We Lab Test The Best Standing Desk Bases
We compare the different electric adjustable height desk bases available for building your very own DIY standing desk or treadmill desk workstation.
Standing Desk Base Frames
Planning to build a sit-to-stand desk or treadmill desk with your own desktop lumber? There are some great options available for standing desk legs.
More advanced models—typically made in the USA or Europe—feature higher transit speeds, tighter manufacturing tolerances, quieter motors, nicer handsets, better collision detection and tilt detection, and a greater range of height adjustability and desktop width accommodation. Some of them also allow you to expand into an L-shaped standing desk frame. These will typically run you anywhere from $650 for a 2-leg base to $1450 for a 3-leg base. Warranties on American-made bases tend to be 10 to 15 years, a reflection of how long they’re likely to work trouble-free compared to the cheaper Chinese frames.
American and European-made bases are also likely to be more stable and to stay more stable over time compared to their wobblier Chinese brethren. To better understand the many factors that enter into the stability equation, from the length and weight of the feet to the precision manufacturing of the “glides” separating the tubes of the lifting columns, see our primer on Why Some Standing Desks Shake More Than Others.
A big recent development in premium standing desk lifting bases has been the advent of brushless motor bases. The first to hit the market is iMovR’s Jaxson, and it’s definitely worth considering this revolutionary technology for your DIY standing desk project. It’s the first new motor technology to be used in standing desks since their inception in 1998.
Make sure you are educated in your choices for your standing desk project by reading our full roundup of DIY standing desk bases.
Do Weight Ratings on Electric Desks Really Matter?
When it comes to weight ratings on electric desks, the simple answer is that “you get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get.”
iMovR Jaxson DIY Standing Desk Base Frame Review
The first standing desk base with brushless motor technology, the Jaxson disrupts the industry with a superb value for its quality and features.
How Brushless DC Motor Technology Is Bound To Entirely Disrupt the Standing Desk Industry
Given that more than 90% of the standing desks sold online today are built on Chinese-made, commodity-grade lifting bases, the introduction of inline brushless DC motor actuators has the potential to truly disrupt the market.
iMovR Studio 470 Electric Standing Desk Base Review
The Studio 470 electric standing desk base is bare bones simplified. With this DIY base you don't pay for what you don't need.
Jiecang Electric Standing Desk Base Review (UpLift Desk Version)
The Jeicang is a decent option for those who want a little better reliability and durability than bottom end desks like Autonomous and IKEA.
IKEA IDÅSEN Standing Desk Underframe Review
In an attempt to revamp its standing desk line, IKEA introduced a bulkier, pricier desk that's slightly less underpowered than the Bekant.
VIVO DIY Standing Desk Frame Review (V102E)
The VIVO Standing Desk Frame has all the issues of an extremely cheap standing desk frame, without being the cheapest standing desk frame.
iMovR Freedom DIY Standing Desk Base Review
The iMovR Freedom DIY base is an answer to low-cost imports, leveraging design ingenuity and a great deal of investment in robotic manufacturing.
FEZiBO DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The FEZiBO Stand Up Desk Frame does not have good performance or a real warranty. It is the most underpowered and lightest frame on the market today. Commensurately, it is also cheaper than any other frame we’ve tested.
Stand Up Desk Store L-Shaped DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The Stand Up Desk Store L-Shaped Standing Desk Frame is outfitted like a bargain standing desk, but doesn't have the price to match such underwhelming details.
Stand Up Desk Store Dual-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The Stand Up Desk Store Dual-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame aims to fit into the middle zone of standing desk frames, but it doesn't quite hit the mark.
Stand Up Desk Store Single-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The Stand Up Desk Store Single-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame looks to fit into the middle zone of standing desk frames, but it doesn't quite hit the mark.
iMovR Vigor Heavy Duty Standing Desk Base Review
The iMovR Vigor is the strongest base available to DIY desk builders and it's much easier to put together than any other kitted base we've tested.
iMovR Lander DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The crème de la crème of electric lifting bases, there is no better electric lift base to place under that very special custom desktop you're creating.
iMovR Lander Lite DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The iMovR Lander is the best, but many people won’t need that much lifting capacity or desktop width accommodation. If that’s the case, the Lander Lite DIY base frame is perfect.
Why Some Standing Desks Shake More Than Others
Early generations of sit-stand, height-adjustable desks were a shaky lot, but the technology has improved stability significantly.
StandDesk Review
In the category of Chinese-made desks, the StandDesk standing desk sits above the super-cheap brands but priced well below Jarvis and UpLift.
Fromann Dual-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The Fromann Dual-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame starts at $319.99, has dual-stage legs and can accomodate desktops from 47.3"-78.8".
TOPSKY Dual-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame Review
The TOPSKY Dual-Motor DIY Standing Desk Frame starts at $239.99 and features dual motors, a 225-lb weight capacity and four frame colors.