Best Standing Desks: Which to Choose for Your Needs

If you search for "best standing desks", you get lists of ten models with almost identical specs. The problem is that everyone needs a different desk. A setup with two monitors and a tower doesn't ask for the same thing as someone working from home in a small flat, or someone who is 1.60 m tall. That's why this guide works backwards: your case first, then the desk.

The short answer

Most people are best served by a dual-motor electric standing desk with these features:

• a one-piece desktop at least 120 cm wide;
• a load capacity of 70 kg or more;
• noise below 50 dB.

From there, three things decide the rest: your height (it determines how many column stages you need), the space you have and what you'll put on top.

How to know what height you need

Before looking at any model, grab a tape measure:

1. Seated in your chair, feet flat on the floor and arms bent at 90 degrees, measure the distance from the floor to your elbow.
2. Standing, wearing the shoes you usually wear at home, take the same measurement.

Those two numbers are the heights you need, and the desk's range has to cover both. Almost everyone looks only at the maximum height. The number that matters most is usually the minimum, because sitting is where you spend most of your hours.

What to look for in a standing desk

Some things matter less than they seem:

• lifting speed, because the differences are a matter of seconds;
• apps and Bluetooth connectivity;
• load figures far above what you will ever put on it.

If you want to compare with the rest of our desks, you'll find them all in our desks category.

Which standing desk to choose for your case

If you work from home and want to alternate between sitting and standing

What you want is for changing posture to be a gesture, not a decision. Choose a dual-motor electric desk that stores your heights, so you can go from sitting to standing with one button. Even better if it has a programmable reminder. A quiet motor also matters, because you'll be raising it during meetings.

If you have a gaming setup with two monitors

Here load capacity and desktop size rule:

• Width: two 27" monitors take up about 125 cm, so 140 cm is the comfortable size.
• Depth: 70 cm gives you a reasonable distance to the screen.
• Desktop: thick and in one piece, so it doesn't flex under the weight or under a monitor arm.

Also look at the cables. If the tower sits on the floor, check that the cables reach maximum height without being pulled taut, and look for a cable tray that follows the desk up and down.

If you have little space

There are standing desks at 120x60 cm and even 100x60 cm. When comparing, look at the outer dimensions of the frame and not just the desktop: the legs decide whether a drawer unit fits underneath. With less than 60 cm of depth, the screen ends up too close, unless you use a monitor arm.

If you are shorter than 1.70 m or taller than 1.90 m

The safest option is a three-stage desk, which has more travel. If you are shorter than 1.70 m, the key is the minimum height. If the desk doesn't go low enough, raise your chair a little and rest your feet on a footrest. If you are taller than 1.90 m, check that the maximum height covers your standing measurement with some margin.

If you are going to share the desk

The more height presets, the better: each person saves their own and there's no need to readjust every time. A dual motor helps too, because it keeps the desk stable with different setups.

If your budget is tight or you will be sitting almost all the time

Crank-operated or single-motor desks are cheaper, but they are slower and usually less stable. With a crank, changing height is a chore and you end up barely using it. If you already know you'll always work seated, a solid fixed desk is a better buy than a cheap standing desk. For example, our SKULD, with three manual heights.

Common mistakes when buying a standing desk

• Looking only at the maximum height. The minimum is what decides whether you'll be comfortable seated.
• Forgetting the cables. A short cable that pulls when the desk rises ends up unplugging something.
• Estimating the load by eye. Add up monitors, arm, tower, speakers and whatever else piles up on top.
• Buying it to stand all day. The idea is to alternate. Standing for hours on end isn't the answer either.
• Skimping on the desktop. A thin or two-piece one shows up sooner than any difference in motor.

Where VORNA fits

VORNA is our electric standing desk, and we designed it for one specific case: working or playing with a full setup, alternating between sitting and standing.

• Dual motor and 2-stage columns, from 74.5 to 122.5 cm, designed for users between 1.70 and 1.90 m
• One-piece 140x70 cm desktop in 25 mm MDF, with an ergonomic FlowEdge™ edge under forearms and wrists
• 75 kg load capacity, under 45 dB, 3 memory presets and a programmable reminder to get up
• Cable tray, headphone hook and cup holder included

It isn't for everyone. If you are well under 1.70 m and don't want to use a footrest, if you need a desk smaller than 140 cm or if you'll be loading more than 75 kg, another type of desk will suit you better. If you want to get to know it in depth, we tell you all about it in its launch article.

Frequently asked questions

Is a standing desk worth it?

Yes, if you spend many hours at your desk and will use it to alternate between sitting and standing. If you know you'll always be seated, your money goes further on a good fixed desk and a good chair.

Is a single-motor or a dual-motor standing desk better?

Dual motor. It lifts more evenly, it is more stable at standing height and it handles unevenly distributed weight better. A single motor works for light loads and occasional use.

What height should a standing desk be?

The height of your elbows with your arms bent at 90 degrees, both seated and standing. Measure both and check that the desk's range covers them.

How long should you stand?

There is no single figure. What works is changing posture often, for example every hour, instead of staying in the same position for a long stretch.

Do electric standing desks make noise?

Quality dual-motor models usually stay below 50 dB, quieter than a normal conversation. VORNA moves below 45 dB.

Is a standing desk good for gaming?

Yes, as long as it has enough load capacity, a firm one-piece desktop and some way to keep the cables tidy.