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FlexiSpot / Humankind / Vivo / Reviewed
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FlexiSpot / Humankind / Vivo / Reviewed
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The negative health impact from sitting all day long is well-established. “Sitting is the new smoking.” We’ve all heard it. But what’s to be done when your job requires you to be at a desk 40-plus hours per week? An adjustable standing desk converter is one possible solution.
Standing desk converters turn any standard desk or table into a height-adjustable work surface, improving ergonomics and getting you out of the chair. They’re generally cheaper than a full standing desk, and sometimes even more comfortable, but can have all the same functionality, comfort, and style.
If you’re finally ready to address that shoulder and neck pain, here’s our guide to the best standing desk converters. Our top pick for most people is the VariDesk Pro Plus 36 (available at Amazon) , but we have options that are more affordable or electric (or both!). We’ll be standing by to help.
The Varidesk has a high height range and a smooth transition between heights, meaning you won’t need to take everything off the desk to adjust it.
Manual and electric converters both come in a variety of sizes, feature sets, and prices, but electric standing desk converters are generally more expensive than manual.
Manual converters use either springs, pneumatics, or counterbalance weights to move the desk surface up and down. None of them, in our experience, requires a lot of strength to lift, but if you have mobility issues, then manual converters may present an issue.
Electric converters use a motor—press a button and the desk moves for you. Some even have programmable preset heights. If you’re trying to support 2-3 monitors, electric may be a necessity. The trade-offs are cost and weight. Some are quite heavy. The Uplift E7 weighs 92 pounds—and that’s without all your computer accessories attached to it!
Converters are not a one-size-fits-all product. You need to measure your existing desk and check it against the converter’s dimensions. If a converter is too big to fit, even by a little, it’s going to be unstable. Also, be aware that some designs, like those with a “Z-lift” like VariDesk, move forward (towards the user) as they rise. Make sure to account for the needed clearance behind you.
A standing desk won’t do your neck and back pains any favors if the height range doesn’t match your stature. Ideally, the keyboard tray should come up to elbow height when standing. Most converters offer around 15 to 20 inches of lift, which is sufficient for people up to about 6’1″ or 6’2″. If you’re very tall or very short, check the specs for the min/max height. Some models have multiple preset levels, while others have continuous (sometimes called “infinite”) adjustments. The lift mechanism also plays a factor. Pneumatic converters make raising and lowering easier, even under heavy loads, whereas purely mechanical or fixed-slot designs might need more muscle. Electric models are the easiest to operate, but cost more.
Each converter has a maximum weight it can safely lift. This ranges from around 20 lbs on small laptop risers up to 110 lbs on the Uplift E7. Consider the equipment you’ll put on it: dual monitors (or three!), speakers, keyboard, mouse, etc. Don’t push your luck by loading more than the converter is rated for. If it collapses under the strain, that’s an expensive pile of junked equipment on your floor.
For ideal ergonomics, your keyboard and mouse should be at a lower height than your monitor. Most full-size converters include a keyboard tray set to the proper proportions. If you use a laptop, you’ll probably want an external keyboard. Elevating a laptop on a converter and typing “up to it” is not ideal, leading to shoulder or neck strain. Some compact converters lack a separate keyboard tray—fine for short stints but potentially uncomfortable in the long run. Also consider monitor adjustability: if your converter doesn’t position your monitors at eye level, you may need monitor stands or arms.
A converter should feel secure at every height. Everything we included in this guide has good-to-excellent stability, though the Humanscale QuickStand Eco trails last in this regard. Weighted bases, steel frames, and crossbars can all improve stability. In generally, some safe mental math is that heavier converters are more stable.
Standing desk converters are great when a full-size standing desk is not an option. But here are a few scenarios where you might want to consider alternatives:
If you need a lot of real estate on your work surface, these converters aren’t great. All of them will have less surface area than the plain desk you’re already working on. The purpose of the converter is primarily to lift a screen-and-keyboard combination. If you work with large sheets of paper or drawing tablets, or if you're the type to just spread piles of papers all over the desk, the cramped surface area may not be to your liking.
Converter desks are somewhat personal because they’re set up for your specific height. If a desk is shared between household members of very different heights, adjusting a converter back and forth (or removing it) can be a little annoying. This isn’t a make-or-break issue, but it's worth mentioning.
A converter will always raise the minimum height of your monitor and keyboard by a few inches. These things don’t lie completely flat even at their lowest setting. If your current desk is already tall, you’re compounding the problem with a converter. In such cases, a full-size standing desk or an under-desk keyboard tray might be a more ergonomic choice.
While converters are generally cheaper than full standing desks, a high-end converter can approach the cost of an entry-level electric desk. If you have the budget and room to swap your whole desk, you might skip the converter and commit to the bigger purchase.
The converter should adjust to a height where your forearms are comfortably parallel to the floor when typing. The monitor should be about level with your eyes. Most converter desks are able to hit these sweet spots for most bodies. But, of course, not all bodies are the same. You can expect that most converters extend to a max of 15-20 inches from their base height. If you stand at your current desk and take a few measurements with a measuring tape—current desk height, elbow height, eye height—you’ll be able to do the math and figure out whether a particular converter will work for you. Remember, you can also add a monitor stand or arm to gain extra monitor height if needed.
It depends on your needs and budget. Electric converters offer convenience. They’re great if you change heights frequently throughout the day, if you have a heavy setup that’s hard to lift, or if you have mobility issues or strength limitations that might make manual converters a challenge.
That convenience has trade-offs, most obviously the price. Many are also heavy, sometimes so heavy that you need two people to move them. Electric standing converters also require a power outlet and have more components that could fail over time.
In short: nice to have, but not a must-have for most people.
The Best Home Office Setup of 2025 Our comprehensive guide to top-rated work-from-home gear, including desks, chairs, and accessories to create a comfortable and productive office.
The Best Standing Desks of 2025 If you’re considering a full desk upgrade, check out our tested recommendations for electric standing desks (and how they compare to converters).
The Best Office Chairs of 2025 A great standing desk or converter should be paired with a great chair for sitting. This list covers ergonomist-approved chairs for all budgets.
The Best Laptop Stands of 2025 More solutions for laptop users to improve ergonomics on the go.
David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.
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