Sit/stand desks: They’re not all the same

Picture this: Your employee asks you for an adjustable sit/stand desk.

You find one online, order it, get it all put together - and the employee isn’t happy.

The desk is still - for some reason - uncomfortable for them. What happened? 

The truth is, not all sit/stand desks are built alike. Some have features such as wheels, drawers, built-in shelving, privacy panels…the list goes on and on. Some have frames that don’t go as high or low as you might need. Some take a little more work to adjust, like crank-style desks or hydraulic desks. Choosing the right sit/stand desk can be a daunting task, when you’re faced with all of these choices. So what do you (and your employees) really need? 

The answer is simple. Literally. When it comes to a sit/stand desk, simple is best – a plain, easily-adjustable surface, that can be raised and lowered to the user’s ideal heights, and that is big enough to accommodate the necessities is all that you need.

Here are the four main factors that you need to consider when ordering a sit/stand desk.

1. Is it easy to adjust? 

If it’s not easy to adjust, then the rest of these questions and answers don’t matter – no one’s going to use a desk that doesn’t adjust easily. Crank-style desks, desk-top additions that have to be manually lifted, and even pneumatic desks all add an unnecessary hurdle. Desks that are hard to adjust encourage people to spend too long in a static posture.

We recommend electric sit/stand desks because they’re more likely to be used. And the whole point of an adjustable desk is to use it. Electric desks adjust at the push of a button, without any additional physical effort from the user. And as more and more brands have entered the market, electric desks have gotten cheaper and cheaper. 

2. Does it go where it needs to go? 

Does it adjust to the proper sitting and standing heights of the user? This is going to vary for each user, and should be measured properly – either through a self-assessment or by an evaluator. And since these sitting and standing measurements can vary so much between users, a desk with a high range of adjustability is usually your best bet. This is where I recommend that people invest a bit – save the money on fancy desktop materials or expensive add-ons, and invest it into getting the frame with the largest height range. 

3. Is anything going to get in the way? 

All of those add-ons that increase the selling price are actually detrimental to the practicality of the desk. I’ve seen privacy panels that keep the desk from lowering, wheels that make a perfectly good desk suddenly unusable (in seated height) for us short folks, and drawers that land squarely in your lap when you try to adjust the desk properly. And none of those things are needed. 

Ideally a desk is just a desk; it’s not a storage unit, or a room divider, or a portable worksurface. All those things can be separate, free-standing items, if there is really a need for them. 

4. Does the surface hold everything it needs to hold?

The surface of the desk needs to be large enough to hold everything that it needs to hold. And yes, this is another area in which add-ons can get in the way, such as built-in overhead shelves or attached monitor risers – these are things that can prevent you from positioning equipment where it really needs to go. So make sure that, just like the rest of the desk, the surface is plain. 

For most people, the best monitor distance is arms-length away, which is going to vary a bit between users. So add a little more depth to accommodate for taller people with longer arms. If there’s not enough room for appropriate monitor depth, this can cause awkward postures, eye strain, and/or headaches. And of course, the width of the desk should hold all of the user’s necessities – if multiple monitors are commonly used, make sure the desk is long enough that the monitors won’t overlap. 

So, there you have it! When shopping for an adjustable desk, keep these four factors in mind to make sure you’re making the best choices. And if you need additional help, we’re here for you! We’re always happy to do a general ergonomic site consultation and help guide you through those tough ergonomic decisions. This can be a great idea and save you money in the long run, whether you’ve been tasked with ordering a few workstations, or revamping a whole office!