How tall should your standing desk be?
The specific height of your standing desk largely depends on your own height. If you’re a shorter individual, you’ll want to make sure it can adjust to a low standing height, and for taller people, you’ll want it to be able to go higher. One of the biggest things we learned when switching to a standing desk is that ideally, the desk will sit where your elbows can rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle and your monitor is directly in front of your face so you’re not straining your neck. This will have the least amount of wear and tear on your body while standing.
What are different types of standing desks?
Our best list focuses on two main types of standing desks, electric and manual sit-stand desks, there are also standing desk converters and fixed-standing desks. The desks on our list are either lifted via electric or manual means and can change height to fit either a seated or standing position, a standing desk converter is a stand you put on top of a seated desk to bring your monitors or laptop up higher, adding height to your mouse and screen without actually moving your desk. The fixed-standing desks don’t have the option to lower them to a seated height.
Are standing desks worth it?
If you’re looking to lose weight, a standing desk alone may not help. Where the benefits do come in is by decreasing the amount of time your body is sedentary and improving your productivity. It’s especially helpful for those who feel like sitting at their desk all day gives them neck and/or back pain. When struggling with these issues, you may find that a standing desk is very worth the cost.
Something to keep in mind with a standing desk is that standing for long periods can wear on the feet and legs as you get used to it. You’ll want to be sure you’re switching to sitting every once in a while to prevent this fatigue and be mindful of the shoes you choose to wear for the day.
How long will a standing desk last?
The length of time you can expect to get out of a desk depends on a few things — quality, warranty and usage. A desk that’s made of higher quality material will last much longer. When you have a desk with a longer warranty, you know you’ll be able to get more years out of the desk. As with anything, the more the desk is moved up and down, the more wear the desk will have which may lessen the amount of time you get out of it. On average, you typically see a good-standing desk last around five to 10 years.
What are the benefits of using a standing desk?
A 2021 study has shown that people who worked at a standing desk were found to be more productive, healthier and less sedentary. This included a decrease in neck, shoulder and back pain as well as improved mood.
Do I have to have my standing desk near a plug socket?
The proximity needed to a plug socket for your standing desk depends on your electronic setup as well as whether your desk is electric or has technical components like wireless chargers. If you have an electric lift desk, you will want it to be close enough to plug in so you can switch it from sitting to standing as the motors won’t work without power. Those with a desktop computer will also want to be close to a plug so you can power your computer without cords trailing across the office.
If you have a well-charged laptop or don’t plan to use a computer at your desk and you choose a manual standing desk with no electronics on top, then you wouldn’t necessarily have to have your desk near a plug socket.
Are standing desks adjustable?
There are fixed standing desks that are a certain height and don’t move up or down, but the standing desks I recommend are all adjustable. The electric ones lower and raise at the push of a button, some even having memory settings for several different heights, while the manual ones have a crank or other mechanism you move to raise or lower the desktop. You’ll want to check the minimum and maximum height on each desk, as they will all be different, to ensure it will be comfortable for your sitting and standing height.
Are standing desks easy to assemble?
As with any desk, some are easier to assemble than others. Those with storage tend to have a few more pieces and would be easier to assemble with multiple people. Some are a more simple and light design, easy to put together on your own. My top pick, the Branch Standing Desk, only took about 30 minutes to put together alone.
What is the maximum weight capacity of a standing desk?
The weight capacity of a standing desk will increase with heavier-duty materials for both the desktop and the frame, as well as the motors for electric desks. Typically, dual motor vs single motor desks will have a higher weight capacity, as will desks made of steel as opposed to aluminum. The Uplift Standing Desk V2 on my list carries the most at 355 lbs with its steel frame and dual motors, one for each leg of the frame.