The 7 Best Standing Desks, Reviewed by Editors

The Uplift standing desk is one of the most customizable standing desks on the market (with plenty of accessories, storage options, etc.), and is adjustable for people between 5′4″ and 7″. They offer a wide variety of desktop styles to choose from, including laminate, bamboo, solid wood, and live edge wood. That kind of versatility on multiple fronts earned this desk top honors.

But there’s a lot more to mention. The Version 2 took less than an hour to assemble and we were impressed by how thought-out the process was. Smartly designed, it can come equipped with premium wheels that make the thing glide like a dream around the office. While large, the motor is quiet and the keypad is well-made, with a good feel to it.

About the only qualms we had involved the cloth housing that comes standard beneath the desk. It needs to be cut to size to house the cords beneath but it’s not a big issue. And we tested the larger model, which is great, but you’ll need some space for it (go with the 48″ model if real estate is tight).

But back to that savvy design. There are elevated cord cut-throughs that come with a slick fan opening and the verticality of the model is impressive. Moving it up and down is a smooth process and the desk can stop on a dime. Simply put, it’s the best standing desk we’ve used to date.

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We liked this option enough to give it the silver medal overall. It gets a spot on the podium for a variety of reasons, from fairly straightforward and swift assembly to an extremely stable frame. There are nice touches abound, like the classy bamboo surface which really pops, in an earthy kind of way.

What’s more, there’s a helpful outlet and USB/lightning charger on the desktop, which speaks volumes in terms of convenience (no bending down to find that surge protector beneath). It’s the only desk we tested where that comes standard (it is an accessory you can add to the Uplift).

The desk itself is quite responsive when adjusting, and the function is pleasant to use. It can get a little choppy, but overall you’re able to dial it in to tenths of an inch most times. The cable management sleeve also didn’t come with instructions, which added a bit more time, but eventually was enough enough to figure out. And the Jarvis came in five boxes, easily the most of any desk we tested.

All that said, the Fully is simple and straightforward to use. It’s got a premium feel, and will cost you a bit more than the standard Uplift. But it’s also a really solid standing desk.

There’s a lot to like about the Duo, beyond the friendly price tag. For starters, we had it up and running at the office in a quick 45 minutes time. While bells and whistles aren’t really this desk’s thing, it’s a straightforward work horse that won’t let you down. Car-like in the way it moves, the Duo is controlled by a paddle that toggles up and down and brings a unique approach to that design.

Issues? Not many, just the slight delay in setting the height and feet that can wobble (although the spin-to-adjust feet generally combat this). The motor is a bit louder but far from distracting. Overall, this is a perfectly serviceable desk at a great price that looks minimalistic and sharp. If you’re looking to spend the least amount of a good standing desk, the Duo is what you should hone in on.

What makes a standing desk premium? Customization, for one, as this one can be made to order right down to details like size, finish, leg color, power access, and more. There’s a motorized lift that comes with a 12-year warranty, so we can only assume it hums along just fine.

The design details take it to another level—something that we expect from anything Herman Miller builds. We’re talking a clever control lever, angled corners beneath the table to protect your legs, a cool oval-shaped surface, hidden power cord chambers in the desk leg, and a top-to-bottom aesthetic that’s so sharp you just want to wheel it out into the living room for all to see.