The 6 Best Standing Desks, Based On Months Of Testing

Adjustable standing desks—also referred to as sit-to-stand desks—give you the option to raise your desktop to a height that is comfortable to use while standing to add more movement to your workday. After testing nine of the most popular standing desks over several weeks, my recommendation for the best standing desk is the Branch Duo. It had the best blend of features and functions of any desk I tested, and it’s aesthetically pleasing, too. Even after six months of testing, I still find this desk to be comfortable, effective and user-friendly. If you’re seeking a slightly larger standing desk with a bamboo top, the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk was best runner-up.

Here are all the winners from my testing process:

• Best Standing Desk Overall: Branch Duo
• Best Runner-Up Standing Desk: Fully Jarvis Bamboo
• Best Upgrade Standing Desk: Steelcase Solo Sit-to-Stand Desk
• Best Customizable Standing Desk: Uplift V2
• Best Standing Desk for Small Spaces: Seville Classics Airlift Electric Standing Desk
• Best Budget Standing Desk: FEZIBO Height Adjustable Electric Desk with Storage

There are compelling reasons to make a standing desk part of your office or WFH set-up. “Sitting at a desk for extended periods can have various downsides; some of my colleagues have referred to sitting as the ‘silent killer,’” said physiotherapist Lalitha Bhowani-McSorley. While Bhowani-McSorley acknowledges that may be an exaggeration, she points out that sitting too much can have real consequences: “Individuals who sit for long periods of time will often see an increase in the risk of weight gain, cardiovascular problems and metabolic issues.” She adds that excessive sitting can lead to poor posture, weak core muscles and tight hip flexors.

If that has you convinced to start spending more time out of your chair, look for a standing desk that is easy to use, has accessories that are functional for your work habits and environment (like a desk drawer if you want office supplies tucked out of sight, or a cable management tray if you’re bothered by the sight of dangling cords) and—most importantly—that meets height and space requirements for you and your space. Read on for my review of six of the best standing desks to consider, based on my first-hand experience.

For its sturdy design, attractive finish options and multi-functional paddle controller, the Branch Duo won best standing desk in my tests. Six months later, it’s still my go-to desk.. It’s compact enough to fit in small spaces but doesn’t feel like a compromise on features or design. One feature that impressed me is its built-in reminder to sit or stand, a thoughtful addition not found on any other desk I tested (although a few models offer this functionality as an add-on or option within an app).

During long periods of focused work, I find it tough to remember to change positions, ignoring what ergonomist Matt Jeffs calls postural fatigue. “Brushed aside long enough, postural fatigue advances to discomfort,” he notes. “Overlooked further, discomfort becomes pain.” This standing desk gave me the impetus I needed to keep up with a regular rotation of sitting versus standing to avoid postural fatigue. It has a total lift range of 19.8 inches, with a minimum height setting of 28 inches and a maximum height setting of 47.8 inches. That range should be sufficient for most people, although the desktop doesn’t reach quite as high as a few other desks I tested, which have an upper height limit of 50 inches or more.

The height settings are controlled by a simple paddle controller that you push down or pull up to move the desk and there are two memory positions for your preferred sitting and standing heights, which I find to be a handy shortcut to reaching my Goldilocks settings. With a helpful but unobtrusive OLED display screen that dims after input, it’s more discreet than your average touch-button controlpad but also has a slightly steeper learning curve. An optional sit-or-stand reminder alerts you when it’s time to change position, either with a visual cue on the controller’s display screen or via a vibration that resonates across the desk (especially helpful if you’ve become drowsy during a mid-afternoon work session). These settings and options are controlled with two small buttons on either side of the controller.

There are enough customization options to make this desk appealing for just about any office or home workspace, including five options for the laminated desktop and three colors for the powder-coated steel legs. If you have a small space, the 36 x 24-inch standing desk is your best bet. If you have a little more room to work with, then take advantage of the slightly larger 48 x 24-inch option (which is what I used during testing). It provided more than enough room for my laptop stand, wireless keyboard, mouse, a notebook and a cup of coffee. In the last six months of testing, I also added a freestanding 24-inch monitor and still feel like there’s plenty of work surface available. The desk is powered by a dual-motor lift system (which is usually faster and quieter than a single motor) and is covered by a 10-year warranty. That’s better than the warranty coverage of the other desks I tested, some of which had only a two- to five-year warranty.

It took about 40 minutes to assemble the desk, and the components and hardware were clearly labeled so there wasn’t any guesswork when I installed the various screws using the included hex wrench. Compared to the other desks I assembled, the Branch Duo’s instructions were clear and simple. The process took a little longer than a few other desks, but it felt relatively fast and frustration-free.

For a finishing touch, you can outfit the desk with a cable management tray to keep cords from your computer or electronics organized and out of sight, or with a desk drawer for office essentials like pens, USB devices and sticky notes. Those accessories aren’t available for most of the other standing desks I tested, adding to the Branch Duo’s appeal for shoppers that want to customize their desk set-up. I’ve used the desk with both accessories and wouldn’t go without the cable management tray, which keeps the cords for the desk, my monitor and a phone charger tucked up but accessible. And while I was initially very excited to use the desk drawer and gave it high marks for build quality and a soft, felt-lined interior, I didn’t love the extra depth it takes up below the desk surface and ended up removing it. Opting to add it on to your desk will ultimately depend on how much you prioritize the extra storage space.

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The Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk impressed me during testing with its strength and durability, and it has a classic aesthetic that will blend into most workspaces. The bamboo desktop is a sustainable, natural alternative to laminate surfaces, and you can pair it with a silver, black or white metal frame. Aside from an option for a curved desktop, there’s not much room for customizing the appearance of the Fully Jarvis desk. Its warranty, however, stands out: it’s five years for the desktop and 15 years for the other major components, which is second only to the Uplift V2 (which covers all components for 15 years).

When standing or sitting at this bamboo desk, I had no complaints about the form or function. The desk smoothly transitions from seated to standing and back using the up/down toggle buttons or four memory presets on the programmable keyset, which has a crisp OLED display that makes the numbers easy to read. The desk has a 350-pound weight capacity (about the same as other full-size standing desks) and had no noticeable wobble when I propped my elbows on the desk during use. It easily lifted 200 pounds during testing, without any slowdown or protest from the motor so it’s safe to say that it can handle even dual-monitor computer set-ups and plenty of paperwork. It also didn’t scratch or stain when I used the desk with a laptop stand, dropped a container full of pens on the desk’s surface, or spilled a cup of hot coffee.

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The Steelcase Solo Sit-To-Stand Desk is a worthy upgrade because it has a sleek aesthetic, feels incredibly sturdy and offers the easiest assembly of any standing desk I tested. While there’s much to say about the features that justify its high price-tag, the bottom line is that this model continues to perform well after six months of testing and would make a great choice for any office or home environment.

The Solo Standing Desk made a terrific first impression with its lightning-fast assembly. While other desks required at least a handful of screws and bolts and took an hour (or more) to put together, Steelcase has streamlined assembly to two simple steps: snap the legs, which are already attached, into the frame and use a screwdriver to attach the paddle controller. The whole process was done in 10 minutes flat. Once assembled, the desk is light enough for two people to easily lift it. I’ve moved it around several times to accommodate my home office needs.

Belying its simple assembly, the desk is excellently constructed. The desktop is commercial-grade, high-pressure laminate that is more impact- and scratch-resistant than other types of laminate surfaces and shows absolutely no wear after six months’ of use. It comes in seven different finish options, and the steel frame is available in black or white. Its biggest limitation is that it’s only available with a paddle controller, not a programmable handset, so there’s no option for saving your preferred sitting or standing height. That said, I noticed that height adjustments are smooth and quiet, even when the desk was loaded up with 200 pounds—an impressive feat for a single-motor standing desk.

The Solo Standing Desk is backed by a 12-year warranty, so it should hold up to years of use in a commercial office environment. Aesthetically, it fit right into my home office without looking clunky or industrial.

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