Height-Adjustable Desk vs. Standing Desk Converter: Which Sit-Stand Desk Option is Best for You?

An important piece of achieving an ergonomic office workspace is having the ability to change positions frequently throughout the day. Utilizing a height-adjustable standing desk, desktop converter or sit-stand desk in your office is extremely helpful in reaching this objective. A standing desk allows you to seamlessly change from a seated to a standing position with only the push of a button or the turn of a crank. Because they’re so easy to use, standing desks are a great ergonomic solution for an office workstation. 

There are many standing desk options on the market, and it can be overwhelming to know which one is best for you. Though there are many varieties of standing desks, they can be broken down into two primary categories, height-adjustable standing desks, and standing desk converters. When beginning your search for a sit-stand desk for your office, you must first decide if a height-adjustable standing desk or a standing desk converter is best for you.

Height-Adjustable Desk

A height-adjustable desk allows you to raise or lower your entire work surface. Many height-adjustable desks are electric and can be operated with just the push of a button. Although you can get height-adjustable desks that are manually operated with the turn of a crank, it is worth the extra investment to go electric. Although it is rare, a height-adjustable desk that requires you to manually turn a crank when adjusting can increase your risk of developing a repetitive motion injury. Not to mention, the ease of just pushing a button to raise or lower your height-adjustable desk will increase your likelihood of utilizing it to its fullest potential. 

If you choose to invest in a height-adjustable desk, find one that lowers to at least 22 to 23 inches, especially if you are 5’2” or less. A standard desk sits at about 28 to 30 inches, but this is too high if you’re using a keyboard that sits on the desktop. When typing at your keyboard, your elbows should remain at 90 to 100 degrees. Using a desk that lowers to between 22 and 23 inches will allow for an ergonomic keyboard height. However, if you are six feet tall or more, this lower than standard desk height may not be as important of a factor for you. 

Ensure that the height-adjustable standing desk you choose is deep enough to allow you to sit an arm’s length away from your monitor. If the desk you choose is too narrow to accomplish this, you can also attach a pull-out keyboard tray. This will allow you to sit close to your keyboard while also sitting the ideal arm’s length away from your monitor. A keyboard tray also allows your desktop to be at a more comfortable height for other tasks, such as doing paperwork. You’ll find that it is more comfortable to write on documents when your desk is in a slightly elevated position. 

Standing Desk Converter

The standing desk converter is a platform that sits atop your standard desk. With the operation of a lever, you can move the platform up or down to your desired height. Standing desk converters may be a more cost-effective solution, but they often don’t offer the same ergonomic benefits as full height-adjustable desks. However, if you want the ability to easily transition from a seated to a standing position throughout the day while still using your standard desk, the standing desk converter is the right option for you.

When doing ergonomic assessments in office settings, the standing desk converter is often the most common but less favored option. A common complaint is the awkward posture required to transition a standing desk converter from the seated to the standing position. Because a standing desk converter requires a person’s arms to be fully extended outside of the recommended lifting zone while adjusting, it creates an unsafe lifting position. This is especially concerning when a standing desk converter is supporting multiple monitors. 

The combination of lifting a significant amount of weight with a wide lifting position and in an unfavorable stance puts an individual at risk for injury when operating a standing desk converter. If you have concerns about how much weight is being lifted when raising a particular standing desk converter, always contact the manufacturer and ask about this.

A standing desk converter often comes with an attached platform to hold a computer keyboard. Though this attached platform is intended to aid in proper arm placement while typing, this keyboard position is often less than optimal, especially if you are a shorter individual. If you are a shorter individual and want to use a standing desk converter, you will most likely need to accommodate the elevated keyboard height by using a chair that raises higher than the standard height. Just be sure that this raised office chair has an attached footrest to support your lower extremities.

Height-Adjustable Desk Base: The DIY Option

Maybe you want a height-adjustable desk, but you don’t want to sacrifice the beauty of a standard desktop. If you are crafty or know of someone who is, you can purchase a height-adjustable desk base and build your own custom desktop to mount on top. The ideal base for this project should be lower than 22 to 23 inches. This will allow your customized desk to lower to the proper ergonomic height. If you’ve been wanting to add a full height-adjustable desk to your office workspace but have been worried about the aesthetic aspect, this DIY solution is a great option for you. 

Height-Adjustable Desks Have Great Ergonomic Benefits

A height-adjustable desk is a wonderful addition to your workspace. Though height-adjustable desks have great ergonomic benefits, there are some key questions you should ask yourself before making the decision to implement one into your work routine. Check out our latest blog to see if a height-adjustable desk would be a good solution for your workspace. 

It is also important to have a thorough understanding of how to utilize your height-adjustable desk in the most ergonomically beneficial way possible. To better understand how to properly use a height-adjustable desk check out our blog, Tips for Using Your Height-Adjustable Desk Correctly. For additional guidance and recommendations for a height-adjustable desk for your space, it is helpful to have an ergonomic assessment done.

 

Also, check out our YouTube video below for a visual representation of the blog!