The best standing desk isn't just a silly novelty, and using one could completely change the way you play PC games. That's not to say you'll want to complete ditch your chair and start playing adventures like Baldur's Gate 3 on your feet, but switching things up from time to time comes with ergonomic benefits. Not to mention it'll provide you with a practical surface that's not just for typing and clicking, whether you're into building PC's or getting crafty with non-gaming related activities.
Like with the best gaming desks, the popularity of standing desks has seen an increase in recent years, and that means there is a wide range of options available to you. There are standing desks that are more budget-friendly accompanied by higher-priced, motorized models with onboard memory that store preferred heights. Ultimately, the goal should be to find a surface that really works for you, providing a level of versatility that'll improve the way you work and play.
If you're also planning on using your desk for leisure time and you want to be able to sit in one of the best gaming chairs, one of the best standing desks with motorized mechanics should be what you hunt for. If you're not quite married to the idea of a standing desk yet, there are also converters that might let you get a taste of what the experience is like. These sit on top of a normal desk and give the vital equipment you need a boost so you can try out the experience for yourself. For now though, let's round up the best standing desks available in 2024.
Best standing desks 2023
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The Secretlab Magnus Pro is by far and away the best gaming desk we've ever tested. And the great news is, it's the best standing desk for gaming too.
Its level of quality can easily match the likes of the Herman Miller Nevi, but the extra features like great cable management and accessories elevate it - and that's not even mentioning the fact it is significantly cheaper. Plus, it also comes in two sizes with the XL variant offering a bit more weight and desk acreage - although we found that in testing, the normal Magnus Pro had plenty of space anyway.
The design of the Magnus Pro works in every way you could need. The cable management system is a godsend and truly a game changer when compared to other standing desks. The motors and memory system are both excellent with the former offering very smooth travel, gliding you into your desired position; there are a wealth of accessories to choose from that enhance the desk even further. These range from from cable management clips, to excellent surfaces, a PC cradle, a monitor arm, and more. The build is rock solid and while it may be very heavy, the metal parts and materials used inspire great confidence, especially when the desk is at its highest settings.
Any flaws are really tiny in the grand scheme of things: the weight might put some off on paper as it appears impossible to build or move (but this really isn't the case); the screws provided can easily be overtightened (but once you get a feel for them you'll be fine); and while the price is high, the value on offer is still strong and we'd be recommending this desk in a heartbeat.
As far as the best standing desks are concerned, the FlexiSpot Comhar All-in-One excels across the board for a few key reasons. These come down to the aggressive price point, the suite of features, and the premium build quality on offer with this unit.
Priced at $499.99 / £449.99, the FlexiSpot Comhar features not only powerful, and near-silent, motors for lowering and raising the tabletop, but also four programmable buttons to hot-swap between specific heights. In our testing, we found that this model was able to accommodate a series of different heights in its standing modes, from 5ft6 to over 6ft tall. The company claims that you can expect lift/lower heights of 1-inch per sec and that checks out in our experience, too - it's far from sluggish to reach the desired altitude.
Aside from the obvious, you've also got 2x USB Type 2.0 ports and a USB Type C port which can be used to power and charge items such as your smartphone. There's also a pull-out drawer that slides seemingly into what would be the side of the table, which we found was more than spacious enough to keep various items in that would have otherwise cluttered the work surface.
All told, the FlexiSpot Comhar is an exceptional standing desk of a premium ethos while keeping that overall asking price competitive. The rugged build quality and glass finish certainly don't hurt either. The only real downside we can tell you about this desk is in the color itself; our review unit came in a glossy piano black, which, while pretty, will show up the likes of dust and fingerprints easily. Should that worry you, we recommend opting for a white one instead.
The FlexiSpot E7 is a feature-filled, sturdy, and reasonably (for the features) priced option if you are scouring the best standing desk market for a new go-to unit. The wide range of adjustability, from 58cm all the way to 123cm means you won’t struggle to get comfortable both sitting and standing at this desk. Its impressive weight capacity of 120kg is high enough to carry even the most cumbersome kit you’d put on it.
The FlexiSpot E7 has features like a memory function, built-in USB port, individually adjustable feet, and a child lock. What it doesn’t have is any way of stopping your various cables trailing all over the place. Invest in some good cable management and you’ll have yourself a brilliant set up.
You have a wide variety of desktops to choose from, as well as three different colours of legs - you have to combine it all yourself, during a build time of around n hours. It's also heavy so four hands would make it much easier than with two.
All in, however, the FlexiSpot E7 is a very well-made, solid bit of kit, that's more adjustable than you'll ever realistically need. Throw in some great features and the value here is impressive.
- Read more: FlexiSpot E7 review
The Eureka Ergonomic L-shaped standing desk finds itself in an interesting position as far as PC and console gamers are concerned, being somewhat of a hybrid model. While every consideration has been made that you would expect to find in the best standing desks, the Eureka Ergonomic stands out from the pack with its striking aesthetics and design queues from the esports scene.
There's a fair amount of movement to be found in this particular standing desk, too, with heights ranging from 29.9 to 48.4-inches with 4-memory presets available for both sitting and standing which can be configured. The standout here, however, is the huge L-shaped gripped surface area which means it's just as adept for multi-monitor setups as well as a gaming laptop or sizable peripherals.
The Arozzi Arena gaming desk's biggest strength is in its all-metal construction and all-over mouse mat surface, making it ideal for more intense esports and general gaming sessions. As with some of the best standing desks, the heights are adjustable for both standing and sitting depending on the situation. What's more, there's an ample cable management option to stop peripheral wires trailing across your floor.
You will have to manually adjust the height in the legs of the Arozzi Arena, however, as there's no motorized lifting system, but if you're okay with raising and lowering the unit yourself, then that shouldn't be too much of a barrier. This standing desk is also adorned in a black and red color scheme befitting of the competitive scene, so wouldn't be out of place in a more hardcore gaming setup, either.
If you've been after one of the best standing desks for a budget price then the FlexiSpot EC1 could be what you've been waiting for. This unit offers all the same features as some of the higher-end options on the market while keeping the pricing competitive with its $250 MSRP. The only real concession here is in how much weight you can stack on top of it.
While the FlexiSpot EC1 may lack some of the flashier electronics, it does in fact transition between sitting and standing heights just the same as any other good motorized standing desk. This is achieved through the 2-button controller (lower and raise), so while you're missing out on more sophisticated programming options, you're still able to make the transition smoothly at a rate of 1-inch per second.
When testing this desk we found that in our experience, it was incredibly sturdy to the point that it felt like it would last forever. If you're looking for a desk that'll really hold up long term then this is a great option.
Read more: FlexiSpot EC1 review
Should you be wanting to get the benefits of a dedicated standing desk without having to replace your current setup then the VariDesk Pro Plus is one of the more ingenious options out there right now. While not strictly a full desk in its own right, this unit simply bolts down onto an existing surface to provide you with standing desk functionality, with 11 different supported heights, without having to make any additional changes. As a result, this is one of the best standing desk converters money can buy right now.
The VariDesk Pro Plus is one of the best standing desk options for anyone wanting a rugged and more cost-effective solution to a more premium model. This is because you've got an additional rise of up to 17.5-inches on top of whatever surface it's going to sit on top of. The spring-loaded mechanism makes it straightforward to adjust manually. While you're missing out on the motorized magic here, you're getting slightly more control with where the VariDesk Pro Plus sits and at what angle to work at.
The Vari Electric Standing Desk is not only one of the most popular models on the market but also genuinely one of the best standing desks that you can buy. That prestige does, however, mean that you're going to have to pay a pretty penny to get your hands on one, but if you're after the best user experience possible, the premium is probably worth it.
It all comes down to the build quality and ease of use with the Vari Electric Standing Desk, as this unit is able to be programmed to electronically move between the ranges of 25 1/2 inches all the way up to 50 1/2. There are pre-sets available for certain heights, or you can manually adjust with the buttons on the built-in controller. Should you be after flexibility and adjustability in your workspace, this is hard to beat.
Of course, the Vari Electric Standing Desk is a computer desk at its heart, and that's why you won't be shocked to see adept cable management and quick assembly touted as selling points either. The company claims that it can go together and be set up in five minutes, so it's ideal for anyone after a standing desk for their setup with minimal fuss.
The ApexDesk Elite Series is one of the best standing desks from a space perspective, with a large worktop that can easily accommodate several monitors, peripherals, and anything else you may want to include in your setup. The dual motors are fairly fast as things go, able to shift between 29 and 48 inches in height at a rate of 1.3-inches per second.
There's certainly a more conventional design to the ApexDesk Elite Series than what you may find with some other standing desks on the market, especially if purchased in a darker, matte colorway or style. The worktop is made of a 1-inch thick scratch-resistant laminate, so you're not going to have to worry about scoring the wood over time if you're someone that likes to work quickly.
You're looking at around 45 minutes to assemble this standing desk, which while longer than some other units, is an average time as far as construction goes. Really, the ApexDesk Elite Series is designed to appeal to anyone wanting an ergonomic, familiar feel to their workspace combined with the double-duty of sitting and standing here.
The SHW Memory Preset Electric is one of the best standing desks you can get right now, especially when factoring in its competitive MSRP of $250. You're getting all the premium features that you would expect here, with the standout of which being the 4-way adjustable memory profiles baked into the controller. This means that the desk can be programmed to specific heights for the exact settings you need for both sitting and standing at different levels.
It's one of the sturdier standing desks on the market right now, too, being forged of industrial steel with telescopic leg design (that fold down into each other for added stability. This design decision means you won't have to worry about the motors jamming or stiffening up.
Best Standing Desks - Frequently Asked Questions
What's the world's best standing desk?
If you ask us, the best standing desk is the Secretlab Magnus Pro. It combines excellent cable management with lots of space, and has one of the most robust builds we've come across in any desk. Particularly for gamers, the magnus pro is the best in the business, and we think you'll struggle to find a better all-rounder.
Can you sit at a standing desk?
Yes, you can sit at a standing desk, as you'll be able to adjust surface height to the same as regular options. Just keep in mind that if you want to switch from seat to feat on the fly, you'll want to opt for a desk with electric motors, as this will help you quickly switch up your setup when required.
Is it ok to use a standing desk all day?
It's been theorized that the average person can benefit from at least an hour of standing for every two hours spent sitting. Due to the adjustable nature of many of the best standing desks, this ratio can be easily achieved through a standard workday if you alternate between sitting and standing regularly.
How much does a good standing desk cost?
While the best standing desks have price tags that vary wildly, it's entirely possible to find a good, high-quality standing desk for around the $200 mark. Of course, your desired feature set (such as motorized movement) is going to be dependent on your budget. Should you be wanting to go for a more premium offering, rates can go as high as $700; it all comes down to what you want to get out of it.
Are standing desks really worth it?
A standing desk is far better for your posture than even the most ergonomically designed chair because it keeps your back straight and engages your muscles to prevent unnecessary cramping. If you've wanted to counter a sedentary lifestyle when working or gaming, then standing desks will be worth it to keep you that little bit more active.
Are standing desks adjustable?
Most of the time, you'll find that the best standing desks are adjustable. The reason behind this is because not everyone is the same height, and because it isn't always advisable to stand the whole day, just like it isn't advisable to sit down the whole day. There are standing desks out there that aren't adjustable, but we'd always recommend you get one that you can fit to your preferences.
Once you've got your new desk set up and ready to go, you can benefit from the best gaming monitors, best gaming keyboards, and best gaming mouse to take full advantage of its capabilities.
