These sit-to-stand desks are comfortable, easy to use, good for your health and tested by our CNET experts.
When you allow your body to get a little extra movement in the day with a standing desk you will see a few health benefits. Although it isn't going to move your weight loss goals forward, using a standing desk can help regulate blood sugar levels after meals, ease discomfort from prolonged sitting and improve overall focus. Changing your body posture from time to time allows you to fight stiffness and fatigue. cable hole cover
We put popular brands like Eureka, Ikea, Branch and Uplift to the test, evaluating everything from height adjustability and ease of assembly to quality and price. Whether you’re seeking better ergonomics, a boost in productivity or just the flexibility to stand while you work, our top picks will help you find the perfect desk to fit your needs.
In our testing, I found one desk that stands out among the others, the Branch Standing Desk. It has a mid-level price tag and high-end build quality, the Branch fits most people's standing desk needs perfectly. It has four programmable heights, and the base is so sturdy the desk feels solid even at full extension.
At first glance, the Branch standing desk looks pretty generic, but the level of craftsmanship is apparent on closer inspection. All of the materials feel premium with a weight that only comes from good engineering.
Putting it together was simple and only took about 30 minutes, though I think having two people would reduce that significantly. It was also extremely well packaged -- something that Branch does with all its products -- so it was in top shape once I had it all together.
The Branch desk can remember four separate heights and has a handy cable door at the back to keep your desk clear and tidy. The desk can feel a little too business-like, but if you choose one of the warmer woods and the grey legs it will likely fit into your home office better.
If you are furnishing an office then the Branch desk and Verve office chair from our best office chairs is a great combination.
The Ikea Trotten is an excellent option when you need a larger standing desk but don't want to spend too much money. This simple sit-stand desk nails the basics. This standing desk option is relatively easy to install, but I did need help screwing in some stubborn hardware -- and flipping over the completed desk after finishing the setup. The Trotten measures 47.25 by 27.5 inches. It has a sturdy, easy-to-clean work surface made of particleboard and fiberboard, as well as a steel base for a stable standing desk.
This adjustable standing desk model doesn't have electric controls to raise or lower the desk height, but the manual hand crank (which can be mounted on the right or the left side), was easy to turn for adjustments. When you're done using it, you can slide it back under the desk.
I haven't had much luck finding desks that could be called executive. To be an executive desk requires a product to feel expensive and add some class to the room it is in. Most of the desks I've tested for this category have fallen behind that mark, with some of them missing parts or looking cheap despite the price tag. Not the Ark ES from Eureka though. After the (admittedly very long) build, the desk looks amazing and is incredibly sturdy. It feels like a desk you keep for decades, rather than a few years.
The standing part of the desk works well, with sensors to stop the desk from going down too far, and it even has a nice pop-up USB hub for charging your phone and tablet. All around, the Ark ES is one of the nicest desks I've used. If you're looking for something to give your home office some gravitas, this is the desk for you.
I have used a lot of desks throughout my career, but I can honestly say I've never used a desk quite like the Magnus Pro XL. It is at once the most industrial-looking table, while also giving off huge gamer energy. Measuring 70 inches long and made almost exclusively of metal parts, this desk is not meant for one-person assembly. It took nearly two hours to put it all together, but once it was finished, it was a work of art. It has a five-setting standing system, and the motors are some of the quietest I've heard while testing. The motion is smooth, and even though the desk weighs quite a lot, it rises quickly and without hassle.
I never thought of using a standing desk for gaming before, but it really helps to break up the hours of sitting. If you can manage the cost of getting the extras I would recommend it. The cable management is already excellent with the built-in power supply unit, as well as the large trench down the back, but the optional magnetic conduit lets you hide all of your wiring sins. I especially liked the PC mount that connects your gaming tower to the leg, making it rise with the table so your cables don't get stretched as the desk moves.
The cost of this desk is my only sticking point. Fully loaded, it will set you back $1,700, although you could reduce that with fewer optional extras. If gaming is your job and you need a large desk to help you, I cannot recommend the Magnus Pro XL enough.
The Branch Duo is the company's latest line of standing desks and uses a very simple control mechanism to set heights. The display is simple and clean, and all of the accessories just ooze quality. Building it was simple, taking less than 30 minutes, and the size is perfect for smaller spaces. It's big enough for a couple of smaller monitors or one big one, with plenty of room on the top for a laptop. I especially like the notifications that you can set to remind you to stand or sit throughout the day. Standing desks are designed to help with your health, but they only work if you rememebr to do it! The Branch Duo removes that problem.
Not only was this model easier to install than expected (you only need a few tools, and Uplift includes accessories for no extra cost to organize all those pesky device cables), but it was by far the most customizable standing desk of the bunch.
You have the basic options, including five desk sizes, a handful of frame colors (gray, dark gray, white or black) and over two dozen desktops, ranging from laminate (most affordable) to solid wood. From there, you can add multiple additional accessories, such as grommet covers that screw into either side of the desk for additional storage, outlets and more. There are also five different keypads to choose from in a black finish, three different keypad options in gray and white and a wireless foot switch accessory if you'd like to raise and lower your desk via a pedal at your feet (in addition to the keypad).
I tested the 48 by 30-inch model with a white frame and rubberwood desktop, complete with one cupholder grommet and one power grommet (the power grommet brings two outlets up your desktop so you can more easily charge your phone or other handheld devices) and a paddle keypad you can press up or down to raise/lower your desk. Overall it's an excellent, sturdy desk that seems durable enough to stand up to years of use. Again, if the $569 price doesn't scare you away, consider adding the Uplift Standing Desk V2 to your shortlist.
The Branch Four Leg Standing Desk is a great, lightweight desk that is made with quality materials. From the moment you get it out of the box and begin putting it together, you can tell these parts are ones that will last. The touch screen is very quick to respond, making it easy to make small adjustments to the height, and it displays what height you currently have it at so you can see how much adjustment you may want to make. You can have it memory set to three different heights.
Many standing desks only have two legs, as that can tend to make for a smoother transition from sitting to standing height since there are less moving parts. However, this four-leg desk has no trouble with sturdy and stable movement. An added benefit to the desk is its very sleek, customizable appearance with two leg color and four desktop options. If you're looking for a desk for a more mobile setup for working from a laptop or a writing desk this can easily camouflage as a side table while you're not working.
Putting this together was a fairly quick job, taking only an hour for me to do alone, and it did come with all the tools you need. But I would recommend having someone help as it would probably cut the time in half and prove a little easier with the weight of the legs. Be sure to pay close attention to the instructions as it can be easy to get too ahead of yourself and do some pieces backwards.
1 3 4 desk grommet Many people aren’t getting enough exercise or physical activity daily. Humans are spending more and more time working at our desks -- whether at home or in the office -