Best standing desks of 2024

The best standing desks are perfect for any home office. Consider the alternative: no matter how much research you do ahead of time, there’s simply no way to ascertain how comfortable — or how cramped — a traditional office desk may be until you try it out yourself for a few weeks. And in order to do that, somebody (probably you) needs to assemble a damn desk in your abode. This can be a daunting task, and an exercise in frustration if you get your measurements wrong. Call me crazy, but there are only so many hours of blood, sweat, and tears a human can pour into a 300-pound Wayfair purchase before Consumer Stockholm Syndrome inevitably sets in. 

If you work from home, you already know how important the extra surface area of a standing desk can be for your laptop, printer, and other techy accessories you'd like at your fingertips. 

Once you settle on the ideal standing desk for your lifestyle, check out our top picks for the best college laptops, best business laptops, best gaming laptops, and best gaming monitors to put on top of it. Regardless of your use case, pivoting between productivity and play has never been easier. 

Enter the best standing desks of the year. Read on for our editors' top picks. 

The quick list

Best standing desk overall

Working from home sure is en vogue these days, but not every home is conducive to work. That all changes when you’ve got a standing desk behind...err, in front of you. The Flexispot EG8’s gorgeous tempered glass tabletop will look sharp in any home office, and the built-in ports (three Type-A USB and one Type-C USB) turn the desk into a 54-watt charging station. A stabilization bar keeps the whole thing in place with each adjustment, and the anti-collision function works like a charm. 

The Flexispot EG8 is more than just a standing desk: it’s the workstation you never knew you needed. If you’re looking for a super-slick tabletop that supports a healthier lifestyle, Flexispot has you covered.

See our full Flexispot Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk (EG8B) review. (Both of them.)

Most customizable

Whether you’re commuting into an office or working from home, a standing desk is a game-changer. But the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk takes things to another level. (Or two.) This desk is made from sustainable materials that lend a sophisticated air; the dual motors are quiet, and switching between heights is a quick, seamless process. Best of all, it can support up to 350 pounds. That means you can load up your workspace with all the peripherals you please. 

Speaking of which, Fully Jarvis’ customization options can quickly bump the price up to an exorbitant amount. But if you have a power drill and some patience, this allows you to build your ideal desk piece by piece. Overall, if you’re looking for the best standing desk that looks great and offers tons of functionality, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than the Fully Jarvis Standing Desk.

See our full Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk review. 

Best worksurface options

UpLift has been around for a while (since 2002, to be precise), so you might be familiar with this brand already. That’s because they manufacture some of the top-selling Chinese-made office products on the market today. (Also, advertising.)

With a variety of desktop sizes (42 inches to 80 inches long) and eye-catching finishes (bamboo, walnut, ash, mahogany, cherry) to choose from, the UpLift V2 really shines in the customization department. From the company website, you can essentially build the best standing desk from scratch, choosing your desktop size/style, frame type, wire grommets, and keypad. You can also upgrade your desk with myriad accessories, such as a standing mat, writing pad, surge protector, monitor arm, keyboard tray, and even an under-desk hammock(!) by using the 48 clever mounting points situated around the frame.

The Uplift V2 standing desk is the third generation in a line of higher-end workstations. The dual motors can handle an impressive 355-pound load capacity, and if you spring for the advanced keypad (a premium feature), you can add some useful height presets to the mix.

Best worksurface

The Kana Bamboo is a sturdy and gorgeous desktop with a reliable E7 three-stage frame, and if you can look past its unbearable heaviness, some wobbliness at standing height, and a less-than-perfect safety feature, this Flexispot desk is worth the steep cost.

It feels great to the touch and utilizes excellent safety features that will prevent someone from getting hurt by the lifting and lowering mechanisms. Flexispot is well-known for its high-quality standing desks, and the Kana Bamboo is no different, offering a more affordable alternative to the solid wood or solid wood texture (which utilizes a blend of wood, poplar and eucalyptus) found in its E7 or E8 models. But just because it’s less expensive, doesn’t mean it’s not a viable alternative. 

See our full Flexispot Kana Bamboo Standing Desk review.

Best anti-collision

The Flexispot E7/EC4 has a lot to offer when it comes to customization. In addition to multiple desktop sizes, you’ve got black or grey frame options, plus a variety of wood finishes for the desktop (including a nice bamboo surface). The premium, restrained design blends into any room; the sturdy metal matte frame oozes class; and the fashion-forward surface all comes together in a desk you can be proud of. Moreover, it's long and wide enough to hold all of your desktop gadgets with room to spare.

Speaking to the functionality of the E7/EC4, its premium keypad is an absolute cinch to use; when moving up and down, the dual-motor lifting system is fast, quiet, and has a load-bearing weight of up to 275 pounds, depending on which model you choose. 

For your hefty investment, you may expect to find all the same special features as Flexispot’s EG8B. Instead, you only get one: the anti-collision function, which works flawlessly in detecting potential collision points and halting the desk's motion if it senses something in the way.

See our full Flexispot E7/EC4 Standing Desk review.

Best cable management

Featuring super-stable ergonomics, a durable laminate finish, built-in cable management, and a variety of attractive desktop options to choose from, the Vari Electric Standing Desk is one of the company's top-rated products, and it's easy to see why.

Thanks to whisper-quiet dual motors and three-stage extendable legs, you get an impressive height range of 25 to 50.5 inches high, which is perfect for micromanaging your workspace height as you see fit. It's exceptionally simple to assemble, and four preset heights make it easy to switch modes as the task-at-hand requires. 

Bonus: Vari offers a variety of other home office accessories to complement their standing desks, such as monitor arms, padded mats, power hubs, and more. 

Most unique desk

The WFH Creator's Stand Up Desk is much chunkier than your average comedian, but it's also the perfect workstation for that particular profession. Billed as "the ultimate choice for entrepreneurs and creatives alike," this standing desk's Birchwood ply pieces fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and it can be custom-configured to suit virtually any living space. Plus, when the Creator's Stand Up Desk isn't in use, you can easily take it apart, stack the pieces on top of each other, and slip them under your bed. 

WFH Desks makes it easy to expand your primary workspace, too. For example, there's a footrest add-on; various wing shelf attachments; and other desk modules to expand your desktop's usable space.  For an extra $129, you can even add a desk pad to keep that shiny surface protected.  

The Creators Stand Up Desk bundles comes with one WFH Desk, one top shelf, one Laptop Lifter wing, and two wing shelves. Once assembled, what to build next is up to you. 

See our full WFH Creator's Stand Up Desk review. 

Best desk bike

Falling somewhere between sitting desk, sit-stand desk, and gym equipment, the Flexispot Deskcise Pro V9B is essentially an exercise bike with an adjustable tabletop attached to the front. While the jury is still out on how much of an impact standing desks can have on one’s overall health, Flexispot takes their sit-stand-move concept a giant leap further with the Deskcise Pro V9 desk-bike hybrid. For those who put in a lot of screen time (for work or play), such an investment could have a lasting impact on your long-term health. 

The underlying principle is pretty simple: sedentary stuff — like watching TV, web browsing, or checking emails — becomes instantly active when you throw an exercise bike into the mix. With eight resistance levels to choose from, you can take multitasking to another stratosphere; the built-in LED display (powered by two AA batteries) keeps track of time, speed, calories burned, RPM, and distance/total distance. (This is ideal for weight loss, by the way, which is all about the math.)

The 23 x 16.5-inch desktop is fully adjustable between 34.5 and 47.2 inches high and can be moved forward or backward as well. The bike seat’s height adjusts between 29.6 and 37.2 inches, which is designed for users between 5-foot-1 inch and 6-foot-2 inches tall, which is ironic since many back pain-sufferers are most certainly taller than that. The seat could be more comfortable, but that’s a quick fix. 

See our full Flexispot Deskcise Pro V9 review. 

Best basic desk

If you're interested in one of the more affordable options from Flexispot, the Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (EN1B + R4830B) is more than worthy of your consideration. The chipboard desktop isn't nearly as attractive as the Flexispot EG8 model above, but you might appreciate the extra money in your pocket. Thanks to its durable steel tubing design, useful height presets, and a generous five-year warranty, this standing desk won't let you down.

See our full Flexispot Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (EN1B + R4830B) review.

Best premium desk

Just like the other standing desks on this list, the ApexDesk Elite Series 60-inch ups the ante for your office aesthetics. This contoured workspace provides more than enough room for all your 9-to-5 business essentials, and you can choose from a variety of beautiful desktop finishes (black, white, walnut, light oak) to match the surrounding decor.

The dual-motor lift system is as speedy as it is quiet, allowing you to raise the desk anywhere from 29 to 48 inches high. (The optional 6-button control panel also allows for 4 customizable preset heights.) The desk is made from a single slab of industrial-grade steel, and its medium density fiberboard (MDF) desktop is coated with an anti-scratch, high-pressure laminate. The end result? A super-stable surface that’s easy on the eyes, and even easier to clean.

The best standing desks: standing vs. sitting

Regardless of your limb length, standing desks offer a healthier home base for your laptop, coupled with comfortable ergonomics. Having an elbow-height desk that you can simply walk away from (as opposed to intermittently standing up and down) is a real game-changer, allowing you to multitask without the usual leg/back stiffness that accompanies long bouts of computer activity. When you feel like sitting, a standing desk also lets you adjust your office chair to your body, and then adjust the desk height to the chair (in that order) — down to the last millimeter. The end result? Endlessly ergonomic comfort, no matter your body type.

A word on aforementioned comfort, though. When standing in place for long periods of time, the soles of your feet will eventually get sore. It’s simply inevitable. Some companies sell anti-fatigue mats to complement their standing desks, but you can forgo such padding with a well-placed rug/mat and the proper footwear. (Such as athletic sandals.)

How to choose the best standing desk for you

Standing desks come in all shapes and sizes, but there are a few things to consider before clicking “add to cart.”

Desk frame size (and weight capacity)

This part might seem pretty obvious at first glance, but don’t buy a desk that won’t fit in the room you bought it for. Consider what you’ll be storing on the desk long-term; the frame size and overall build should depend on your specific needs, and some standing desk frames are flimsier than others. For example, some desks are only designed to hold around 50 pounds, while others can handle upwards of 500 pounds. Make sure the specs all line up with your lifestyle and use case. 

Desk type

Standing Desk Converters: These tabletop frames let you convert your existing desk into a sit-stand desk — minimal assembly required.

Height Adjustable Desks: These portable workstations are big enough to replace your old desk, and they come in myriad shapes and sizes. (Electric height-adjustment options are generally available for newer models.)

Standalone frames: These expandable frames can be attached to virtually any surface you please, and are a godsend for any DIY workshop. They come in various sizes and weight capacities. 

Desk Bikes: Some companies (like FlexiSpot) sell exercise bikes that doubles as a standing desk. It’s an innovative cross between fitness and function. 

Height adjustability and ergonomics

Before you buy, make sure the dimensions of your new standing desk align with the dimensions of your own body. Desktops are often adjustable between 21 and 56 inches; your monitor should be at eye level, and your elbows at your sides. (Forearms at a slightly downward angle.) In short, organic comfort is key.

Bells and whistles

Many standing desks consist of a simple frame, a worksurface to slap on top, and controls to move everything up and down. The best standing desks, however, are chockfull of useful features and bundled accessories. If you're looking to build the ultimate home office, such upsells might be worth extra spend. 

Customizable worksurfaces: From beautiful wood finishes to shiny glass ones, our favorite standing desks let you select from a variety of worksurfaces to suit your lifestyle and budget.

Hidden drawers and shelving add-ons: For discreetly storing folders and important documents.

Power ports (and height presets): Some standing desks have USB Type-A ports and a USB Type-C ports built right into the keypad area, along with customizable height preset buttons.

Stabilization bar: This built-in bar makes a huge difference in overall stability — especially if you need to move the table around every so often.

Anti-collision function: A built-in sensor automatically stops the desktop from crushing nearby objects as it moves up and down; you won’t find this safety feature on every standing desk model. Anti-collision might not seem like a big deal at first glance, but you might change your mind after runaway hydraulics ruin your misplaced file cabinet. 

Reasons to consider a standing desk

Why should you test-drive a standing desk? Well, working from home is more popular than ever, and the more time you spend hunched over a laptop keyboard with poor posture, the worse it is for your neck, spine, hips, and knees. (And psyche, probably.) From a holistic standpoint, an uncomfortable workstation can become a ticking time bomb for potential injury — both short- and long-term. 

According to the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is the #1 cause of disability worldwide; half of all working Americans admit to back pain symptoms, accounting for more than 264 million lost work days each year. Healthline.com says standing desks can also help curb unwanted weight gain, lower blood sugar levels, reduce back pain, and improve your (presumably persnickety) mood, among other positive benefits.  Plus, if you’re concerned with unwanted weight gain, standing and sit-stand desks may help combat obesity (to some degree); the human body burns more calories while standing up than it does sitting down. 

Granted, standing in place for extended periods can be just as detrimental to your spine as too much sitting, so it’s important to find the proper balance. At the end of the day, a standing-centric lifestyle is unequivocally healthier than hours of cramped, unhealthy posture.

Just remember, a standing desk is no substitute for proper fitness and nutrition; spending a little more time on your feet isn’t going to reverse the effects of a sedentary lifestyle overnight. For certain demographics, however — such as middle-aged folks with daily back pain — standing desks can be an excellent tool to improve one’s quality of life. Everyone has a fitness journey, and when it comes to professional productivity, an ergonomically sound workstation is a proverbial step in the right direction. 

Many standing desks are designed not only with enhanced ergonomics, but also adjustable settings that let them slide into places most stationary desks can’t. Enhanced mobility is never a bad thing, to be sure, especially when it comes to your home office. The more dynamic (and/or cluttered) your workspace, the more you’re bound to appreciate a standing desk.  

Oh yeah, and let’s talk about productivity. According to Flexispot, stand-capable workstations can boost your overall productivity by a whopping 46% (in comparison to sit-only desks), and send your energy levels through the roof. That's a bold claim, but not a surprising one. It’s harder to doze off in the middle of a Zoom meeting while standing upright, after all.

How we test standing desks

To determine whether or not a new standing desk is up to snuff, our editors assemble each desk themselves whenever possible, noting how easy (or difficult) this process was. Once assembled, each desk is tested for build quality, overall stability, and any specials features such built-in USB ports, anti-collision functionality, and customizable accessories. This information is leveraged against the MSRP of each desk model to determine its overall value — and star rating. 

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