The Best Standing Desk Converters
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What is a Standing Desk Converter?
A standing desk converter is a device that rests on top of your desk and raises your workstation up and down so you can sit or stand at work. They are smaller and generally less expensive than full standing desks. If you aren’t ready to invest in a full standing desk or can’t replace your existing desk (for instance, if it’s too difficult to move or if your office doesn’t allow employees ordering new desks), then a standing desk converter, or desk riser, is ideal.
If you’ve determined a standing desk converter is right for you, there are many options (and plenty of them cheap quality). It’s increasingly important to do your research before buying, or you may end up with a model that is suboptimal for your needs. Information on these products is often coded in technical jargon, creating a maze the uninitiated consumer has to wade through. Z-Lifts, Dual ergonomics, dropped keyboard trays, VESA mounts—it’s important to know these technical terms so you can find the right standing desk converter for your work style, body type, and office area.
So which model is best for you?
It depends. The first step is determining which type of standing desk converter is ideal for your needs. We’ve reviewed these products extensively over the last five years (researching and evaluating 100+ units), and they generally fall into 6 categories based on their architectural design. Each type has its own merits. For instance, Z-Lifts and X-Lifts are generally a great value and offer top-notch stability (they’re also the most common), Hovers are the most ergonomically flexible, and Electrics have the best weight capacity and make the lifting process effortless. It’s also important to consider a monitor arm to make sure you can get the correct ergonomic position for both sitting and standing.
7 Types of Standing Desk Converters
The rising tide of standing desk risers over the last few years has flooded the market with options. We’ve built a boat to navigate these waters by segmenting the products into the following categories:
- Electric: This is the Cadillac Showroom. Electrics owe a structural debt to the “Post & Base” category, but they add an electric lift mechanism for an effortless transition between sitting and standing. Press a button and you’re working at standing height. Their programmable height presets (like full standing desks) allow you to choose your precise standing height and automatically move to it every time you stand. Overall, a classy option for those with the budget. Jump to Electric
- Z-Lift: Grab the main work surface on either side, squeeze the brake release paddles, lift the platform up, then let go. Zip. Z-Lifts are the most popular type of standing desk converter and include the infamous Varidesk along with the ZipLift+. They offer some of the best work surface stability while standing, serious ease of use lifting up and down, and generally a low to middle-of-the-road price tag. Named after their Z-shaped architecture. Jump to Z-Lift
- X-Lift: X-Lifts are cousins to the Z-Lifts. One advantage they have is lifting straight up and down, instead of arcing out into your cubicle space. This gives them a tad more inherent stability and means they save space. On the downside, their X-shape introduces ‘pinch points’ into the frame, meaning you’ll have to watch your fingers while lifting. They tend to be a tad less expensive than Z-Lifts. Jump to X-Lift
- Post & Base: These units sport a sturdy post that holds a keyboard platform and a monitor. Like Z-Lifts and X-Lifts, they typically sit freestanding on your desk—no need for cumbersome desk clamps. They take up less space on your desk than Z-Lifts or X-Lifts, and many also offer impressive built-in monitor adjustability for positioning your monitor(s) at ideal heights and angles. Jump to Post & Base
- Hover: Hovers are essentially oversized monitor arms with work surfaces. They “hover” over your desk, swinging across a large 3-dimensional area. Their design saves more desk space than any other type. Work surface stability is not their strong suit, but these units offer the best ergonomic adjustability and fine-tuning available, plus they make screen-sharing and collaboration easy. Jump to Hover
- Corner: Not technically a category of their own, since they feature architectural designs from several of the types above, including Z-Lift, X-Lift, and Electric. But if you have a corner desk or an L-shaped desk and want to optimize your desktop space, these are the products for you. Jump to Corner
- Portable: These standing desk converters don’t quite fit into any of the other categories. They aren’t electric, or have any characteristics of the other categories, but they can vary greatly in their style and design. Another feature of many of these converters is that they are relatively easy to move around to different desks or rooms of your home. Jump to Portable
Now you’ve seen each type of standing desk riser, it’s time to narrow down to the models themselves. Take a look at our review summaries below for more details on each product.
We also added the Notadesk Elsewhere at the bottom of the roundup and, while it’s not a standard standing desk converter and therefore doesn’t fit into one of the six types of converters above, it’s a portable workspace with an interesting design that will work convert many surfaces to standing height.
Top Electric Standing Desk Converters
1. Winston-E Desktop Riser
The original Winston is already a favorite among desktop riser users. Add a swift electric lift mechanism, innovative ergonomics, and a polished aesthetic to boot, and the “Winston-E” lands itself comfortably in territory no riser has been before: the executive suite.
Price: $968
2. Varidesk Pro Plus 36 Electric Standing Desk Converter
The Pro Plus 36 Electric is an exceptionally well-made electric standing desk converter. It excels at stability, ease of use and overall design, despite some small issues with the keyboard tray. Electric converters may not be at the stage where they can overtake manual models in terms of popularity just yet, but the electric VariDesk pushes up one big step closer toward that future.
Price: $395
3. Mount-It! Electric Standing Desk Converter
The Mount-It! electric standing desk converter has a lot of positive attributes for its price point but falls just short of being a best-in-class product. It is only good, but not great, due to the lack of an ergonomic negative tilt feature for the keyboard tray and a design constraint that limits its compatibility with many monitor arms. The design allows the converter to rise straight up and down, as opposed to the arcing-out motion of some Z-lift converters. The desktop work surface is also quite generous, yet the converter still sits securely on 24”-deep desks. We do wish the contact point with the desktop was better designed so it wouldn’t damage your desktop over time. The Mount-It! unit doesn’t score top marks for stability when compared with top-tier competitors because of some springiness in the frame when you push down on the unit, but when considering its bargain price point we think most users would find it perfectly acceptable.
Price: $349
4. Electric Kangaroo Desktop Riser
The strong and stalwart Kangaroo Desktop Riser has been upgraded for the new electric riser category. A heavy-duty motor with 150 lbs. lift capacity guarantees a standing workstation, no matter the workload. As always, stability is key, and the ‘Roo is more stable than any other riser we’ve tested, thanks to the extra support from the stabilization leg.
Price: $699
5. TaskMate Executive Adjustable Standing Desk Converter
One small rise for HealthPostures, one giant leap in riser design. The Taskmate Executive riser is the first entrant into what we hope will become a much more populous category. A satisfyingly “clicky” switch and a highly responsive electric motor don’t disappoint – the Executive is downright enjoyable to adjust. While it is an expensive option, and requires some tricky assembly, we’re extremely pleased with our first electric desktop riser.
Price: $850
6. Ergotech One-Touch Free Stand Desktop Converter
Ergotech’s new desktop riser, the One-Touch Free Stand, represents a step in the right direction for electric-powered risers. Its main competitor, the tankish Taskmate Executive, seems like an anachronistic behemoth next to the comparably sleek and customizable new riser.
Price: $1,069
7. UpLiftDesk E7 Stand Up Desk Converter
Despite excellent weight capacity and an attractive keypad for changing height, the E7 has drawbacks. It lacks flexibility in important ergonomic spots, is difficult to set up alone, and is outclassed by similarly priced (and cheaper) electric sit-stand converters.
Price: $449
8. Versadesk Power Pro Plus Standing Desk Converter
Backed by their “sitty” marketing campaign, the Versadesk Power Pro electric is a standing desk converter that operates on an X-Lift system. For the same price as the Varidesk Pro Plus Electric, you get twice the lifting power with a whopping 80 lb capacity. However, this converter is also slow to rise, and a little unstable at its lowest height setting due to a number of cost-saving choices by the manufacturer.
Price: $370
9. FlexiSpot Motorized Aesthetic Sit-Stand Workstation EM6M
An interesting and sleek design paired with neat features like customizable setup with extra surface or storage, wireless charging, and holes for monitor mounts might make you wonder why it is only a middle-priced standing desk converter. While claiming to be “crafted by top U.S. designers,” this unit is manufactured in China, and likely to the same quality standards as the many Flexispot standing desks that we’ve lab reviewed in the past (not the brand’s strong suit). What concerns us the most at first look – as we haven’t yet received the unit for lab testing – is potential durability issue. Particularly with what appears might be an underpowered motor for the type of lifting mechanism employed.
Price: $399.99
10. Leband Electric Standing Desk Converter
The Leband Electric Standing Desk Converter is the cheapest electric standing desk converter we’ve ever tested. The USB and wireless charging options are great. As is the memory preset and child lock. However, the minimal frame looks nice but is woefully weak and flexible. The motor feels and sounds weak, plus it is very slow, which may make it annoying to adjust your height throughout the day. The biggest problem is ergonomics. Unlike most every other standing desk converter that may add a half-inch to an inch of height to your desktop when in the seated position, the Leband adds a whopping 2.75” of height at its lowest setting. Without a descending keyboard tray, or for that matter the ability to even add an adjustable monitor arm, we can’t recommend spending much time typing on this converter either in the sitting or standing posture.
Price: $199.99
For more details about Electrics, see our comprehensive review Best Stand Desk Converters in Electric Category.
Top Z-Lift Standing Desk Converters
1. iMovR ZipLift+ Sit Stand Converter
The newest competitor attempting to dethrone the Varidesk, the ZipLift+ introduces an ergonomically-adjustable keyboard tray, a silky-smooth and quiet Z-lift mechanism with infinite stops, a grommet hole for mounting an ergonomic monitor arm, and granite-hard stability even at full 20″+ height extension. For the same money as a Varidesk Pro, it overcomes all the deficiencies of its highly popular, yet outdated competitor’s design.
Price: $429
2. iMovR ZipLift+HD Stand Up Desk Converter
The newest ZipLift model introduces the same ergonomically-adjustable keyboard tray, a similar silky-smooth Z-lift mechanism, and three grommet holes for infinite monitor arm options. Rock-steady at the full 20″+ height extension.
Price: $449
3. Eureka Standing Desk Converter 36 GEN2
Eureka’s best-selling Z-Lift standing desk converter delivers in terms of manufacturing quality and design, a feat we’ve learned to expect from Eureka.
Price: $199
4. Ergotron Workfit-T Desktop Converter
Offering remarkable simplicity and a compact design, Ergotron’s Workfit-T is built to make switching to a sit/stand workstation quick and easy. Unlike the similarly-designed VariDesk, the Workfit-T provides superior neck and wrist ergonomics with its optional monitor kit.
Price: $377.75
5. Varidesk Exec Series Standing Desk Converter
Purpose-built for taller users, the Exec 40 and the Exec 48 have the largest height adjustment range of any desktop converter in Varidesk’s catalog, finally surmounting the low height maximums typical of Varidesk. Despite its enhanced height range and expansive work surface, the Exec series is still burdened by Varidesk’s classic adjustment mechanism, which lacks the precision, smoothness, and quiet of more advanced workstations.
Price: $505
6. Varidesk Pro Standing Desk Converter
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive Varidesk reviews, you’ve come to the right place. No one has been reviewing Varidesk sit-stand workstations longer — or in more depth — than we have.
7. StandUpDeskStore AirRise Plus Standing Desk Converter
When a new standing desk converter comes into our test labs with a really low retail price we’ve learned to contain our optimism about its potential to set the world on fire, because at the end of the day the only way to make something this cheap is to cut a lot of corners in design cycles and component quality. Indeed, we quickly discovered that the Stand Up Desk Store AirRise Plus converter has some big drawbacks: The cheap foam feet provide no traction control whatsoever, the wobbly keyboard tray floats above the desk when lowered all the way to the seated position, and you can’t center a monitor mount and not have it interfere with lifting mechanism when the converter is lowered to sitting height. There are some other minor issues, but those three factors mean we can’t recommend it, even with the cheap price.
Price: $199.99
8. WorkEZ Portable Desktop Workstation
One of the quickest, easiest ways to get standing without selling an internal organ. WorkEZ desks can be frustratingly shaky, and don’t adjust as quickly as we’d like, but those gripes seem relatively minor given these risers’ tiny price point and ergonomic benefits.
Price: $99.99
9. Varidesk Pro Plus Standing Desk Converter
VariDesk’s original Pro standing desk converter is getting an ergonomic makeover with the introduction of a separate, suspended keyboard platform. This new “Pro Plus” model enhances the ordinary VariDesk with more acceptable ergonomics, while an optional monitor arm provides more ergonomic viewing angles than the VariDesks of old. These much-needed updates keep the VariDesk Pro Plus competitive in an evolving standing desk converter market, but still fall short against more advanced height adjustment mechanisms of other ergonomic risers.
Price: $375
10. Varidesk Cube Corner Standing Desk Converter
The VariDesk Cube Corner is purpose-built to fit inside the confines of a small corner desk. Its triangular work surface fits snugly into any cubicle corner while still providing plenty of user space, and its suspended keyboard tray extends the distance between your monitors and keyboard, creating a more ergonomic setup than the original VariDesk. But the Cube Corner still suffers from some VariDesk-specific shortcomings, most-important of which is its antiquated height adjustment mechanism.
Price: $525
11. Vivo Standing Desk Converter – Manual Version
Vivo’s manual standing desk converter is yet another affordable option in a sea of competitors attempting to undercut the Varidesk and the Ziplift. While it lacks an ergonomically tilting keyboard tray, it promises many of the other key features buyers would want in a converter. Its low cost, however, comes from the use of several cheap components, as well as design decisions that render the product difficult to use.
Price: $189.99
For more details about Z-Lifts, see our comprehensive review Best Stand Up Desk Converters in Z-Lift Category.
Top X-Lift Standing Desk Converters
1. Ergotron Workfit TX Standing Desk Converter
An overall impressive product from ergonomics manufacturer Ergotron. The WorkFit TX is the next in a line of standing desk converter products that have been notable for their sturdy work surfaces. This time Ergotron adds a descending and tilting keyboard tray as well as an impressively large work surface. The design is not without some faults, however.
Price: $ 549
2. FlexiSpot Classic Standing Desk Converter
The FlexiSpot enters the standing desk converter fray competitively priced and poised to help disrupt the Varidesk’s lengthy reign.
Price: $149.99
3. Fitueyes 2-Tier 32" Standing Desk Converter
Fitueyes has produced several non-electric standing-desk converters, and the 32-inch two-tier converter checks the box for a workstation that is pretty compact but large enough for two smaller monitors. It requires just a little assembly, attaching the second tier to the main frame, and is relatively easy to operate. The design might appear sleek, but cheap thin-gauge metal and particleboard construction in China likely won’t last all that long for most users. Its height range is suitable for pretty tall individuals. But if you want to make a truly ergonomic workstation with a monitor arm, you might not find it compatible with most arms out there.
Price: $139
4. Stand Steady X-Elite Pro
The X-Elite Pro presents itself as a simple solution for those seeking a height-adjustable work surface. Its woodgrain laminate top and lightweight body make it appealing to home markets and first-time buyers. Unfortunately, it lacks both a keyboard tray and the ability to support monitor arms, meaning we can’t recommend it for any kind of frequent computer use.
Price: $229.99
5. FEZiBO Standing Desk Converter Series H Review
This standing desk converter is as cheap as it gets, in every sense of the word. While it does provide decent size options, and limited colors as well, it shares the concerns of other commodity-grade sit-stand workstation converters manufactured in Asia that are popular on Amazon solely because of their price – quality. “You get what you pay for” is the name of the game when keeping the price this low for ergonomic office equipment.
Price: $130
6. Varidesk Laptop 30 Standing Desk Converter
With the smallest footprint of any VariDesk desktop converter, the Laptop 30 is the most compact workstation in VariDesk’s catalog. Its height adjustment mechanism looks identical to the easy-to-use lever locking system of the original VariDesk and, unlike other Vari models, its vertical adjustment doesn’t force the work surface to arc out towards you. However, the VariDesk Laptop 30 still leaves much to be desired when it comes to work surface space and ergonomics.
Price: $195
7. Leband Electric Standing Desk Converter
The Leband Electric Standing Desk Converter is the cheapest electric standing desk converter we’ve ever tested. The USB and wireless charging options are great. As is the memory preset and child lock. However, the minimal frame looks nice but is woefully weak and flexible. The motor feels and sounds weak, plus it is very slow, which may make it annoying to adjust your height throughout the day. The biggest problem is ergonomics. Unlike most every other standing desk converter that may add a half-inch to an inch of height to your desktop when in the seated position, the Leband adds a whopping 2.75” of height at its lowest setting. Without a descending keyboard tray, or for that matter the ability to even add an adjustable monitor arm, we can’t recommend spending much time typing on this converter either in the sitting or standing posture.
Price: $199.99
8. Fitueyes 30" Basic Series Standing Desk Converter
The Fitueyes Basic Series 30″ standing desk converter is the cheapest option in the market for average-height individuals looking to get on their feet while working. The only thing going for it is that it is technically portable, but that also means it can’t handle a lot of weight, has a minimal height adjustment range, and isn’t a very stable mechanism.
Price: $109
For more details about X-Lifts, see our comprehensive review Best Standing Desk Converters in X-Lift Category.
Top Post & Base Standing Desk Converters
1. The Winston Sit Stand Workstation
The Winston’s biggest advantage is its locking air cylinder, which prevents the work surface from moving out of place and lets you switch from sitting to standing with a hand lever embedded in the underside of the work surface. This quick adjustment method, coupled with an impressive weight capacity and the ability to hold as many as four monitors, gives it an edge in usability. One sour note is its lack of an independently adjustable monitor-height setting, which prevents the Winston from being a perfect ergonomic workstation.
Price: $679
2. Ergotron WorkFit-S Sit-Stand Workstation
Attractive, simple, and user friendly. The WorkFit-S may lack the flexibility of other sit-stand options, but it more than makes up for it with superb stability and ease-of-use. And Ergotron stands behind their products; customers can expect a rock-solid 5-year warranty and outstanding support. Our Editor’s Pick for desk-mounted sit-stand workstations.
Price: $ 579
3. Kangaroo Height-Adjustable Desk Desktop Converter
The Kangaroo sit stand workstation can’t be beat for convenience. A wide range of style and price options round out this product line. It’s easy to set up, has precision monitor and worksurface adjustment, features a variety of optional upgrades, and is the most stable workstation we’ve reviewed. We’d fully recommend going down under if you’re after a sit stand workstation.
Price: $ 499
4. Ergotron WorkFit-SR Dual-Monitor Standing Desk Converter
If you need a standing solution for a fixed-height desk or counter that you can’t remove and replace with a bona fide full standing desk, the Ergotron WorkFit-SR Dual Monitor Standing Desk Converter may be just the thing for you, as long at the rest of your equipment is compatible. It provides a solid and secure working surface at sitting or standing heights, with a very clean look enabled by built-in cable management. So as long as your monitors aren’t too big, your desk too small, or your height too tall, the WorkFit-SR offers an ergonomic solution for many offices. However, it’s not inexpensive. In fact you could buy a premium quality, even American-made, height-adjustable desk for the same money.
Price: $749
5. Wallaby Adjustable Sit-Stand Workstation
The Wallaby is Ergo Desktop’s budget-class alternative to their successful Kangaroo sit stand workstation. It’s based on the same design, sporting the same free-standing steel base, impressive weight capacity, and peerless stability, but without the gas-assisted monitor lift mechanism that made the Kangaroo such an ergonomic hit. Despite this, the Wallaby still features a robust set of capabilities that make it a great value for any office.
Price: $348
6. QuickStand WorkStation
In their debut entry into the fast-growing desktop riser category, the QuickStand oozes with Humanscale’s trademark modern design aesthetic, making it the best choice for office environments that covet high architectural design. Form follows function with a very elegant internal monitor cable routing scheme and a strong desk clamp that attaches to the rear edge of the desk – fully adjustable for varying tabletop depths. As you would expect at this end of the price range the monitor and keyboard heights are independently adjustable. However, while the monitor position is held stiffly, the keyboard position is not. Lacking a quick-release brake there is a tendency for the entire keyboard platform to move downwards with heavy pounding on the keyboard. Tension settings can be set to overcome this to some degree, but not entirely. This is a gorgeous product that gets the job done, but at this price we think the QuickStand should have a quick-release brake on the keyboard platform adjustment to make it perfect. A couple of minor design tweaks would earn this product a 5-star rating from our desktop-riser expert review team, but we can wholeheartedly recommend it for those users who are willing to pay a little more for a clean, modern look that will add to the elegance of their desk or office.
Price: $949
7. RightAngle Helium Standing Desk Converter
From its $549 price tag to its freestanding, heavy-duty design, the Hover Helium clearly takes aim against the original Kangaroo “post-and-base” design. It has many of the Kangaroo’s beloved features—simple, clamp-free installation; an expansive work surface; and a smooth, silent gas-assisted lift mechanism. But the Helium goes a step further by introducing a locking air cylinder attached to a Bowen cable to create a seamless adjustment method. Like the Kangaroo, and unlike some of the lower-quality entrants in desktop converter category, the Helium is a made in America. Unfortunately what it brings in ease of keyboard surface height adjustment it lacks in ease of monitor-height adjustment, requiring the user to go behind the unit and loosen two wing nights, adjust the height of the monitor manually, and re-tighten… such a pain that most users will leave the monitor at a sub-optimal height half the time. If that leads to users reluctant to stand due to neck strain that’s a serious knock on the overall design.
Price: $549
8. UpLiftDesk E7
Despite excellent weight capacity and an attractive keypad for changing height, the E7 has drawbacks. It lacks flexibility in important ergonomic spots, is difficult to set up alone, and is outclassed by similarly priced (and cheaper) electric sit-stand converters.
Price: $449
9. Humanscale Quickstand Under Desk Converter
While the Humanscale QuickStand Under Desk standing desk converter offers an aesthetically pleasing and minimalist design that is easy to use and tries to fulfill and ergonomic workstation’s needs, it is quite expensive for a converter, and has a much more complex assembly than full standing desks that cost less. If you must have a converter, no matter the price, the Under Desk will look great. But be prepared to use an expensive professional installer or have the time, tools and skills to drill out a non-standard 3.25″-diamated hole in the middle of your desktop in order to install this device.
Price: $1,038
10. QuickStand Eco Desk Converter
The latest addition to Humanscale’s QuickStand series of converters, the Eco is yet another example of great-looking design meets ergonomic insufficiency. The tray is too wobbly to type comfortably on, and the monitors are not independently adjustable relative to the work surface (without a great deal of hassle). It may work as a laptop stand for short work sessions, but in general this product is a lot nicer to look at than it is to use.
Price: $499
11. Taskmate Go 6300 Sit-Stand Converter
A decent desktop riser when evaluated on its own, but severely under-featured and overpriced when compared to other items in the category.
Price: $ 598.43
For more details about Post & Base models, see our comprehensive review Best Standing Desk Converters in Post & Base Category.
Top Hover Standing Desk Converters
1. Ergotron WorkFit-A Sit-Stand Workstation
Among Ergotron’s standing desk converters, the Workfit-A can be considered its acrobat. It’s easy to move, whether from sitting to standing or side to side. Its only footprint is the small base mounted to your desk, and it can be lifted out of the way for those times when you need adequate desk space. It does suffer more from monitor shake than either the Workfit-S or -T, and its lift capacity is weak compared to more “grounded” risers, but the Workfit-A is an ideal sit-stand workstation where space and mobility are crucial. Outside of the Ergotron-to-Ergotron comparisons, however, the Workfit-A was once a pioneering product, but now being overshadowed by even more innovative, and more ergonomically adjustable units from a burgeoning field of competitors.
Price: $524
For more details about Hovers, see our comprehensive review Best Stand Desk Risers in Hover Category.
Top Standing Desk Converters for Corners
1. iMovR ZipLift Corner 42" Standing Desk Converter
The ZipLift Corner model introduces the same ergonomically-adjustable keyboard tray, a similar silky-smooth Z-lift mechanism, and three grommet holes for infinite monitor arm options. Rock-steady at the full 20″+ height extension.
Price: $699
2. Flexispot Corner Standing Desk Converter
The FlexiSpot enters the standing desk converter fray competitively priced and poised to help disrupt the Varidesk’s lengthy reign.
Price: $149.99
3. Ergotron Workfit Corner Standing Desk Converter
Ergotron deviates from their traditional Z-Lift frame architecture to offer a highly-stable, spacious desk converter based on an X-Lift frame. This model saves space at your desk and features the widest keyboard tray of all Ergotron WorkFit models, ideal for users with large keyboards models such as the Microsoft Natural.
Price: $454.50
4. Electric Kangaroo Pro Standing Desk Converter
The strong and stalwart Kangaroo Desktop Riser has been upgraded for the new electric riser category. A heavy-duty motor with 150 lbs. lift capacity guarantees a standing workstation, no matter the workload. As always, stability is key, and the ‘Roo is more stable than any other riser we’ve tested, thanks to the extra support from the stabilization leg.
Price: $699
5. Versadesk Power Pro Corner Standing Desk Converter
The Versadesk Power Pro Corner is a standing desk converter that operates on an X-Lift system. Featuring a deeper, corner-shaped work surface, it uses the same basic frame and motor system as the Versadesk Power Pro. Although competitively priced with a strong lift capacity, this converter is slow to rise and has a low-quality work surface that resembles a lunch-table.
Price: $495
6. Varidesk Cube Corner Standing Desk Converter
The VariDesk Cube Corner is purpose-built to fit inside the confines of a small corner desk. Its triangular work surface fits snugly into any cubicle corner while still providing plenty of user space, and its suspended keyboard tray extends the distance between your monitors and keyboard, creating a more ergonomic setup than the original VariDesk. But the Cube Corner still suffers from some VariDesk-specific shortcomings, most-important of which is its antiquated height adjustment mechanism.
Price: $525
7. MountIt 48" Corner Standing Desk Converter
MountIt is primarily a brand for low-cost wall mounts and monitor arms. Its latest standing desk converters are similarly inexpensive, but we urge strong caution before purchasing. Quality issues and design problems abound. The 48” Corner is impaired by a puzzling gap between the keyboard tray and your tabletop while in the seated position, among other issues.
Price: $ 210
8. VIVO Corner Standing Desk Converter (DESK-V000VC)
Attractive due to its low price point, the VIVO Corner Standing Desk Converter is a classic example of ‘you get what you pay for’.
Price: $179.99
9. VIVO Electric Corner Standing Desk Converter (DESK-V000VCE)
A low-cost entry into the growing field of electric standing desk converters, the VIVO Electric Corner Desk Riser combines value and ease of adjustability. But we’re not convinced going with a budget brand is worth the risk.
Price: $ 229.99
Top Portable Standing Desk Converters
1. The Lunadesk Standing Desk Converter
The Lunadesk Standing Desk Converter Review is ideal for working at home if you don’t have a good desk and you’re shuttling your laptop to work in bed, on the sofa, on the floor or at a counter. This is not by any stretch an “ergonomic standing desk” in the usual sense but is the only product we’ve ever seen that works well for people who like working in various yoga poses (i.e. you need to be limber). Being made-in-the-USA is usually a good thing, but it is made from Chinese bamboo, which is anything but ecologically friendly, despite all the greenwash marketing. To be used in such places and postures the unit needs to be lightweight (10 lbs) but that also makes it structurally flimsy. The lack of warranty and the lack of market traction outside of a tiny successful Kickstarter campaign (88 units were sold) makes this one a questionable consumer value in terms of likely durability.
Price: $499
2. Original Well Desk Converter
The Original Well Desk converter lets you set your keyboard and monitor at a variety of different heights to make standing work more comfortable and ergonomic.
Price: $160
3. Harmoni Standing Desk
The Harmoni Standing Desk is an different kind of portable converter to give a sit-stand workstation that is relatively simple to break down and transport between office spaces.
Price: $129
Alternative Standing Desk/Converter Workstations
1. Notadesk Elsewhere
We started the review process knowing the Notadesk Elsewhere wasn’t suitable as your sole work surface in a single position for a long period of time due to its ergonomics, but we left the review process surprised and impressed by the product’s versatility and novelty. It truly is not a desk, but instead a portable popup standing workspace.
Price: $268
More Buying Tips
For all our tips for buying a standing desk converter, check out our article Top 8 Factors to Consider When Buying a Standing Desk Converter.
1. Discover VariDesk Alternatives
We have to start with an obligatory word of praise, plus a healthy dose of caution regarding the one brand of standing desk converters that is 99 times more likely to be known than any other, Varidesk. Thanks to this spinout division of costume industry giant Gemmy, and the millions of dollars they have lavished on television, radio, online, magazine and newspaper advertising over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of people search the web every month for deals and reviews on Varidesk products. In fact, WorkWhileWalking is proud to have been the first site to review the original Varidesk back in 2013.
Since then they’ve added several models (and we’ve added follow on reviews for each), such as the Varidesk Laptop 30, Varidesk Pro, Varidesk Pro Plus, Varidesk Cube, Varidesk Exec 48 standing desk converters, and the platypus of the pack, the Varidesk Pro Desk. Back then, before competitors arrived, we gave the first model – a most novel invention at the time – a 5-star review. But check out our reviews today, and you’ll find many competing models offer far better ergonomics and consumer value, while Varidesk has mostly stuck to its original, dated mechanical structure.
While it is unquestionable that Varidesk helped raise the tide of sitting disease awareness and floated all boats, to the benefit of now a couple of dozen competitors, most Varidesk owners we hear from abandoned them within six to twelve months of purchase. While they appear very cost effective, these Chinese-made products tend to be overhyped with glitzy advertising claims, yet ergonomically deficient. Hence not only the rampant number of new competitors continuing to appear on the market every month but the ballooning number of online searches for “varidesk alternative” into Google.
2. Consider a Stand Up Desk
A key benefit to sit-stand converters is that they let you keep your old desk drawers, and eliminate the hassle of having to move out your old desk. There is also the perception that standing desk converters are less expensive than adjustable-height desks. It should be noted, however, that this price difference keeps getting smaller, especially when comparing the top-rated standing desk converters to any of the newest and greatest, low-cost, adjustable-height desks that have hit the market in the past couple of years. Some of the less expensive, yet high quality standing desks – such as the iMovR Jaxson or Lander Lite – actually cost less than some of the fancier sit-stand converters – such as the Humanscale QuickStand, Winston or Electric Kangaroo.
On the plus side, standing desk converters tend to be quicker and easier to install, lighter, and, often cheaper, than full-grown adjustable-height tables. There is a trade-off in stability and surface area – you’ll find that just about all of these products will jiggle a little during use, and it’s harder to set up a full workstation without the sweeping expanse of space you can get with an adjustable-height desk. Still, there’s no denying that a lot of standers will find these converters to be an extremely convenient and cost-effective alternative to changing out their beloved sitting desks.
The most obvious case where a sit-stand converter will always work better than a standalone desk is when you’re contending with a built-in desk, where the expense of ripping out the furniture will clearly be out of the question. As for losing your desk drawers when switching to a sit-stand workstation, there are now many standing desks with drawers available in the market, as well as add-on storage options for standing desks that don’t have any drawers.
3. Go Ergo Friendly
If a stand up desk isn’t right for you, and you want the health benefits of standing and working, a standing desk converter can be an excellent solution. But keep in mind not every standing desk converter is created equal. Take away an ergonomic feature – like VESA mounts, adjustable work surfaces, or tilting/adjusting monitors, and your ergonomics could be compromised.
Each of our product reviews features an ergonomic assessment, ranking the product in relation to its competition, so you can be sure of its long-term health benefits. A lot of what determines a product’s ergonomic soundness has to do with our individual anthropometries (fancy word for study of body measurements). Some standing desk converter manufacturers, perhaps in the efforts to cut costs, continue to ignore this, and end up producing products that cause as many ergonomic problems as they purportedly solve.
For even more tips when buying a standing desk converter, check out our article Top 8 Factors to Consider When Buying a Standing Desk Converter. For those times when you do need to sit, check out our roundup of the best ergonomic chairs.
And to make sure you’re getting the most out of your converter, check out the iMovR Tucker Pro Cable Management Kit for standing desk converters. It’s the first kit on the market designed specifically for standing desk converters.
Looking to dial in your workspace? Read our primer on 10 Ways To Improve Your Office Ergonomics.
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Stay Tuned
These products are in line to be fully reviewed:
- Stand Steady Original Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady Premier Electric Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady Premier Lift Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady Mega Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady FlexPro Charge Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady FlexPro Hero Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady X-Elite Pro Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady X-Elite Premier Standing Desk Converter
- Stand Steady FlexPro Hero Corner Standing Desk Converter
- Rocelco ADR sit-to-stand adjustable desk riser review
- UpTrak Square Standing Desk Sit-to-Stand Desk Converter review
- ORISTAND Standing Desk Converter review
- Ergodriven Spark Cardboard Standing Desk Converter Review
Completing Your Ergonomic Workstation
Acquiring the best standing desk for your decor, budget and performance requirements is Step One. But making it a true ergonomic workstation involves adding the appropriate accessories you’ll need to keep your body in a correct posture, and have a neat and tidy setup. Check out our comprehensive guides to monitor arms, keyboard trays, anti-fatigue mats, ergonomic seats, cable management kits, power management modules, foot rests and under-desk treadmills for both expert advice and lab-tested product reviews of options in each of these categories.
Need more help? Read how to find your correct desk height, then check out 10 ways to improve your office ergonomics and answers to the most common standing desk questions.
Frequently Bought Together With
Standing Desk Converters
Discontinued Standing Desk Converters
At WorkWhileWalking we’ve been lab testing and writing reviews of ergonomic office furniture and accessories for over a decade. In that time, we have seen many of the products we reviewed fall by the wayside. This is inevitable due to the cycle of continuous improvement, with new models supplanting their predecessors. Of course in some cases products weren’t as competitive as they needed to be, or their manufacturers ran into financial challenges (which very much accelerated as a result of the post-pandemic economy).
For whatever reason, these products now fall into the discontinued category, but we will still keep their reviews published and available to read. Whether you want to know more about the desk, monitor arm, etc. that you bought years ago, need more info because someone is selling one second hand, or just want to compare current offerings with what was available in the past, these reviews will remain here for your reference.
1. Eureka 31.5" Electric Sit-Stand Converter
This is unprecedented price territory for a quality electric standing desk converter. We’ve seen $299 before (like the Autonomous SmartDesk Mini) but they pale in comparison in technology, structural stability, quality of components, durability and overall value. This new unit is bound to dethrone the Varidesk Electric.
Price: $ 299
2. Autonomous SmartDesk Mini Desktop Workstation
A first leap into the realm of budget electric standing desk converters ends in an underwhelming performance, but we expect more of these low-cost options to arrive on the market soon. Our advice? Stay tuned for better budget options or opt now for a manual design.
Price: $299
3. Eureka 46 XL Standing Desk Converter
The behemoth of the bunch, this Eureka standing desk converter makes no bones about being big, or sturdy. Stylish blue trim adds a ‘gaming desk’ feel. Expansive work surface accommodates dual monitors up to 32″ wide each. All things considered, this is the best extra-large standing desk converter we’ve ever reviewed.
Price: $ 499
4. iMovR ZipLift Patriot Standing Desk Converter
iMovR’s newest addition to the ZipLift family is updated with their signature 3D-laminated wood grain tops. It’s also made in America, which opens it up for bulk buyers that have a mandate to buy American-made whenever possible and for individuals who prefer to buy American in general, whether cars or standing desks. Aside from that, it’s the same ZipLift that we reviewed highly in the past for its stability, ease of adjustment, and ergonomics.
Price: $489
5. Eureka Sit-Stand Desk New Generation (31B)
Eureka’s $199 X-Lift standing desk converter offers the best feature set in this price range. Silent lift, space-saving X-Lift design, unlimited stops within its height range (instead of limited preset options), and even a unique buffering system for smoothly lowering the unit to the sitting position.
Price: $199
6. Eureka Ultra Slim Portable Sit-Stand Desk Converter
Eureka’s Ultra Slim Portable Standing Desk Converter packs a sturdy X-Lift frame and silent lift mechanism into an easy-to-move device designed for laptops.
Price: $149
7. Fully Cooper Standing Desk Converter
The Cooper is Fully’s debut into the competitive world of standing desk converters. While it doesn’t break any new ground, quality components and an eye-catching bamboo surface option make it stand out from the rest. Lack of ergonomic tilt on the keyboard tray means it doesn’t check all the boxes, and we have some concerns about reliability when coupled with the short two-year warranty, but overall the Cooper is a respectable choice.
Price: $299
8. Halter ED-258 Standing Desk Converter
Halter’s ED-258 standing desk converter is an X-Lift budget option that’s popular on Amazon. It features a decent looking wood grain laminate top and a notably deep keyboard tray. However, incredibly poor machining standards and cheap components render it difficult to use and unlikely to stand the test of time.
Price: $199.99
9. FlexiSpot ML2 GoRiser Portable Standing Desk Converter
The FlexiSpot ML2 GoRiser Standing Desk Converter is a compact and highly portable standing desk converter, and is great for that purpose, especially with the low price. But being that, it is very limited in its other capacities, such as supporting monitors and other ergonomic accessories that help make an ideal sit-stand workstation. It’s biggest problems are that it can’t be ergonomically used at sitting height (so you’ll be taking the 18 lb unit off your desk every time you want to sit) and only has a couple of fixed height settings (out of 5) that are in the standing height range for most people. And not very tall people, because its max height is only 15.9″. So it’s really a portable standing desk, not a sit-to-stand converter. Might be good for other home applications like raising a sewing machine to a more comfortable height, but for long-term use with a laptop computer, its ergonomic limitations leave a lot to be desired. The price is great, though, so if you need something portable to use once in a while for short stints it might be worth the small investment.
Price: $119.99
10. Helium Junior Standing Desk Converter
We were excited to test out the Helium Junior, the latest desktop riser from Right Angle Products. Little brother to the standard Helium, this riser belongs to the ‘hover’ family, which means it floats in a 3-dimensional space over the top of your desk. We took the Junior into our labs, tested it out, and discovered the good and the bad. Overall a decent value for the money, but there are some caveats.
Price: Single Monitor: $895, Dual Monitor: $995
11. iMovR Cadence Plus Standing Desk Converter
Also a part of iMovR’s discontinued Cadence line, the Cadence Plus is a middle option between the Cadence Express and the Cadence Pro. It features a dropped keyboard like the Pro, and a sleek, lightweight MDF core like the Express.
Price: $499
12. iMovR Cadence Express Standing Desk Converter
In the realm of “hovering” sit-stand workstations the now discontinued Cadence Express broke new ground in sharp looks, durability, range of motion, and above all, stability. At nearly 50% less cost than “high design” models like the QuickStand Lite, the Cadence Express had a far more rigid arm mechanism for a better customer experience, while looking just as good. A five-year warranty backs up the top quality components used in the Cadence Express.
Price: $599 Single, $669 Dual
13. Eureka 28" Corner Standing Desk Converter
Eureka Ergonomic, one of the most innovative desk manufacturers we’ve seen to date, delivers a compact 28” corner standing desk converter shaped to fit snugly in your small corner space. Precision height adjustment, impeccable stability, and impressive build quality make this a desk converter to consider.
Price: $199
14. Readydesk 2 Standing Desk Converter
The Readydesk 2 Standing Desk converter can is a portable standing workstation option with wide platforms for keyboards and monitors that can be set at different heights.
Price: $160
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