming set-up and even has optional RGB strip lighting for bringing the right vibes.
The best standing desk for the office
A true standing desk for professionals, the Fully Jarvis from Herman Miller boasts a 15-year warranty and heavyweight 350lb lifting capacity for those loading up the desk with devices.
The best standing desk with drawer
It might not be the only standing desk with drawers here, but this is a relatively inexpensive option that has all the core features most people will need.
See more desks
The best standing desk for small spaces
Unique among our round-up, the Lillipad is an electric standing desk that’s completely foldable for easy storage (and extra portability). A great performer and space-saver.
The best L-shaped standing desk
The FlexiSpot E7L boasts a neat L-shaped design ideal for corners. In use, we found it performed very well in both home and work settings. Great if you've got the space.
The best standing desk for cable management
The Ergonofis Shift is a well-made, well-designed standing desk. The cable management is stellar, and one of our favorites for those looking to keep workspaces tidy.
Best standing desk overall
This has been my top-rated standing desk for some time now, and with good reason. For me, the FlexiSpot E7 electric standing desk ticks just about every box most people need. It’s stable, offers plenty of height adjustment, and it’s reasonably priced - not cheap, not expensive, but pleasantly mid-range.
Like almost all FlexiSpot standing up desks, this one comes in a large range of sizes and colors for different workspaces, with a good selection of tabletops, including your basic chipboard desk, and even a version with drawers. Our home office furniture reviewer Collin Probst tested out the 55in bamboo version with the optional cable management tray and effectively came away feeling it was functional, practical, and difficult to fault.
What I like about the E7 is the four-memory preset control panel that includes a USB charging port. At less than 50dB when rising or lowering, the dual-motors are also quiet in operation, making it suitable for shared office settings.
Read our full FlexiSpot E7 review
Cheapest standing desk
It’s not often I’ll recommend a desk we haven’t fully reviewed, but I’ll make an exception for this height adjustable sit-stand desk from Fezibo. We’ve reviewed a number of other desks and chairs from this budget brand, and for the money, there’s a whole lot to like here.
Coming in at around the $100 / £100 mark (and I frequently see it discounted on Amazon), this standing desk is available in a range of tabletop sizes, from 40in to 60in, and colors, including vintage brown, black walnut, and white. So, there are a lot of options here to find the right style for your workspace.
The desk rises between 28.3 to 46.5in, which is about average in my experience, matching the E7’s noise levels as sub-50dB. Features include anti-collision detection, lockable casters, and two hooks for hanging headphones, bags, and so on.
As a cheap standing desk, what I’d be watching out for here is the materials used in construction. For example, the frame is built from solid steel - stable (at least at lower settings),but also very heavy. Also expect extras like cable management to be missing here.
Best standing desk for the home office
The Branch Duo is easily one of the best standing desks we’ve ever reviewed here - and my only real issue with it is the low availability outside the US. Beyond that, it’s beautifully designed, boasts quiet height adjustment, and an impressive ten-year warranty. Our reviewer, Collin, tested out this one for two months, and was really pleased with its minimalism and the high-quality construction.
What stands out to me here is the discrete control paddle, similar to that on the premium Herman Miller Fully Jarvis, rather than the big, button-filled control panels I’ve seen on other standing desks. Here, you’ll find a small screen and invisible buttons letting you adjust the height between 28 and 47.8in. The downside, however, is the paddle has no USB charging ports,
Alongside a range of sizes and styles, there are a handful of accessories available to accompany the Branch Duo. Our reviewer selected the cable organizer, a basic management solution that sits below and to the rear of the desk, and the desk drawer. This shallow, felt-lined drawer, he found, is ideal for storing your laptop, tablet, and stationery.
Read our full Branch Duo review
Best standing desk for gaming
When it comes to the best standing desk for gamers, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Secretlab Magnus Pro fits the bill. This is an all-black, all-metal desk that comes equipped with a full-length cable management tray and, interestingly, a control panel neatly built into the tabletop itself.
I haven’t seen many all-metal standing desks in my time - but there’s a good reason for Secretlab designing one: it means you can add magnet accessories, including a monitor arm, desk riser, and cable anchors. I also really like the concept of threading the power cables through the frame itself, neatly tucking them away from sight. Everything about this sit-stand desk is thoughtfully designed.
Using this desk for a month, Collin, our resident office furniture expert, called it a “highly flexible workstation because it can do almost anything I need.” Standing at 6’2”, he found the maximum height of 49.2in ideal for taller users compared to other desks.
Downsides are few here - it may be more desk than many need, and it certainly comes with a large price-tag. But for a highly modular and stable standing desk experience, that even includes an optional RGB strip light for gamers, there’s plenty to like.
Read our full Secretlab Magnus Pro review
Best standing desk for the office
When it comes to professional standing desks - the sort built for executives, with a price-tag to match - the Fully Jarvis from Herman Miller is my top pick. One of the top features here is the relatively high 350lb lift capacity, which will be a serious boon for those planning on loading up the tabletop with multiple devices, monitors, and more.
Build quality is excellent, with our reviewer feeling it was solid and stable throughout use. I’m also a fan of that bamboo desktop - it’s not only pleasantly elegant, but the natural, warm coloring gives it an understated style that won't dominate your workspace. Better yet, it only took our reviewer around 15 minutes to assemble this standing up desk.
In use, it’s quiet, operated with a control paddle that simply needs a brush of the finger to begin elevation. In our experience, it's vastly superior to cheaper control panels with physical buttons. You can even upgrade the basic grommet for a powered version, which adds a socket, USB-A, and USB-C ports for charging devices.
Admittedly, it’s an expensive bit of kit, but there’s not much to dislike, and with a 15-year warranty, I’d consider this an investment.
Read our full Herman Miller Fully Jarvis review
Best standing desk with drawer
I’ve included a number of standing desks with drawers in this round-up, but if you’re just looking for a standard model that won’t break the bank, then my go-to choice would be the FlexiSpot EG8 Comhar (confusingly, it’s also known as both the Comhar and the EW8 Comhar, too).
Our reviewer, Anthony, found it is more than spacious enough to hold a laptop, notebook, and other accessories, though not especially deep (it couldn’t hold a mouse, for example). In my experience, most standing desk drawers are pretty shallow, but considering the price, it’s a fair trade-off for much-needed extra storage. During testing, he found it comfortable to use and easy to type on, with no problems when it came to stability.
As with most FlexiSpot standing desks, it’s available in a range of sizes and styles. Elsewhere, the desk features a built-in control panel with four memory presets, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port, with enough power to charge small devices like phones, but not your laptop. At 110lb, weight capacity isn’t the highest but should be more than enough to hold devices and monitors without preventing elevation.
Read our full FlexiSpot Comhar review
Best standing desk for small spaces
Almost all standing desks we’ve reviewed are available in a range of sizes, typically spanning between 40in and 55in, so finding one suitable for smaller spaces isn’t usually too tricky. If you’re really short on space, though, the Lillipad Pro foldable electric standing desk is an attractive option.
This is one of the most unique sit-stand desks I’ve ever seen, a standing desk on wheels with the ability to collapse flat, making it easy to store and as portable as these can get. During his two months using this model, our office furniture expert Collin discovered a real love for the desk’s versatility, letting him easily create a temporary workstation area whenever and wherever he needed it.
Specs-wise, the height adjustable range runs between 6 and 48in for the larger model (and 42in for the smaller one), with a relatively low 75lb lifting capacity. Underneath, there’s even a cable net for stashing the power cable when not in use, while a power supply unit serves up three mains sockets, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C port.
While there is space for Lillipad’s monitor arm, I would’ve liked a VESA bracket for mounting monitors (but that would impact the otherwise cunning design of the desk). The real issue for me here is the lack of shipping outside the US. For a UK alternative, check out our Back in Action single column standing desk review - it’s not foldable, but it’s still a space-saver.
Read our full Lillipad Pro review
Best L-shaped standing desk
If you’ve the space for it, the FlexiSpot E7L Pro is a great L-shaped standing desk for corners. It’s a spin on the classic E7 desk, which we proceeded to test in both the home office and in a classroom. It shone in both.
Our reviewer, Collin, found it stable in use, durable under hand, and quiet in operation. In fact, he found it even more stable than either the E7 or the E7 Pro, and on par with the E7 Plus. All core features I’d look for are present here, with a USB-A port for charging devices, child lock, anti-collision detection, and an easy-to-use control panel with four memory presets.
Assembly was very easy, with the tabletop coming in two sections - the main tabletop and a shorter section that can be attached on either the left or right side to suit your workspace. You'll also find a cable management tray in the box, although it's relatively small for a desk designed for use with a lot of devices (perhaps I'm being picky here, though).
What really impressed us during tests was just how smooth the elevation was. That’s because the E7L Pro boasts three motors, and we experienced no stuttering or uneven lifts at all.
Read our full FlexiSpot E7L Pro review
Best standing desk for cable management
While I’ve included several standing desks with cable management solutions in this round-up, the Ergonofis Shift features our favorite take on this. There are two parts to this, with netting for storing cables and a privacy screen / cable management solution that boasts an integrated power strip.
Our expert reviewer, Collin, came away feeling that with the power brick integrated into the cable management solution, most people can avoid an additional PSU in their set-up. Very neat and tidy.
It wasn’t the easiest or quickest to assemble, but overall design and construction quality is great, and I’m a big fan of the anti-fingerprint matte surface found on the tabletop. Beyond the cable management, the desk isn’t loaded with features - although a monitor arm and desk shelf are available separately. However, there is a four memory preset control panel. The desk can rise between 24.5 and 50.2in - one of the tallest standing desks we’ve ever reviewed - with a 300lb maximum lifting capacity.
Read our full Ergonofis Shift review
Best standing desks compared
Model | Price (RRP) | Height range | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
$500 / £460 | 22.8 - 48.4in / 58 - 123cm | 15 years | |
Fezibo electric standing desk | $100 / £100 | 28.3 - 46.5in / 72 - 118cm | 5 years |
$649 | 28 - 47.3in / 71 - 120cm | 10 years | |
$878 / £798 | 25.6 - 49.2in / 65 - 125cm | 5 years | |
$795 / £760 | 22.9 - 51in / 58.2 - 129.5cm | 15 years | |
$400 / £300 | 28.3 - 47.6in / 72 - 121cm | 5 years | |
$949 | 6 - 48in / 15 - 122cm | 5 years | |
$700 / £600 | 25 - 50in / 63.5 - 128.5cm | 15 years | |
$945 | 24.5 - 50.2in / 62.23 - 127.51cm | 10 years |
Standing desk terms you need to know before you buy
Complete your setup with these accessories - all tested, reviewed, and rated by us.
> Best standing desk converters
> Best under-desk treadmills
> Best monitor stands
> Best laptop stands
Height range
This is the adjustable height that a desk spans. Typically, this is from around 28in to 48in, which makes the range suitable for most users. For those standing at 5'5”, set the height for around 39 inches. For users 6’ tall, 44 inches will be the approximate height for comfort.
Cable management
Not every standing desk has cable management storage solutions, but as with traditional office desks, some include desk grommets, letting you thread cables through the tabletop, while others have under-desk trays for storing power bricks and computer cables.
Memory preset
Most desks with a full control panel feature a three- or four-memory preset. This lets you store specific heights for standing and sitting. So, at the push of a button, the desk will automatically elevate or descend to this height without further user input.
Weight limit
The weight limit, sometimes called the load or lifting capacity, is the maximum a standing desk can carry while remaining operational. If you’re planning on loading up the tabletop with multiple monitors, laptops, and computers, then choose a higher weight limit. In general, I see lifting capacities of around 250 - 350lb, but there are plenty of exceptions.
Anti-collision detection
A feature you’ll find on just about all the best standing desks, this technology detects objects or people obstructing descent, and will automatically stop lowering to prevent crushing them.
Motors
While you can get manual (or hand-cranked) height-adjustable desks, electric models use motors. What you want to check for is how many your chosen desk has. The more motors, the faster and smoother the movement will be. Most standing desks have a dual-motor design. However, cheaper units often have a single motor, while larger models, like L-shaped standing desks, will have three.
Best standing desks: Frequently asked questions
Are standing desks good for you and are they worth it?
TechRadar's Senior Fitness & Wearables Writer, Stephen Warwick, explains how to enjoy the benefits of a standing desk.
“The trick is to balance both sitting and standing. It’s best not to stay in one position for too long. After all, if you stay seated for too long, it carries risks of CVD such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. So, make sure you move often during your work day. For anyone using a standing desk for two or more hours, I’d recommend getting an under-desk treadmill, so you can continue staying active throughout the day. Extra support for health and mobility may also help improve your workplace routine, like ergonomic office chairs, smartwatches with movement reminders, and the best fitness trackers.”
Stephen Warwick is TechRadar's Fitness & Wearables writer with nearly a decade of experience covering technology, including five years as the News Editor of iMore. He's a keen fitness enthusiast and is never far from the local gym, Apple Watch at the ready, to record his latest workout.
How high should a standing desk be?
The best height for a standing desk depends on your own height and stance. When using a sit-stand desk in the elevated position, your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle, with arms and wrists flat and resting comfortably on the desk. In this position, you should be able to stand upright without hunching over.
If you’re around 5’5”, your standing desk should be set to around 39 inches.
If you’re around 6’, the desk should be elevated to 44 inches.
For the best fit, measure the length from your feet to the crook of your elbow - this will show you the best standing desk height for maximum comfort and ergonomics.
What are the different types of standings desks?
Fixed or non-adjustable standing desks come at a predetermined height and don’t have the option to revert to a traditional desk for sitting down.
Electric standing desks, like the ones above, are very simple to operate with the option to alter between a standard seated desk and one for standing - all at the push of a button.
Mechanical standing desks function the same as their electric counterparts, but will need to be manually cranked to reach your desired height.
Pneumatic standing desks use gas-powered canisters to allow for rising and lowering the desk, similar to those often found in height-adjustable office chairs.
Exercise desks are a niche range of office furniture that let you workout while you work - for example, including a treadmill or bike attached to the desk area.
Desk converters or risers are a separate device that can be placed on top of a standard desk, letting you put your monitor and peripherals at eye-level when standing.
How do you reset a standing desk?
Sometimes, you may see an error code while using your standing desk that requires a reset. We’ve come across this a few times when reviewing some models. Often, it’s because the standing desk has been used or ‘overworked’ too much in a short space of time, and the 'error' is to protect the unit.
For example, in our FlexiSpot E9 review, we received the error code E01 - this is the desk's overcurrent protection, which lets the unit operate for 2 minutes, but requires an 18-minute rest after this. In most cases, simply unplugging the desk from the mains and waiting a few minutes will fix the problem (yes, it’s a case of “Have you tried turning it off and on again?”).
How long will a standing desk last?
The longevity of a standing desk depends on the materials and quality used to construct it. Generally speaking, a good-quality option should last between five and ten years with regular use. The lifespan may be extended significantly if a higher grade of material is used, such as maple or oak, instead of particleboard.
Based on the warranties most commonly offered by standing desk manufacturers, I'd expect a standing-up desk to last between five and fifteen years of regular use. With regular care and maintenance, a good quality choice should provide many years of service before needing to be replaced.
How we test the best standing desks
My team of expert reviewers have tested and reviewed a wide range of office and home office furniture. When it comes to standing desks, we prioritize real-world settings and tests - in home offices, businesses, and classrooms - where these desks will actually be used. Each desk is used by the team for a minimum of a week (but usually, a month or more).
These are the four key areas we review…
Assembly
We look at how easy each desk is to put together, clarity of instructions, and whether all necessary components and tools are included in the box. Some sit-stand desks can be assembled in under 15 minutes, others we’ve tried can take double or triple that time.
Size & style
We assess the overall design and build quality of all stand-up desks, including materials used for the frame and desk. As part of this, we’ll look at the tabletop sizes available, as well as the overall height adjustment range and stability in use.
Features
We’ll test out all features available. This includes anti-collision detection, USB and wireless charging, cable management, and storage. We want to know how well they work and where there’s room for improvement.
Operation
No standing desk review would be complete with a full evaluation of how the desk operates under real=world conditions. As part of this, we explore the speed and smoothness of rising and lowering the desk, alongside the noise levels in use.
For more about our test and review process in our guide How we test standing desks.
