Turn Even the Tiniest Nook Into an Office With the Best Standing Desks

No longer excited to hunch over the very small vintage table you got off Facebook Marketplace for eight-plus hours? We don’t blame you. Stretch your legs and swap out your stationary find with a shiny new standing desk. These electric- and manual-powered workstations can bring a little movement to your remote day thanks to the simple act of changing from a sitting position to a standing one and add a much welcome change of perspective—because, hey, maybe you can see out the window when you’re on your feet.

We’ve taken into consideration both ergonomics and smart-looking design when it comes to selecting the best standing desks for a home office, as well as assembly, operation, and size. Here are our top picks for any number of WFH lifestyles. 

Our Favorites

• Best for small spaces: Branch Four Leg Standing Desk
• Best budget: FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk
• Best hidden storage: Article Torme Standing Desk
• Best manual: Vivo Hand Crank Home Office Workstation
• Best customizable: Fully Jarvis Standing Desk

Best for Small Spaces: Branch Four Leg Standing Desk

Dimensions: 48-by-27 inches | Adjustable height: 27.3 to 44.6 inches | Shape: Rectangle | Material: Plywood, steel | Weight: 80 pounds | Color: Multiple combinations

Why we chose it: This slim standing desk makes it easy to adjust your position while working from home—even if you’re tight on space.

If you’re already squeezing your WFH setup into a small apartment bedroom or making due in your living room, this slim standing desk will upgrade your work corner. The sleek desk is only 48 inches long, can reach up to 44.6 inches tall, has soft, curved corners. It will likely blend into most interiors, and you can add three preset height options that will get you from sitting to standing without fussing around too much. Plus you can add on accessories like a monitor arm, lamp, and an extra cable organizer.

More Small Space Standing Desks

Best Budget: FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk

Dimensions: 40-by-24 inches, 48-by-24 inches, 48-by-38 inches, 52-by-28 inches, 60-by-24 inches | Adjustable height: 28 to 47.6 inches | Shape: Rectangle | Material: Engineered wood and alloy steel | Weight: N/A | Color: White

Why we chose it: For those who want an ergonomic workspace on a budget.

At less than $200, this standing desk from Flexispot offers all the bells and whistles of an electric-powered workstation without the markup. It comes well reviewed by 8,000-plus shoppers, who note it is sturdy and made with high-quality materials (we’re talking engineered wood and steel versus plastic and particleboard). It’s easy to assemble, too, and reviewers share that the adjustment is smooth and silent. With a low-key beige or white top and white legs, its minimalist style will slip right into most home offices.

More Budget Standing Desks

Best Hidden Storage: Article Torme Standing Desk

Dimensions: 44-by-25.5 inches | Adjustable height: 31.25 to 39 inches | Shape: Rectangle | Material: Solid and veneered wood, MDF, steel | Weight: 45.5 pounds | Color: White oak, smoked oak

Why we chose it: This lift-top standing desk mixes things up with hidden storage and still offers enough adjustment for most people.

One of the main issues with most standing desks is that they lack proper (or any) storage. Not so with this option. You could park this sleek white oak number just about anywhere, since its lift top (which doubles as the standing option) will hide any clutter at the end of the day. Yes, the height-adjustment range is less than 10 inches, but it should still be enough to accommodate most people under 6 feet tall. It’s probably the only standing desk out there that doesn’t scream, “I’m a standing desk!”

More Hidden Storage Standing Desks

Best Manual: Vivo Hand Crank Home Office Workstation

Dimensions: 24-by-43 inches, 24-by-55 inches |  Adjustable height: 27.6 to 46.2 inches | Shape: Rectangle | Material: Engineered wood and steel | Weight: 57 pounds | Color: White

Why we chose it: A minimalist standing desk you can always adjust, even during a power outage.

This standing desk is no frills, requiring a hand-crank to adjust the height, but that also means it’s lighter and less complicated to assemble compared to some of the other motorized options on our list. It’s less expensive, to boot, and its placement doesn’t have to be limited to the proximity of a power outlet. Reviewers rave that it feels sturdy and solid, unlike other basic standing desks out there. All in all, it’s an easy way to add movement to your day—not to mention a little arm workout thanks to the manual adjustments. 

More Manual Standing Desks

Best Customizable: Fully Jarvis Standing Desk

Dimensions: 26-by-54 inches | Adjustable height: 25.5 to 51 inches | Shape: Rectangle | Material: Wood and steel | Weight: ‎110 pounds | Color: Varies

Why we chose it: ‎Need a desk that fits your office to a T? The Fully comes in multiple finishes and sizes, in addition to various preset options, for your perfect match.

While we’re partial to the simple bamboo-and-white-legs combination that this standing desk comes in, there are a plethora of custom choices you can make with Fully, too. With eight desk finishes (bamboo, dark bamboo, black, maple, oak, stone, walnut, and white); four base colors (black, white, alloy, and silver); width options ranging from 30 inches to 72 inches; and depth options from 27 inches to 30 inches, you’re sure to find that perfect fit with the Fully desk. (This includes Floyd’s very own real birch and walnut tops!) Up and down arrows on the touch pad help you secure the most comfortable ergonomic height, and you can preset four options when you find them. The desk’s back also has removable circular disks, which you can use to hide your cords or add a cup for some extra writing utensil storage.

More Customizable Standing Desks

How We Chose These Products

Utilitarian standing desks are a thing of the past, which is why we considered both form and function when it came to our selection. We also consulted ergonomic experts on what to look for to find the most comfortable workstation. From there, we found a number of customizable options in a variety of colors and heights to suit several styles. We also included manual crank options (for those avoiding a powered desk), but still took ease-of-height change into consideration. Special features, like preprogrammed heights and USB ports, gave products an extra edge as well.

Our Shopping Checklist

Electric vs. Manual Standing Desks

There are two main types of standing desks: electric and manual. Electric ones require some sort of power source, which allows the user to simply press a button to change the height of the desk. They are typically more expensive than manual ones, which require you to crank or physically pull up the desk to raise or lower it. However, with a nonelectric option, you won’t need to waste an outlet or worry about a power outage to still use the desk.

Tabletop Size and Design

Most standing desks keep a rectangular shape, but you’ll find some L-shaped and square ones to fit different home office configurations. These options weren’t included, as our selection was meant to fit most home offices. You’ll also find a range of lengths, starting at 35 inches to upwards of 50 inches, to best fit your needs.

Minimum and Maximum Height

Most standing desks have a range of 25 to 50 inches in height range, so you can easily customize it for sitting and standing. But for those over 6 feet tall, it’s a good idea to get a standing desk that raises up to 45 inches; otherwise it may be too short for your wrists to sit comfortably on the surface.

Weight Capacity and Stability

Look for standing desks that can withstand at least 100 pounds of weight, which should be more than enough to hold a computer, monitor, and accessories. In terms of stability, choose a desk made with supportive steel legs to prevent tipping, and a slow yet steady height change so you don’t knock anything over when adjusting height.

Programmability

Some electric standing desks allow you to presave different heights so you can quickly change from your ideal sitting and standing position. Some even allow for multiple preset heights, so multiple users can save their own ergonomic preferences.

Shipping and Assembly

Standing desks can be quite the task to assemble and often ship in multiple boxes. While some offer the option to add on professional assembly for a fee, all include detailed instructions to follow. Or you could always hire a TaskRabbit.

Special Features

Aside from programmability, some standing desks have built-in USB ports and outlets, which make it easier to charge phones and plug-in devices, especially when you have a desk that rises further and further away from a wall outlet. Others may have places for monitor or keyboard attachments.

“You have to make a decision whether you want to place a laptop on it or integrate a keyboard,” says chiropractor Chad Henriksen, D.C., director of WorkSiteRight at Northwestern Health Sciences University. “And my recommendation from an ergonomic standpoint is to integrate a keyboard.” 

Ask Domino

Q: Can I DIY my own standing desk?

If you just aren’t into the mechanical look of ready-made standing desks, try your hand at building one, like designer Shannon Tate-Giordano did. It takes a bit of work, a few tools, and some previous DIY experience, but is well worth it for a beautiful piece of furniture that’s custom-tailored to your height and style needs. 

Here’s what Tate-Giordano did (but if you want the full scoop, view the whole tutorial): Using a table saw, she cut a piece of birch plywood for the top. Then she used a chop saw to cut up pine planks for the base and a support bracket, making all the necessary support pieces. With an electric screwdriver, she attached the top to the base, and later used a nail gun to attach the paneling. Sounds doable? Have at it!

Q: What’s the length of time I should use a standing desk per day?

According to Henriksen, too much sitting or standing isn’t great for anyone, as it can have ill health effects from things like circulation to positional support. By changing position throughout the day, it allows us to be more active and engage different muscles. That’s why he recommends swapping from sitting to standing and vice versa every 20 to 30 minutes.

“Typically there has to be a trigger to remind people to switch, otherwise they’ll be two to three hours into a project and they’ve been sitting the whole time,” he says. “What I find works well, in addition to those prompting opportunities, is to look at your day and say every time, ‘I’m doing an email and I’m going to switch positions,’ and find things that are natural that prompt you.”

Q: How tall should a standing desk be?

For the most comfortable ergonomic positioning, there isn’t an ideal desk height for how tall you are. While there are general ranges, you’ll have to adjust it a bit to get your perfect fit. Henriksen says to find a height where your arms hang at your side, your elbows are at a 90-degree angle, and your wrists sit comfortably on a keyboard in a neutral position. However, if you have any injuries, those should be accounted for as well.

“We all have preexisting conditions or old injuries that make us really more unique than our height and weight and physical dynamics,” he says. “For example, someone who has had rotator cuff surgery needs to take stress off their shoulder, so the keyboard should be lower than a 90-degree angle.”

Q: Do I need an anti-fatigue mat for a standing desk?

Not necessarily. While it can make standing more comfortable, if you’re changing positions regularly, your feet probably won’t be bothered. But think twice about what shoes you wear.

“I think that a far more important aspect to think about is the quality of shoes, and by that I mean, properly fitted shoes that provide support for the heel will probably make a bigger difference than an anti-fatigue mat,” Henriksen explains.

The Last Word

Standing desks can make your at-home workspace more active and ergonomic by moving you from a sitting to a standing position throughout the day. We found that the modern and not-too-long Branch Four Leg Standing Desk would work well for most home offices and/or those who want a no-fuss electric model with quick adjustments.