What is a standing desk converter?
In case you haven’t heard, standing desks have become the next best thing for healthy office culture. I think it all started with the ergonomic mouses and keyboards, to ergonomic chairs (where we saw people sitting on those large exercise balls).
I mean, standing desks have definitely been around for quite a while. But you were lucky if your employer paid for you to get one at your office desk. With everyone working from home now and converting that extra room into a full-time office space, it’s time to fully invest in all the right equipment to make your work-life balance happier and healthier.
If you don’t have the space for a full-on standing desk (one that converts from sitting height to standing height), either because you already have a desk or because you have a built-in desk, then converters are for you.
Converters sit on top of your existing desk and you can raise and lower it to your desired working height either electrically, or using handles.
What To Look For
As you can probably guess, there is a wide variety of options out there in a highly saturated market. So how do you weed out the one that is best for you?
Stability: we all tend to lean on our work surfaces. Make sure you find a converter that offers ample stability, and isn’t made from cheap materials. Not only will it be supporting your leaning weight, but also the weight of monitors if you work with those.
Width: How much room do you need as a work surface? If you work on a desk, you’re probably used to ample space. But a converter usually ranges from 30-48″. Is that enough for your laptop, keyboard, mouse, and monitors? If not, you might need a dual platform.
Electric: Do you prefer having the ease of an electric converter to do the lifting for you? Or do you not mind having handles to bring it up? This will affect your price as well.
Accessories: Some people have lots of tech to work with such as tablets, and need a place to keep it upright. What about extra monitors? Some companies sell accessories with their converters as a bonus.
Top 5
1. Varidesk Pro Plus
Varidesk is definitely one of the top brands out there. The Pro Plus model is their best-selling too. It’s stable, quiet, and well-designed, not to mention high-quality. Which would explain the higher price tag.
“The Varidesk ProPlus 36 is the best standing desk converter we’ve ever tested.” – MSN
“Bought this desk for my husband, who works remotely (even before COVID-19) and basically spent his entire day sitting at his desk. He is thrilled with the VariDesk Pro Plus – sturdy, well made, and easily holds his monitor, keyboard, and laptop. Now, he stands most of his work day and can adjust in seconds to sitting when needed. Should have purchased years ago.” – Amy D.
VIVO Adjustable Riser
This VIVO has over 6,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Most reviewers agree that it’s easy to set up, use, and can accommodate various work set ups. With over 6,000 five-star reviews, this VIVO standing-desk converter is the best-rated one on Amazon by far.
One reviewer writes:
“I bought this riser after reading many, many reviews for other risers and comparing price. My office was unable to purchase this for me, so I really wanted to get exactly what I wanted but for the right price. As others have noted, the desk is very sturdy. I was surprised by how sturdy and stable it is in the ‘up’ positions. I am a 5’4″ and find that I waffle between two settings as being comfortable for me. When fully extended my husband, who is 6’2″, found it to work well for him. It’s super easy to lift and lower and all of the items on my desk stay in place with no wobble. My duel monitors are 22″ and fit with no problem.”
TechOrbits 32-Inch Standing Desk Converter
This is one of the examples we see with a built-in groove for your tablet. The added tray also helps for extra work space and most reviewers rate the sturdiness pretty well.
SHW 36-Inch Height Adjustable Standing Desk Converter
This is one of the larger models at 36″ wide. What’s also handy is the sliding mesh drawer for storing office supplies. One reviewer writes:
“Really impressed with this conversion desk. Others on the market can cost literally 10 times more. This gets the job done for a fraction of the cost. The pistons seem to work well and do a good job of softening the landing as it lowers. They also seem to do a great job supporting the weight of the desk and the monitors so that it’s easy to lift back up.”
VIVO Ultra Slim
Although this ultra slim model is fit for those with compact spaces, reviewers agree it doesn’t detract from its sturdiness at all. A reviewer writes:
“This was a great purchase! Very sturdy product, adjusted very easily, height is good and still had more to go but I’m average height so I didn’t need it to be at its highest setting. I can go from standing to sitting very easily and visa versa. Loving this product. The price wasn’t as high as other products and it gets the job done.”
