The 7 Best Standing Desks and Converters for Your Home and Office Space

Several members of our staff own standing desks from Flexispot, but the Q8 takes the crown as ruler of them all. Unlike other standing desks, this one has a built-in drawer and an under-desk cable management tray for tidying up your workspace without an additional cost. It’s also programmable for up to four preset heights, plus it features built-in USB-A and USB-C ports, and a wireless charging pad that sits flush in the desktop. That’s intuitive design for the modern workplace.

It’s a clean and minimalist, too. You can choose from a few desktop surfaces and colors, from bamboo to natural wood or rustic, and pick between white or black desk legs.

Our commerce editor Danny Perez has this desk at home and says he loves it for its sturdiness and easy setup. “Its individual parts are heavy (in a good way) and the under-desk cord organizer keeps everything clean and tidy,” he says. “The drawer is super spacious, and after filling it up for over a year, I still have space for more notes, pens, and takeout menus.”

He notes that its only downside is how heavy it is: “People should use the buddy system for hauling it inside when it shows up.” Critics love the desk as well, though many reviews say that while its wireless charger is a nice idea on paper, it requires keeping your desk clutter-free—a challenge for some of us working in hectic offices.

The Hassen standing desk is a compact package with a modest height range and, although narrow, a bonus lower shelf for storage. It stands on lockable wheels for easy mobility, plus the desk folds flat into itself to wheel into a closet or a small crevice when not in use. It adjusts via its telescoping legs and has two preset heights.

This is a barebones, non-electronic adjustable desk that truthfully looks more like a shelf than a desk, but several users say the desk is easy to assemble. The quality may be inconsistent, however, as a few user reviewers say poor welding and improper fitting led to uneven surfaces.

— Joseph Moran

The Pro Plus 36 has enough room to accommodate a pair of side-by-side monitors or other miscellaneous tech devices. It has a two-tiered working surface and folds open by squeezing its side latches, and once folded closed, it can be taken on the go. It’s available in black or white, ships fully assembled, and can be set to one of 11 different heights.

“I like my VariDesk Pro Plus standing desk converter largely for its versatility,” says Expert Reviews Deputy Editor Colin Aylesworth. “It turns any flat surface into a standing desk, doesn’t require a power source, and is simple and easy to transition from standing to sitting, or vice versa.”

Several users say they love its two-tier setup, spacious surface, and its easy adjustability. Some users say it has a slight bounce, however, and it’s noticeable when resting wrists along the edge of its surface. Meanwhile, I tested one in our office and found it surprisingly robust but also heavier than expected—I actually started sweating while lugging it around the office to find a surface to use it on.

The VariDesk Pro Plus 48 is also available if you need even more space.

Foldable, packable, and supremely lightweight, this sit-stand desk converter is a simple solution for small budgets and frequent travelers. Its “Z” shape folds into four angled views, with its most upright setting propping your laptop 10 inches high for eye-level use.

It’s also surprisingly sturdy, made with thin vegan leather and fiberglass, with a weight capacity of 22 pounds. It’s half an inch thick, occupying minimal space in a backpack or on a shelf.

The angled views are great if you need to view your laptop screen and prefer using a wireless keyboard and mouse. User reviews say it’s an easy fix for elevating laptops without splurging on an expensive desk or converter. However, several say the instructions are hard to understand, and folding it into each angle is hard to figure out.

The Tenon is the most holistic standing desk upgrade on this list, with smart features and a modular design that gives it a premium feel (and price). It has a scratch-resistant desktop surface to stymie dings, a beveled edge to keep your wrists comfy, four built-in power outlets, and USB-C and USB-A charging ports. You adjust the desk’s settings with its touchscreen panel or the Tenon’s companion app. Unlike other options on this list, the Tenon features ambient lighting that changes color to remind you to sit down or stand up, according to a custom timer. You can also adjust that light’s brightness, which is a nice touch.

Further justifying its “smart” label is the addition of sensors that prevent the desk from crashing into obstacles when adjusting. Oh, and it also features voice control.

Since it’s modular, you can purchase accessories separately to manage cables, give your desk an 8-in-1 docking station, mount other devices, and much more. However, those add-ons are either free or more affordable if you opt for other desks on this list. The Tenon Premium package includes a “flow kit” of six accessories, but it costs around $3,200 or more, depending on surface finish. The base model we link to here is barebones and has a warm gray default finish.

Still, several user and critic reviews say that the Tenon standing desk has given them one of the best experiences in a home office environment, and one user even called it the “Mona Lisa of desks.” The Tenon is worth the splurge if you can swing the price of luxury, but given that it only comes in one size, it might not be your right fit.

This desk from Vari is a great pick if you’re into the contoured style. It has beveled edges to provide a more ergonomic wrist rest, and its curved design puts you closer to your mouse and keyboard, resulting in better posture. It comes in five laminated, wood-colored finishes with heavy steel legs, a few desk accessories, and two embedded pass-through grommets. Its control panel can be programmed to four custom heights.

“The Vari Ergo took less than 10 minutes to assemble and program, which is a huge pro in my book,” says Senior Commerce Director Lindsey Murray. “I love that it comes with cord management and attachable hooks for hanging a bag or headphones, and the ergonomic features like the curved edge that lets you rest your arm on the desktop have totally saved my posture. It’s also so easy to transition from sitting to standing with the preset heights.”

“The only real con is the lack of drawer storage,” she admits. “But truthfully, I think that’s a struggle with most standing desks.”

Several users say it’s tough and sturdy, with a heavy surface that can withstand a few dings. Installation is easy, too, though a few reviewers say it’s difficult to move in its package due to weight.