Best Standing Desk Converters of 2024
Tired of sitting all day? Here are the best standing desk converters to keep you healthy and happy.
Our Experts
- Covered the mobile and smart home tech space for the past five years for multiple large publications.
Our Picks
Sitting all day long is uncomfortable and unhealthy. A simple fix to this issue, when you spend all day at the computer, is to pick up the best standing desk converter for your situation. This will allow you to work in the standing position without having to shell out the money for a whole new sit-stand desk. Using a standing desk converter makes it so you'll get a little bit more movement, preventing that stiff feeling. To find the best standing desk converter for you, it's important to consider the individual features and how you would like to use it.
If you're looking for a healthier alternative to sitting all day, standing desks will definitely tick that box. They can help sustain your energy longer, increase your productivity, help improve poor posture and possibly even improve longevity. For anyone with a sedentary job, these potential benefits can be a game changer. There are also DIY standing desk conversions that work well, but if you want to skip getting out a hacksaw and hammer, check out the list below.
What is the best standing desk converter overall?
Sit-stand capabilities and features come standard in many standing desk converters. From beveled wood to aluminum, they can sport varying textures and build options. Some come with an adjustable height range -- standing desks that don't offer your desired height are no good -- and a keyboard shelf. (One even has a removable keyboard tray.) Others have room for a keyboard and mouse mat at the same height as the computer monitor. If you have limited working space, you'll want one that's much smaller to save your desk space, with a laptop riser and just enough room for the essentials, but those are less useful if you have a keyboard and two monitors.
Ultimately, it's just a matter of getting a sit-stand desk converter that'll get you away from your stationary desk in a way that works with your desk space and leads to a quality working session and a healthier, less tired, happier you.
If you're ready to upgrade your regular desk or laptop stand with the best standing desk converter but don't want to spend the money on standing desks, the following are our top picks. We considered everything from adjustable height range to load capacity so your ordinary desk can rise to the occasion.
Best standing desk converters of 2024
Varidesk Pro Plus is one of the most compelling desk conversion kits available today, which is why it's one of our top picks for the best standing desk converter. This stand-up desk converter boasts excellent desk riser quality and standing height stability for an overall smooth experience for its users and no wobbling. This adjustable standing desk converter is a two-tiered system that adjusts your monitors and keyboard and mouse together, in one swift motion, making it one of the best standing desk converter options for your workstation.
Varidesk Pro Plus comes preassembled and ready to use out of the box. Sit the desk riser on your existing desk, place your monitor or laptop on the top shelf, keyboard and mouse on the lower shelf, and raise the desk to one of the preset height settings.
The Varidesk Pro Plus adjustable standing desk converter comes in three different models: 30, 36 and 48. The 30 is meant for a single monitor setup, while the 36 offers a dual monitor setup. The 48 is meant for people up to 6 feet and 1 inch tall, and features desk surface space for two monitors, as well as accessories on the top shelf and a keyboard, mouse, and tablet on the lower shelf of the steel frame. The model you choose just depends on how much space you have to work with to fit your laptop, keyboard, and other office supplies on and around both this and the surface area of the rest of your desk.
Best minimalist standing desk converter
Ergotron WorkFit-T
The Ergotron WorkFit-T and the Varidesk Pro Plus are direct competitors. The WorkFit-T has a similar design with comparable features and variations. You place it on your current desk and it adds a standing position to your traditional desk. The major difference between the WorkFit-T and Varidesk Pro Plus is that the WorkFit-T moves vertically, whereas the Varidesk shifts outward (toward users) when raised. If you have a small desk, the minimalist WorkFit-T may be the best standing desk converter for you.
Best budget standing desk converter
WorkEZ Standing Desk
WorkEZ is the middle ground between Varidesk Pro Plus and StandStand. This affordable standing desk converter is adjustable and provides a smooth, small, and lightweight conversion that can be easily installed or removed, but it's also highly adjustable and has a keyboard tray.
WorkEZ features three pieces to their sit-stand desk converter: the laptop or monitor mount, a separate keyboard tray and a detachable mouse pad. The laptop and monitor riser can be adjusted to virtually any angle and up to an adjustable height of 18 inches above the existing desk height. The laptop stand, keyboard tray and mouse pad are all independently adjustable, making it the best standing desk converter for customization available.
Best for classic wooden design
Readydesk (Update: Currently Unavailable)
If you would like a more permanent stand-up desk solution, you could try the Readydesk, a wooden workspace elevator that comes with two adjustable height shelves.
Readydesk has a work surface wide enough to hold two 27-inch monitors, with an adjustable height to suit most people between 5 feet, 3 inches and 6 feet, 3 inches (1.5 and 1.8 meters) tall, and even features some built-in cable management.
You can also purchase an additional shelf or a laptop rise if you want additional workspace or need the tilting ability to raise your laptop a few inches.
Factors to consider when buying a standing desk converter
Standing desk riser type
Turn your existing desk into a standing one thanks to this electric-powered riser, which includes a phone/tablet stand and is wide enough to accommodate two monitors.
While most standing desks are quite similar in the style and way they operate, risers or converters, come in different styles and sizes. This is why it is important to determine which will work best for your needs.
There are a few different styles of standing desk converters to look at, Z-lift, X-lift, L-lift, hover, and more. Each of these styles offer different benefits and drawbacks. Z-life risers are generally less expensive than others due to fewer parts, but a Z-lift also have lower weight limits than something like an X-lift.
It's also important to consider space requirements, not just the space needed to set up your new converter, but also the space on the converter. Think about how you currently and would like to work to ensure you'll have the necessary room on your standing desk converter once you've chosen the right kind.
What height is best for you?
Mark A digs sounds from his Emotiva Airmotiv 5S monitors from his eight-year old Apple iMac running iTunes with his Schitt Modi 2 digital converter & Magni 2 amp, he also has a set of Sennheiser HD600 headphones. Oh, and there's a SVS SB-1000 subwoofer under the desk.
Standing desks and desk converters are designed to improve ergonomics and decrease the strain put on your body throughout the day from sitting. But just as it is with a traditional desk, if you don't get your desk and seat at the correct height, you'll only be making matters worse.
Ideally you want your monitor to be at your natural eye level, and your keyboard at a height that your elbows are at a 90-degree angle. By getting the properly sized standing desk converter you'll be able to make adjustments to set your workstation at the best levels to take your work to the next level.
Check the stability
You can get your desk at the perfect height and have the right amount of space to work, but if your monitor is constantly wobbling while you type, then you may be on the path to a new set of problems. Ensuring workspace stability is just as important as the other considerations when getting a standing desk converter. Stability comes down to ensuring the desk you put the converter on is level and stable. Then, you have to ensure you've picked a converter that can handle the weight you are placing on it.
Precisely adjustable
This may be the best $16 I've spent on my desk.
OK, so you've gotten the stability, size, and riser style sorted out, now you want to look at the adjustability of the standing desk converter. While height adjustment is a given for these devices, the granularity of those adjustments can differ. Getting one that lets you choose the height you want anywhere within the range it offers is great for getting just what you want rather than only at set increments.
Another point of adjustability that may be of interest to you might be the angle. Some standing desk converters can also tilt all or part of the workspace so you can work in the perfect ergonomic space.
Standing desk converter FAQs
Is a standing desk converter worth it?
When it comes to weighing up the pros and cons of a standing desk converter a lot of it comes down to the desk you already own.
- Do you like the desk you already own?
- Can you afford to replace it?
- Is there space for a standing desk in its place?
- Is your desk built-in?
Replacing your entire desk with a sit-stand desk can be pricey and a standing desk converter will be a much cheaper option. Built-in desks are common too, and they can't be replaced. A standing desk converter gives the health benefits of a standing desk without the need to tear out any furniture.
The cost of a standing desk converter is a fraction of the cost of a full desk, so it is a good way of trying the lifestyle without committing to a complete change.
How long should I use a standing desk?
Standing instead of sitting is not a zero-sum game. Most experts have suggested that for every one hour of work, around 15 minutes should be done standing, although there is research that suggests closer to 30 minutes would be better.
The consensus is that no matter how long you sit or stand, you should vary them throughout your day to get the most benefits. Even the best office chair can become uncomfortable and standing for more than two hours at a time can cause lower back pain. Everything in moderation is key.
Can I put my monitor on a standing desk converter?
Yes, you can put your monitor on a standing desk converter. When choosing which converter to use, you'll want to consider a couple of things, including the size and weight of your monitor. It's important to check the weight capacity of the standing desk converter you're interested in and that you'll still have space to type and use your mouse with the monitor.