The Best Computer Desk Is a Standing Desk: Our Top Picks to Help You Reach New Heights

Featured Product: Flexispot EC9 Standing Desk | $260 | Amazon | Clip coupon

Buying a new desk can’t be that hard, right? Just pop online, find something that should look good in your space, packs enough storage and surface area for your needs (and to hold all of your favorite knickknacks), and then hope it all works out. That’s one way to do it, although buying online offers no promise that what you pick will be good for your body long-term.

Ergonomics are serious business, and a poor desk setup can aggravate wrist or back pain. You don’t have to buy a totally new standing desk to overcome such concerns, however, as a few accessories or adaptations could modify your current setup and make it usable. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have the option to stand up and use your feet during a long workday.

Whether your current desk is impacting your posture and causing a world of hurt or you just want to be ahead of the curve and take precautions, you’ll want a standing desk that meets all of your needs. Here are some of today’s highest-rating furnishings.

Best Overall: Uplift V2 Standing Desk

Spending the first six months of quarantine back in my childhood home did a number on my wrists and lower back. Simply holding my phone hurt after a long day of typing, and I realized I was slouching a lot in my family’s stiff dining room chairs. One back home in California, I snagged an Uplift V2 Standing Desk and haven’t regretted it one bit.

It’s one of the most customizable standing desks on the market today, thanks to an array of sizes, finishes, frame configurations, and optional accessories. The base model currently retails for $649 on Amazon, but can range upwards past $1,000 if you configure it yourself straight from the company. It has a sturdy surface and looks nice in my office, the adjustable height mechanism works smoothly, and the setup is quick even if you’re tackling it alone.

You can even add a couple of outlets to the desk for easy access, get some cable management features, or even add a slide-out keyboard tray for improved ergonomics and added surface space. I recommend the commercial C-Frame model to boost stability, although it’ll cost you an extra $80. The advanced keypad might also be handy if you’re switching positions a lot or will have multiple users on a regular basis.

Best Budget Desk: Monomi Electric Standing Desk

Nice as it is, the UpLift is on the more expensive end, and that’s a reasonable dealbreaker. Standing desks don’t have to raid your savings, though. The Monomi electric height-adjustable standing desk is one of the best available on Amazon right now, according to reviewers, and a 48″ model costs just $221 right now at Amazon.

Like the Uplift, the Monomi has a keypad that lets you quickly adjust the height of the desk, extendable up to 46″. Unlike the Uplift, though, its keypad and keyboard tray are included, so you won’t have to sweat the upgrade prices. It’s not as elegant-looking as pricier options, not to mention it lacks the C-frame to improve stability, but at half the price, it’s not something you’ll fret too much—the basics are more than plenty.

Best Budget Desk, Runner-Up: Flexispot EC9 Standing Desk

Here’s another great option for an affordable, straightforward standing desk. Flexispot’s EC9 electric standing desk ranges between 28.7” to 48.4”, providing a slightly taller standing level than the Monomi model above. It’s also incredibly easy to set up, with only a handful of simple steps needed to connect the legs and plug in the wiring for the hydraulic motor.

In use, Flexispot’s desk smoothly converts thanks to the little up/down control switch on the right side. There’s just a smidge of wobbliness at the absolute top level, but not enough to be concerning or distracting, and it lessens the lower you go.

Flexispot’s desk doesn’t have extra frills like a keyboard drawer, but it’s a great pick for a minimal, affordable, and solidly sturdy desk that you can get up and running in a hurry. Clip the coupon on the page right now to save $40, dropping the price to $260.

Best for Small Spaces: Upper Square Babin Standing Desk

For those looking for a minimalist desk, or anyone who likes to use their surface for scribbling as much as they do hunting and pecking, the Upper Square Babin is highly rated on Wayfair. Unlike the Uplift or Monomi, this desk has a groove in the front to get you a little closer to the monitor. Additional features include a glass surface that doubles as a dry erase board you can use for brainstorming, a slide-out drawer, and a built-in USB port.

As with the other options, its height is adjustable and comes with three pre-programmed heights, reaching up to 47″. It typically sells for about $530 (though it’s on sale right now for $480). While that’s not too far off from the Uplift, without any upgradeable options, you won’t have to worry about a shocking price tag at checkout. Currently sitting at 4.7 stars on Wayfair, based on over 700 reviews, customers like it for its easy setup, handy whiteboard surface, and the quality of its height adjustment mechanism.

Best Standing Desk Converter: Jumbo DeskStand

A lot of standing desk converters are big, heavy things that are designed to stay put in your chosen position, but the Jumbo DeskStand is different. This converter is also easily convertible, letting you rearrange the shelves as needed and then take it down and hide it out of sight when you’re done. It’s a bit chunky and it’s not cheap, but you might appreciate the perks—especially if you’re tight on space.

Gizmodo’s Catie Keck is a fan of the Jumbo DeskStand:

“Ultimately, I really liked the way this standing desk solution performed and the way it looked even when it wasn’t in use. It wasn’t an eyesore, it was easy to break down in a pinch, and it was sturdy enough to balance a heavy monitor and laptop without me having to worry too much about weight distribution. If your desk isn’t actually going anywhere and you have space and money for it, a more traditional standing desk might be a better option. But for someone in a smaller space, the DeskStand’s an option I’d definitely recommend.”

Best Budget Standing Desk Converter: FlexiSpot Standing Desk Converter

On the other hand, if you don’t want to abandon your current desk and but you want the flexibility of a standing setup, why not use an add-on convertor? Quality ones aren’t cheap, but are still a fraction of the cost of most true standing desks, plus they have the benefit of mobility.

If you want the cheapest option with the most positive reception, grab the FlexiSpot standing desk converter. Only $100 on Amazon right now, it doesn’t look as elegant in your office as an elevating desk, but it gets the job done. It can reach up to 28″ high and measures about 28″ wide, so it won’t occupy a ton of room in your house or apartment, plus there’s an electric motor for easy adjustments. Oh, and it’s even got a keyboard tray, so you won’t be giving up too much of that limited surface space. It’s currently sitting at about five stars based on 127 reviews, and customers seem to have few issues with it. As long as you’re okay with a slightly clunky aesthetic, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

This story was originally published by Jordan McMahon on 10/19/2020 and updated by Andrew Hayward with new information on 02/01/2021.