A standing desk lets you switch between sitting and standing at the press of a button, which breaks up long hours at a screen. Electric sit-stand frames are now quiet and steady enough for a bedroom or living room. Here is what to check before buying: motors, height range, stability, size and how to actually use one.
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Buying guide
Standing desks differ most in what you cannot see in a photo: the frame, the motors and how steady the top stays at full height. Those points matter more than the colour of the desktop.
Most standing desks sold for home use are electric. A crank handle is cheaper and has no motor to fail, but it takes 30 seconds or more of winding, so people tend to stop changing position. Gas-spring frames are quick but suit lighter loads, often a laptop and little else. If you plan to switch several times a day, electric is the practical choice.
A single motor drives both legs through a shaft. It is fine for a smaller top and a light setup. A dual-motor frame has one motor in each leg, lifts more weight, moves a little faster and stays more level under an uneven load, such as two monitors on one side. For a top of 140 cm or more, or a load above 70 kg, dual motor is worth paying for.
Check both ends of the range. Sitting, your elbows should be level with the desktop with your shoulders relaxed; for most adults that means 65 to 75 cm. Standing, the same rule applies at 95 to 125 cm. A frame that goes from about 62 to 127 cm covers people from roughly 1.55 to 1.95 m. Two-stage legs have a narrower range than three-stage legs, which also start lower.
These are starting points. Adjust by a centimetre or two until your wrists stay straight on the keyboard.
Wobble at full height is the most common complaint. A wider foot, a crossbar or a thicker steel frame reduces it, as does a desktop fixed with plenty of screws. Push the top gently from the side at standing height: a small movement is normal, a sway that shakes your monitor is not.
For a laptop and one screen, 120 by 60 cm is enough. With two monitors, go to 140 or 160 cm wide and 70 to 80 cm deep. Laminate and melamine tops are light and hard-wearing; solid wood and veneer look warmer but add weight, so check that the frame's lifting capacity covers the top plus everything you put on it.
Memory presets take you back to your sitting and standing heights in one press, which makes a real difference to how often you switch. Look for a quiet motor, typically under 50 dB, if the desk shares a room with someone asleep or on calls. Anti-collision sensors stop the desk if it meets a windowsill or a chair arm on the way down, and a child lock is useful in a family home.
Everything on the desk travels up and down by around 60 cm, so leave slack in every cable and run them through a tray under the top, with one spine down to the floor. A single extension lead fixed under the desk means only one cable has to move.
Most electric frames arrive flat in two or three boxes and take 30 to 60 minutes to assemble with two people. The frame alone often weighs 25 to 35 kg, so plan where it will go before you unpack. Check that the desktop's pre-drilled holes match the frame, or that the frame can be fitted to a top you already own.
A monitor arm clamped to the back edge moves with the desk, so once the screen is at eye level it stays there in both positions. A footrest is less useful at a standing desk, but an anti-fatigue mat makes a real difference on hard floors. Fix any drawer or tray under the top rather than to the legs, so nothing catches as the desk moves.
A desktop converter sits on an existing desk and lifts the keyboard and screen. It costs less and needs no assembly, but it takes up desk space, lifts less weight and often brings the screen too close. If you work at the desk most days, a full sit-stand frame is the more comfortable long-term choice.
The aim is movement, not standing all day. A common guideline is to change position every 30 to 60 minutes and to build up gradually over the first weeks. Wear supportive shoes or use an anti-fatigue mat, keep the screen at arm's length with its top edge at eye level, and lower the desk when your legs tell you to.
Motors and control boxes are the parts that can fail, so check how long they are covered. Every order here comes with a 2-year warranty, free UK delivery from €89 and 14 days after delivery to change your mind.
At a glance
| Your height | Sitting height | Standing desk height |
|---|---|---|
| 1.60 m | About 66 cm | About 100 cm |
| 1.75 m | About 71 cm | About 110 cm |
| 1.90 m | About 76 cm | About 120 cm |
It helps you break up long periods of sitting, which is the main benefit. Alternating positions matters more than standing for long stretches.
Start with 15 to 30 minutes at a time and change position every 30 to 60 minutes, then build up over a few weeks.
At least 140 cm wide and 70 cm deep, on a dual-motor frame that can carry the screens and any monitor arm.
Electric frames typically run under 50 dB, about as loud as a quiet conversation, and only for the few seconds they move.
Rooms:Home office