Standing desks are an increasingly popular way to work. Many believe they can improve health and boost productivity. Is it true? Today we look at the benefits to standing desks and which are the best to buy for your home office.
Have you ever worked in a busy office and sat behind a desk while writhing in back pain misery? If you’ve ever worked a desk job, you likely know this feeling. You sit and try to mask your discomfort while report after report lands on your desk. But all you can really focus on is how badly you want to run screaming to the nearest chiropractor (or massage expert, of course).
“Surely,” you say to yourself, “there’s got to be a better way?” Well, there is. At least one solution is the standing desk. Can it help relieve back pain? Further still, can standing desks boost productivity? That’s our question for today.
Some desks allow for adjusting height with control panels
Are standing desks just a trend?
Standing desks have become popular, particularly in the past few years. While some offices won’t make accommodations for them, many approve them for their employees. As with most things, of course, they aren’t for everyone.
Personally, I’ve never used a standing desk per se; however, I did spend some years working at parts counters in a few car dealerships. I can say from experience that it can be nice to have the option to sit or stand while you work. So I completely understand the appeal.
What is it about standing desks that help you, though? How can they improve your back and health as many people claim? Why is it stated that standing desks boost productivity? We’ll take a look at what the research shows and see if they’re really all they’re cracked up to be. Let’s go ahead and get into it, shall we?
A woman using a standing desk
Do standing desks improve your health?
Believe it or not, standing desks have the potential to improve your health and well-being. It’s beneficial to take breaks from sitting, and standing can increase caloric activity by roughly 30%. It can even help reduce musculoskeletal discomfort, lessen stiffness and fatigue, and stimulate blood flow.
That’s not to say that standing for long periods doesn’t come with its own set of complications. Standing too long can cause problems for knees and joints, sometimes sharing similar issues to sitting.
What does it mean if both can be so problematic? The answer is a simple one: balance. By alternating between sitting and standing, you can find a balance that creates a better harmony. In turn, it should significantly limit the amount of pain and discomfort you experience while working (and after).
The verdict, of course, is that standing desks aren’t a perfect solution, because, let’s face it—how often do perfect scenarios really exist, anyway? The point is that they’re an efficacious way to optimize your work experience.
So how about productiveness? Can standing desks boost yours? It’s time to jump in and find out for ourselves.
Converters turn your existing desk into a standing desk
Do standing desks boost productivity?
I’ll get right to the point on this one. Various studies have been done on whether or not standing desks boost productivity, and the honest answer is that there is no answer. Yes, highly unsatisfying, right?
This is because the studies thus far wildly contrast if not conflict with each other. Some suggest standing desks make a massive difference, while others claim they make no difference at all. As with most things debated, the truth is likely somewhere in between.
You know yourself better than any study. If you find yourself consistently uncomfortable while sitting at a desk and feel that the ability to stand as needed will help alleviate some of that discomfort, chances are a standing desk will improve your productiveness. If you find that standing keeps you more awake and alert while working, a standing desk may very well increase productivity.
While studies are inconclusive, it doesn’t mean the answer is black or white. It doesn’t mean that the results you experience are any more or less valid. What matters is that it fits your personal preferences and lifestyle. Not sure yet if it does or doesn’t? All the more reason to try a standing desk out for yourself!
Standing desks boost productivity for some users
These are our favorite standing desks
Of course, that brings up another question: which standing desk should you buy for your home office? Luckily, we have some suggestions for you to narrow down your search.
IKEA UPPSPEL Gaming Desk
One desk worth checking out is the IKEA UPPSPEL gaming desk. It’s a gaming-inspired standing desk, and it conveniently shifts between 4 different available positions. It features a contoured tabletop design with adequate space to rest your arms during long gaming sessions.
It even has easy cable routing and USB ports for your devices. Plenty of room for monitors and accessories leaves you with lots of potential for how you can utilize the workspace. Its matte surface is a nice touch as well, reducing glare and reflection from screens or any LED lighting you may have.
The IKEA UPPSPEL gaming desk is available from the official website for about $625.
SlashDot’s list of the cheapest Amazon standing desks
EFFYDESK Business Office Sit-Stand Desk
The EFFYDESK Business Office Sit Stand Desk is a really great option for those who like a mix of technology and simplicity. The desk features whisper-quiet motors with a 35 mm per second lifting speed. In fact, it can impressively lift up to 300 lbs with incredible stability.
The EFFYDESK also includes reinforced 3-segment squared columns and multiple desktop styles. You can choose the frame and surface type that fits you best, including a sustainable bamboo variant.
You can get the EFFYDESK Business Office Sit-Stand Desk from the official website for $667.80.
EFFYDESK Business Office Sit-Stand Desk
FlexiSpot Height Adjustable Drafting Table
A lot of standing desks are made for people performing everyday office work, but not all of them hone in on other demographics. Going back to the drawing board and emerging with a different design is FlexiSpot with the Height Adjustable Drafting Table.
It’s a perfect solution for those who require a workspace better suited to tasks like drafting and art. It has an entirely tiltable design and a safety ledge stopper to keep things in place. And it’s even expandable if you need a little more space to work with.
The FlexiSpot Height Adjustable Drafting Table is available from the official website for $379.99.
The FlexiSpot Height Adjustable Drafting Table
Fully Cooper Standing Desk Converter
The Fully Cooper Standing Desk Converter is sort of an in-between alternative that shows you don’t have to completely throw out your old desk for a new one. This is especially beneficial if you simply don’t have the budget for an expensive new desk or you really love your existing one.
The Fully Cooper is designed to fit on top of your desk and uses a hydraulic lift system for easy one-handed operation. It has a main desktop space for your monitor or laptop, with a secondary level for a keyboard and mouse. It’s a solid option worth mentioning.
You can get the Fully Cooper Standing Desk Converter from the official website for $299.
Fully Cooper Standing Desk Converter
Uhuru Design Frame Rise Sit-Stand Desk
If you’re looking for a fairly minimalistic standing desk that offers sufficient desktop space with a sleek look, take a look at the Uhuru Design Frame Rise Sit-Stand Desk.
It features a black or white steel base frame capable of withstanding as much pressure as you can apply to it. This way, you don’t have to worry about leaning on it while working. You can also choose between a dark or light desktop. For small spaces, the 47-inch model is great, while the 59-inch size can fill larger ones.
You can get the Uhuru Design Frame Rise Sit-Stand Desk from the official website for $1,100.
Uhuru Design Frame Rise Sit-Stand Desk
Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk
If you’re looking for an even more minimalist design and something easily portable, the Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk just might be the one for you. In fact, portability is one of the key features of this unique standing desk.
Because of its lightweight design, you can move it around your home or office for convenience and better positioning for video calls. You can even move it outside should the opportunity arise. The height can be adjusted between 1.8′ and 4.8′. The small desktop tilts up to 90º. While it might not be the most functional for the long term or the most attractive, it certainly offers flexibility.
The Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk is available from the official website for $179.99.
Intension Design Tripod Standing Desk
Standsome Double Crafted
Here’s an interesting one for you: the Standsome Double Crafted birch standing desk. It works incredibly well with a wide range of computers and displays, offering plenty of room for keyboards, mice, phones, and other accessories.
It’s made from beautifully handcrafted lacquered birch (not to mention lasered, milled, grated, and sanded). This refined German-made desk is completely adjustable and will fit right at home on your existing desk.
You can get the Standsome Double Crafted birch standing desk from the official website for $244.99.
Can the Standsome Double Crafted standing desk boost productivity?
Uppeal Desk Floor-to-Standing Desk
Perhaps you enjoy being lower to the ground? Well, there’s even a standing desk setup for that. The Uppeal Desk is a floor-to-standing desk that is literally what it sounds like. You can adjust its height from as low as 14 inches to as high as 47 inches using internal motors.
Programmable memory and a capacitive touch control panel make it easy to quickly switch between settings. With a wide area for your legs and its broad height spectrum, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a position this doesn’t accommodate.
The Uppeal Desk is available from the official website for $799.
Uppeal Desk can sit low to the floor or rise up high
Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter
Lastly, the Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter is another alternative for setups that works with existing desks. This handy gadget extends between 1.3 and 15.7 inches while sitting soundly on your desktop.
It supports up to 22 lbs and has adequate room for a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It even folds flat, which makes it easier to store or transport. Taking it with you while traveling shouldn’t be a problem at all.
You can get the Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter from the official website for $159.
Fully Cora Standing Desk Converter at home on a desk
Take a stand for what works for you
We discussed the reality of standing desks and how they work. We also acknowledged the potential that standing desks boost productivity. So, as previously stated, it all comes down to you choosing whether or not the ability to add standing time to your office routine will work for you.
If you know that getting out of your chair for a while will improve your focus and relieve pain and discomfort, it’s certainly worth trying. After all, many of these desks and converters let you switch between sitting and standing so you’re not stuck in one position all day. It really is a win-win.
Arguably the most difficult part about a standing desk isn’t deciding which to buy (especially now that you have this nifty list of recommendations). If you’re not working from home, it’s getting your employer to let you use one.
Some employers are more accommodating than others when it comes to standing desks in the workplace. Perhaps it’s because of the cost. It could even be that they’re afraid it would be a distraction to others. However, perhaps if you explain how it helps you work, they’ll be open to the idea. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you need.
Have a standing desk you’d love to recommend? We want to hear about it! Feel free to leave us a comment below and have a great weekend.
Mark is a writer and podcaster who loves technology. When not writing for Gadget Flow, he enjoys passionately working on storytelling projects and exploring the outdoors.
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