Best Standing Desks to Change Your Working Routine for the Better in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 19, 2024
We’d like to present you a product that will change the way you work. With a standing desk you'll be able to keep active all day ...Read more
PROS

Large casters allow for effortless transportation of the desk from one place to another. If you don’t need to move the desk, you can simply avoid attaching the wheels.

CONS

Lack of a keyboard tray is considered a slight drawback.

OUR VERDICT

Choosing the SUDC48FT desk from Stand Up Desk Store, you'll make the first step towards a better posture and healthier lifestyle. With this model in an office or at home, you'll be able to switch from sitting to standing position effortlessly.

detailed parameters
Type

Desk

Desk Top

120 x 75 cm

Height

Adjustable from 75 to 115 cm

Adjustment

Smooth crank

Material

Desk: Natural Walnut

Frame: Steel

Conveniences

Maximum table load of 70 kg

Warranty

30-day money-back guarantee

PROS

The height of the desk can be easily adjusted with a gas spring, even if there are a lot of things on the top. The model is available in 68cm and 120cm width.

CONS

This converter might be too big for some desks. 

OUR VERDICT

The Yo-Yo 90 desk is a top-notch converter that can turn your usual desk into a standing one. Equipped with an adjustable keyboard tray, it is extremely convenient to use. 

detailed parameters
Type

Desk Converter

Desk Top

89 x 59 cm

Height

15 - 50 cm (Desktop)

0 - 36 cm (Keyboard)

Adjustment

Aluminium gas spring

Material

Desk: MDF

Legs: Steel

Conveniences

15 adjustable heights

Warranty

3 years

PROS

The desk is equipped with a shelf at the bottom so that you could have more useful things at hand when you need them for work or study. 

CONS

Making adjustments might be tricky at times. 

OUR VERDICT

This full-sized desk is a perfect choice for those who look for functionality and affordability in one piece of furniture. It comes with all necessary assembly parts and tools so you can use it soon after you unpack the box.

detailed parameters
Type

Desk

Desk Top

Desk top: 100 x 35.5 cm

Keyboard slot: 100 x 40.5 cm

Height

Adjustable from 88 to 118 cm

Adjustment

Manual (2.54 cm increments)

Material

Desk: MDF

Frame: Steel

Conveniences

7.62-cm furniture casters, desk locks, two-tier shelf design

Warranty

30-day money-back guarantee

PROS

X-elit Pro (air pump) system will smoothly and silently lower or raise the desk top.

CONS

Manual adjusting up to 12.7 cm.

OUR VERDICT

X-Elite converter is a roomy workstation for your laptop/monitor, keyboard, mouse, notes, sketches, cups, etc! An excellent solution for working or studying both in sitting and standing positions!

detailed parameters
Type

Desk converter

Desk Top

71 x 50 cm

Height

Adjustable from 18 to 40.6 cm

5 cm when folded

Adjustment

Air pump

Material

Desk: Laminated chipboard

Legs and frame: Steel

Conveniences

Requires no assembly, Footprint of 62 x 40.6 cm suits most desks, Maximum load bearing capacity is 9 kg

Warranty

30 days

PROS

Adjustable locking joints rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to change the height of the desk and the tilt of the top.

CONS

The maximum table load leaves something to be desired. 

OUR VERDICT

If you need a portable desk stand for your tablet or laptop, you'll hardly find a better model than this converter from Lavolta. Compact, lightweight, and fully adjustable to your needs, it will make your working routine much more comfortable and enjoyable.

detailed parameters
Type

Desk Converter

Desk Top

42 x 27 cm

Height

Adjustable up to 48 cm

Adjustment

Manual

Material

Desk: Aluminium

Legs: Plastic

Conveniences

Adjustable auto-locking joints with 360° rotation, Can serve as a breakfast tray

Warranty

30-day money-back guarantee

Desk That Meets Your Needs

Stand Up Desk Store offers its customers a great number of desks for comfortable work and study. We’d like to draw your attention to its SUDC48FT model that can help you vary your sedentary life and benefit your health. Having this desk at home or in an office, you can work on your computer, do paperwork, get ready for an important meeting, or even play board games with friends in both sitting and standing positions. It has become possible due to 75cm – 115cm height adjustment. To choose the necessary height, you need to use a hand crank at the right side of the desk. The crank is easy to operate so you won’t face any difficulties adjusting its height. Although the crank doesn’t stick out much, you can remove it after you adjust the necessary height if you wish. In addition to usability, the SUDC48FT desk has a large top of 120 x 75 cm that gives you a chance to place all the things you need for work/study without sacrificing one more computer monitor or a printer – any gadget will find its place on this desk. Moreover, this piece of furniture boasts unrivalled sturdiness and can withstand the load of up to  70 kilos.

Effortless Transportation

Although the SUDC48FT model from Stand Up Desk Store is quite bulky, moving it from one place to another is as easy as anything thanks to the large 3-inch casters. The advantage of the wheels these large is that they allow for moving the desk over any surface, be it wooden floors or carpets, effortlessly. Once you find the place for your desk, it will be easy for you to keep it in a sturdy position without locking brakes. Another advantage to this desk is that it can be set on casters and without them if you need.

Choose the Desk to Fit Your Interior

Aside from great functionality and ease of use, we like that this desk is offered in a variety of colours. You can opt for a completely white or black desk, or choose one with a walnut or teak top. The manufacturer gives you a choice of six colours so you can pick the best matching one to go with your interior.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £244.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00S9Y4UX2

Top-Notch Model for Demanding Users

If you have a high-end desk at home/work but find it difficult, tiresome, or uncomfortable to spend long hours sitting, the Yo-Yo desk 90 might interest you. It’s not a desk in a proper sense of the word but a desk converter that can be placed on any flat surface. Because the dimensions of the unfolded frame of the desk are 89 x 59 cm, the surface, where you decide to place it, should be bigger than that. Once the desk is set up, you can make adjustments to its height so that it reaches the optimal level. To do so, on each side of the desk are two easy-press levers allowing you to adjust the height of the desk within the range of 15-50 cm by 2.5-cm increment. Though the Yo-Yo desk 90 doesn't look compact, it nevertheless offers a very neat storage. When not in use, it's enough to pull the height adjustment levers to fold it flat to the minimum dimensions. As soon as you do it, you can store it away literally anywhere.

Great Benefit

Raising your desk higher, you'd definitely want to raise all other stuff you keep on the desk as well. Understanding that most customers look to buy standing desks offering this option, the folks at Yo-Yo equipped this desk with a handy keyboard tray which can easily hold not only a keyboard but many other items as well, thanks to its maximum weight load of 7 kilograms. When it comes to the weight limit of the desktop itself, it can withstand the load of up to 15 kilos which is more than sufficient for comfortable work with two monitors or several workstations.

Useful Tip

Of course, just like any other converter desk, the Yo-Yo 90 model features adjustable height positions. What is more important, it comes in three width options – 68cm, 90cm, and 120cm - so you can choose a configuration that suits you better. However, according to the manufacturer, no matter what width of the desk you choose, its maximum height will better suit people who are shorter than 180 cm. If you’re taller than that, the manufacturer recommends you to consider some other models that will be more convenient for you to use.

Last updated price £329.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B01FSVNKWA

Functional and Affordable

Though the SUD40 desk is similar to many other standing desks available on the market, it can become a perfect choice for anyone looking to buy an affordable and easy-to-use height-adjustable desk. This desk has pretty average specifications and is just perfect for both home and office use. It's footprint of 100 x 35.5 cm is big enough to place a computer monitor, a laptop, or what else you might need for work. The desk is made of high-quality steel (frame) and MDF (top), so it should stand to the test of time. But the greatest advantage to the SUD40 desk is that it's going to suit most people, both tall and short, thanks to its wide range of height-adjustable options. Depending on your needs, you can change its height within 88-118 cm range. Speaking of its convenience features, we like that this desk comes with four caster wheels making it easy to move it and that it features locking brakes that allow you to secure the desk in one place.

More Application Options

With elaborate two-tier design, the SUD40-BK-WPS is more than a simple desk for working on a computer or doing paperwork. Basically, this desk gives you two ways of organizing your workspace. You can use it traditionally, put a computer monitor on a higher top and a keyboard on a lower one. Or you can use a lower top for a laptop or monitor, and a higher one for an HD projector. This makes the SUD40-BK-WPS a great fit for many different applications. Don't overlook a shelf at the bottom of the desk frame, where you can place a system unit of your PC or other stuff you need for work

Recommendations on Assembly

Just like the majority of full-sized desks, the SUD40 comes disassembled and you’ll have to spend some time to put it together. The good news is the desk is supplied with all tools and accessories necessary for its hassle-free set-up. You’ll also like the fact that its assembly isn’t difficult, although some assistance might still be needed, as it isn't very lightweight. If you follow the manual that comes with the purchase, you should be able to set it up without problems.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00H3MGJMG

The Simple Solution to Your Problems

If you suffer from back pain or you seek a new way to work at the computer, not sitting all day long, a stand up desk will be the right buy. The X-Elite Pro Desk is a good option to consider for those consumers who have positively decided to purchase a new desk yet don't want to spend a tidy sum of money on it. The X-Elite Pro Desk has a compact footprint (24.5" x 16.8") to fit standard desks and cubicles and a larger desktop surface (28" x 20") to allow you to arrange on it one or two monitors, laptop, mouse, keyboard and even a cup of coffee.

Since its sitting height makes only 2.5" and the standing height can be adjusted within the range from 7" to 16" inches, the X-Elite desk comes as one of the most versatile standing desks, allowing users to switch between sitting and standing throughout a day. The great news is that it does not require additional space and comes already assembled - just take it out of the box, put on your office desk, place your laptop on it, and start to work.

5 Reasons to Work in a Standing Position

So, what are these benefits that we are talking about?

1. Better Heart Health. The research shows that people leading a sedentary lifestyle have a heart attack rate 54 percent higher than those changing a posture throughout a day. 

2. Burning Calories. If you stand just three hours a day, you can burn 144 calories more.

3. Better Productivity. Since our body produces more testosterone and less cortisol in a standing position, we can energize, boost our productivity and improve the mood.

4. Reducing Back and Neck Pains. These are the most common complaints of office workers who suffer from sedentary work. The studies show that a standing desk can reduce back and neck pain by more than 50 percent after just 4 weeks of use.

5. Fresh Mind! You will experience less stress and fatigue and, consequently, will have more drive and stronger motivation to accomplish new tasks and achieve new goals. 

Changing Posture

As we've already mentioned standing for a long time is almost as bad as sitting, so doctors strongly recommend switching between standing and sitting activities each 1.5-3 hours. The X-Elite Pro Desk will help you find and change a position that is ultimately comfortable for you without creating any discomfort, thanks to the quick adjusting mechanism. The height of the desk can be adjusted within a wide range, allowing consumers to customize it to their body types and heights. Making it possible for users to change positions frequently, the manufacturer has used the X-Elite Pro air pump system that allows the frame of the desk to raise and drop smoothly. To change the level of the working surface, you only need to lift the lever up or down, not moving anything else from the desk. Handy! When folded, the height between the standing desk and your working surface makes only 2 inches.

Away from a computer, you may like an idea of settling yourself down in a comfy bean bag. Not have one yet? Then, you definitely need to check our comparison of 5 best bean bags available.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00Y3P0K1M

For Laptop Owners

If you prefer to work on a laptop, the Lavolta ls-t013 desk converter is worth your consideration. Specializing in laptop accessories production for many years, the Lavolta company has learnt the demands of its customers to manufacture products providing great comfort and convenience. The Lavolta ls-t013 desk has the board dimensions of 42 x 27 cm and will perfectly suit laptops that are smaller than 16”. Just like all desk stands of this type, it's height adjustable. The maximum height of the desk is 48 cm. Though our body dimensions aren't the same, this height should allow a comfortable posture for most people. Take notice of the adjustable locking joints that allow you 360-degree rotation and hence, more freedom in setting up the desk. What else we'd like to draw your attention to is that it's possible to order the Lavolta ls-t013 desk converter with a built-in fan. If you do not have a laptop fan, we'd definitely recommend you to do that as the fan can help prevent your devices from overheating and prolong their service life.

More Than a Converter Desk

Although the manufacturer defines the Lavolta ls-t013 as a laptop stand, you can use it for many other purposes. It will serve perfectly as a table stand and will also work great as a book holder or shelf. It is fully adjustable and can suit just about any purpose. Do not hesitate to choose this converter desk from Lavolta and you'll get a truly multifunctional piece of furniture to use at home and in the office.

Take it to Go

The Lavolta desk converter is made of plastic and aluminium that’s why it can withstand less weight than its steel and wooden rivals, and the maximum possible load for this model is 15 kilos. On the other side, however, this makes this desk more lightweight and portable. It weighs only 1.7 kilos and you can carry it along with you effortlessly if such need arises. At the dimensions of 50 x 28 x 6 cm, it's also incredibly compact and can fit snugly even in your laptop bag

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £34.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B007CYBY5C

What Is a Standing Desk?

Laziness is killing the world! Lots of research show that sitting more than 8 hours a day can lead to a range of health issues, including obesity, spinal problems, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Concerning that most people live a sedentary lifestyle nowadays, sitting might become "the new smoking", and only standing can help reduce the risk of health problems! A standing workstation (or standing desk) allows you to stand up comfortably while working, thus, lowering the risk of weight gain and other health diseases as well as improving your mood and even boosting productivity!

Like sitting too long, there are some downsides of standing too long. We mean a standing desk won’t solve all health problems unless you remember to change your posture! So, it's advisable to alternate between sitting and standing throughout a day. A good office chair can surround you with ultimate comfort and provide a correct sitting posture.

What Features to Compare

Type and Size

Standing desks come in different shapes and sizes, they can be full-size desks or desk converters. A full-size desk works as a traditional office desk and enables you to cram onto all essentials, it can be one- or two-tier and have a slide-out keyboard tray or an extra shelf. Such desks are quite functional, and some of them can even accommodate a treadmill if you want to compound the beneficial effects of standing and walking while you work. On the other hand, especially if you're just trying to work in a standing position, a small desk converter is a preferable option. It's pretty compact, thus, it can be placed just on an existing desk. And if you prefer working in a bed, such desk is definitely your choice!

Height Adjustment

It might blow your mind how many extra frills standing desks have. Some desks come with an electric height adjustment system which makes adjusting smooth, silent, and very simple - just touch the “up” and “down” buttons, and you’re set. These desks are very comfortable as they can even remember several heights, however,  they are a bit pricey. Most low-cost options are adjusted with screws and, naturally, they may require you longer time to change the height. A desk with an air pump or Lift Up Mechanism can become a good alternative out of these two options. In theory, the 122cm max height is sufficient for most people up to 195cm.

Extras

Before making a purchase, think twice whether you are going to rearrange your office or, for example, you're planning to use a standing desk for watching movies, gaming, reading, etc. too. If so, a full-size table should have lockable wheels for easy transportation, while a small desk converter should be light and simple to set up. In case you plan to install a laptop with lots of hardware peripherals, it's important to check the maximum load bearing capacity, as well as the material the desk is made of. Models with steel frame are considered to be the most durable and solid.

FAQ:

Q: Is it difficult to assemble a standing desk on my own?
A: It depends on the type of the desk you buy. If you opt for a full-sized desk, you will need an assistant to assemble it since it usually consists of metal legs and heavy boards that are inconvenient to hold (let alone put together) on your own. However, if you decide in favour of a desk converter, you should be able to handle its set-up yourself since these desks are more compact and easier to assemble.

Q: If I buy a standing desk, does it mean I’ll have to stand all the time?
A: No, it doesn’t. All standing desks have adjustable height, so you can work at these desks while standing and sitting. Speaking of desk converters, they can simply be removed from your desk so that you could sit whenever you want. Moreover, you probably don’t want to stand all day long since it might be tiresome and not healthy for your back and legs.

Q: It seems to me that my desk is wobbling. Is it normal?
A: It is possible that your standing desk (usually a full-sized one) might start to wobble if you put more items on it than it can withstand. This problem, though, can be easily solved by removing extra load from the desk top. Besides extra load put on the desk, wobbling may be caused by several more reasons:

  • Frame bolts aren’t tightened firmly enough;
  • Desk frame is set up higher than it should be;
  • The desk stands on an uneven floor or on a soft surface like a plush carpet.

Q: Can I change the desk height when the desktop is loaded with monitors, printers, etc.?
A: Yes, you can do it effortlessly if the height adjustment in your desk enjoys an electric or gas spring system. Such models adjust the height automatically and evenly at a single push of a button/lever. Only if the height adjustment of the desk is manual will you need to remove your computer and other accessories from the desk first.

Q: Are standing desks with electric height adjustment noisy?
A: Such desks aren’t noisy but they aren’t fully silent either. Yet, the noise they might produce isn’t loud at all.

Q: Do all full-sized standing desks have wheels? Are they removable?
A: As a rule, manufacturers supply standing desks with wheels so that you could move a desk from place to place with the maximum convenience. Yet, if you don’t want to use the wheels, you can just avoid attaching them. Since all standing desks usually come disassembled, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to use casters.

Sources:

1. Alan Henry The Complete Guide to Choosing (or Building) the Perfect Standing Desk, Lifehacker. January 28, 2015.

2. Elizabeth Grace Sauders The First-Timer's Guide To Choosing A Standing Desk You Won't End Up Hating, Fast Company. December 1, 2017.

3. Terence Lee No buyer’s remorse: a guide to getting the best standing desk for your needs, Tech in Asia. November 4, 2015.

4. Standing Desk Buying Guide, eBay. August 22, 2014.

5. Shannon Cotton Proper Posture When Standing and Sitting, LIVESTRONG. October 22, 2015.

6. Standing Desk Benefits: Are They Real? What Else Should You Do? Dr. Axe.

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