Best standing desks in 2024: Top picks for your home office

best standing desks
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Switching from a regular desk to one of the best standing desks is not only better for your health but doing so can also make for the perfect upgrade for your home office.

I’ve built and tested more than a dozen standing desks by myself to help you find the right model for your needs and budget. Based on our in-depth reviews, the best standing desk overall is the Vari Electric Standing Desk. It's easy and quick to assemble, features an elegant design and comes with useful accessories to make your life easier. If you're on a tight budget though, the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk can be had for just over $100 and still checks all the right boxes.

Below you'll find everything you need to know about the best standing desks you can get today and learn more about our testing process. Whether you want a compact standing desk for a small space or even one with drawers for storage, there's something here for every budget and use case.

The quick list

The best standing desks you can buy today

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The best standing desk overall

The best standing desk overall

Specifications

Surface size: 60 x 30 inches
Min/Max height: 25 - 50.5 inches
Max supported weight: 200 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Simple to assemble
+
Clean and elegant design
+
Useful accessories included

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as many configuration options as other models

The Vari Electric Standing Desk stood out immediately for its gorgeous work surface, which not only looked better than the competition, but was thicker, too. I especially liked its chamfered edges, and the fact that Vari throws in two hooks — so you can hang your purse or a set of headphones — as well as a coaster to protect its surface. What’s more, the company also offers a range of accessories, from power strips to cable-management trays to monitor arms, to fully outfit your desk.

If you’re not particularly enamored with the reclaimed wood of our review model, the company offers a variety of other materials, including white, butcher block, black, and darkwood. While not as varied as other standing desks on this page, each option was very attractive. The model I reviewed also came with a programmable control panel that let me set four preset heights for the desk, and had a small LCD readout that displayed its height. It’s a feature you can get with most standing desks, and it’s one worth spending a bit more on.

What especially impressed me about the Vari desk was the ease with which I was able to put it together. It took about 15 minutes total to get everything assembled, about half the time as other standing desks I've tested. If you’re not particularly handy, this is definitely the standing desk for you. 

Read our full Vari Electric Standing Desk review.

Best standing desk for features

A premium standing desk at a reasonable price

Specifications

Desktop size: 48 x 24, 48 x 30, 55 x 28, 60 x 24, 60 x 30, 72 x 30, 80 x 30 inches
Min/max height: 22.8 to 48.4 inches
Max supported weight: 355 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Quiet dual motors
+
Excellent cable management tray
+
Keypad has a USB charging port

Reasons to avoid

-
More assembly required
-
Only the fiberboard desktop has grommets

The Flexispot E7 Pro Plus is a dual-motor, electric standing desk that packs in plenty of premium features for the price. Besides a metal cable management tray that makes it easy to run wires up to the top of the desk, it's keypad also has a USB port so that you can charge your smartphone, tablet and other devices while working. This is one of my favorite features and one I wish more standing desks would adopt as well.

Flexispot makes it easy to customize the E7 Pro Plus with plenty of different desktop materials to choose from and a range of desktop sizes that go all the way from 48 x 24 inches up to 80 x 30 inches. Although building the desk isn't as easy as putting the Vari Electric Standing Desk, the assembly process was pretty straightforward and all of the tools you'll need are included. I finished building this desk in just over 30 minutes. With a maximum height of 48.4 inches and minimum height of 22.8 inches, the E7 Pro Plus can accommodate a wide range of users.

Read our full Flexispot E7 Pro Plus review.

The best budget standing desk

The best standing desk for those on a budget

Specifications

Surface size: 40 x 24 to 63 x 24 inches
Min/Max height: 27.5 to 46.9 inches
Max supported weight: 176 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to assemble
+
Three preset settings
+
Hook for hanging accessories

Reasons to avoid

-
Single motor 
-
No child lock settings

The Fezibo Electric Standing Desk is a great option for people who want to upgrade to a standing desk on a shoestring budget. To reach its low price of just over $200, Fezibo had to make some cuts which is why this desk has a single motor and lacks the child lock settings you'll find on more expensive models. Still though, the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk can support up to 176 pounds (79kg) and has a maximum height of 46.9 inches and a minimum height of 27.5 inches. I was really impressed with just how many more premium features this desk has like its control panel with an LED display.

While the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk is my new budget pick, during testing it felt sturdy at all times and was still relatively quiet even with a single motor. I also like how there's a hook at the back of the desk that can be used for hanging your headphones, cables or other accessories. Also, there is a cable management tray available but you will need to purchase it separately.

Read our full Fezibo Electric Standing Desk review.

The best compact standing desk

The best standing desk for smaller workspaces

Specifications

Desktop size: 36-48 x 24 inches
Min/max height: 28 - 47.8 inches
Max supported weight: 275 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
OLED control paddle
+
Built-in reminders to stand
+
Optional desk drawer and cable organizer

Reasons to avoid

-
Only two height presets can be stored at a time

The Branch Duo Standing Desk is Branch's second standing desk and it features a number of improvements over its predecessor such as a frameless design that leaves extra space for an optional desk drawer. There's also a new OLED control paddle that reminds you when it's time to stand up. Branch even offers an optional cable management tray that affixes to the back of the desk along with a custom power strip that screws onto the back of the desk.

Besides these new improvements, one of the things I really like about the Duo standing desk is that in addition to a 48 x 25-inch version, there's also a much more compact 36 x 24-inch model which is great for smaller workspaces and apartments. Branch also includes reusable inserts for this desk so that it's easy to disassemble if you have to move. The Duo Standing Desk pairs well with the new Branch Verve Chair too.

Read our full Branch Duo Standing Desk review.

The best standing desk for gaming

A standing desk for gamers with a strong focus on cable management

Specifications

Desktop size: 59.1 to 27.6 inches, 70 to 31.5 inches
Min/max height: 25.6 to 49.2 inches
Max supported weight: 265 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Clean, all-metal design
+
Very easy to assemble
+
Integrated power
+
Full-length cable management tray

Reasons to avoid

-
No additional color options
-
Only available in large and extra large sizes

The Secretlab Magnus Pro may be aimed at gamers but I'd argue it's a fantastic standing desk for just about everyone and especially sticklers for cable management like myself. This dual-motor electric standing desk also has a very clean design thanks in part to the fact that it's control box, keypad and all of the cables that connect them together are housed within the desk itself.

The same can be said for the Magnus Pro's power. Instead of hanging down the back of the desk, the left leg has an integrated power supply column. You just plug the power cable in at the back of the left leg and there's even an AC outlet in the desk's built-in cable management tray to plug a surge protector into. This cable management tray runs across the entire back of the Magnus Pro. It also features a hinged cover that makes it easy to tidy up your cables and plug in new devices without having to move your desk away from the wall.

The Magnus Pro's frame is made of metal while its desktop is wrapped in metal. This lets you attach a number of magnetic accessories like Secretlab's MAGPAD desk mat protectors and its cable anchors. The Magnus Pro starts at $799 but you will need plenty of space for this desk as it comes in large and extra large but not in a medium or small configuration. If you have the space for it, this is a fantastic standing desk for both gamers and those working from home.

Read our full Secretlab Magnus Pro review.

The best L-shaped standing desk

A solid, well-built L-shaped standing desk for maximizing your space

Specifications

Desktop size: 80 x 60 inches
Min/max height: 25 to 50.5 inches
Max supported weight: 200 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Spacious
+
Solid and stable
+
Adjusts quickly and easily
+
Tons of great accessories included

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy and bulky

The Vari L-Shape Electric Standing Desk combines the best parts of the company’s Electric Standing Desk and its Curve Electric Standing Desk to provide you with a massive workspace and a curved edge for improved comfort. It has the same solid build quality and responsiveness that Vari is known for and you also get some useful freebies with the desk like hooks for your headphones and a coaster to protect its desktop.

Unlike a standard electric standing desk, the Vari L-Shape Electric Standing Desk is made from three pieces: a long piece, a shorter piece and a corner piece. There’s some flexibility in how you want to set up the desk too as you can choose which side to mount the corner and short piece to. This makes the Vari L-Shape Electric Standing Desk more versatile but be warned, assembly is slightly more complicated as you’re dealing with more pieces. Likewise, once you get this desk built and in place, you’re not going to want to move it unless you have to as it is quite heavy and bulky when complete.

Still though, the Vari L-Shape Electric Standing Desk is perfect for people that want to have their computer, monitor and all of their accessories in one place. For instance, our tester really liked how he was able to put his printer on the desk’s corner and have the shorter side of his desktop free for other projects. If storage is something you’re worried about, don’t be as Vari sells drawers, bins and other optional accessories for this desk. If you want as much desk space as possible and don’t plan on moving anytime soon, the Vari L-Shape Electric Standing Desk could be the perfect way to make the most out of your space.

Read our full Vari L-Shape Electric Standing Desk review.

The best standing desk for customization

A standing desk with loads of customization options

Specifications

Desktop size: 42 x 30 inches
Min/max height: 25.3 to 50.9 inches
Max supported weight: 355 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Loads of customization options
+
Supports a lot of weight
+
Fairly quiet when moving

Reasons to avoid

-
Customization options can be confusing for first time buyers

I’ll admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of the walnut veneer that came with the Uplift V2 standing desk I reviewed. Fortunately, Uplift offers the desk in a variety of surfaces, from laminate to bamboo to solid mahogany; there’s even a whiteboard option, in case you like the idea of writing on the desk itself. 

Like the Fully Jarvis, the Uplift can support up to 350 pounds, the most among the standing desks I've tested so far. It also took about half an hour to assemble for me to assemble which isn't too long at all but still not as easy as putting the Vari standing desk together. Ultimately, the Uplift is a very good standing desk, but not my favorite model. However, if you want a desk you can sleep as well as work at, Uplift also sells an under-desk hammock but it's only compatible with the wider models of the V2. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to try it out myself but it's one of the most talked about features in the reviews on Uplift's website.

Read our full Uplift V2 standing desk review.

The best curved standing desk

A standing desk that's as easy to customize as it is to build

Specifications

Surface size: 24 x 42-inches to 27 x 54-inches
Min/Max height: 28 to 47 inches
Max supported weight: 220 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
build-in headphone hook
+
Simple and easy assembly
+
Regular or concave desktop
+
Multiple customization options

Reasons to avoid

-
Loud motors

The X-Chair Standing Desk is a dual-motor electric standing desk that's highly customizable but also very easy to put together. Available directly from X-Chair at around $500, this standing desk is available in two sizes: 24 x 48 inches or 27 x 54 inches. You also have plenty of desktop and leg color options plus, you can upgrade from a rectangular to a curved desktop without paying too much extra.

I found that the X-Chair Standing Desk was very easy to put together and all told, it took me about 10 minutes using the included Allen wrench. Its digital keypad has four programmable height presents and comes standard but you will have to purchase a cable management tray separately. There's also a built-in headphone hook and the curved desktop let me sit closer to my monitor while working. If you want an easy to assemble, dual-motor standing desk that you can tailor to your workspace, the X-Chair Standing Desk is an excellent choice.

Read our full X-Chair Standing Desk review.

The best standing desk for storage

A smart standing desk with drawers and USB ports

Specifications

Surface size: 47 x 24 inches
Min/Max height: 29.5 - 49.2 inches
Max supported weight: 88 pounds
Electric: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Deep drawers
+
3 USB ports
+
Built-in cable management

Reasons to avoid

-
No customization options
-
Only two color options available

The Realspace Smart Electric Height-Adjustable Desk sets itself apart from the other standing desks on this list in a few ways. Not only is it a smart standing desk you can control with an app or your voice thanks to Google Assistant and Alexa support, it also has fairly large drawers for storage and three USB ports on the side for charging your devices. The Realspace smart standing desk comes pre-assembled for the most part and I just needed to install the legs and its keypad which took about half an hour.

The built-in drawers gave me more than enough space to store a laptop and other accessories. However, the design of the Realspace smart standing desk limits the amount of weight it can hold to 88 pounds. This should be more than enough for most people’s needs but if you want to use a bulky gaming PC and multiple monitors, you’ll be better off with one of the other standing desks on this list like the Uplift V2 or the Vari standing desk.

Read our full Realspace Smart Electric Height-Adjustable Desk review.

Other standing desks we've reviewed

Vari Curve Electric Standing Desk - Like the original Vari Electric Standing Desk, the Vari Curve Electric Standing Desk is one of our favorites. While it was our top recommendation for a bit there, this particular model has now been discontinued and replaced by the Vari Electric Standing Desk with ComfortEdge. It doesn’t have the same curve but it does have the waterfall edge the company first introduced with its Curve Electric Standing Desk.

EverDesk Max - The EverDesk Max is from the Sinaporean company NorthDay which also makes the ErgoTune Supreme V3. This electric standing desk is just as customizable as the Uplift V2 but you will need to purchase accessories like the cable tray, pegboard panel and cable spine separately in one of NorthDay’s bundles. This is worth doing though as these accessories add a lot of extra storage and allow you to fully customize this desk to your liking. 

IKEA Trotten - The IKEA Trotten is by no means a bad standing desk but it is a manual one and we’ve chosen to prioritize electric standing desks for this guide. This means that instead of pushing a button, you need to manually turn a crank to adjust its height which can get tiring real fast. If you are in the market for a manual standing desk, I’d suggest you take a look at pneumatic ones instead as you just need to lift them or push them down to adjust their height.

Fully Jarvis Bamboo - The Fully Jarvis Bamboo is a nice-looking standing desk with plenty of customization options when it comes to the desktop as well as accessories. It costs as much as the Vari Electric Standing Desk which we think is a better standing desk overall and a lot easier to assemble.

FlexiSpot EC1 - The FlexiSpot EC1 is still available at some third-party online retailers but it has been officially discontinued by FlexiSpot. Still, we were really impressed by how well this budget desk performed in our testing along with the customization options. If you’re interested in the EC1 but want to buy this desk directly from the company, FlexiSpot has replaced it with the FlexiSpot E2 which is slightly more expensive.

IKEA Bekant Standing Desk - The IKEA Bekant is a nice looking standing desk that we think costs a bit too much for what you get. For instance, its keypad is quite basic with only an up and down button and its cable management tray is made out of mesh instead of metal. Still though, if you’re a fan of that IKEA look and want to get all of your home office furniture in one trip to the store, it could be worth considering.

Written by
Anthony Spadafora
Written by
Anthony Spadafora

Anthony Spadafora has spent the past five years working from home exclusively and during that time, he's tested dozens of standing desks, office chairs and other work from home accessories. While he oversees all of our networking and security coverage at Tom's Guide, Anthony has a penchant for home office furniture and working on desk setups.

How to choose the best standing desk for you

Although the best standing desks share many similarities, there are a few factors that you should consider before buying one which I'll go into more detail below. Getting the right standing desk for your space and needs the first time will be a lot easier than building one, finding out it isn't for you and then having to return it.

Using the whiteboard desktop on the Uplift V2

(Image credit: Future)

Surface material 

Pretty much every standing desk can be ordered in a variety of materials, with prices to match. Laminate surfaces — that is, a veneer of wood overtop a core — tend to be the least expensive, while solid-core desks made from oak, maple, mahogany or some other wood type will cost more. Bamboo desks straddle the middle, and are not only a good compromise, but are very durable. 

Stability 

The higher you raise a standing desk, the greater potential there is for it to wobble or fall over, especially if there are a lot of heavy items on it. If you can, it’s worth checking out a standing desk in person, raising it to its maximum height and then rocking it back and forth to see how it manages.

Vari Electric Standing Desk in black

(Image credit: Future)

Minimum and maximum height
This is the range with which the standing desk’s height can be raised or lowered. Most will fall between 25 inches to around 50 inches; better desks will have a wider range, though the difference will usually only be a few inches on either end. 

Maximum weight supported
If you’re planning to use your standing desk to hold more than just your computer — maybe you want to sit on it — then you’ll want to pay attention to its maximum supported weight. Smaller, less expensive desks won’t be able to hold as much weight as more expensive models. 

Ease of assembly
When it comes to putting together a standing desk, all you need is a screwdriver and a little patience. All of the models I've tested came with the requisite screws, Allen wrenches, and clear instruction manuals. Still, some desks are easier to put together than others, and most — especially those with larger tops — will require a second person to help, especially when flipping them over.

Motorized or non-motorized?
How much work do you want to put into raising and lowering your standing desk? The vast majority of standing desks are motorized, meaning all you have to do is press a button to change the height of the desk. However, if you want to save some money — and you don't plan on moving the desk much — then you might want to check out a manual standing desk. Many of these desks have a hand crank that you'll have to turn. You won't need arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you will have to do a little work. However, there are also pneumatic standing desks that you only need to lift the desktop up or push it down to adjust their height. They're slightly more expensive but I think they're certainly worth it in the long run.

Flexispot E7 Pro Plus control panel

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Customization options 

Apart from the surface size and material, the better standing desk companies will also offer a variety of ways in which you can customize your desk. These can include attachments such as cable-management trays — the one accessory that you should get with a standing desk — different co