The 7 Best Standing Desk Converters, Based On Rigorous Testing

The best standing desk converters can transform just about any desk or table into an ergonomic, height-adjustable work station if you don’t want to opt for a dedicated standing desk. After testing 10 standing desk converters of different types and sizes, the VariDesk Pro Plus 36 is my top pick because of its easy lifting mechanism and spacious, two-tier design. It also arrives fully assembled, so set-up is a breeze. If you’re looking for a standing desk converter for a mounted monitor and you don’t some assembly, the Uplift E7 comes in multiple configurations and has a motorized lifting mechanism.

Here are all the winners from my testing process:

If you’re stuck with a fixed-height desk or find yourself working at a table or counter, a standing desk converter can help you avoid the well-documented risks of sitting too much. A standing desk converter, also sometimes referred to as a desk riser, rests on any flat surface and has a lift mechanism to raise the converter’s work surface about 15 to 20 inches, on average. When measured from the floor, this means that you’ll have a set-up that matches the height offered by a standing desk.

“The biggest advantage to having a sit/stand workstation is the variety of posture that it allows,” said Lisa Orr, a Certified Professional Ergonomist and a Senior Human Factors Consultant with Sedgwick. With her criteria in mind, I set out to test standing desk converters to find the options that make it easy and appealing to alternate periods of sitting and standing. Ahead, here are the best standing desk converters to introduce more movement to your work life.

The VariDesk Pro Plus 36 distinguished itself as the best standing desk converter I tested based on its sturdy design and smooth lifting mechanism. It’s one of the few converters I tested that comes fully assembled out of the box, making it one of the easiest options to set up (some other models require you to attach things like a keyboard tray or monitor mount before use). You can adjust this model via two levers underneath the work surface using a rowing lift mechanism, which made changing my working position was less of a workout compared to other manual standing desk converters I tried. The spring-assisted lift offsets the weight of the desktop as you pull it up and an upward-and-outward lifting motion means that you don’t have to bend as far over the desk surface as you adjust it, like you do with the other options I tested. There are 11 different height settings for the desktop, with a maximum height of 17.5 inches, too.

Aside from the easy lifting action, what impressed me the most about this standing desk converter is how comfortable it is to use while standing or seated, and the fact that there was enough room for all of my work supplies. The surface area is spacious enough to accommodate a freestanding monitor (or two) and the two-tier design put the keyboard tray in an accessible and comfortable position whether I was sitting or standing. I also liked that the front edge of the keyboard tray is curved, rather than straight, which enables you to stand closer to the desk and requires less reaching across the keyboard tray to access items on the work surface. Only the VariDesk Pro Plus 36 (and the VariDesk Essential 36, which I also tested) offers this feature and I found that it makes the converter more comfortable to use when compared to converters without the posture curve.

When collapsed to its lowest height setting, the standing desk converter is 4.5 inches tall, with the keyboard tray resting on the supporting desk or table. While some other options have a keyboard tray that drops below the level of the table or desk you’re working at (to avoid elevating your forearms when the desk is lowered) I found that this keyboard tray was thin enough that it didn’t pose a problem in keeping a comfortable alignment from elbow-to-wrist while typing. The up-and-out lifting motion does mean that, when utilized in a standing position, this standing desk converter will extend past the front edge of your desk or table and into the room. If you have a small office or cubicle, make sure you’ll have enough clearance to make this converter work in your space (at its max height setting, it measures 41 inches from front to back).

The VariDesk Pro Plus 36 is available in a black, white, or espresso finish. There’s also a 30-inch wide model if you have a more narrow work surface to support the standing desk converter. This model comes with a 5-year warranty.

---

The Uplift E7 offers the highest weight capacity of any standing desk converter I tested and the most space for additional monitors. It holds up to 110 pounds and has a sturdy center column with an integrated single monitor mount, which you can upgrade for dual or triple monitor set-ups. The monitor mount uses the common VESA pattern, so it’s compatible with most monitors, and it holds up to 17.5 pounds. There was no wiggle once I secured my monitor, and I never worried about the monitor shifting or coming loose when adjusting the desk.

The electric lift is the most user-friendly feature of this standing desk converter. During use, I found the motor to be quick and responsive when raising and lowering the desk, which was really easy to do using the touch controller. That’s important to consider, since having multiple monitors will increase the weight when raising or lowering a standing desk converter. I appreciated the ergonomics of the drop-down keyboard tray, which hangs just below the table and put the keyboard in a comfortable position for my elbow to have a 90-degree bend while working. My only complaint is that the keyboard tray bounced slightly when I was typing, though it wasn’t dramatic enough to deter me from work. You can also remove the keyboard tray altogether, since the work surface is large enough to comfortably hold a mouse and keyboard and you don’t have to compete with space for your monitors, since they’re mounted above. Without the keyboard tray attached, this standing desk converter is also a good pick for small work spaces, since the main work surface is 21.5 inches deep (compared to 24 inches or more for some other converters).

While the Uplift E7 may be the beefiest standing desk converter I tested, it also is the heaviest—weighing in at 91 pounds. That’s due in part to the weight of the motor, as well as the solid wood surface. Compared to other standing desk converters I tested with a laminate finish, the wood work surface on this converter looks more high end, and you can pick from a range of finish and color options. Some standing desk converters are light enough to move around as needed (for instance, if you share a desk at your job or like to switch up your work-from-home task space). This pick is one that you’ll likely leave in a stationary spot. It arrives in three boxes and took over an hour to assemble, so expect more hands-on time setting up this standing desk converter when compared to other options that are pre-assembled upon arrival.

---

The Humanscale QuickStand Eco converter offered the fastest and simplest way to adjust my working position in my tests. It’s an intuitively designed sit-to-stand converter that doesn’t rely on levers or lifts that you have to squeeze, push or pull. Instead, this standing desk converter utilizes a counterbalance weight mechanism inside the desk’s sleek center support to keep the work surface raised or lowered as needed. To stand, I only had to gently pull the work surface up with me as I stood from my chair and to sit, I only needed to lightly push down as I returned to my chair.

Based on my testing, I think this converter is optimal for use with a mounted monitor because the counterbalance mechanism includes a separate adjustment for the monitor height, a unique feature among the converters I tested (aside from the Uplift E7, which has an adjustable monitor height but only at the time you mount the monitor). That being said, you can also put your laptop on the work surface if you’re foregoing the mounted monitor. There’s an option for