The best standing desks for your home office

The best overall

The Fully Jarvis Standing Desk provides the right blend of features and reliable performance. The amount of customizations for style, height, and accessories is enough to create an ideal desk for any need. 

Striking the right balance between form and function is difficult, but the Fully Jarvis Standing Desk nails it. This is a great desk with enough finish options and add-ons for your needs, but not to the point that they’re overwhelming. It has a good height adjustment range, boasts a smooth and easy-to-use mechanism, and can accommodate different set ups. It also comes at a relatively reasonable price with a strong warranty.

The Fully Jarvis arrives well-packed in two boxes and all the packaging is 100% recyclable. You will need an hour or so for assembly, but it’s not too taxing if you take your time and follow Fully’s video.

The metal frame with the motorized adjustment mechanism comes in black, white, alloy, or silver, and is about as minimal as you’ll find. You can choose from a laminate, hardwood, whiteboard, or bamboo desktop all with varying sizes to suit your space, or even use your own. I have a bamboo contoured desk with a black frame.

You can use your own monitor arms or other accessories but Fully has its own as well. These options cost extra and some will require you to drill holes (which is a pain). The only one we deem essential is the programmable memory panel, which lets you save four height presets. This is useful if you share the desk with someone else. The adjustment itself is quick, though there is a high-pitched noise as the motor goes to work. It’s not terribly loud, but you won’t want to adjust it when you’re on a call.

The height range goes from 29 to 48.25 inches without the .75- or 1-inch desktop (this depends on the material), which should generally accommodate people up to 6 feet 7 inches according to online calculators. Fully also offers an extended range for an extra $20, which enables the desk to go from 24.5 to 50 inches to accommodate shorter and taller heights. 

The Fully Jarvis can lift up to 350 pounds and has excellent stability. I have two 27-inch monitors on dual gas-powered monitor arms attached to my desk, and it goes up and down with ease. I can also lean on the desk without fear, but when extended to higher levels, there is a perceptible wobble. My monitors sway slightly if I bump the desktop and I can feel a slight front-to-back movement when I lean on the desk, though it’s relatively minor. Side to side stability is solid too. The obvious way to increase stability here would be to add a crossbar, but there’s a trade-off — you won’t be able to easily extend your legs under the desk when seated.

I’ve been using the Fully Jarvis, adjusting heights several times daily, for a couple of years now and the mechanism works every bit as smoothly as it did the first day. The only sign of age is a tiny dent where I dropped a hammer on the bamboo desktop. 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.

It’s worth paying extra for the extended range and programmable panel if you’re sharing the desk with a partner. You’re also looking at another $40 to upgrade to bamboo and the price will jump to more than $1,000 if you want hardwood. Even with a couple of other custom options and extras, the Fully Jarvis comes in cheaper than most comparable alternatives.

You can also return it for free within 30 days if you decide it’s not for you and Fully offers a seven-year warranty on the frame, mechanical, and electrical components. — Simon Hill

Pros: Customizable design, quick and easy to adjust, customizable height presets, useful add-ons, priced low to start, seven-year warranty

Cons: Slight wobble at upper heights, the additional crossbar can limit leg space

The best standing desk for tall people

The Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Premium can go as high as 52 inches to accommodate heights taller than 6 feet 8 inches, making it an ideal option for the taller folks among us.

With a maximum adjustment range of 51 inches without the top (52 with), the Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Premium can generally accommodate heights taller 6 feet 8 inches. And it does it quickly too — it has the fastest height adjustment speed at 2.3 inches per second and the lowest noise at 45 decibels. In comparison, our top pick of the Fully Jarvis moves at 1.3 inches per second with a noise level of 50 decibels.

Speed and noise of a standing desk may seem trivial, but if you constantly need to adjust the height, you will notice. As someone who works from home full-time, I can attest that these tiny details are what make your workspace more enjoyable.

For my testing, the desk arrived in two cardboard boxes (one for the desktop and one for the frame) and included the tools for assembly. If you have the space to unbox and remove all the packaging first, I’d suggest doing so to prevent losing screws and wrenches halfway through construction. 

Setup took about an hour and a half and required two people. The instructions are clear enough but I thought watching a video was easier and more efficient.

As for customization, there aren’t as many as the Fully, which is great for anyone who gets overwhelmed by choice. You can choose from seven top and frame combinations, or customize your own from a selection of two top lengths, five top materials, and three frame colors. I tested an XL walnut top with a white metal frame. 

Each Autonomous standing desk comes with one or two grommets for a standard or XL top, and a programmable control panel to easily adjust preset heights for different users; you can also manually adjust the height by pressing the up and down arrows. The programmable control panel comes included with the base price — something that other brands charge extra for. There are plenty of add-on accessories that cost extra, such as monitor arms and trays.

The Autonomous SmartDesk 2 Premium can go from 25.4 inches to 51 inches without the 1-inch top, which makes it suitable for people who are 6 feet 8 inches or a few inches taller. The frame is sturdy and the whole unit has a weight limit of 300 pounds. The 70.5-inch XL table length can accommodate two 32-inch monitors and two office chairs comfortably.

In testing this over the course of six months and adjusting the height several times a day, the monitors only wobble at the highest height, though that’s on par with the other standing desks in our guide. I’ve never felt that the monitors would fall off the desk though. — Jada Wong

Pros: Fast height adjustment, wide height adjustment range, customizable height presets, customizable styles, meets ANSI/BIFMA and UL certification for office use

Cons: A bit unstable at higher heights, limited customization options

The best standing desk converter

The VertDesk Converter boasts a stable two-tier design that’s easy to raise or lower, and it’s suitable for use with monitors or laptops. 

With a versatile and roomy design, and a smooth adjustment mechanism, the VertDesk Converter is our favorite standing desk converter. You can set it up on a traditional desk or table to accommodate a laptop, one or two monitors with stands, or a monitor arm for mounting. There’s a separate keyboard tray, so your arms and elbows are more ergonomically placed. It’s a smart design that’s easy to use and it includes some thoughtful extras.

The converter ships fully assembled, and the desktop and keyboard trays are finished in a durable laminate, with a Z-shaped metal frame. There are rubber stops and feet to help grip and prevent any damage to the desk or table you place it on.

At 40 pounds, it’s not portable though so you’ll want to set it up where it makes the most sense. If you want something that can be put away easily when not in use, this isn’t it.

The VertDesk Converter is not attractive, but there are a few customization options at least. You can get the standard VertDesk Converter in black or white, and with or without a single monitor arm. There’s also a larger, heavy-duty version that only comes in black with an optional single or dual monitor arm.

The standard VertDesk Converter measures 35.5 by 22.5 by 6.25 inches when it’s folded down and provides enough room and stability for two 24-inch monitors with their own stands on a dual monitor arm. The separate keyboard tray has space for a keyboard and mouse. There is also a single grommet for monitor cables.

When it’s folded down, the monitor shelf still sits quite high on your desk at 6.25 inches. It works well to elevate monitors with their own stands but monitor arms might need some adjustment. The height adjustment range goes from 6.25 to 20.25 inches. The keyboard level sits 0.75 inches above the desktop when folded down and goes up to 14.75 inches. If you use this with a desk at a standard height of 29 inches, this adjustment range should suit people up to 6 feet 7 inch, though the lowest position might have the monitor sitting too high for shorter people.

When adjusting the VertDesk Converter during testing, the transition was smooth, silent, and effortless. I just press both handles under either side of the monitor shelf. There are no fixed positions, so you can adjust to the exact height you want. It does swing toward you a little when you raise it, but not by much. The keyboard tray can be adjusted separately by turning a knob on the right, then tilting the tray to the position you want, and tightening it again. The keyboard tray a little small, which could be a problem if you use a large mechanical or ergonomic keyboard.

This is the most stable converter I’ve used. It barely moves and you won’t have to worry about wobbles even when it’s fully extended. Rubber feet prevent it from sliding around and the metal frame feels very solid. The maximum weight limit is 35 pounds, so a dual monitor setup is no problem, and it doesn’t budge at all if you lean your weight on it, though that’s not recommended. — Simon Hill

Pros: Great stability, good range of height adjustment, separate keyboard tray, easy to use, durable, five-year warranty

Cons: Too heavy to be portable, not suitable if you’re over 6 feet 1 inch, few customizations

The best budget standing desk converter

With a minimal design that’s easy to adjust and a value-oriented price, the Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter is perfect for laptop owners looking to stand while they work. 

If you’re on a budget, the Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter could be the ideal way to try out the standing desk life without spending too much. It’s designed to sit on top of a traditional desk or table and provides a workspace that’s suitable for a laptop but can also accommodate a monitor, separate keyboard, and mouse. The simple design enables it to fit in anywhere and it can fold down when you don’t need it.

There’s no setup required with the Fully Cora as it comes fully assembled out of the box. The desktop is made of a durable laminate material. The frame is aluminum with soft pads on the bottom that help it stay in place and prevent it from damaging the furniture it’s sitting on.

There isn’t much customization on offer here — you just have a choice of a black or white frame. It may not blend in perfectly with your decor, but it’s unobtrusive when folded down at 31.3 x 22 x 1.3 inches. It can fold flat to be stowed away neatly, but I think that the weight and awkwardness of picking it up will deter a lot of people from doing this. There’s also no cable management and you won’t be able to attach a monitor arm to this standing desk converter so it’s best used with laptops.

With a height adjustment range of 1.3 to 15.7 inches, the Fully Cora can accommodate most heights. You’ll likely have it sitting on top of a standard desk at about 29 inches, which would enable it to go up to almost 45 inches, that’s approximately high enough for people up to 6 feet 2 inches tall. To adjust the desk height, you simply push in the side levers and lift up or down. It’s a smooth and silent mechanism, and there are no pre-set levels, so you can adjust it to the exact height you want. 

I tested the Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter with my laptop on my dining table, and it felt very stable even when fully extended. The rectangular aluminum frame base is solid, and the padded sections add grip, so it doesn’t slide easily if bumped. Once I had the height I wanted, I didn’t have any qualms about putting drinks and other things on the desktop. The laminate has a durable, water-resistant finish that’s easy to wipe clean.

The maximum weight limit is 22 lbs, which is plenty for a laptop and accessories. It’s best not to lean your weight on it unless you’re trying to lower the desktop, but it held firm when I tried during testing.  — Simon Hill

Pros: Simple design, accessible price, easy to use, stable at different heights, durable

Cons: Too heavy and awkward to be truly portable, no attachments or add-ons

What else we recommend

Although it didn’t make our final list, here is a great standing desk we still recommend based on our testing.

Uplift V2: While this is a great all-around choice, it was a much more expensive standing desk that offered few benefits to justify the price difference. To compare the specs to our top pick of the standard Fully Jarvis, the Uplift goes higher by a little over an inch and a half — enough to accommodate people as tall as 6 feet 8 inches, approximately — and holds five pounds more weight, but is $100 more expensive. Even if you pay extra for the extended height range of the Fully Jarvis, the Uplift is still $80 more expensive. Given how little that $80 gets you, the Fully is a better value for most people. If the Uplift V2 was less expensive, it would’ve been a strong contender for our best overall pick. But, if you want the extra height, weight, and customizations (there are 19 finishes), and have the budget to spare, the Uplift V2 might be a good choice. Read our full review.

What else we considered

There are many other good standing desks out there that may be worth considering depending on your needs. Here are some of the standing desks and standing desk converters we considered for the guide during our research.

VariDesk Electric Standing Desk, from $550: This may be a good choice if you hate assembly as it’s very easy to put together. It also offers a good range of height adjustment, customizable height presets, and relatively quiet operation. On the downside, customization options are scant and it has a 200 lbs weight limit, which doesn’t come close to our top picks.

VertDesk V3, from $567.99: Offering solid construction, excellent stability, and lots of customization options, the VertDesk V3 came very close to making our list. It’s a well-built, reliable standing desk that comes with a good warranty, but it can get expensive as you begin to add extras or jump up sizes. It also has a limited range of height adjustment and it’s tricky to assemble.

Ergo Desktop Kangaroo Pro Junior, $399: This is a smart converter that you can add to a regular desk and it offers separate keyboard and monitor platforms that are adjusted via the built-in pneumatic spring mechanism. Unfortunately, it’s not designed for laptops, the stability leg is an eyesore, and it has a limited weight capacity.

IKEA Idasen, from $579: With a distinctive look and great stability, this is a solid standing desk from Ikea, and it comes with a reassuring 10-year warranty. Unfortunately, the weight capacity is very low, the tabletop is particle and fiberboard, and it’s slow to adjust with no preset height option on the keypad.

Yo-Yo Desk Mini, from $299.99: This is a versatile standing desk converter that can sit on a table or regular desk. It’s easy to adjust, thanks to a gas spring mechanism, and it supports various heights. It comes in a few sizes, but the keyboard tray is a bit too small, and the mechanism isn’t as smooth as we’d like.

NewHeights Elegante XT, from $1,347.99: Extremely stable, with top quality internal electronics and plenty of customization options, there’s no denying this is one of the best standing desks around. It offers reliable adjustment with a wide, 24 to 51-inch range, and has no obvious weaknesses. The problem is simple: it’s just too expensive for most people.

Xdesk Terra 2s, from $1,697: With lots of customization options, including dual-level desktops, and beautiful build quality that combines bamboo, oak, or glass desktops with an aluminum frame, this is a very good-looking standing desk. Sadly, it’s way beyond most people’s budget and doesn’t do quite enough to justify the premium.

Prices are accurate at time of posting but they may fluctuate.

How we test standing desks

There are a lot of things to consider when assessing a standing desk or a standing desk converter. Where possible, I will test out the standing desk in everyday use, changing from standing to sitting positions several times throughout the day. For standing desks I’ve been unable to test myself, I’ll talk to a colleague or another trusted source with hands-on experience living with that desk to find out what the pros and cons are. I also consult trustworthy product-review websites and dip into customer reviews.

Here are the main criteria during our tests of the best standing: 

Set up: Some assembly is usually required, but you don’t want to spend all day building your standing desk. I 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.

Customization: Any piece of furniture must fit in with its environment and 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. Does it offer a lot of customization options, add-ons, and accessories? And what kind of extras like cable management, drawers, and monitor arms can you choose from?

Height adjustment: I’m interested in the full range of height adjustment for each standing desk, how well the mechanism to raise and lower works, 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. Charts from BOTD and Autonomous helped us figure out recommended general heights for the desks’ adjustment ranges, and we cross-referenced them with calculators from The Human Solution and OmniCalculator. The heights for people that we mention in this guide are approximate.

Stability and durability: A wobbly desk can be very distracting, and stability is often a problem when standing desks are adjusted to the limits of their height. I look at how the desk copes with bumps or being leaned upon and how being fully loaded impacts the stability. The stated durability for long term use and the warranty that’s being offered is also taken into consideration. Other important factors include the weight limit and the returns policy.

How to properly use a standing desk

A standing desk alone isn’t going to improve your occupational health — you can’t just simply substitute standing for sitting. According to Alan Hedge at Cornell University, people tend to hunch over their desks after just 10 minutes at a standing desk, even if they started off with a good posture.

“You’re not really getting a lot of benefit from doing that,” Hedge said.

For the biggest impact, you’ll want to mix sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day. 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.

Since buying a standing desk a few years ago, I feel that changing positions and moving more throughout the day boosts my productivity, but I’ve also experienced far fewer back problems.

Once you’re settled with your standing desk, you may want to pair it with a standing desk mat to encourage more movement and provide cushioning.

“Mixing things up reduces any negative effects [of sitting or standing] in terms of musculoskeletal discomfort, your level of alertness, or productivity,” Hedge said.

But each person is different. If you aren’t sure if a standing desk is right for you, check with a doctor first to see if you’d benefit from one.

Check out our other office gear guides

• The best office chairs 
• The best active seating for your office
• The best desk lamps for your office
• The best desk for your home office