If, like many people, your working-from-home setup sees you hunched over a laptop, perhaps it’s time to invest in a more ergonomically sound solution. A standing desk offers you the opportunity to sit or stand during the working day, with one study reporting workers who used standing desks felt they were more productive throughout the day. Shane Benzie, a renowned movement coach specialising in the fascia, is a big fan of standing desks for runners. In his book, We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article, he calls them ‘one of the best investments you can make’, due to the fact that our running posture will only ever be an extension of our everyday posture. So if you’re hunched over a laptop all day, you’ll bring this posture to your running, whereas if you’re standing with good posture for large periods of the day you’ll be more likely to bring these good habits to your running. Here are four standing desks for budgets of all sizes.
1. Best for a permanent set-up
Flexispot E6
If the home office is now a permanent fixture in your house and you have the space, this flagship desk from Flexispot is well worth considering. With many colours of legs and tops to choose from, plus differing sizes too, you can customise to your hearts content. The height range of 60cm to 123cm will fit most people easily, plus you can save your three favourite heights to make the switch between sitting and standing in one button press.
2. Best for: using two monitors
Varidesk Pro-Plus 36
If you’re so important that your work requires two monitors, that needn’t mean you have to stay glued to your seat. This Varidesk Pro-Plus 36 is designed to accommodate two desktop monitors (or a desktop and a laptop). It’s heavy base offers stability, you can adjust it to suit your height and it comes fully assembled.
3. Best for: those using just a laptop
Harmoni
Whoever said standing desks look ugly and take up lots of space forgot to tell the makers of Harmoni. Its small footprint makes it easy to fit into any living space, while the all-wooden design means it resembles a cool piece of furniture rather than a clunky piece of office wear. Solid and secure, its four-piece design can be assembled and dissembled in less than a minute.
4. Best for: those on a budget
Standidesk
standidesk Active Stand - A Simple Standing Desk Converter - Convert Your Desk Into A Standing Desk Easily
And the prize for the most resourceful standing-desk solution goes to…Standidesk. Made out of cardboard, it folds away easily yet is designed to be sturdy enough to support 9kg. That said, it’s probably one best suited to a laptop rather than a desktop, and you obviously can’t adjust its height, but for less than £20 it’s well worth a punt if you’re looking for a standing desk on a budget.
5. Best for: versatility
Skarsta
The cheapest option from Ikea's range of standing desks, the Skarsta provides a simple, stylish solution for home working. You adjust the height via a wind-up handle – no, this doesn't mean you can skip your upper-body workout – and there's plenty of room for a laptop or desktop. Plus, setting up Ikea furniture is one of life's great joys, right?
