Topic
Standing desks
An electric sit-stand desk should reach your seated and standing elbow height with a margin. Compare the height range in cm, the number of motors, the leg stages and the load rating.
- Typical range
- 62 to 127 cm
- Motors
- 1 or 2
The height range decides everything else: the low end must reach your seated typing height, the high end your standing elbow height in shoes. Use the desk-height fit with your own measurements before comparing frames.
Dual-motor frames lift each leg with its own motor and usually carry more weight and move more evenly than a single motor with a drive shaft. Three-stage legs reach lower and higher than two-stage legs of the same frame width.
Check the desktop size in cm against your room, the load rating in kg against your monitors and arms, and whether the frame has memory presets and anti-collision.
Common mistakes
- Buying a frame whose top height is below your standing elbow height in shoes.
- Comparing desktops in inches from a US listing without converting.
- Overloading a single-motor frame with several monitors and a monitor arm.
Guides on this topic
- How to stop a standing desk wobblingReduce standing desk wobble: tighten frame bolts, level the feet, add support, choose the right top depth, and which frame designs tend to wobble less at height.Fix
- Standing desk vs regular desk: what you gain and give upStanding desk vs regular desk compared on fit, flexibility, space, noise, upkeep and setup, so you can decide whether a sit-stand desk is worth it for you.Comparison
- Standing desk or ergonomic chair: which to buy firstStanding desk or ergonomic chair first? A practical way to decide using the HSE workstation checklist, what each fixes, and when a cheaper accessory is enough.Comparison
- Standing desk won't go up or down: fixesStanding desk not moving, only going down or stopping halfway? Check power, keypad lock, cables, overload, reset and uneven legs before suspecting the motor.Fix
- Standing desk height chart by your heightRough seated and standing desk heights in cm by body height, how to measure your own elbow height, and how to check a desk's range fits you before buying.Guide
- Do you need a standing desk for a walking pad?What a desk needs for a walking pad: extra height for the deck, space between the legs, desk depth, cable reach and frame stability while you walk, in cm.Guide
- Can you plug a standing desk into an extension lead?Can a standing desk go on an extension lead or surge protector? What desk motors draw, UK lead ratings, what not to do and where to mount the power strip.Guide
- Standing desk error codes: E01, E04, ASR, RST and LOCWhat common standing desk controller codes such as E01, E04, ASR, RST, LOC and HOT usually mean, and the fix to try for each before contacting the maker.Fix
- Standing desk sizes: widths and depths explainedStanding desk sizes explained: common widths and depths in cm, what fits one or two monitors, footprint, height range and the clearance a moving desk needs.Guide
- How much does a standing desk cost, and what changes with price?What you gain moving up standing desk price tiers: motors, leg stages, height range, load, controllers, tops and warranty, and where spending more is worth it.Guide
- Standing desk cable management that survives height changesStanding desk cable management: trays, spines, slack loops and mounting the control box and power strip so cables move with the desk and never snag.How-to
- Single vs dual motor standing desksSingle vs dual motor standing desks compared on lift speed, load in kg, noise and wobble, and which desk sizes and setups really need two motors.Comparison
- Manual vs electric standing desks: hand crank or motor?Manual vs electric standing desks compared: hand crank frames against motorised frames on speed, height range, presets, power needs, load and who each suits.Comparison
- How to set up a standing desk: heights, monitors and cablesHow to set up a standing desk on day one: seated and standing heights, monitor position, saving presets, cable slack and the checks that stop snags later.How-to
- How to set standing desk height presetsSave sitting and standing heights on common standing desk controllers, set upper and lower limits, use the child lock and sit-stand reminders, step by step.How-to
- How to reset a standing deskThe hold-down reset routine used on most electric standing desk controllers, when a reset is needed, what RST means and what to do if the reset fails.How-to
- How to move or take apart a standing deskHow to move a standing desk: lowering it, removing the top, protecting legs, motors and the control box, and what to keep together for reassembly.How-to
- How to build a standing desk from a frame and desktopHow to build your own standing desk: choosing a frame and top, sizes and thickness, screw lengths, fixing the control box and the checks before the first lift.How-to
- How much weight can a standing desk hold?How much weight a standing desk can hold: load ratings explained, how to add up your setup, why the desktop counts, and what motors and legs change.Guide
- How long should you stand at a standing desk?Common sit-stand routines, how to use presets and reminders to switch, what the HSE says about changing position, and practical tips for a comfortable routine.Guide
- How long do standing desks last?How long standing desks last: motor duty cycles, control boxes, handsets, frames and tops, warranty terms to compare, and habits that keep a desk running.Guide
- Flexispot E7 vs E5 standing desk framesFlexispot E7 vs E5 compared: motors, leg stages, height range, load and stability, what to check on each spec sheet and which frame suits whom.Comparison
- What chair works with a standing desk?What chair to use with a standing desk: normal task chairs, draughtsman chairs, perching stools and saddle seats compared for sit-stand use and fit.Guide
Buying guides on this topic
- Best L-shaped and corner standing desksSix L-shaped and corner standing desks, frames and risers from HSSTYLE, POKAR, OffiGo and Flexispot compared on size, height range, motors, load and presets.Buying guide
- Best electric standing desksSeven electric standing desks and frames from Maidesite, Flexispot, ErGear, Huanuo and Agilestic compared on height range in cm, motors, load and presets.Buying guide
- Best small standing desks for small spacesFive small standing desks from Huanuo, JOY worker, Maidesite and Leitz compared on desktop size in cm, height range, lift type, load and extras.Buying guide
- Best standing desk frames to fit your own desktopSeven standing desk frames from Maidesite, Flexispot, POKAR and others compared on desktop sizes accepted, height range, motors, load in kg and presets.Buying guide
- Best standing desks under £400Six standing desks and frames under £400 from Maidesite, Flexispot and ErGear compared on height range, single or dual motors, load in kg and memory presets.Buying guide
- Flexispot standing desks comparedSix Flexispot standing desks and frames compared side by side on motors, leg stages, height range in cm, load rating in kg and memory presets.Buying guide