Your Ultimate Standing Desk Converter Buying Guide for 2023

If your job involves a lot of office work, then you’re no stranger to back and neck pains. They may not seem like an issue at first, but these constant aches will become troublesome as you get older.

The solution we opt for is standing up, stretching, or taking a walk, but you’ll have to disconnect from your work and readjust once you come back.

Fortunately, standing desk converters are here to solve that problem.

These flat surfaces sit on your existing desk and can rise with you as you stand, allowing you to switch between sitting and standing as you work.

With many designs and models in the market, it can get confusing to decide which is best for you, especially since most of them are quite expensive.

In this guide, we’ll show you the best standing desk converters you can get to make your work life a little easier. We’ll also highlight the pros and cons of each of them so you can pick the most suitable one.

Should You Get a Standing Desk Converter?

Standing desk converters are handy tools, but they’re not for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of having a desk converter:

Advantages

Here’s why getting a standing desk converter can be a good idea:

Price

Getting a standing desk converter is often cheaper than getting an actual standing desk. You won’t have to remove your current desk to install a new standing desk. You can just place the desk riser on it and you’re good to go.

Convenience

Suppose that you already own a regular standing desk. While you get many health benefits from using it, prolonged standing is still uncomfortable and can even be harmful to your legs.

On the other hand, standing desk converters are flexible enough to switch between sitting and standing as you feel like it. Some of them are even electric, so you won’t even have to raise them yourself—a click of a button would do that for you.

Mobility

Regular standing desks are hard to move around. Meanwhile, standing desk converters are more versatile. You can easily place them on any desk as long as the dimensions fit.

Some standing desk converters are heavy, but they’re still easier to bring around than having to deconstruct and reassemble an entire desk. They’re also a lot more compact and can easily be transported around in your personal car.

Disadvantages

Here’s when you should think twice before buying one:

The Price Is Sometimes Questionable

While most standing desk converters are cheaper than regular standing desks, others can come close to or even exceed the price of regular desks. This makes you wonder if the whole purchase is even worth it.

At that point, it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons, and whether you’ll actually benefit from the perks you’re paying your hard-earned money for.

The weight limit

All desks have weight limits, but you can easily imagine yourself lying on your regular desk, which is something you can’t do with a standing desk converter. The weight limit on the latter is far less than the former.

If your work often involves multiple heavy screens, the idea of getting a converter may not be viable for you.

The Space limit

Limited space is another aspect you should consider. These standing desk converters may restrict your movement or even omit some aspects of it entirely.

Fortunately, there are many sizes for those who like more freedom, so you should only buy what suits you.

You should also ensure that the depth of your desk converted doesn’t exceed that of your desk. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use it.

The Appearance

A standing desk converter is more of a practical appliance than an aesthetic one. Some people may prefer not to be seen working on a standing desk converter, while others may find no issue with that. It’s up to you to decide.

1. VariDesk Pro Plus 36 (Best Overall Standing Desk Converter)

The VariDesk Pro Plus 36 is our first product. It’s spacious, versatile, and suitable for most desks.

Product Specs

• Material: Steel
• Weight capacity: 35 lbs
• Desk weight: 52 lbs
• Dimensions: 36″ x 29.75″ x 4.5″ (L x W x H)

Product Description

The VariDesk Pro is regarded as the best standing desk converter by many. It has 11 height settings for people of varying heights to use with ease. The spring-assisted lifting mechanism will help you reach any of the settings using only one hand.

It’s also spacious enough to accommodate two monitors, as long as their combined weight doesn’t exceed 35 lbs. You also have a wide keyboard tray that can fit larger keyboards, so you won’t have to buy a smaller keyboard specifically for it.

We also love how it comes assembled straight off the bag. All you need to do is unbox it. Let’s not forget to mention the five-year warranty as well.

There’s no question about durability with this standing desk converter since it’s made from steel. However, the strength comes with a cost—the weight. The standing desk weighs over 50 lbs, making it quite difficult to move around.

Pros

• Superior durability since it’s made from steel
• Wide and spacious enough for your monitors and keyboard
• Spring-assisted lift with 11 height settings

Cons

• At 52 lbs, it’s the heaviest standing desk converter on our list

2. VIVO Black Height Adjustable (Best Surface Area Standing Desk Converter)

The Vivo Black standing desk converter offers superior space and two sizes options: 36″ and 42″.

Product Specs

• Material: Plastic with alloy steel hinges
• Weight capacity: 35 lbs
• Desk weight: 33 lbs
• Dimensions: 22″ x 36″ x 17″ (L x W x H) for the 36″ desk and 22″ x 42″ x 6″ for the 42″ variant

Product Description

As one of the best standing desk converters on this list, the Vivo Black doesn’t only offer you a spacious surface area; it also comes with a bigger variant.

It may not be primarily composed of steel like the VariDesk Pro Plus, but the parts that move (the hinges) are made from steel alloy, ensuring longevity. The surface area is made from finished plastic, reducing the cost of this standing desk converter by around half.

That surface area rests at a height of 6.5″, but it can be raised up to 17″. As such, taller folks will love this standing desk. You also get a keyboard tray that’s on a lower level than the desk converter for ergonomics.

One thing we don’t like about the tray is that, despite being wide enough for a larger keyboard, the sides are restricted by the hinges of the keyboard tray holder. We had some difficulty moving the mouse as our hands kept bumping into the hinge.

The 36″version (the one we tested) comes with minimal assembly. However, the larger 42″ version requires more work. If you want the expert version, be prepared to pay over $250 per unit.

Both variants come with a three-year warranty, so you can rest assured that you have a quality product.

Pros

• A spacious standing desk converter with a desk space that can accommodate two screens
• The full-standing desk goes up to 17″ which is great for taller people.
• Relatively affordable compared to most standing desk converters on our list

Cons

• The keyboard tray is awkward to use because of the supporting hinges

3. Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini (Best Standing Desk Converter for Smaller Desks)

The Ergotron WorkFit-Z is an adjustable standing desk converter for those who don’t have the luxury of a larger desk, but still want to stretch their backs occasionally.

Product Specs

• Material: Aluminum and finished wood
• Weight capacity: 25 lbs
• Desk weight: 33 lbs
• Dimensions: 27″ x 34″ x 8″ (L x W x H)

Product Description

Much like the VariDesk Pro Plus, the Ergotron WorkFit-Z Mini standing desk converter comes almost entirely assembled right off the bat. All you have to do is take it and place it on your desk.

Don’t let the minimalist design fool you—it has a 34″ wide space and a dropped keyboard tray. This standing desk converter is designed to be a laptop stand, so you can comfortably fit your laptop and a small monitor beside it.

You also get a phone or a tablet holder so you can keep all of your electronics ahead of you.

The deep keyboard tray initially seemed wide and spacious, but that depth was cut short by a curvature. We couldn’t fit larger keyboards without centralizing them, which compromised the mouse’s space.

Still, the Ergotron WorkFit remains one of the most comfortable standing desks when it comes to mobility. The hydraulic-boosted handles allow the adjustment from and to the 13″ top height a smooth process.

Pros

• A smooth sit-stand desk converter with hydraulic-boosted handles
• It has a device holder so you can keep your electronics
• Can be used as a laptop standing desk converter or a desktop converter

Cons

• The keyboard tray isn’t suitable for using larger keyboards

4. FLEXISPOT Motorized Standing Desk Converter (Best Electric Standing Desk Converter)

The FLEXISPOT Motorized desk converter is for those who prefer electric full-standing desks. You don’t have to manually adjust the height with this one. All you need to do is to click a button.

Product Specs

• Material: ‎Engineered wood
• Weight capacity: 55 lbs
• Desk weight: 37 lbs
• Dimensions: 24″ x 35″ x 5.7″ (L x W x H)

Product Description

FLEXISPOT Motorized desk converter hit the sweet spot for us between price and functionality. It’s fairly cheaper than most of the other electric standing desk converters in the market (down to half the price).

Additionally, it can support a laptop and two monitors simultaneously, as long as their combined weight (plus the keyboard) doesn’t exceed 55 lbs.

You can use the laptop stand as one of the biggest keyboard trays out there. No matter how large your keyboard is, the tray can comfortably accommodate it, along with the mouse and its mat.

We thought that we’d require quite the assembly for an electric standing desk converter, but we were wrong. The whole thing took exactly five minutes to put together. Speaking of five, you also get a five-year warranty and customer support via chat and email.

The one issue we faced with the FLEXISPOT was when we used two large screens at the maximum height. The desk converter felt somewhat unstable. We do not recommend going all the way up when you’re using dual monitor mounts.

Pros

• HIgh-quality electric standing desk converter at an affordable price
• Large keyboard tray for maximum comfort
• high-quality components with a 5-year warranty

Cons

• Despite being heavy, the standing desk gets a little shaky on using two large monitors

5. VariDesk Laptop 30 (Best Laptop Riser)

If you want something neat and simple for your laptop, the VariDesk Laptop 30 adjustable standing desk converter is a great choice.

Product Specs

• Material: ‎Aluminum and plastic
• Weight capacity: 15 lbs
• Desk weight: 11.36 lbs
• Dimensions: 15″ x 30″ x 1.25″ (L x W x H)

Product Description

If most of your work involves a laptop, then there’s no need to spend much on space and weight capacity.

The VariDesk Laptop 30 desk converter is simple, neat, lightweight, and easy to use. It also comes fully assembled in the box, and requires little to no effort to raise and lower.

Despite looking like a miniature version of an ordinary desk, you can easily raise this standing desk converter up to 15″.

However, using it at the maximum height isn’t recommended. The reason behind that is the small, non-supported legs of the desk converter. They’re not as broad as other items on this list. However, you won’t feel that problem unless you put a lot of weight on the converter.

One thing we didn’t like is the limited depth of the VariDesk Laptop 30. With only 15″ of depth, you can’t use an external keyboard, which is something that some people prefer. There’s also no place to attach a separate keyboard tray.

However, you can comfortably use a mouse mat and a mouse without issues in the spacious 30″ width. The product is durable and reliable, and it comes with a one-year warranty.

Pros

• A spacious width for a laptop standing desk converter
• Can rise up to 15″ to accommodate taller people
• Won’t take much space over your already existing desk

Cons

• Somewhat wobbly and doesn’t have a keyboard tray

6. Victor DCX610 (Most Versatile Standing Desk Converter)

The Victor DCX610 is one of the more distinctive standing desk converters you’ll find in the market.

Product Specs

• Material: ‎Aluminum and finished wood
• Weight capacity: 29 lbs
• Desk weight: 33 lbs
• Dimensions: 17.8″ x 32.5″ x 19″ (L x W x H)

Product Description

There are many reasons for the flexibility of this standing desk converter. For one, its lowest position can comfortably rest on your existing desk without raising your monitor too much.

Conversely, its lifting mechanism allows you to extend its height to 19″. Tall people will find this most comfortable. The strong legs of the standing desk converter will also prevent any bothersome shaking as you work.

This standing desk converter weighs 33 lbs and can carry up to 29 lbs. It’s quite heavy, so it won’t be suitable for those who keep moving their standing desks around. However, it can carry a laptop and a screen simultaneously without issues.

The keyboard tray is spacious and comfortable. It has a bit of a neck, but it won’t bother with your movement unless your keyboard is exceptionally large.

The Victor DCX610 came almost assembled right off the box. We needed to place a few screws, but the whole process took around 10 minutes to finish.

Pros

• Spacious and comfortable standing desk with a height of up to 19″
• It can carry a laptop and a screen at max height without shaking
• Easy to assemble for such a considerably large standing desk converter

Cons

• The relatively low price for the various options makes the durability questionable

7. Nulaxy Laptop Stand (Most Compact Design)

The Nulaxy Laptop Standing desk converter is best for those who use only a laptop and don’t care about any other accessories.

Product Specs

• Material: ‎Reinforced plastic
• Weight capacity: 22 lbs
• Desk weight: 4.16 lbs
• Dimensions: 12.8″ x 12″ x 2.7″ (L x W x H)

Product Description

The Nulaxy Laptop riser provides a holder for your laptop that you can raise up to 21″ (the highest on our list). This height makes it especially useful for video meetings.

This is also the only desk converter on our list that allows you to angle the screen as you see fit. Be careful not to use an awkward angle to prevent dropping the laptop, especially if it’s on the heavy side.

The standing desk itself can carry up to 22 lbs. For demonstrative purposes, the average modern laptop weighs anywhere between three to eight lbs.

However, the heavier your laptop is, the more the screen might shake, especially if you’re extending the converter all the way up.

Since the Nulaxy Laptop is small and compact, it’s one of the cheapest standing desk converters and also the most affordable on our list. There’s nothing to assemble with this one, so you can expect to get to business right after you open the box.

Pros

• Compact and lightweight—just take it out of the box and set it up
• Can extend up to 21″ and carry up to 22 lbs
• It’s the most affordable item on our list

Cons

• It lacks space and accessories as it’s made only for laptops

What Should You Consider Before Buying a Standing Desk Converter

There’s no such thing as the best standing desk converter. These converters are made to meet various requirements. Your job is to determine your needs so you can buy the product that fits you without paying extra.

How Big Do You Want It to Be?

Does your work involve a large screen or a laptop? Do you have various accessories like phones and tablets? How wide do you want your desktop space to be and how many screens do you use? All of these are questions that determine the dimensions of the product you need.

You should also consider the width and depth of your own desk to avoid buying a product that’s too large to sit on your desk.

How Often Will You Move?

The weight of some of these standing desk converters can exceed 50 lbs. If you move around between desks often, then you should refrain from getting heavier ones, unless you don’t mind breaking a sweat while working.

How Much Are You Willing to Spend?

Are you content with a simple standing desk converter that requires manual lifting and lowering? Or do you want an electric one with various accessories?

It’s important to decide what you want from the converter before even buying it. You don’t want to spend $500 on a converter with options that you may not even use.

The Bottom Line

The best standing desk converter is the one that meets your demands. For example, if you want an eclectic desk riser without punching a hole through your wallet, the FLEXISPOT Motorized is a great choice.

Those who prefer working on laptops will appreciate the VariDesk Laptop 30 and the Nulaxy Laptop converters.

If you need some more space for your bigger screens, go for the Victor DCX610 or the Vivo Black converters. Those who don’t want to think too much and get a converter that covers it all should try the VariDesk Pro Plus.