New to the market in recent years is the concept of a standing desk. These are higher desks designed to allow you to work standing up. It is thought that a standing desk can have many health benefits – namely better circulation and improved posture. With this in mind, we take a look at eight standing desks available on the market right now and have picked our top three favourite: Manufacturer Fully describes the desk as ‘tough, beautiful, active, earth-conscious—a sit-stand desk built for you and the planet’ and it’s hard to disagree with that statement. The desk is manufactured with a high-density particleboard core which is made from recycled wood fibre. It’s coated with a scratch-resistant laminate and joined with a certified low-VOC, zero urea-formaldehyde water-based adhesives. This means that users can feel confident that their new standing desk will add to any green credentials. But that’s not the only thing that this desk has in its favour. The Jarvis is also fully adjustable up to 127 cm, has a lifting capacity of 158 kg, and an operating noise of less than 50 dB. The resulting impression is that this is a desk that is built to last and offers a wide range of optional extras including programmable memory handsets, wire management grommets and clamp mounted power strips. We tested it in white, with a large bamboo worktop. Assembly was easy, taking about an hour in all. The main legs are extremely heavy and well built; there’s no chance of movement, flex or wobble that can plague cheaper desks. All tools were included, but as with any self-build furniture, a quick cordless screwdriver will save time. The work-surface screws directly into the pillars. Flexispot provided a bamboo finish for our review, which, beyond it’s eco-credentials, is both gorgeous and modern. The surface is hard and unlikely to be damaged by normal use. It comes with a Sanodesk control unit, which can remember four height settings (useful if you share the desk with someone else), has a child lock, and is calibrated to stop if the desk meets unexpected resistance while moving. The movement is swift, almost silent and extremely ‘reassuring’. I set up with four screens and two heavy speakers on my desk, and the Flexispot E7 had no problem moving up and down with confidence. According to Flexispot, the maximum load is an impressive 125kg. In terms of range, the Flexispot E7 can set a surface from 58cm, up to 123cm. For me, standing 180cm tall, this means that the highest setting is well outside what would be comfortable, making the Flexispot E7 suitable for even the tallest individuals. The Flexispot E7 is one of our favourites. Sitting seamlessly on your existing desk, it’s a small, lightweight workstation that can be used as a trial before taking the plunge into standing desks. The desk adjusts from 5.5 cm through to 41 cm, so it’s also an effective tool for those looking for a computer riser to help them cope with postural issues caused by looking down at a laptop. Weighing in at just 10 kg, yet an impressive 78.5 cm length and 52 cm width, it’s surprisingly spacious, giving you ample room to add a keyboard and monitor. With no assembly required, and at such a low starting point, this is a perfect choice for those who are interested in the concept of standing desks but aren’t quite sure if they are keen enough to make a deep investment. We liked the black frame, it looked stylish and didn’t overwhelm the desk space. It’s also impressive to know that you can adjust the height to a place that suits you, rather than rely on pre-set height ranges. In our view, this is a versatile product that can be used to improve the height of your computer whilst sitting, as well as converting it into a full-blown standing desk. What’s not to love about that? Those who spend considerable time sitting down may be at risk of illnesses and diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or back problems caused by poor posture. Alternatively, standing up whilst working can make a huge difference to your overall health and wellbeing. Simply standing up at work for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time can help to reduce back pain, improve circulation and even burn more calories. Over the course of a week, standing up for 30-minute increments can add up to 4 hours a day, 20 hours a week or 100 hours a month – proving how making a small change can make a big difference.
What Are the Key Considerations When Choosing a Standing Desk?
Height-adjustable desks are becoming increasingly mainstream and, as a result, options are available for all budgets. To help you decipher which is the best type of standing desk for your needs, here are some key considerations which you may wish to think about:
User height. It stands to reason that people of different heights may need different desks; after all, someone who is only 5 ft may struggle using a colleague’s desk if they are 6 ft3. Although adjustable desks can differ, it’s worth considering the maximum height capabilities. You will also need to factor in stability; the higher the desk is set, the less sturdy it may be. The last thing you want is something which could wobble as you work. Size of the desk. It’s not just the height you need to consider, it’s also the desk dimensions. There is a wide range of standing desks available on the market, from small to large. You may need to factor in what you plan to have on your desk before making your decision. If you constantly work across two screens, it stands to reason that you may need more room. You may choose to benefit from an option with plenty of added-on features such as wire control, privacy screens or even power plugs. Functionality. Some sit to stand desks require manual adjustments, whilst others are electric and can change at the push of a button. If you’re working in a busy office environment, you may need to consider the functionality of the adjustment – will it take a long time or make a lot of noise? Is it possible to adjust the height with all of your equipment on top? Will your computer wires get in the way? Many standing desks incorporate a memory function, allowing you to pre-set your preferred height settings. This not only ensures a consistent height pattern but could be a beneficial asset if you are sharing a desk with a colleague. Style vs substance. It may sound shallow, but looks do count for a lot, particularly when it comes to the look and feel of your office. The growth in popularity of standing desks means that more options are available than ever before. You can choose your colour, your choice of frame, the material of the desktop… the options are endless. Assembly. Many standing desks require tricky assembly due to the electrical components. Some manufacturers or distributors may offer installation at a fee, whilst others will rely on your knowledge and capability. You may wish to consider this as a factor – particularly if assembly requires a team of people.
Other Standing Desks We Reviewed
Although we’ve already listed our three favourite standing desks at the top of this article, we know that different people require different functions. Here are a few other popular standing desks which have been highly rated by users: With options in black, dark wood and white, there is a choice for users to find the right solution for their office space and with a programmable memory setting for two different height positions, users can choose their preferred sit or stand desk heights. Despite its small width size – the Yo-Yo desk ranges from a mere 68 cm through to 120 cm – the Yo-Yo desk packs a punch and users can choose between stylish black or white options. The Yo-Yo desk was seen as so effective, it was featured on the BBC documentary, How to Stay Young. With a background in ergonomic design, Yo-Yo understands that for a desk to be used effectively, the comfort of the user needs to be at the forefront of its design. That’s why they have created a desk that is not only affordable, but it’s core functionality as an adjustable height desk is designed to be as easy as possible. With a dual gas-spring, the desk can transform its height in just a few seconds. The MAIDeSite expands up to 120 cm which is amongst the lowest of some of the standing desks that we’ve tested; however, the desktop itself can range between 120 and 140 cm in width which compares to Flexispot’s 100 cm width. So, it is larger, and it can hold a weight of up to 80 kg, compared to Flexispot’s 70 kg. We like the fact that this frame offers a three-memory pre-set option. Knowing what height suits different people is hugely appreciated, particularly if you are sharing your workspace with a colleague. We also appreciated the low 50 dbs volume, it was one of the quietest standing desks that we tested. Overall, we highly rated the MAIDeSite as a standing desk. The ability to purchase a dedicated desktop, or source one elsewhere, gives it good custom options and the low price point makes it a firm choice with the WikiJob team. Whilst they clearly won’t offer the same options as the costlier models, an IKEA desk could be a great introduction to standing desks. Top of the pile is the SKARSTA – an incredibly low-cost option, with prices for a 120 x 70 cm desk starting at just £195, whilst the 160 cm v 80 cm comes in at £215. Although this is a manually adjustable desk (you change the height via a crank handle), it may be an option if you are looking to see whether standing desks are worth investing in. There are two sizes available – 120 cm x 67.5 cm and 120 cm x 80 cm which means that you can find a size that suits your office space. The white color choice looks modern and fresh and we appreciated the stabilizing bar which helps to ensure that both sides of the desk rise at an equal time. Where this desk falls down is the low weight limit. The gas spring mechanism only works if the desk weighs less than 15 kg. Therefore, if you have lots of things on your desk and the total weight exceeds 15 kg, you will have to use the manual lift to raise the desk height. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a problem, it does pull down the impact of the desk. In our opinion, we would rather pay a little more money and choose the Flexispot EC1 Frame and custom desktop which is more effective. When deciding which desk to invest in, you may need to think about how you plan to use it. If you think that you may be regularly switching between heights, then a programmable option is worth its weight in gold. But if you’re unsure if standing work is the right solution for you, then you may want to consider investing in a desk extension or a low-cost alternative such as IKEA’s SKARSTA.
