The Fast Facts
- We put standing desks to the test, with our work-from-home fleet giving their honest thoughts.
- Switching between standing and sitting throughout the day promotes regular movement and may ease aches and pains.
- We like the Uplift and FlexiSpot standing desks best, for their durability, customization options, and adjustability.
Some trends are here one minute and gone the next, but we vote that standing desks still deserve a place in the world of wellness — with one caveat.
Like most things, it may not be all good all the time.
That’s why we’ve chosen adjustable standing desks. We recommend alternating up and down, and even when you’re standing, posture is important. A standing desk won’t inhibit back pain if you’re still botching posture.
Standing is still considered a sedentary position unless you prioritize movement breaks or use accessories like an under-desk treadmill.
- Experience: We talked to our own remote workforce about the standing desks they’ve used, including pros and cons.
- Adjustable: We prioritize standing desks that adjust up and down to support a hybrid of sitting and standing.
- Budget: Standing desks can get expensive, so we weighed durability against cost to ensure the price tags are worth it.
All brands and products we feature on Healthline have undergone a strict vetting process to ensure they are safe and reliable.
In moderation. While sitting too long is associated with poor health outcomes like heart disease, chronic pain, and weight gain, standing too long is also linked to these things.
The studies vary, but the punchline is to vary between standing and sitting. One 2022 study found that standing 20% of the time was the most beneficial.
We recommend starting there and then increasing, but it’s likely best not to go past a 50/50 ratio (for example, 30 minute sitting and 30 minutes standing).
Since work-from-home culture has gained more footing, there are more and more options for standing desks. It might be best to rotate standing and sitting throughout the day and choose an adjustable standing desk.