What to Look for in a Standing Desk

Desk-bound, meet the standing desk. Workplace technology has certainly evolved over the past few years (especially recently) — and yes, that includes office furniture. The standing desk is a standout, because more people are discovering the added benefits it provides that really has nothing to do with a desk job: improving your physical health and quality of life overall.

Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? After all, standing all day seems like something that would tire you out well before your work is done. So you might be surprised to learn that it helps promote just the opposite — including reduced back pain, greater energy levels and even a lowered risk of heart disease, to name a few of the health perks. More energy turns into higher levels of job efficiency, which is also beneficial to your overall wellness. Are you starting to see a pattern here?

However, there are several factors that will determine the difference between an OK standing desk and a quality desk that’s right for you. We’re here to offer some tips on what to look for based on your workspace and ergonomic needs.

Take a Stand … for Your Health

As people become more familiar with the notion that “sitting is the new smoking” (with the average person sitting a shocking 15 hours each day1!), more are investing in a standing desk for their workplace or home office to reverse this potentially dangerous trend. As with most important pieces of office furniture, of course there are many options, variations and considerations as you begin your search for what is ultimately the “right” standing desk conducive to your specific needs.

Because no one size fits all, here are some of the main categories to keep top of mind as you start your search:

Height and Adjustable Height Range

Before buying, always remember to test out the desk height and height mobility. Most people typically opt for a standing desk that adjusts between sitting (around 22.6 inches high) to standing (around 48.7 inches high).

Of course, how tall a standing desk should be depends on your height. It should be tall enough for your computer monitor to be directly in your line of sight when you stand straight and tall. After all, a standing desk is all ergonomics, so having to bending over, squatting or standing on your tiptoes to make it work defeats its purpose.

How Much Counter Space You’ll Need

Do you have two monitors? Do you like to spread things out on your desk? Do you need to accommodate other people besides yourself? Ask yourself how much surface area will allow you to do your best work. Whether that’s 24 inches wide or upwards of 60 inches wide, there are standing desks for nearly any size counter space you may need.

How Much Weight the Desk Can Support

Hand in hand with counter space is how much weight your desk will be able to support. If you just have a laptop and a few small office supplies, you’re good to go. If you need the desk to also hold multiple monitors, a printer and other heavy office supplies, you need to make sure the desk can withstand it all.

Keep in mind that a desk that has more counter space does not automatically mean it can bear more weight. You should be ok for the most part ; most standing desks can support 200 – 300 pounds or more. But as most smart shoppers know, it’s always best to do your homework on the desks you’re interested in before investing.

Speed

In your workday, productivity is the name of the game. So when you buy a standing desk in the spirit of enhancing productivity, it becomes counter productive (pun intended) if you discover it takes forever to raise and lower the desk to your liking.

It’s highly likely you’ll adjust your desk height from sitting to standing and back a few times a day. If making those adjustments takes too much effort, chances are you didn’t find the right one. Instead, look for one that changes speeds quickly and effectively, so you spend more time working and less time messing with the height mechanism.

Sound

Once you’re happy with the speed, take a moment and check how loud it gets to raise and lower the desk. This may become an important factor if you plan on using your standing desk where there are others around you trying to get work done.

It may seem trivial to take this feature into account, but trust us — it’s important to choose one where the mechanism for adjustment is neither loud nor disruptive. Even if you plan to bring your standing desk into your own home, this is an important factor to consider since, again, you may be raising and lowering your desk a few times a day.

Where to Get a Standing Desk Without Adjusting Your Budget

Though sticking to a budget is certainly important, investing in your long-term health and wellness is priceless. So while the cost can range anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, don’t let the price tag keep you from getting the desk that’s best for you.

Good news: price doesn’t have to be a factor when Acima is at the table.

Though many traditional retailers may require you to pay cash or dip into credit, Acima’s alternative to financing is the no credit option* that allows you to shop now and pay later. Our lease-purchase agreement* lets you make smaller lease renewal payments over time that won’t overextend your budget.

Now that Acima has your shopping options covered at lots of your favorite retailers, the hardest part will be figuring out which standing desk is right for you. Hopefully, we’ve made that easier, too.