12 Tips for People Thinking About Getting a Standing Desk

Ergonomically engineered standing desks have found their way into multiple offices and living rooms worldwide! Health professionals are praising these new workplace advances that help people keep active in their office spaces. With so many options already on the market, it’s difficult to know what you’re looking for when choosing the right sit to stand desk or tabletop desk riser to suit your needs.

We’ve constructed a list of 12 things that might help you make a more educated decision when buying a new standing desk or desk lift:

1. How long will I plan to be on my feet?

You’ll be spending most of your day on your feet, so make sure you’ve got comfortable shoes, or purchase an anti-fatigue floor mat to help you for long days at your workstation.

2. Will there be enough space for my new sit to stand desk?

Don’t forget to measure your workstation so you’ll know exactly how much space you’ll need. Also, keep in mind that you might need some extra space for things like a computer tray, so add a few more numbers to your measurements to keep yourself comfortable.

3. What is the shipping timeline like (when buying online)?

When buying anything, make sure that your retailer has enough product in stock to eliminate any annoying wait times. Also, how much are you paying for shipping, and is your purchase insured from damages?

4. Can it stand the test of time?

Major purchases are expensive, and most people will expect a quality purchase to last for at least a full year or more. Is there a warranty and what kind? What kind of materials are used to make your desk? How much weight can it withstand? Is it dust and/or scratch resistant?

5. Will installation be difficult?

Some products may come pre-assembled, but others won’t. Make sure you know what you’re getting and if you have the time to figure out how to build your new furniture pieces. Even if you’re the type of person that likes DIY projects, furniture assembly can be a pain.

6. Will you need a multiple monitor set-up or any other accessories?

For those of us buying a new desk to fill a workspace, our jobs may provide a multiple monitor set-up to increase productivity. Will your monitors be customizable to your personal preferences? Will you need a computer carrier or USB ports to power other electronic devices connected to your new desk?

7. Do other people like what you’re buying?

It’s always a good idea to check online reviews for your purchases. It gives you a better idea of what to expect when you finally receive it.

8. Electronic or manual sit to stand desk and desk riser. What’s the difference?

Will it be easy to adjust to the height that you need? Manual desks use notches, hand cranks, and pedals connected to a mechanical gas pump. Gas pedals will run out of fuel, hand cranks get harder to manage with a heavy load, and notches make it more difficult to adjust your standing desk to your personal preferences. You’ll have to remove everything from the top of your desk to adjust its height, which can make manual standing desks difficult to use.
Electronic standing desks eliminate these problems but can be a little more expensive than their cheaper counterparts. At times, an electronic standing desk may actually be a cheaper purchase! It’s always good to compare brands and find what’s best for you!

9. Full desk or desktop riser? What’s best for my budget?

If you’re looking for a standing desk on a budget, you also have the option to purchase a tabletop desk converter instead of buying a full desk! You can even install a keyboard tray that slides out from the desk that you already own! A full sized desk is a premium purchase, so it should go without saying that you should make sure that you can afford one.

10. How will you manage wires connected to your new desk?

Some sit to stand desks and risers come fully assembled, and full-sized desks are sometimes customizable with premium options, like a CPU caddy, optional mounts for USB ports, a cable organizer, etc.

11. How much desk space is available?

A lot of different products come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but electronic standing desks and risers are typically built with a low profile. Due to its design, manufacturers are able to adjust its speed, which means that there’s no need to use bulkier materials by trying to be more cost-effective, resulting in a hulking mess that takes up all of your desk space!

12. How will the desk look in my home or office?

Are you working in a warehouse, an industrial plant, a corporate office, or are you buying one for your home? Is your new desk customizable? How does it look compared to everything else in your home?