There are tons of stand-up desks out there, from DIY ones to fancy thousand-dollar contraptions. While many articles tout the ‘(insert a number) best standing desks’, in reality there are plenty of credible options that could work for your situation.
This guide isn’t about randomly highlighting cool products. Rather, I’ll be pointing out the factors you need to consider when shopping around, and then recommend desks that fit your personal situation. I’ll also share where you can buy them online.
If you’re still new to this whole concept of standing at work, first check out my article on what you should look out for when transitioning to a standing desk. Otherwise, continue on:
3 types of stand-up desks
Standing desks, broadly speaking, can be grouped into three types: desktop attachments, sit-stand desks, and stand-only desks. Ideal Workspace has a nifty graphic that sums up their benefits:
Stand-only desks
The stand-only desk, by virtue of it being unadjustable, is often the most affordable option. It’s great if you’re testing out the habit for the very first time. Stand-only desks work well if you have a second desk where you can sit, or if you plan to invest in a tall stool you can lean on when you’re tired of standing upright.
If you like to spend the weekend building stuff, this is for you. By shopping for the right parts at Ikea – or using any discarded furniture – you can easily create a standing desk in a day. This webpage has 10 ideas to get you started.
But if you’d like to spend a bit less time figuring stuff out, this self-assembled, environmentally-friendly cardboard desk could be just the ticket. Just follow the instructions and assemble the pieces together. Simple.
Created by New Zealand startup Refold, its desks are available for pre-order in select countries worldwide.
Here’s the downside to stand-only desks: because their height is fixed, they may not suit your height or body profile. For instance, Refold doesn’t have an elevated second platform, so on top of spending US$250 for it, you’ll have to figure out another way to get your monitor to the right height.
See more: Here’s a cardboard standing desk you can take with you wherever you go
Sit-stand desks
Pre-designed, sit-stand desks can be just as affordable. Or they can be really expensive. It all depends on how many bells and whistles you want. While Amazon stocks a wide variety of standing desks along with accessories, non-US customers are out of luck as the site doesn’t ship housewares beyond the States. Ikea has a new line of motorized standing desks that starts from US$490, but sadly it’s not available in Asia. Then there’s the ultra-expensive smart desk by Stir that costs US$4,000, but it only ships in the US.
So for international readers, here are your options:
Under US$100
For less than $100, this standing desk from Taobao gives you a lot.
If you’re prepared to navigate a non-English site with poorly Photoshopped product images, you can visit Taobao for some really cheap, made-in-China standing desks (our Taobao guide for non-Chinese speakers can guide you along).
One option I’d recommend is this ridiculously priced US$42 desk – delivery fee included. It has a 1.5 meter (59 inches) tall version which fits most Asian body heights, and has two platforms – one for your screen and the other for your keyboard and mouse.
The disadvantage with it though is that the surface area is really small, which means aside from your computer, you won’t have room for much else. But it’s great as a temporary work station that complements your sitting desk. Adjustments are also a hassle: you’d have to turn a knob, adjust the height, and turn the knob again.
Over US$1,000
A more premium version to check out would be the Sit2Stand desk by Steelcase, a 100-year old office furniture purveyer from Michigan. The great thing about the firm is that it has a physical presence across Asia, including Japan, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia (list of showrooms here).
When I called the Singapore office, I was told the desk ranges from S$1,200 to S$1,500 (US$912 to US$1140) depending on the features and configuration. Also bear in mind that while the firm has showrooms across the continent, availability of the desk differs across markets. It’s best to call the showroom in the city you’re in to check the stock and which variations are available. Steelcase sells the Airtouch desk in Asia as well, but it costs around US$1,500 since it’s manufactured in the US. On the other hand, Sit2Stand is made in Malaysia.
A number of US-based standing desk manufacturers ship to Asia, although the fees are inevitably hefty. MyUpDesk carries desks starting from US$699 for hand-cranked versions all the way up to US1,699 for a spacious, button-operated desk. Be sure to add shipping costs of a few hundred dollars to bring the desk to your location. For example, the fees to deliver a 72 inch by 30 inch Maple Series III PowerUp desk to Singapore would be around US$435.
NextDesk is another US company that ships worldwide. Its solo desk starts at US$897. Again, shipping charges apply.
An obvious consideration here is whether you want a manual crank desk versus an electric one. The latter brings greater convenience when making height adjustments but consumes electricity. It’s also less flexible because you’ll need to position it near a power outlet.
The NextDesk looks sexy. But it doesn’t come cheap.
Desktop attachments
This desk-mounted option is great if your home or office configuration is fixed. It basically converts your sitting desk into a standing one. You can also move it around, making it the most flexible choice.
To begin with, you can DIY your own desk-mounted contraption using Ikea furniture for US$22. This tutorial has the details. Again, it’s great as a test of whether the standing at work lifestyle is for you, but it’s not ideal for extended use because it can’t be adjusted to suit your needs.
Folks in Australia or New Zealand are in luck. You can preorder a ZestDesk from A$403 (US$335), excluding freighting costs. You’ll have to be patient though as the products will only ship in May or June 2015.
The Kangaroo series of desktop attachments would also make a great long-term companion. The issue is that the desk is US-made so it’s somewhat costly to own in Asia. To make it a little easier, Ideal Workspace has some stock in Singapore. Prices start at US$949, but you’ll need to append a shipping fee to deliveries outside the country.
This is the Kangaroo Pro.
Some important stuff
No matter which desk you choose, one long-term decision you can’t compromise on is ergonomics. Pick a desk that’s not just height adjustable, but also adjustable to your exact body profile. The ability to bring a monitor up to your eye level is something that, in my opinion, shouldn’t be compromised.
For entrepreneurs out there, my survey of the available options shows a gap in the Asian market for desks in the sub US$1,000 range – a sweet spot for many would-be standing desk owners. Perhaps there’s an opportunity for locally-designed quality desks produced in the region and designed for Asians.
See more: 5 tweaks to boost productivity levels in your startup office
This post No buyer’s remorse: a guide to getting the best standing desk for your needs appeared first on Tech in Asia.
No buyer’s remorse: a guide to getting the best standing desk for your needs
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