A solid desk is essential to every workplace and PC battle station, but to take your setup to greater heights—both figuratively and quite literally—get a standing desk. Standing while you work and play is a great way to keep mobile, stretch your legs, and maintain better posture. After all, sitting for too long and hunching over your computer is bad for your health, no matter how comfy your office chair or gaming chair may be.
The selection of standing desks continues to grow, and we've found the cream of the crop. Our picks range in price, size, and functionality. So whether you want a sturdy, motorized platform for all your gear or a simple way to bring your current desk to new heights, you’re covered. These options let you dial in the perfect ergonomics for your setup, ensuring your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and other peripherals are at just the right level. Take a gander at our favorites below – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Standing Desks:
- FlexiSpot Pro Plus Standing Desk E7
- Autonomous SmartDesk Core
- FlexiSpot Standard Standing Desk E1
- Jarvis L-Shaped Standing Desk
- Herman Miller Motia Gaming Desk
- Uplift V2 4-Leg Standing Desk
- ApexDesk AirDesk
- Ergotron WorkFit-T Standing Desk Converter
- Xdesk Flex
- EvoDesk Pro Aviator
FlexiSpot Pro Plus Standing Desk E7
Best Standing Desk
Starting at under $600, the FlexiSpot Pro Plus Standing Desk E7 offers a dual electric motor capable of raising a hefty 355 pounds smoothly and efficiently between 22.8 and 48.4 inches for major flexibility. Using up and down arrows on an LCD display, the table glides to whatever position you please, and you can even see the exact height of the table and store four height settings in its memory. That display also features a USB port to charge accessories and a child-lock feature for added safety.
Beyond its impressive standing capability, the FlexiSpot Pro Plus Standing Desk E7 offers a sizable desk surface that measures 48 inches wide and 24 inches deep, providing ample space for your PC setup. If that doesn't seem like enough surface space, there’s a variety of other desktop-size choices along with material options, like laminate, bamboo, or wood. Assembly is simple, as the sturdy and thick T-style legs are easy-to-attach, but it may be a two-person job to stand the completed desk upright.
Autonomous SmartDesk Core
Best Budget Standing Desk
If you don’t have $1,000+ for a high-end standing desk, Autonomous gets you well-equipped for less than half that. The SmartDesk Core is a classy, simple number with a strong and stable design which includes a solid steel frame that stands firm on thick, T-shaped legs. Running on dual motors, it has the power to lift to 265 pounds at a quiet 50 decibels, so you don't have to worry about it accommodating a three-monitor setup or disturbing your coworkers.
The SmartDesk Core provides a large desk space at 53 inches wide and 29 inches deep, but you can go bigger or smaller depending on the surface space you need. And Autonomous makes it easy to get a style that matches your office aesthetic, as there are three frame colors and nine different desktop styles — super sturdy oak included. On the side edge of the desk surface is a simple programmable keypad that lets you adjust the height from 29.4 to 48 inches and store preferred heights for quick switching.
FlexiSpot Standard Standing Desk E1
Ultra Cheap Standing Desk
Desks with motor lifts are a perk, but that extra functionality doesn't necessarily translate to a hefty price tag. FlexiSpot's Standard Standing Desk brings the flexibility of a sit-stand option at a much more affordable price starting well under $300. You still get a single motor and electronic control panel with up and down buttons for easy height adjustments, letting you go from 28 to 47.6 inches, giving you considerable range to get the most ergonomic position standing or sitting.
Don’t worry, the Standard Standing Desk isn’t some wobbly disaster either, as it’s built on a sturdy steel frame, which offers a lifting capacity of up to 154 pounds. On top of the frame is a spacious 42-inch wide by 24-inch deep tabletop made from one-inch-thick laminated chipboard ready to hold a heavy load and stand up to some wear and tear. However, a larger desktop surface and different materials like bamboo or fiberboard are available for a price.
Jarvis L-Shaped Standing Desk
Best L-Shaped Standing Desk
For many of us, a typical long desk does the job, but for the ballers with a ton of gear, multiple gaming monitors, a gaming PC, a gaming laptop, and some consoles to boot, more space is a necessity. Enter the L-shaped desk, specifically, the Jarvis L-Shaped Standing Desk, which comes with all the space you could need, a hefty max load, and the muscle it takes to lift it all. There are even customization options and add-ons, like cable management solutions or powered grommets.
The Jarvis L-Shaped Standing Desk offers a primary surface measuring 60 inches by 30 inches, and it tags on a second section 30 inches long by 27 inches wide that can go on either the left or right side. All that desktop sits on a 23-inch to 48.5-inch height-adjustable base with three electric motors capable of lifting a wild 535 pounds efficiently and quietly—thanks to noise attenuation pads. You might worry about a desk that big getting shakey, but a stabilizer bar goes a long way to keeping your gaming/working surface stable.
Herman Miller Motia Gaming Desk
Best Standing Desk for Gaming
Sure, gaming while standing might not sound as pleasant as lounging in a comfy gaming chair, but if you can get your monitor high enough, it's reasonable. You can move your body a bit more, especially between rounds of competitive games, and one of the best options out there has to be the Herman Miller Motia Gaming Desk. It uses a simple touch switch that raises or lowers the desk surface from 27 inches to 46 inches with a powered lift.
Like many other gaming desks, the Motia features a large tabletop providing plenty of space for a monitor or two, some consoles, or maybe even a modest gaming TV. You can really load it up, as the lift can handle 250 pounds, while a cable management system is in place to handle all those unruly wires. And though the Motia Gaming Desk is pricey, Herman Miller’s 12-year warranty makes it a sound investment.
Uplift V2 4-Leg Standing Desk
Best High-Performance Standing Desk
If you want a standing desk that's as solid as a rock, you need the Uplift V2 4-Leg Standing Desk. It’s one of the few options on the market with four motorized legs, letting it lift a whopping 535 pounds without breaking a sweat. You can smoothly and safely adjust the height from 25.3 inches to 50.9 inches, and anti-collision technology detects any resistance while the desk is in motion, preventing damage or injury.
On top of its incredible lifting power, the Uplift V2 4-Leg Standing Desk is extremely customizable from the start, and we’re not just talking about add-ons here. You’ll have a wealth of choices for desktop material, color, size and style, frame color and type, the keypad, and even grommet covers, meaning you can really make it your own before purchasing. Starting at $1,200, Uplift’s desk ain’t cheap, but it’s an incredibly sturdy, reliable option backed by a 15-year warranty.
ApexDesk AirDesk
Best Pneumatic Standing Desk
Motorized standing desks are convenient, but if you're not a fan of slow, loud electric motors or having another cord clogging up your outlet, then a pneumatic-assisted desk, like the ApexDesk AirDesk, is for you. Instead of motors, this system uses dual gas cylinders to help you lift and lower your standing desk between 29 and 48 inches high. You'll just pull the hand lever when raising or lowering using your other hand to assist and never again worry about a motor dying.
The ApexDesk AirDesk might be slightly more effort to adjust than just pushing a button, but it's also quicker, quieter, and not to mention cheaper. For under $350, you get a sturdy steel frame complete with a crossbar for added stability and a large, ergonomically shaped tabletop, so it’s ready to take on your computer setup. The desk even includes grommets to tuck away wires, while back castor wheels allow easy movement.
Ergotron WorkFit-T Standing Desk Converter
Best Sit-Stand Desk Converter
You’ve already made a sizable investment in your current desk, so why toss it out? Ergotron offers a desk add-on that requires no setup, letting you convert your existing desk into a standing model by just plopping it on top. From there, you give the side paddles a good squeeze as a series of springs smoothly lift your whole setup, giving it an extra 15 inches in height.
With a 35-inch work surface and solid metal frame that holds up to 35 pounds, the WorkFit-T Standing Desk Converter easily accommodates dual-monitor setups. It even adds some extra utility by doubling as an oversize laptop stand because when you’ve got the Ergotron folded flat, the top tier is five inches high for a more ergonomic setup while using a portable device. Meanwhile, the lower second tier is plenty big to accommodate a full-size keyboard and mouse.
Xdesk Flex
Best Couch-Side Standing Desk
If you, like a good portion of the world, enjoy occasionally working from the couch, then the flexibility of the Xdesk Flex is for you. This height-adjustable table makes for a much more ergonomic experience while chilling in the living room or a recreational area at the office. You can have it sit as low as a coffee table to as high as an upright standing desk in a couple of seconds with the touch of a button. Best of all, the lift motor is completely battery-powered, and that means no wires to trip over on your way to the couch.
The Xdesk Flex offers a 100-pound weight capacity and a 30-inch by 24-inch work surface, letting you place your laptop or wireless gaming mouse and keyboard on it with little worry of wobbling. Just be prepared to shell out some serious dough, as this desk is made with the best materials, from its aircraft-grade aluminum frame and rock-solid tabletop to the high output, quiet motor.
EvoDesk Pro Aviator
Best High-End Standing Desk
The EvoDesk Pro Aviator is the ultimate standing desk. From its arrowhead shape silhouette to the four motorized legs and immense 500-pound load capacity, there isn't a more premium option than this. Its height ranges from 23.75 inches to 49.5 inches and hits over 250 positions, while that transition is a smooth and speedy 1.5 inches per second thanks to those highly capable motors.
A unique L-shape design gives the EvoDesk Pro Aviator 22.7 square feet of surface area for you to work, but everything in that space is within easy reach, as you can stand or sit in the center of it all. It’s made with a sturdy steel frame, while the tabletop features soft edges to help with nerve compression and fatigue. And almost everything on this desk can be customized to your exact specifications, though with all that quality comes an over $2,500 price tag, so this is definitely an investment.
Where to Get the Best Standing Desks in the UK
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
