Over the course of the last twelve months, I have had the opportunity to review over 20 electric standing desks. These desks are what I have deemed to be the most popular options available during this time period. While I have been involved in the standing desk industry for over a decade, my understanding of the products offered has grown tremendously over this last year. The opportunity to bring in competing products, put them together, test how they function and then completely tear them apart, has been amazing.
While standing desks might look the same from the pictures presented online, I can assure you, once you open them up, they are anything but the same. There are big differences in a lot of the brands offered and this was unknown to most buyers until I started to complete the reviews. My goal with these in-depth reviews has always been to help those who treat this purchase as an investment. Armed with this knowledge I hope you are able to make a smart buying decision. With that let’s take a closer look at the BIG best standing desk list that I’ve compiled over the last twelve months.
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Best Standing Desks For 2019
- NewHeights XT – 85/100 Rated Standing Desk
- Steelcase Series 7 – 81/100 Rated Standing Desk
- VertDesk v3 – 81/100 Rated Standing Desk
- ModDesk Pro – 79/100 Rated Standing Desk
- UpDesk Elements – 78/100 Rated Standing Desk
- Xdesk Terra 1 – 78/100 Rated Standing Desk
- VariDesk ProDesk – 77/100 Rated Standing Desk
- Uplift Desk v1 – 76/100 Rated Standing Desk
- EvoDesk – 74/100 Rated Standing Desk
- Jarvis Desk by Fully – 74/100 Rated Standing Desk
- Autonomous Desk – 71/100 Rated Standing Desk
- Other desks we tested for 2019
- Why trust The Learning Center?
- What is our testing process?
- How did we pick the best standing desks?
What is an electric standing desk?
An electric sit to stand desk is a complete desk that moves from sitting to standing heights. While there are various types of sit to stand desks, including crank, pneumatic and electric, we have focused on the electric models only. Operated with the push of a button, electric sit to standing desks are the most popular option when looking at a complete standing desk. Alternatives such as standing desk converters are also popular, but they fail to provide the best all-around solution a full standing desk can. If you’d like to check out standing desk converters, please see our top standing desk converters for 2019 post.
Compare The 11 Best Standing Desks for 2019
| Rank | Product | Assembly | Stability | Electronics | Capacity | Range | Speed | Warranty | Score |
| #1 | NewHeights XT | 8.2 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5/10 |
| #2 | Steelcase Ser 7 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 8.2 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 8.0 | 8.1/10 |
| #3 | VertDesk v3 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.1/10 |
| #4 | ModDesk Pro | 7.5 | 5.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.9/10 |
| #5 | UpDesk Elements | 7.5 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 7.8/10 |
| #6 | Xdesk Terra | 9.0 | 4.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 7.8/10 |
| #7 | ProDesk 60 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.7 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 7.7/10 |
| #8 | Uplift 900 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 6.5 | 9.0 | 7.6/10 |
| #9 | EvoDesk | 7.0 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 7.4/10 |
| #10 | Jarvis by Fully | 7.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 7.9 | 9.0 | 7.4/10 |
| #11 | Autonomous Business Edition | 7.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 8.2 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 8.0 | 7.1/10 |
The Best Standing Desks For 2019
1. NewHeights Elegante XT Standing Desk – 85/100 Rating
Elegante XT Price: Starting at $1347.99
Read Full NewHeights XT Standing Desk Review >>
NewHeights Elegante Pros and Cons
Pros:Custom extruded aluminum columns |
Cons:High Price Tag |
NewHeights Elegante XT Summary
What we liked
The NewHeights XT is rated as our best overall standing desk with a score of 85 out of 100. With one of the most expensive price tags this should come as no surprise. The NewHeights XT frame components and desk surface are made in the USA. All of the assembly processes for this desk are also completed in the USA. The NewHeights XT features custom extruded aluminum columns, a large 27” adjustment range and a conservative 325 lbs lifting capacity. A closer look inside the columns and you’ll find high quality components like the German manufactured gears and motors from Ketterer. The NewHeights XT also features a premium electronics pack from LogicData. The NewHeights XT was our most stable desk to rise above 47”. This was one of the only products we tested to include a horizontal wire management system that was more than just a gimmick. It was easily big enough to fit surge protectors and a good majority of wires.
What we didn’t like
Unfortunately, this desk, like all of the others in the list, isn’t perfect. A high price tag likely puts it out of the range of some more cost conscious shoppers. Because aluminum extrusions are used for the columns, natural flexing occurs at heights beyond 47”. It is also one of the louder desks while in motion, with an average decibel rating around 60-64 decibels. With the majority of the desktop options being wood essence laminate and hardwood, the lack of material types might be a deal breaker for some.
2. Steelcase Series 7 Stand Up Desk – 81/100 Rating
Steelcase Series 7 Price: $1399.00 + Shipping
Read Full Steelcase Series 7 Standing Desk Review >>
Steelcase Series 7 Pros and Cons
Pros:1.6″ adjustment speed |
Cons:Old DL4 Linak column |
Steelcase Series 7 Summary
What we liked
The Steelcase Series 7 is one of the most recent products that I have reviewed. It ranked second overall with a score of 81 out of 100. Featuring high quality columns from Linak, the Steelcase Series 7 is definitely one of the nicer products available. As with all Linak products, premium gears, motors and electronics are included with their products. The Series 7 also comes with a three button programmable switch which is a feature at this price point. With an adjustment range of 26”, standard lifting capacity of 315 lbs. and average adjustment speed of 1.6” per second there is a lot to like with the Series 7.
What we didn’t like
The problem we’ve found with brands that partner with Linak is they are required to source or make the remaining components of the desk. Steelcase decided to use extruded aluminum tubes for the feet and cross support. These tubes do not include any ribbing for added rigidity and have a lot of flexing because of it. While the aluminum extrusions look really nice, they do not provide the proper amount of support for the Series 7 desk. This leaves the desk with stability issues starting as early as 38”. It stability is your main concern, there are other alternatives to consider in this list. The Steelcase Series 7 we tested came with the old version of DL4 columns from Linak which feature the now discontinued chain drive system. Until Steelcase has run through their remaining inventory I would suggest waiting for the newer DL4S columns if the Steelcase Series 7 is your final pick.
3. VertDesk v3 Sit Stand Desk – 81/100 Rating
VertDesk v3 Price: Starting at $531.99
Read Full VertDesk v3 Standing Desk Review >>
VertDesk v3 Pros and Cons
Pros:Built in the USA |
Cons:20″ adjustment range |
VertDesk v3 Summary
What we liked
The VertDesk v3 ranked as our third best desk overall, but the first desk to be listed from the mid-range category. With its claim to fame being stability, the VertDesk v3 features a traditional cross support and extra thick steel tubes used for its columns. These thick tubes were designed to eliminate flexing found on most standing desks when extended to tall heights. With the feet and upper supports welded to the columns, the potential for a loose connection here was also eliminated. Inside the VertDesk v3 you’ll find high-end components, similar to those found in the desks offered for a much higher price tag. These include single stage cold rolled gears from German manufacturer Ketterer paired with one of their strongest single motors to match. A premium electronics pack from Laing Innotech that comes standard with GyroSense Technology for one of the best collision avoidance systems in its class. The VertDesk v3 averages an adjustment speed of 1.55” per second and is one of the faster options we have tested. During our load testing the single motor system was able to lift 275 lbs., only dropping to 1.35” per second. With overload protection turned off, we were able to lift 350 lbs. at 1.27” per second.
What we didn’t like
While the VertDesk v3 has a lot of solid features for a desk starting at $520, the truth is that it still has its shortcomings. With a height adjustment range of only 20”, it won’t be able to go as low or as tall as other desks in the list. If you require a desk to go lower than 27” you will need to add a keyboard tray which will add to the cost. The overload protection system on the VertDesk v3 kicks in at 275 lbs., so it won’t be able to lift as much as others in the list. With a hex rod driven system, the assembly process can be a pain point for some if you don’t use a wrench to assist. Depending on your requirements for a desktop, it might not be a good fit as the VertDesk surface options are mostly made up of wood essence laminate and hardwood.
4. ModDesk Pro Adjustable Desk – 79/100 Rating
ModDesk Pro Price: Starting at $599.00
Read Full ModDesk Pro by MultiTable Standing Desk Review >>
ModDesk Pros and Cons
Pros:Premium LogicData electronics pack |
Cons:Stability issues above 40″ |
ModDesk Pro Summary
What we liked
The ModDesk Pro is another product featured in the best standing desks under $1000 post. Manufactured in Malaysia by ActiForce, the ModDesk Pro incorporates quite a few high-end components at a lot less than money than the Steelcase and NewHeights desks. Premium electronics from LogicData and a high-end two stage gear system from Ketterer are just two of the standard features you’ll find with the ModDesk Pro. The ModDesk was our second fastest desk we’ve tested to date, with an average speed of 1.78” per second. The frame was well built with what appear to be good quality glides. I am not sure what the material type is and after reaching out to both ActiForce and MultiTable, both my requests were declined. The ModDesk includes a wide range of motion, with 26” of overall travel from 24.25” to 50.52” (no top).
What we didn’t like
While the ModDesk Pro is a really good standing desk, it did come up a bit short in a few spots as well. The first was stability, with issues starting as early as 36”. By the time the desk reached 40” the wobble motion were bad. The ModDesk pro also had a very odd smell that came from the lubricant that was used. This is the only desk that I have tested to have a strong enough odor to fill an office space over 2,000 square feet. Lastly, the use of the Bosch 24V ACH 0 390 203 386 motors was a red flag. Through testing we have found the Bosch motor to be very inconsistent with different load testing performed on the other desks that use the same motors.
5. UpDesk Elements Height Adjustable Desk – 78/100 Rating
UpDesk Price: Starting at $679.00 + Shipping
Read Full UpDesk Elements Standing Desk Review >>
UpDesk Elements Pros and Cons
Pros:Premium electronics from Linak |
Cons:Stability issues above 43″ |
UpDesk Elements Summary
What we liked
The next product on our list is the Elements desk by UpDesk. The Elements series is UpDesk’s entry level product, but don’t let the entry level positioning confuse. All Linak DL4 columns come standard with features that include premium gears, motors and electronic pack. Linak known globally as a leading manufacturer of linear lifting mechanisms means the DL5 anything but entry level. The UpDesk Elements was one of the strongest desks we’ve tested, with only a small drop in speed when we loaded the desk with 400 lbs. While it’s normal adjustment speed isn’t the fastest we’ve tested, at 1.43” we found it to be consistent with most loads.
What we didn’t like
Like the other standing desks in the list, the UpDesk Elements has its own shortcomings. The most glaring is link to a lack of stability that starts around 40”. By the time the Elements reaches 43” tall the motion becomes bad enough to impact your efficiency. While the front to back rocking test was better, there was still back rocking experience beyond 44” tall. Because UpDesk has partnered with Linak for their columns, they are required to either produce or source the rest of the desk. While the feet they have used are over the top heavy duty, they are not pretty. With obvious weld marks showing through on the top of the feet the attention to detail here was missed. No overload protection or anti-collision functions are enabled on the UpDesk Elements which is a bit disappointing as well.
6. XDesk Terra Standing Desk – 78/100 Rating
Xdesk Terra Price: Starting at $1693.00 + Shipping
Read Full Xdesk Terra (Formally NextDesk) Standing Desk Review >>
Xdesk Terra Pros and Cons
Pros:High quality Linak electronics pack |
Cons:High price tag |
Xdesk Terra Summary
What we liked
Formally known as NextDesk, the Xdesk Terra is a previous winner of the coveted WireCutter “Best Standing Desk” award. Although, through our own testing of the category we think it might be more of a popularity award, not an actual best product award. Unfortunately for XDesk, they eventually lost their position to a lower cost alternative from Fully. The Xdesk Terra features the most current DL4S two stage columns from Linak. Inside these columns is Linak’s most current inline linear technology, with a high-end motor and gear system. One of the sleekest internal motor and gear systems we have found, the DL4S is impressive. The Terra also includes the CBD6S smart control box system from Linak, which is their most efficient system that features .1w standby power consumption. While the Terra isn’t the fastest desk we’ve tested, it still well above average at 1.48” per second. The motors were about average for sound decibels as well, with a rating of 58-60 dB experienced throughout testing.
What we didn’t like
The Xdesk was one of the more expensive desks we tested, so expectations for these high-end products tend to be much higher. Unfortunately, these elevated expectations ended with a bit of disappointment as the Terra had significant stability issues. Like other products using Linak technology, Xdesk has to source the rest of the frame components. Their desire to create the “most beautiful standing desk” led them down the path of a solid aluminum foot design. While the look was cool, the functionality was lacking. Flexing from this design created front to back rocking problems as low as 28”. The use of aluminum for the foot and cross support also created an opportunity for high-end finish options. The problem I found was that these finishes on the feet and cross support didn’t match the upright columns. This created a two-tone look that was not expected for such an expensive desk.
7. VariDesk ProDesk 60 Electric – 77/100 Rating
ProDesk Price: Starting at $995.00
Read Full VariDesk ProDesk 60 Standing Desk Review >>
VariDesk ProDesk Pros and Cons
Pros:Quick assembly process |
Cons:Poor connection of cross support and frame to columns |
VariDesk ProDesk Summary
What we liked
There was a lot to like about the VariDesk ProDesk 60 electric, starting with the focus on stability. Introducing a steel cross support that was a single piece can make a big difference on lateral stability and in the ProDesk 60’s case, it definitely did. VariDesk’s focus wasn’t only on stability though, they wanted to improve on the long assembly process typically found with full size standing desks. Touting a 5-minute assembly, we were excited to get our hands on the desk to test just how fast it could be assembled. Even though it took us a little longer than five minutes to assemble, it was still the easiest standing desk we’ve assembled to date. Other features like it’s wide adjustment range and standard programmable switch made it easy for us to rank this in the top 10 of all standing desks we’ve reviewed.
What we didn’t like
Like all of the desks in our best standing desks for 2019 list, the ProDesk has some areas where it could improve. While the lateral stability was better than 80% of the desks in our list, we believe it could be even better. With VariDesk’s focus on quick assembly, they introduced plastic connection points between the cross support and frame. While this ensures 99% of users can quickly slide the cross support into place, there was too much flexibility in the plastic creating wiggle at an import point in the frame. We also found issues with 3d printed glides that were used in the upper portion of the frame, this created an inconsistency that if fixed would see a dramtic improvement on the overall stability.
8. Uplift Desk – 76/100 Rating
Uplift Desk Price: Starting at $495.00
Read Full Uplift Desk Standing Desk Review >>
Uplift Desk Pros and Cons
Pros:Best of Chinese standing desks |
Cons:Stability issues above 43.5″ |
Uplift Desk Summary
What we liked
The Uplift 900 Desk is our first Chinese made desk to make the list, featuring a frame manufactured by JieCang Linear technology. While the quality in the JieCang products is less than the desk featured higher in the list, they are one of the better options when compared to other Chinese made products we have tested. With a C foot design and the non-traditional column (small on bottom, big on top), the Uplift Desk frame was more stable than almost all of the other JieCang products. The only JieCang product we’ve tested that was more stable was the GeekDesk v3 that included a traditional cross support. The non-traditional column design allowed them to include a wedge design on the upper column and motor box. This improved lateral stability significantly when compared to products like the Jarvis and EvoDesk. With an adjustment range of 26” and seven year warranty on electronics, the Uplift 900 has a lot to offer for the price. The Uplift 900 also boasts a wide variety of surface options that allow you to customize your desks look.
What we didn’t like
While the Uplift 900 Desk was the best of Chinese products we’ve tested, there are some concerns with this product. Upon opening the Uplift 900 Desk, the differences between this product and those featured higher in the list were obvious. Excessive use of lubrication in the columns was one of the first things we noticed when testing the Uplift desk. When opening the columns, the problem only became worse, with large globs of lubrication visible. Somehow, through the excessive amounts we found, there were still dry spots on the glides. The lack of lubrication consistency with glides that are made from lower quality plastics raises the risk for binding in the columns. While the Uplift Desk was more stable the other desks we’ve tested without a traditional cross support, it still had stability problems. No traditional cross support and inverted columns created issues for stability in both directions beyond the 43.5” tall.
9. EvoDesk Stand Up Computer Desk – 74/100 Rating
EvoDesk Price: Starting at 599.00 + Shipping
Read Full EvoDesk Electric Standing Desk Review >>
EvoDesk Pros and Cons
Pros:26″ adjustment range |
Cons:Stability issues above 39″ |
EvoDesk Summary
What we liked
The second ranked JieCang product we tested was the EvoDesk. The entry level brand for Xdesk, EvoDesk features the T base JieCang frame with traditional columns. This frame design from JieCang offers increased speeds from the Uplift Desk, with an average adjustment speed of 1.5” per second. Similar to the Uplift, it includes a large 26” range of motion from 23.75” to 48.75” (no top). One thing that was common among the JieCang products is their ability to keep consistent speeds with various loads. Even when the EvoDesk was overloaded to 350 lbs. it was still able to maintain a speed of 1.46” per second. With a five year warranty on the electronics, the EvoDesk includes above average coverage for a mid-range standing desk.
What we didn’t like
With a T base design, the EvoDesk has significant rocking issues during our testing. Beyond 43” the motion was bad enough to impact your work efficiency. Without the use of a traditional cross support, the left to right wobble motion was even worse. Starting at 39”, the motion became bad by the time you reached 42” tall. Like all of the other JieCang frames we have tested, the EvoDesk had significant amounts of white lubrication on the columns after minimal use. Opening the columns we found low quality glide systems and gears. Opening the control box, the lack of quality control only continued. Poor connections between their two board system would likely cause a problem. The EvoDesk retails for about 20-30% more than both the Jarvis and Uplift desks, which makes it hard to justify purchasing this brand if you want a JieCang frame.
10. Jarvis by Fully – 73/100 Rating
Jarvis Desk Price: Starting at $395.00
Read Full Jarvis Desk by Fully Standing Desk Review >>
Jarvis Desk Pros and Cons
Pros:26″ Adjustment Range |
Cons:Stability issues |
Jarvis Desk Summary
What we liked
The current product to be featured as WireCutter’s “best standing desk” is the Jarvis by Fully. Oddly, this product only ranks as our third best JieCang frame. Both the Uplift 900 and EvoDesk rank higher in our list. Similar to those brands, the Jarvis includes a large 26” adjustment range. Recent changes to the JieCang motors in the Jarvis increased its speed from 1.33” per second to a quicker 1.52” per second. These changes to the motors on the Jarvis also improved the desks noise level when in motion, averaging 56-57 dB. Like the Uplift 900 desk, the Jarvis features a seven year warranty on their electronics pack. While the Jarvis doesn’t feature quite as many surface options, it stills boasts one of the largest assortments of top options available in the mid-range.
What we didn’t like
With its C frame and traditional column design, the Jarvis by Fully was the least stable JieCang frame design we’ve tested. While the front to back rocking test was better than the Uplift Desk, its wobble test was significantly worse. With wobble motions starting as early as 36” tall, the wobble became bad by 40” and would impact your work. Like the other JieCang frames, over lubrication is a major concern as the Jarvis’s black frame turned white after only minimal use. A closer look at the control box raised concerns with poorly wrapped toroid cores, excessive caulk used to hold components in place and cheap plastic connections between their two board system.
11. Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Business Edition – 71/100 Rating
Business Edition Desk Price: Starting at $399.00 + Shipping
Read Full Autonomous Business Edition Standing Desk Review >>
Business Edition Pros and Cons
Pros:Low price point |
Cons:Stability issues above 37″ |
Business Edition Summary
What we liked
The Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Business Edition is the highest level offering from the Autonomous lineup. While still considered to be a mid-range desk, the Business Edition is one of the least expensive options on the market. The price point also happens to be one of its biggest selling points as well, available with a desk surface as low as $448.00. The SmartDesk 2 is the fastest desk we tested, averaging 2.09” per second. That is almost 20% faster than its closest competitor. The Autonomous SmartDesk also features a large adjustment range of 26”, with the ability to first wide portion of the population. It is also one of the few products to come standard with a four button programmable switch. While it isn’t as consistent with heavier loads, it is still able to maintain 1.84” per second with 185 lbs. (included desktop). When loaded to 295 lbs, the speed dropped to 1.15” per second. The Business Edition also comes standard with a five-year warranty on electronics which we’ve found to be above average, especially when comparing in the same price range.
What we didn’t like
Unfortunately, with such a low price point, the Autonomous SmartDesk Business Edition comes with a list of issues. It is one of the least stable desks we tested with front to back rocking issues starting as low as 32”. By 37”tall, the desk had significant stability issues and would impact your work efficiency. The second most glaring issue was the use of TiMotion electronics. We had used the same manufacturer for our VertDesk v1 and had so many problems we discontinued use of them. TiMotion is known to provide a nice looking package, but inside the components are severely lacking. Upon opening the control box, what starts as a nice looking molded box turns into low-quality circuit board system. This was actually one of the cheapest boards we’ve reviewed. It had poorly wrapped toroid cores, a cheap single layer circuit board for the power adapter and excessive caulk used throughout each board to hold components in place.
Other Desks Tested That Didn’t Make The List
GeekDesk v3 Sit to Stand Desk – 69/100 Rating
GeekDesk v3 Price: Starting at $749.00
Read Full GeekDesk v3 Standing Desk Review >>
ApexDesk Elite Standing Desk – 64/100 Rating
ApexDesk Price: Starting at $599.00
Read Full ApexDesk Elite Standing Desk Review >>
ViviStand Quattro – 57/100 Rating
ViviStand Price: Starting at $899.00
Read Full ViviStand Quattro Standing Desk Review >>
IKEA Bekant Standing Desk – 56/100 Rating
IKEA Bekant Price: Starting at $409.00 + Shipping
Read Full IKEA Bekant Electric Standing Desk Review >>
Realspace Magellan – 53/100 Rating
Magellan Price: Starting at $499.00 + Shipping
Read Full Realspace Magellan Standing Desk Review >>
VIVO 103E Stand Up Desk – 52/100 Rating
VIVO 103E Price: Starting at $329.99 (no top)
Read Full VIVO 103E Electric Standing Desk Review >>
StandDesk Simple – 46/100 Rating
StandDesk Price: Starting at $399.00
Read Full StandDesk Simple Standing Desk Review >>
Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Home Edition – 42/100 Rating
Home Edition Price: Starting at $299.00 + Shipping
Read Full Autonomous Home Edition Standing Desk Review >>
Titan Fitness WA2 – 42/100 Rating
Titan WA2 Price: Starting at $244.00 + Free Shipping
Read Full Titan Fitness WA2 Electric Standing Desk Review >>
Why trust The Learning Center at BTOD.com?
Simply put, we are experts. We have been selling office furniture for 12 years and have seen the sit to stand desk market grow from the beginning. We are not a company that is simply dedicated to writing reviews on emerging markets in hopes of making a quick buck. Office furniture is our life and we have gained extensive knowledge about the products within our space. We know what to look for and what to avoid. Our goal is to share this knowledge so that customers are better informed when making their buying decision.
One thing that really separates The Learning Center from almost every other review site is that we bring in all of the products that we review. We do not do forensic reviews or reviews based on what other customers have said about the product. We order the product for ourselves so that we know how it performs. Some of the products we sell on BTOD.com, but many of them we do not. Regardless, we have tested every product we have reviewed.
What is our testing process?
The testing process we use for the best standing desks is straightforward, but also very thorough. Since we purchase all of the desks we are able to get an idea of what the experience will be from placing the order to receiving the furniture. Having the opportunity to fully assemble each desk is important. If there are any pain points we want to know about them. Once the desk has been assembled we are able to start using the desk.
All desks go through the same testing process. We first test the specs that are common across all sit stand desks. This includes weight capacity, adjustment speed, sound rating, anti-collision function, overload protection, stability at various heights, etc. Once these specs have been tested we completely tear down each desk. We then take a closer look at the internal components; the glide systems, gears, motors and internal control box circuit boards. Opening each of these components allows us to find anything that might be hiding behind a pretty cover. While a lot of the full standing desks we have tested look similar on the outside, the second you open them up it becomes a completely different story. Inside you are able to learn a lot more about the level of quality for each component. If a high level of quality control exists it will become obvious the moment you open each part.
How did we pick the best stand up desk for 2019?
All of the sit stand desks we have reviewed have been given an overall numbered score ranging from 1-100. The score is based on several categories that we chose. The categories below are what we feel to be the most important things to consider when shopping for a sit or stand desk. Each category has its own 1-100 rating and each category has the same weight when calculating the overall score. One thing that you will notice with our scoring is that we are very realistic. There is no such thing as a perfect standing desk and our scores reflect that. You will not find products with 100/100 ratings here because such a product doesn’t exist. We have yet to find an electric sit stand desk that has scored over 85/100.
Assembly
All of the full standing desks that we have tested required some assembly. Because of this we felt it was important to include this in our overall score. Depending on the your ability, some products will require a lot more work to complete assembly. If you don’t feel comfortable assembling many parts, these products are likely best to avoid. The amount of time required for the desks we reviewed varied from 30 minutes up to a few hours. It’s important to note that how long it will take you is solely dependent on your abilities and the tools used. We recommend using a cordless drill to speed up the assembly process. If you rely on the tools that are provided by each brand you will be left assembling your desk with small allen wrenches that can oftentimes be very time consuming to use.
Stability
One of the most important aspects of any full standing desk is the overall stability of the desk when raised to standing position. I always go back to the experience that most can relate with, which involves the wobbly table at your favorite restaurant or pub. When you encounter this table it becomes your number one goal to fix the wobble. While these types of restaurant tables can be easily fixed with coasters or napkins, full standing desks are not that simple to fix. In fact, many of the top reasons that standing desks wobble cannot be fixed in the field. It stability is important then purchasing a standing desk that is stable out of the box is the only way to avoid an unstable desk.
While our process for this test isn’t scientific, each stability test we perform gives you a good idea on how the desks stability will impact your work. With all of the desks that we have tested, we always check the same two motions. The first motion is a front to back rocking motion and the second is a left to right wobble motion. While the amount of force applied to each desk might vary slightly, desks that have stability issues are obvious. With the use of only a couple fingers, desks with poor stability will clearly wobble and rock. These desks also tend to continue in motion once you quit applying pressure to the desk.
Learn what makes a stable standing desk here >>
Electronics
When we look at the electronics of the desk, we are focused mainly on the control box itself. The control box is the central computer system that acts as the brain of the desk. While most control boxes will look similar from the outside, with the most obvious difference being size, the quality of each will vary significantly. Opening up the control box, you will find out if something is low or high quality fairly quickly.
One of the first things we look for is if the circuit board system is designed with a single or multiple board setup. Premium manufacturers engineer their boards specifically for use with their own system, which means it is always on a single board system. Lower quality products tend to come with dual board systems, mass produced for many other applications. These lower quality boards will oftentimes have wires connecting the two boards to each other with poor connections. A closer look at these boards and you will find large components used with poor connections to the circuit board. This poor connection requires the use of large amounts of caulk to hold each of the components in place. The inconsistency with this process is likely due to a low level of quality control and is a major concern for the life cycle of the electronics.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity testing seems like it should be a fairly straightforward process. The only problem is that just because a manufacturer labels a product with a capacity, doesn’t mean it can actually lift that much or can do it with any consistency. Our testing will verify first that a product is able to lift the advertised load. Next, we check to see how different weights impact the desks overall adjustment speed. Some products we have tested advertise weights that are significantly more than the actual OEM recommends. While the desks may lift that amount of weight, the actual manufacturer who has done extensive testing would not recommend the same max load. When considering the efficiency of your desk, using it beyond a manufacturer’s recommended capacity can shorten the desks life cycle.
It’s also important to note that just because a brand may advertise a high weight capacity doesn’t mean they are more stable. Through testing 20 adjustable standing desks I can tell you there is zero link between capacity and stability. The truth is that a lot of the desks we tested that have some of the highest weight capacities were the least stable when raised into standing position.
Adjustment Range
Understanding the adjustment range and how it can impact you is an important part of the buying process. The typical range of motion for adjustable standing desks that we have tested varies from 17” up to 27”. While a 10” difference might not seem like a lot, it can make or break the ergonomics of your set up. If you are below 5’5” you will likely need to incorporate an adjustable keyboard tray to your set up to get the desk low enough to sit comfortably. Users that are taller than 6’5” will need to look at desks that rise beyond 47” for proper standing ergonomics. Using our standing desk height calculator is a good place to start. If a desk will not go high enough for your specific needs it could likely be a deal breaker.
Warranty
The range of the coverage for warranties in the group of standing desks tested varied significantly. There are two specific things to consider when looking at a brand’s warranty. The first is the warranty for the structure of the desk. This includes things like the desk surface, frame, feet, etc. The second and more important is for the electronics. This includes the control box, switch and motors. The electronics of the standing desk are the biggest concern and the most likely to fail during ownership. While some brands might advertise a limited lifetime warranty, a closer look at the fine details show a much shorter period for the electronics. From what we have seen, the better warranties will start at five years and go up from there. Some warranties we have found go as long as ten years. While these long warranties are good, it’s important to recognize that just because a warranty is ten years doesn’t necessarily mean the product is high quality. Some of our lowest rated desks have included warranties that were ten years on the electronics and are known to fail well before that period has expired. If you have a good warranty in your back pocket you have something to fall back on.
