The 3 Best Standing Desks in 2025

This is not a comprehensive list of all the standing desks we’ve tested. We have removed models that are discontinued or no longer meet our criteria.

The Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk and the Laminate Standing Desk (both sold by Herman Miller) were previous picks due to their lower cost for a low-range frame that fits people under 5-foot-4.

Recently, however, the price of the desk has risen so that it’s no longer competitive with the V2-Commercial. Herman Miller has also shortened the warranty on the desks from 15 years to 7 years, the low-range frame is no longer available on the laminate desk model, and a couple of standard desk sizes are no longer offered for the bamboo desk.

That said, if you can find a Jarvis desk on sale and are okay with the shorter warranty, it may be worth buying, since many Wirecutter staffers own Jarvis desks and are happy with them.

The Union & Scale 55” Standing Desk with Micro Movements offers a novel feature that automatically raises and lowers the desk in a tenth of an inch increments. This is meant to encourage more movement at your desk, but we found it to be counterproductive: When the desk was set at our desired height, it lowered by a little over two inches, which caused us to slouch rather than fix our posture. The desk also did not raise or lower smoothly, and it comes in only one size and in white laminate.

Starting at under $450 (with the bamboo top), the FlexiSpot E5 (formerly EC4) was a potential budget standing-desk pick. It comes in a plethora of laminate desktop options and in several sizes. But we found it to be one of the least stable desks we’ve tested, both from front to back and side to side. Because of the E5’s wobbling, we think you’re better off investing in a pricier Uplift V2  or even paying more for the Vari desk’s superior stability.

Juniper Think desks also start at attractive prices, but we dismissed them from testing because of their limited height range (26.5 inches to 45.5 inches) in comparison with that of our picks. Juniper’s desks also have fewer memory presets than the other desks, and they’re only available in four laminate desktop finishes.

We decided to skip testing the Autonomous SmartDesk Core because it lacks anti-collision, offers limited customization, and has a poor warranty.

The IKEA Bekant is a seemingly promising, fairly inexpensive, height-adjustable standing desk, but two Wirecutter readers have mentioned returning theirs due to stability problems. And we’ve come across more problems and negative customer reviews for this model than for any other standing desk. It has the fewest desktop-customization options of the desks we researched. And unlike the major standing-desk manufacturers, IKEA charges high delivery fees if you can’t pick it up in-store.

The IKEA Idåsen is priced similarly to the Uplift V2, and if you have an IKEA nearby, it’s easy to try out the desk for yourself. Although you can remotely control the height of the Idåsen with your phone, the desk’s keypad lacks the customizable height-preset buttons found on our picks. It also comes in only four laminate desktop options.

The VertDesk v3, sold by BTOD.com (Beyond the Office Door), is one of the most stable two-leg standing desks we’ve ever tested, similar to the Vari. In previous tests, panelists voted its desktop the best of the laminate options, thanks to its lightly textured feel and realistic wood look. We didn’t pick the VertDesk v3 for most people because its assembly process is more involved than that of most desks we tested. And it has a more-limited height range, from 27 inches to 47.5 inches.

The StandDesk has decent typing and movement transfer, fair-to-okay front-to-back stability, and better side-to-side stability (with a crossbar attached). It also has the best instructions and labeling we’ve seen for building a typical standing desk. Unfortunately, the StandDesk’s motor didn’t respond as quickly, and its control pad wasn’t as precise or easy to use as the Uplift desk’s.

The Xdesk Terra 2s and Terra are beautiful desks that are unusually easy to assemble. They come partially assembled, sparing you a good 20 minutes of work compared with assembly time for most desks. However, they are far more expensive than our picks, louder than any of them, and significantly less stable.

The EvoDesk came with predrilled holes that were alternately tight or loose, so assembly was a pain, and ultimately the desk didn’t feel properly seated on the frame. It wobbled more than the Uplift. And considering that it costs more than our picks when similarly configured, we recommend passing.

The Right Angle Elegante is too expensive for a desk that’s not as sturdy as our picks.

The FEZIBO Electric Standing Desk has an appealing price tag, but we didn’t test it because of its two-year limited warranty on electronic components and motor and its paltry weight limit of 155 to 175 pounds.

Several readers have asked us about the ApexDesk Elite Series Standing Desk, but we skipped testing because it has only a two-year warranty—a no-go for such a pricey desk.

We considered testing the Vari Essential Electric Standing Desk as a possible new budget pick for this guide. But it fell short of our criteria due to its short, three-year warranty and 150-pound weight limit.

The Vortex 48″ Series M Edition Standing Desk features narrow height adjustments that are ideal only for people averaging 6 feet tall, and it has only a two-year warranty.

The SHW Memory Preset Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk features an unsatisfactory one-year limited warranty, and it has a weight limit of 110 pounds, inclusive of the desktop.

The FAMISKY Dual Motors Standing Desk and the MONOMI Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk offer inconsistencies in their product descriptions, feature narrow height adjustments that are ideal only for people averaging 6 feet tall, and have poor warranties.

The FlexiSpot E7 Pro Plus Standing Desk didn’t impress our testers. Most thought the desktop and keypad looked cheaper than those of the other models we tested. Panelists also noted that its motor was marginally louder compared with motors on other models, including the Flexispot Comhar Pro.

Our panelists had divided opinions about the Flexispot Comhar Pro Standing Desk Q8. They universally liked its built-in wireless charging station and slim drawer. However, many disliked the non-customizable bamboo top because it was rough and had sharper edges than those of other models we tested. It also wasn’t as stable as our picks.

The Ergonofis Sway Desk is one of the most expensive standing desks we’ve tested. Our panelists loved its materials but said the recessed keypad wasn’t intuitive to use, and many gave up trying to adjust it to their preferred heights. This desk was also harder to assemble than half of the models we tested. Overall, we found its assembly method—which uses snap clamps, rather than screws—to be less secure than that of our picks. Lastly, the Sway’s 10-year warranty is shorter than the Uplift V2’s 15-year warranty, even though the Sway typically costs about twice as much.

The Autonomous SmartDesk Connect doesn’t work until it’s been paired with the company’s app, which offers minimal functionality. Our panelists thought it was overkill to be able to adjust the desk’s height from across the room. Multiple testers also called this desk “cheap” and “wobbly.” Plus, the anti-collision feature didn’t work during our tests, and the white desktop smudged easily.

We skipped testing the Autonomous SmartDesk Pro (formerly known as the SmartDesk 2) because it lacks an anti-collision feature, which is an important safety consideration for anyone using a standing desk.

The anti-collision feature on the Branch Standing Desk didn’t consistently work during our tests. While the sensors identified obstructions at the front of the desk, they failed to sense objects and even our panelists’ legs at the back of the desk. Additionally, our testers found the motor to be too loud, and they thought the desk edges were too sharp to rest against while typing at a computer.

The Charcoal Desk is well reviewed by other publications, but our experience with it was subpar. The desk requires an app to unlock all of its features, but again our panelists found those extra features useless. Charcoal promises to “supercharge” your day by reminding you to take breaks via app notifications, plus a glowing dot on the desktop’s surface. After creating a profile with our age, gender, and sleep habits, we anticipated a personalized experience. But the app only offered generic, unrealistic break tasks, including taking a 9-minute nap. It never personalized suggestions, and the desk didn’t intuit breaks, sitting, or standing time based on our desk usage.

Additionally, the keypad wasn’t responsive, the desk motor was loud, the white acrylic desktop smudged easily, and its edges were too sharp to lean against while working. Lastly, the anti-collision feature only worked at the front of the desk. The free cable tray blocks sensors at the back, and it fell off whenever it hit an object during our tests. Bottom line: None of our testers thought the Charcoal Desk was worth $1,200 to $1,500. “If it costs $550, that is too much,” said one panelist.

The ErgoAV ErgoFx Sit Stand Desk is one of the most expensive models we’ve tested. Our panelists loved the tech-forward features, including a lighted drawer, USB ports, and a wireless charging base that automatically spins and tilts toward you when used. But this desk fell short of blowing us away because its capacity limit is 176.5 pounds, while our Uplift pick can carry loads twice as heavy. Plus, its adjustable height range can only be preset for above 35.5 inches and below 35.5 inches. This means people who share a desk can’t create multiple presets, and neither can people who use two wheelchairs at home (such as a manual and electric wheelchair of different heights). There’s an optional app that offers more preset options, but it didn’t work during testing.

At the time we tested this desk, the manufacturer’s website indicated it offered a one-year warranty. But a company spokesperson later relayed that this information was incorrect. Now, the website reflects a two-year warranty for the charging components and a five-year warranty for the frame and motor—all of which applies regardless of the purchase date.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.