Electric Standing Desk vs. Standing Desk Riser - Which One is Right for You?

It has become abundantly clear that the standing desk revolution is more than just a passing fad.  Staying active throughout your workday by switching between sitting and standing has tangible health benefits that improve productivity and overall work satisfaction. If you’re looking into upgrading your workstation to access these advantages, you may already know that there are two prevailing options for achieving this. 

The first is the traditional Sit-To-Stand Desk. This is just like a normal desk, except the frame can be extended or retracted up and down, allowing you to easily switch between sitting and standing no matter your height, taking your entire work space with you.

The second option has become very popular in the last few years. It’s the Desk Riser system, which goes on top of your existing desk and allows you to adjust the height of the main part of your workstation. These come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and mechanisms to fit all sorts of work space needs.

But which of these solutions are right for you? We’ve put together a list of pros and cons for each of these options to make it easy for you to decide which will work best for your situation.

Standing Desks

Pros

• Lifts Your Entire Work Space - The biggest advantage of getting a Standing Desk is that it’s completely cohesive - It lifts your entire work space in unison, on a single level. This also means you have a lot more desk space to work with, giving you plenty of room to stretch out.
• Ultra Compatible - Because it’s essentially just a normal desk (albeit with a great design feature that allows and encourages an active and healthy lifestyle) most accessories that are compatible with other desks will transfer over seamlessly to your standing desk. These are things like monitor desk mounts, keyboard trays, or PC mounts. There are also some great accessories that are designed to be used with Standing Desks specifically, like this vertebrae cable management kit.

Cons

• Expensive - We’ll cut right to the chase- Standing Desks can be expensive. There are definitely some more affordable options out there, especially if you’re willing to sacrifice motorized capability and get a manually adjustable desk, but Desk Risers will always have cheaper options than full Standing Desks. If your budget is highly restrictive, getting a standing desk probably isn’t your best option, and you’d be better off going with a different solution.
• Can Be Difficult To Assemble - Depending on what model you purchase, Standing Desks can require some assembly know how. Don’t be scared off too quickly though- we make our manuals as easy to follow as possible, and we also make helpful assembly videos for most of our products. So if you’re not sure if a particular product will be too difficult for you, check to see what it’s like to assemble; it might be simpler than you think.

Desk Risers

Pros

• More Affordable Option - Part of what made Desk Risers so popular since they hit the market is their price; most models are significantly cheaper than comparable full Standing Desk options. If you’re looking to save even more money and you don’t care for the dual tier design of the standard Desk Riser, single tier designs tend to be even cheaper.
• Easy To Set Up - Most Desk Risers can be ready within 5 minutes of unboxing - some don’t require any assembly whatsoever. If you’re looking for something that will get up and running with an active work space with the least amount of work possible, Desk Risers are the way to go.

Cons

• Small Work Space - This isn’t necessarily a huge deal depending on how you use your desk space during a typical workday. But if you’re someone who needs access to their whole desk space, whether you’re sitting or standing, or just need a lot of desk real estate in general, you’re likely to find working with a Desk Riser frustrating and inefficient.
• Not As Compatible - While there are monitor mounts and other accessories designed specifically for desk risers, you’re going to end up with significantly less options than you would with a normal Standing Desk. If you’re someone who keeps their desk setup simple, just a computer, a monitor or two, a keyboard, and a mouse, then, this won’t be a problem for you. But if you’re one of the many who likes to accessorize their space to fit their specific needs, you may find Desk Risers very restricting.

Summary

Overall, while full Standing Desks are a bigger investment, they’re just that- an investment. They’re more substantial in size, convenience, and compatibility. But if you’re looking for something quick and cheap to set up right away, whether it’s because time and money are tight or because you’re not sure whether it’s worth the investment yet, a Desk Riser is almost certainly the best option. Remember, diving into using an active work space is always a good long term choice for your health, so whichever you end up choosing, you’re well on your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle.

Check out our desk riser options and standing desk options to get active at work today!