Best standing desks of 2022

The best standing desks are perfect for any home office. Consider the alternative: no matter how much research you do ahead of time, there’s simply no way to ascertain how comfortable — or how cramped — a traditional office desk may be until you try it out yourself for a few weeks. And in order to do that, somebody (probably you) needs to assemble a damn desk in your abode. This can be a daunting task, and an exercise in frustration if you get your measurements wrong. Call me crazy, but there are only so many hours of blood, sweat, and tears a person can put into a 300-pound Wayfair purchase before Consumer Stockholm Syndrome inevitably sets in.

Enter the best standing desks of 2022.

Once you settle on the best standing desk for your lifestyle, check out our top picks for the best college laptops, best business laptops, best gaming laptops, or best gaming monitors to put on top of it. Regardless of your use case, pivoting between productivity and play has never been easier.

What are the best standing desks?

The Flexispot Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk (EG8) earned an Editor’s Choice award at the time of its review, and it might just be the best investment you ever make for your home office; the beautiful tempered glass tabletop is just as elegant as it is functional. A stabilization bar, built-in USB ports, and useful anti-collision feature put this standing desk at the top of the heap, making it our top pick.

Take a gander at the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk, too. Thanks to multiple customization options, eco-friendly build materials, and sturdy construction, this electric powerhouse is one solid investment, and it's easy on the eyes. The Flexispot Kana Bamboo Standing Desk is also fantastic, offering great safety features, a gorgeous beige desktop, and reliable lift mechanics.

The WFH Creators Standup Desk takes customization to another level — or several levels, depending on how you configure it. This unique standing desk is like a giant jigsaw puzzle of productivity for your home office or dorm room.

The best standing desks you can buy today

1. Flexispot Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk (EG8B)

Our favorite standing desk doubles as an adjustable power station

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: 110 pounds | Height Range: 28.3 to 47.6 inches | Desktop Size: 48 x 24 x 1.7 inches

Beautiful tempered glass tabletop

3 USB built-in charging ports

Excellent anti-collision feature

Uber-easy assembly

Somewhat heavy, bulky

Working from home sure is en vogue these days, but not every home is conducive to work. That all changes when you’ve got a standing desk behind...err, in front of you. The Flexispot EG8’s gorgeous tempered glass tabletop will look sharp in any home office, and the built-in ports (three Type-A USB and one Type-C USB) turn the desk into a 54-watt charging station. A stabilization bar keeps the whole thing in place with each adjustment, and the anti-collision function works like a charm.

The Flexispot EG8 is more than just a standing desk: it’s the workstation you never knew you needed. If you’re looking for a super-slick tabletop that supports a healthier lifestyle, Flexispot has you covered.

See our full Flexispot Comhar All-in-One Standing Desk (EG8B) review. (Both of them.)

2. Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk

A fully customizable standing desk that's ahead of the curve

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: 350 pounds | Height Range: 24.5 to 50 inches | Desktop Size: 48 x 30 x 0.8 inches to 72 x 30 x 0.8 inches

Gorgeous, sustainable desktop

Sturdy electric motors

Lots of customization options

Fully customized can hit $1,000+

Whether you’re commuting into an office or working from home, a standing desk is a game-changer. But the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk takes things to another level. (Or two.) This desk is made from sustainable materials that lend a sophisticated air; the dual motors are quiet, and switching between heights is a quick, seamless process. Best of all, it can support up to 350 pounds. That means you can load up your workspace with all the peripherals you please.

Speaking of which, Fully Jarvis’ customization options can quickly bump the price up to an exorbitant amount. But if you have a power drill and some patience, this allows you to build your ideal desk piece by piece. Overall, if you’re looking for the best standing desk that looks great and offers tons of functionality, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than the Fully Jarvis Standing Desk.

See our full Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk review. 

3. WFH Creators Stand Up Desk

A fully functional jigsaw puzzle for grown-ups

Desk Type: Manual adjusting | Weight Capacity: 100 pounds | Height Range: 29 to 45 inches | Desktop Size: 31.5 x 21.7 inches

Unique jigsaw puzzle design

More than 1,000 configuration options

Solid build materials

Add-ons add up

The WFH Creator's Stand Up Desk is much chunkier than your average comedian, but it's also the perfect workstation for that particular profession. Billed as "the ultimate choice for entrepreneurs and creatives alike," this standing desk's Birchwood ply pieces fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and it can be custom-configured to suit virtually any living space. Plus, when the Creator's Stand Up Desk isn't in use, you can easily take it apart, stack the pieces on top of each other, and slip them under your bed.

WFH Desks makes it easy to expand your primary workspace, too. For example, there's a footrest add-on; various wing shelf attachments; and other desk modules to expand your desktop's usable space.  For an extra $129, you can even add a desk pad to keep that shiny surface protected.

The Creators Stand Up Desk bundles comes with one WFH Desk, one top shelf, one Laptop Lifter wing, and two wing shelves. Once assembled, what to build next is up to you.

See our full WFH Creator's Stand Up Desk review. 

4. Flexispot Kana Bamboo Standing Desk

An all-around great desk for a lower price

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: Up to 355 pounds | Height Range: 22.8 to 48.4 inches | Desktop Size: 48 x 24 inches to 78 x 30 inches

The Kana Bamboo is a sturdy and gorgeous desktop with a reliable E7 three-stage frame, and if you can look past its unbearable heaviness, some wobbliness at standing height, and a less-than-perfect safety feature, this Flexispot desk is worth the steep cost.

It feels great to the touch and utilizes excellent safety features that will prevent someone from getting hurt by the lifting and lowering mechanisms. Flexispot is well-known for its high-quality standing desks, and the Kana Bamboo is no different, offering a more affordable alternative to the solid wood or solid wood texture (which utilizes a blend of wood, poplar and eucalyptus) found in its E7 or E8 models. But just because it’s less expensive, doesn’t mean it’s not a viable alternative.

See our full Flexispot Kana Bamboo Standing Desk review.

5. Flexispot E7/EC4 Standing Desk

An excellent anti-collision feature makes this desk worth a look

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: Up to 275 pounds | Height Range: 22.8 to 48.4 inches | Desktop Size: 48 x 24 inches to 130 x 80 inches

Premium design

Easy setup

Great anti-collision feature

Limited cable management options

The Flexispot E7/EC4 has a lot to offer when it comes to customization. In addition to multiple desktop sizes, you’ve got black or grey frame options, plus a variety of wood finishes for the desktop (including a nice bamboo surface). The premium, restrained design blends into any room; the sturdy metal matte frame oozes class; and the fashion-forward surface all comes together in a desk you can be proud of. Moreover, it's long and wide enough to hold all of your desktop gadgets with room to spare.

Speaking to the functionality of the E7/EC4, its premium keypad is an absolute cinch to use; when moving up and down, the dual-motor lifting system is fast, quiet, and has a load-bearing weight of up to 275 pounds, depending on which model you choose.

For your hefty investment, you may expect to find all the same special features as Flexispot’s EG8B. Instead, you only get one: the anti-collision function, which works flawlessly in detecting potential collision points and halting the desk's motion if it senses something in the way.

See our full Flexispot E7/EC4 Standing Desk review.

6. Vari Electric Standing Desk (48 x 30)

A premium standing desk with rustic flair

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Height Range: 25 to 50.5 inches | Desktop Size: 48 x 30 x 1.3 inches

Rustic desktop options

Whisper-quiet dual motors

Super-stable work surface

Built-in cable management

No charging ports

Featuring super-stable ergonomics, a durable laminate finish, built-in cable management, and a variety of attractive desktop options to choose from, the Vari Electric Standing Desk is one of the company's top-rated products, and it's easy to see why.

Thanks to whisper-quiet dual motors and three-stage extendable legs, you get an impressive height range of 25 to 50.5 inches high, which is perfect for micromanaging your workspace height as you see fit. It's exceptionally simple to assemble, and four preset heights make it easy to switch modes as the task-at-hand requires.

Bonus: Vari offers a variety of other home office accessories to complement their standing desks, such as monitor arms, padded mats, power hubs, and more.

7. UpLift Standing Desk (V2 & V2 Commercial)

An affordable standing desk with lots of customization options

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: 355 pounds | Height Range: 24.3 x 49.9 inches | Desktop Size: 42 x 30 inches to 80 x 30 inches

17 in-stock desktop styles

13 made-to-order wood choices

Tons of customization options

Generous 10-year warranty

Relatively inexpensive

Cheaper build quality than competitors

Exaggerated marketing claims

UpLift has been around for a while (since 2002, to be precise), so you might be familiar with this brand already. That’s because they manufacture some of the top-selling Chinese-made office products on the market today. (Also, advertising.)

With a variety of desktop sizes (42 inches to 80 inches long) and eye-catching finishes (bamboo, walnut, ash, mahogany, cherry) to choose from, the UpLift V2 really shines in the customization department. From the company website, you can essentially build the best standing desk from scratch, choosing your desktop size/style, frame type, wire grommets, and keypad. You can also upgrade your desk with myriad accessories, such as a standing mat, writing pad, surge protector, monitor arm, keyboard tray, and even an under-desk hammock(!) by using the 48 clever mounting points situated around the frame.

The Uplift V2 standing desk is the third generation in a line of higher-end workstations. The dual motors can handle an impressive 355-pound load capacity, and if you spring for the advanced keypad (a premium feature), you can add some useful height presets to the mix.

8. Flexispot Deskcise Pro

A great way to stretch your legs at the office — or around your home

Desk Type: Bike/Manual Adjusting | Bike Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Desktop Weight Capacity: 110 pounds | Seat Height Range: 29.6 to 37.2 inches | Desktop Height Range: 34.5 to 47.2 inches | Desktop Size: 23 x 16.5 inches

Genuinely lets you burn calories during office hours

Easy to assemble, move around, and store

8 different resistance levels

Built-in cupholder and LED monitor

Uncomfortable during extended periods (30+ minutes)

Designed for heights between 5-foot-1-inch and 6-foot-2-inches

Not ideal for longer legs

Falling somewhere between sitting desk, sit-stand desk, and gym equipment, the Flexispot Deskcise Pro V9B is essentially an exercise bike with an adjustable tabletop attached to the front. While the jury is still out on how much of an impact standing desks can have on one’s overall health, Flexispot takes their sit-stand-move concept a giant leap further with the Deskcise Pro V9 desk-bike hybrid. For those who put in a lot of screen time (for work or play), such an investment could have a lasting impact on your long-term health.

The underlying principle is pretty simple: sedentary stuff — like watching TV, web browsing, or checking emails — becomes instantly active when you throw an exercise bike into the mix. With eight resistance levels to choose from, you can take multitasking to another stratosphere; the built-in LED display (powered by two AA batteries) keeps track of time, speed, calories burned, RPM, and distance/total distance. (This is ideal for weight loss, by the way, which is all about the math.)

The 23 x 16.5-inch desktop is fully adjustable between 34.5 and 47.2 inches high and can be moved forward or backward as well. The bike seat’s height adjusts between 29.6 and 37.2 inches, which is designed for users between 5-foot-1 inch and 6-foot-2 inches tall, which is ironic since many back pain-sufferers are most certainly taller than that. The seat could be more comfortable, but that’s a quick fix.

See our full Flexispot Deskcise Pro V9 review. 

9. Flexispot Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (EN1B+R4830B)

The bare-bones workspace you never knew you needed

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: 154 pounds | Height Range: 29 to 48.6 inches | Desktop Size : 48 x 30 x 1 inch

Virtually limitless customization options

Stable desktop at all heights

Durable design with double-steel tubing

Useful height presets and “sitting too long” reminder

Generous five-year warranty for frame and motor

Setup may require two people

If you're interested in one of the more affordable options from Flexispot, the Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (EN1B + R4830B) is more than worthy of your consideration. The chipboard desktop isn't nearly as attractive as the Flexispot EG8 model above, but you might appreciate the extra money in your pocket. Thanks to its durable steel tubing design, useful height presets, and a generous five-year warranty, this standing desk won't let you down.

See our full Flexispot Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk (EN1B + R4830B) review.

10. ApexDesk Elite Series 60-inch

An above-average standing desk that’s also a great value

Desk Type: Electric | Weight Capacity: 225 pounds | Height Range: 29 to 48 inches | Desktop Size: 60 x 28 inches

Good value for the price

Stable workspace at various heights

Dual motors facilitate smooth movements

Durable build quality

No customization options

Not meant for taller people

Just like the other standing desks on this list, the ApexDesk Elite Series 60-inch ups the ante for your office aesthetics. This contoured workspace provides more than enough room for all your 9-to-5 business essentials, and you can choose from a variety of beautiful desktop finishes (black, white, walnut, light oak) to match the surrounding decor.

The dual-motor lift system is as speedy as it is quiet, allowing you to raise the desk anywhere from 29 to 48 inches high. (The optional 6-button control panel also allows for 4 customizable preset heights.) The desk is made from a single slab of industrial-grade steel, and its medium density fiberboard (MDF) desktop is coated with an anti-scratch, high-pressure laminate. The end result? A super-stable surface that’s easy on the eyes, and even easier to clean.

The best standing desks: standing vs. sitting

As a freelance writer, I've never felt truly comfortable behind any of my post-collegiate desks. Turns out, I’ve been using the wrong kind of writing desk my entire life; standing and sit-stand desks are far healthier for my lanky frame. But regardless of your height, standing desks are an absolute investment in your long-term health, and a much better workspace for your laptop.

Having an elbow-height desk that you can simply walk away from (as opposed to intermittently standing up and down) is a real game-changer, and it allows you to multitask without the usual leg/back stiffness that accompanies long bouts of computer activity. When you feel like sitting, a standing desk also lets you adjust your office chair to your body, and then adjust the desk height to the chair (in that order) — down to the last millimeter. The end result? Endlessly ergonomic comfort, no matter your body type.

A word on aforementioned comfort, though. When standing in place for long periods of time, the soles of your feet will eventually get sore. It’s simply inevitable. Some companies sell anti-fatigue mats to complement their standing desks, but you can forgo such padding with a well-placed rug/mat and the proper footwear. (Such as athletic sandals.)

Editor’s note: As a 180-pound, 6-foot-3-inch 30-something with two ACL replacements in one knee, sitting for long bouts of time in front of my laptop can be an uphill battle; I’m always more comfortable on my feet. I also lost 70 pounds in my late 20s, and am well-attuned to the lifestyle changes that helped me get there. Transitioning from sedentary to sit-stand habits was pivotal in helping me drop the weight — and keep it off. (So if it sounds like I drank the Kool-Aid for this particular product, now you know why.) 

How to choose the best standing desk for you

Standing desks come in all shapes and sizes, but there are a few things to consider before clicking “add to cart.”

Types of standing desks

• Electric - This is the style of standing desk we recommend the most. Electronic controls activate small motors to adjust the height of your workspace at the touch of a button. With all the different shapes and sizes to choose from, these workstations are fully adaptable to your office needs. Or carpentry shop needs. (Heck, veterinarians could use one of these as an adjustable operating table for small animals.)

• Manual adjusting - This kind of standing desk is adjusted via manual controls (ie, knobs and levers); they’ll do in a pinch, but there are more practical options available these days (if you have the money to spend).

• Standalone frames - These expandable frames can be attached to virtually any surface you please, and are a godsend for any DIY workshop. They come in various sizes and weight capacities.

• Standing desk converters - These tabletop frames let you convert your existing desk into a sit-stand desk — minimal assembly required.

Standing desk converters

Looking for something a bit cheaper to upgrade your old desk with? The best laptop desks (ie, standing desk converters) add instant ergonomics to your home office.

Readydesk 2 - It’s simple, functional, and reminiscent of traditional Japanese joinery. Oh, and it’ll convert any desk into a standing two-monitor setup in no time flat.

VariDesk Pro Plus 36 - Add some ergonomic elegance to your office with this two-tier standing desk converter. Its spacious design gives you enough room to fit two monitors, a laptop, external keyboard, mouse, and more.

Desk frame size (and weight capacity)

This part is pretty obvious, but don’t buy a desk that won’t fit in the room you bought it for. Also, be sure to consider what you’ll be storing on the desk long-term; the desk frame’s size and build should be dependent on your specific needs, and some standing desk frames are flimsier than others. For example, some desks are only designed to hold around 50 pounds, while others can handle upwards of 500 pounds.

Height adjustability and ergonomics

Before you buy, make sure the dimensions of your new standing desk align with the dimensions of your own body. Desktops are often adjustable between 21 and 56 inches; your monitor should be at eye level, and your elbows at your sides. (Forearms at a slightly downward angle.) In short, organic comfort is key.

Bells and whistles

• Programmable settings - In addition to up/down controls, more advanced keypads offer preset height buttons, too. You’ll feel like a starship captain when your tech rises to meet you at the push of a button. The future is now.

• Unique desktop options - From bamboo to birch to tempered glass, there are tons of desktop options to choose from when purchasing a standing desk. If you get a standalone frame, though, you can install whatever workstation surface you like. (Pressure-treated cherry, anyone?)

• Gaming accessories/attachments - Look for built-in speakers and monitor arms, mouse-friendly desktops, and more.

Reasons to consider a standing/sit-stand desk for your home office

Why should you test-drive a standing desk? Well, working from home is more popular than ever, and the more time you spend hunched over a laptop keyboard with poor posture, the worse it is for your neck, spine, hips, and knees. (And psyche, probably.) From a holistic standpoint, an uncomfortable workstation can become a ticking time bomb for potential injury — both short- and long-term.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is the #1 cause of disability worldwide; half of all working Americans admit to back pain symptoms, accounting for more than 264 million lost work days each year. Healthline.com says standing desks can also help curb unwanted weight gain, lower blood sugar levels, reduce back pain, and improve your (presumably persnickety) mood, among other positive benefits.  Plus, if you’re concerned with unwanted weight gain, standing and sit-stand desks may help combat obesity (to some degree); the human body burns more calories while standing up than it does sitting down.

Granted, standing in place for extended periods can be just as detrimental to your spine as too much sitting, so it’s important to find the proper balance. At the end of the day, a standing-centric lifestyle is unequivocally healthier than hours of cramped, unhealthy posture.

Just remember, a standing desk is no substitute for proper fitness and nutrition; spending a little more time on your feet isn’t going to reverse the effects of a sedentary lifestyle overnight. For certain demographics, however — such as middle-aged folks with daily back pain — standing desks can be an excellent tool to improve one’s quality of life. Everyone has a fitness journey, and when it comes to professional productivity, an ergonomically sound workstation is a proverbial step in the right direction.

Many standing desks are designed not only with enhanced ergonomics, but also adjustable settings that let them slide into places most stationary desks can’t. Enhanced mobility is never a bad thing, to be sure, especially when it comes to your home office. The more dynamic (and/or cluttered) your workspace, the more you’re bound to appreciate a standing desk.

Oh yeah, and let’s talk about productivity. According to Flexispot, stand-capable workstations can boost your overall productivity by a whopping 46% (in comparison to sit-only desks), and send your energy levels through the roof. That's a bold claim, but not a surprising one. It’s harder to doze off in the middle of a Zoom meeting while standing upright, after all.