Article updated on September 12, 2024 at 6:44 AM PDT
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James Bricknell Senior Editor
James has been writing about technology for years but has loved it since the early 90s. While his main areas of expertise are maker tools -- 3D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters -- he also loves to play board games and tabletop RPGs.
Expertise 3D printers, maker tools such as Cricut style vinyl cutters and laser cutters, and traditional paper printers Credentials
- 6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.
The best executive standing desk
Eureka Ark ES executive desk
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Additional 5% off CNET exclusive applied at checkout on Ark Standing Desk Models
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For those of us who work in an office all day -- be it a home office or a corporate one -- sitting down at one all day, every (work) day is bad for you. Sitting for prolonged periods is linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, and other potential health risks. Scientists are still looking into exactly how much of a health difference standing positions can have against sitting, but standing desks can be quite a useful investment even if you won't stand at one eight hours a day.
Many folks can't avoid working from their desk all day, but standing desks can help avoid the ill effects. Most standing desks have a stable desk frame that lets you adjust the height of your desk so you can choose to sit every now and then. If you have a desk lifestyle and want to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting, here are our picks for the best standing desks, listed below.
I spent hours testing popular models from several different standing desk companies to find the right standing desk for your workspace, ranging from budget sit-stand desks to premium standing desk options.
What is the best standing desk?
Right now, the best standing desk you can buy is the Branch Standing Desk. With 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.
Standing instead of sitting may not lead to weight loss, but it's still shown to help moderate blood sugar faster following a meal and reduce the potential for back or shoulder pain (although you might be trading that for leg or foot pain). Check out these tips on how to position your desk for maximum comfort, whether you're sitting or standing.
I tested a lot of standing desks of various prices, styles and options to get to this list of favorites. Each model is a little different, but they all share one key feature: the ability to raise or lower on demand to suit your specific home office needs.
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, although 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. While the desk can feel a little too business-like -- I bought the white top and white legs -- if you choose one of the warmer woods and the gray 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 list is a great combination.
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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.
Additional 5% off CNET exclusive applied at checkout on Ark Standing Desk Models
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 remember to use them. 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.
I selected desks of different sizes and styles. Some are controlled manually, while others have electric motors for height adjustment. To test each standing desk, I started by building each one and noting the ease or difficulty, including whether I needed help with any of the steps. Then I spent a full day working at each one -- switching between sitting and standing -- making notes when something worked particularly well or caused a problem.
I tested the Seville Classics Airlift Height Adjustable Desk with Glass Top, the Seville Classics Airlift Pro S3 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (no longer available), the Steelcase Solo Sit-To-Stand Desk and the Fezibo Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk with Double Drawer, but they didn't make the cut. The Airlift with Glass Top came close to earning a spot above. It's a beautiful, sturdy desk at a midrange price. It also features a small center drawer for holding the basics. Unfortunately, its built-in touchscreen wasn't very responsive and the two USB-A ports, while theoretically a nice tech feature, are outdated for most of today's phones and tablets.
The Airlift Pro S3 was a decent desk, but it was a little tougher to install than the others in its size range and it had a cheaper-looking finish than the overall winner for best standing desk (the Vari desk).
The Steelcase Solo desk was surprisingly simple to install for its size (the same as the Vari desk). Instead of using screws to install the legs, these simply lock into place. The desk is sturdy, looks nice and is quiet when raising and lowering. The Vari has a more sophisticated control panel and a nicer-looking finish and comes with desk accessories.
The Fezibo model intrigued me due to its built-in storage, but I found this model more difficult to assemble than many of the others. Still, it's a reasonable option if you'd like storage compartments integrated into your desk and two levels: one for holding your monitor and the other for your keyboard and related accessories.
As always, consider your specific needs before you buy a sit-stand desk. Do you have a lot of space and a higher budget? Consider the Vari or Uplift models. The Ikea model is a fantastic midsize manual desk at a great price. Regardless of your home setup, one of these models is bound to suit your needs. If you aren't sold on a standing desk, consider a standing desk converter for your existing desk instead.
As with any new piece of furniture, you'll want to take a little time to balance your needs with the space and budget you have for it.
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Prices range widely for standing desks, but you can find a great one to suit your needs at almost any budget. As noted above, the Ikea Trotten Standing Desk was my favorite option under $350.
Make sure you have enough space for your standing desk before you make your purchase. Don't just consider the room it's going in, either. Also think about the doors, stairwells and other places the box must pass through. It might fit in your planned office space, but if you can't get it up your third-floor walk-up, you'll be in trouble.
All height-adjustable desks have a low and a high range for sitting and standing, but the height adjustment ranges aren't universal across different styles and brands. If you're on the shorter or taller end, certain models might not be comfortable for you, so check the specs beforehand to determine if you'll be comfortable using the desk, both sitting and standing.
An electric standing desk will cost more than a manual standing desk, so your budget will absolutely come into play here, but there's more to consider. Manual desks, which have pneumatic pedals, hand cranks or other manual controls, are lighter and quieter because there's no heavy, noise-making motor mounted under your desk. Manual desks also don't require proximity to an outlet to work. Electric standing desks allow for easy raising and lowering with the press of a button. Some even have digital height readouts so you can always return your desk to the exact same sitting or standing height settings.
Some options (typically the smaller ones) come with wheel attachments for better mobility. Other standing desks allow you to mount the electric or manual height control to the left or right side, to favor your dominant hand. Some even have two levels so you can put a monitor on the higher level and your keyboard and mouse on the lower one. If any of these sound appealing, factor those into your purchase decisions.