March 29, 2024

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8 Best Standing Desk Converters of 2022 for Home Offices

standing desk converters

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If you tend to get antsy sitting at your desk all day (or maybe you’ve noticed some reoccurring back pain and need to improve your posture), a standing desk converter helps you transform your ordinary workspace into one where you can sit and stand without interrupting your workflow. While there’s no shortage of standing desks we can also recommend, if you’re limited on space in your home office or want to replace the stack of books propping up your laptop on your existing desk, a converter is your answer. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and typically have built-in mechanisms so you can adjust your monitor or laptop’s height without hassle. Some even include a tier for your keyboard and have space for your mouse, coffee mug, etc. Others are lightweight and portable so you can move around throughout the day and convert any table into a standing desk.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts test and review home products ranging from the best desk chairs for your home office to top-rated cheap computer desks. When choosing the best standing desk converters, our health experts, analysts and engineers weighed a variety of criteria, including size, ease of assembly, adjustability and design. These are our top picks for the best standing desk converters in 2022.

Our top picks



Best Overall Standing Desk Converter

Pro Plus 36
VariDesk

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Best Value Standing Desk Converter

Cora Standing Desk Converter
Fully

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Best Portable Standing Desk Converter

Portable Laptop Stand
VariDesk

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Best Standing Desk Converter for Smaller Desks

WorkFit-Z Mini
Ergotron

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Best Standing Desk Converter for Laptops

Laptop 30
VariDesk

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Best Overall Standing Desk Converter

Pro Plus 36

  • Suitable for almost any desk
  • 11 height settings
  • Spring-assisted lift

VariDesk’s standing desk converter is extremely easy to use, and we love that it’s ready to use directly out of the box — no assembly required. VariDesk offers its desktop adapter in different sizes to accommodate a variety of desks, tables and monitors, but all of them provide up to an additional 17.5″ maximum lift off a tabletop you already have in your home. The dual-handle latch function allows you to customize how high your new desktop becomes. If you already have a desk you love or are working off of a rarely-used dining or coffee table, VariDesk’s converter is an easy solution for you. But keep in mind that it weighs over 50 pounds, so consider it a semi-permanent solution.

Height range: 4.5″–17.5″
Desktop dimensions: 36″ x 29.75″
Weight capacity:
35 lbs.
Product weight: 52.15 lbs.
Required desk depth:
25.75″
Warranty:
5 years
Assembly: None

Best Value Standing Desk Converter

Cora Standing Desk Converter

  • Sleek compact design
  • Large desktop surface
  • Not as lightweight as other compact converters

In previous tests, our experts have found Fully’s home office essentials reliable and high-quality. While we haven’t yet tested this pick, we love its sleek design and how it folds into a sturdy flat work surface so you can sit down at your desk when you choose. Though it’s ideal for laptops only — there’s no dedicated keyboard shelf — there’s enough room on the desktop surface to fit a few personal items such as mugs, notebooks and a mouse. The laminate surface is also extremely easy to clean and non-skid pads protect your existing desk from any damage.

Height range: 1.3″–15.7″
Desktop dimensions: 31.3″ x 22″
Weight capacity: 22 lbs.
Product weight: 22.5 lbs.
Required desk depth: 22″
Warranty: 5 years
Assembly: None

Best Portable Standing Desk Converter

Portable Laptop Stand

  • Lightweight
  • Folds flat for easy storage

We love that this super lightweight and portable pick from Vari can be folded flat and stored away when the workday is done, and it comes with a handle to make moving it around and changing work surfaces easier than ever. Thanks to its compact design, it should fit inside most standard backpacks for when you want to commute or travel with it. There’s also no assembly required, though the height can’t be raised quite as high as other converters and isn’t adjustable. Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, who uses this stand at her home office, says that she “love[s] how it’s very sturdy, super portable and can be folded flat for compact storage.” In previous evaluations, our experts have found VariDesk products to be reputable go-tos for any office.

Height range: Up to 12″
Desktop dimensions: 9 7/8″ x 9 7/8″ (Compatible with laptops up to 15″)
Weight capacity: 15 lbs
Product weight: 2.4 lbs
Required desk depth: 10″
Warranty: 5 years
Assembly: None

Best Standing Desk Converter for Smaller Desks

WorkFit-Z Mini

  • Compact design
  • Phone holder in upper tray
  • Only one finish
  • Confusing instruction manual for assembly

If you’re tighter on space — many desktop converters can span wider than your actual desk — Ergotron’s split bi-level converter is for you. Ergotron’s model offers nearly 13″ of additional lift off of your current desk, and its 30″+ wide desktop can easily fit a laptop and a small monitor or a desktop, simultaneously. It’s designed to primarily hold laptops and lighter equipment, but our tests reveal that manually lifting the desk up with the hydraulic-boosted handles is a breeze.

Height range: 5.4″–12.5″
Desktop dimensions: 31″ x 21″
Weight capacity: 25 lbs
Product weight: 32.7 lbs
Required desk depth:
22″
Warranty:
2 years
Assembly:
Required

Best Standing Desk Converter for Laptops

Laptop 30

  • Compact design
  • Light for movement around a house or office
  • Nine height settings
  • Not as stable as other desktop converters

VariDesk’s laptop-friendly standing desk converter is a great option for those who are tight on space, who love to work remotely while traveling or simply are interested in trying out a functioning standing desk without committing to a bulkier option. Unlike other two-tier desks, our experts love that this pick can be folded into a compact flat surface for when you’re ready to sit — all it takes is a squeeze of the handles. Ready to use out of the box, the VariDesk Laptop 30 is equipped with nine different height settings, and our testing showed it can lift your laptop up to 15″ off a desktop, all while supporting the weight of your wrists and a mouse if you choose.

Height range: 1.25″–15″
Desk dimensions: 30″ x 15″
Weight capacity: 15 lbs
Product weight: 11.36 lbs
Required desk depth:
11.75″
Warranty:
1 year
Assembly:
None

Best Electric Standing Desk Converter

E7 Electric

  • Sleek industrial design
  • Multiple finishes and sizes
  • Adjusts with the push of a button
  • Complex installation and maintenance

If you’re tempted by an automated adjustable standing desk, this is as close as you’ll get without committing to a whole new piece of furniture. UPLIFT’s E7 desktop converter is compact and motorized, so it can be easily adjusted with the push of a button on the built-in keypad. It’s sold in a variety of bamboo, eco or rubberwood finishes, but all are based on a 30-inch-wide desktop that is more compact than other models. The E7 can hold up to 110 pounds of office essentials and is equipped to mount a computer monitor (or two) if you’re interested in doing so. Rothman notes that this design becomes more compact if you tuck away (or detach) the keyboard tray when not in use. Our experts also love the number of add-ons offered with this converter, such as a standing desk mat, stools, cable sleeves or anything you need for the perfect home office set up.

Height range: .75″–21″
Desk dimensions: 30″ x 21.5″
Weight capacity: 110 lbs
Product weight: 92 lbs
Required desk depth:
26″
Warranty:
15 years
Assembly:
Required

Best Compact Standing Desk Converter

DCX610

  • Includes slots on keyboard for phone, tablet, etc.
  • Various sizes and finishes

When our experts tested this pick from Victor, they noted that it shipped nearly completely assembled (apart from a few screws) and was more compact than you might think. According to Health Editor Zee Kristic, it didn’t swallow up an entire desk, and the drop-down keyboard tray wasn’t as space-hogging, making it a great option for desks that may be on the smaller side. This converter is perfect for anyone who likes to use a monitor with a laptop while working but doesn’t need quite as expansive of a model as other larger-sized products on this list.

Height range: Up to 19″
Desk dimensions: 32.5″ x 18″
Weight capacity: 29 lbs
Product Weight: 33.8 lbs
Required desk depth: 24″
Warranty: 3-year limited
Assembly: Minimal

How to choose the best standing desk converter for you

✔️Assembly: Before making a purchase, find out how easy the converter will be to assemble. The beauty of a standing desk converter over a standing desk is that you can often use it right out of the box. While many of the converters we tested arrived fully assembled, some still required installation or had complicated instructions.

✔️Adjustability: While most of the converters we feature are manually adjustable, some have built-in mechanisms to make lifting or lowering the height of your desktop a seamless experience. In our tests, we scored each lifting mechanism based on how easy (or difficult) it was to lift the desktop up without much effort, and whether the items on the converter stayed steady. And if you prefer a converter that can be adjusted with the press of a button, opt for an electric converter that has a built-in motor.

Also, check the maximum height a standing desk converter lets you raise your desktop to. If you’re tall it’s especially important to consider the max height of the converter and the height of the desk you own so you can maintain a straight posture.

✔️Design and size: Make sure you like the design and overall appearance of your converter. Does it match your desk or office furniture? Does it feel bulky, sleek, lightweight or modern? Also, ensure that it will fit on top of the current desk you own. Check the minimum desk depth required as well as the width of the converter. Also, ask yourself whether you want room for a keyboard, in which case you might consider a two-tier design that has a dedicated keyboard space. Do you need room for a monitor? Make sure that there’s not only enough space but that the weight capacity of the converter can handle a monitor, laptop, keyboard, mouse, etc.

How we test the best standing desk converters

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, health experts, engineers and analysts test the best office essentials for your working space. When testing the best standing desk converters, our pros looked at a number of key criteria such as design and size (did the converter have enough room for a monitor, laptop, keyboard and mouse, coffee mug or notebook? How many tiers does it have?), ease of assembly (did the converter arrive assembled out of the box or was it easy to install?), maximum height and portability.

We also heavily considered adjustability and ease of use, scoring each converter’s lifting mechanism by analyzing whether lifting the desktop was seamless and didn’t require too much effort and whether items on the converter stayed steady while in motion. Lastly, we considered any additional accessories or add-ons such as a keyboard shelf, mouse area, extra pockets or organizational features. Several of the featured models were road-tested in real homes and evaluated by Health Editor, Zee Krstic and the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, who weighed in on each model’s construction and design.

Is a standing desk converter worth it?

If you’re shopping for a standing desk converter, you’ve probably debated whether you should get a standing desk instead. While standing desks are an excellent choice, they do often take up more space and are more cumbersome to assemble than a converter. They’re also not easily portable and very heavy, and while some converters are heavy enough to be a semi-permanent solution, some are light enough to enable you to move your workspace around wherever you go or break it down at the end of the day.

Standing desk converters can, however, also be expensive. If you don’t own an existing desk, you should consider which investment makes the most sense for your home office. While many converters have built-in mechanisms to make it easy for you to change your monitor or laptop height, a standing desk could be more comfortable in the long run as the majority have built-in motors to make adjusting your desk height as easy as pressing a button. But no matter whether you opt for a standing desk converter or a standing desk, our experts agree that alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day is better than slouching over your computer.

What are the health benefits of a standing desk converter?

“Humans are not designed to sit. We are good at standing, and really good at walking and running,” says Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Psychologist Daniel Fulham O’Neill, M.D., EdD, FAAOS, ABOS and author of Survival of the Fit. He believes that a stand-up workstation aims to get us away from a leaned-overhead posture, which results in a slumped low back position as your head (a 10 lb. weight) hangs off your neck. As he tells his patients, a healthy spine has a beautiful spring design, but it can only work efficiently if “the ears are over your shoulders, the shoulders are over your hips, and the hips are over your ankles.’”

O’Neill also pointed out that humans burn more calories when standing compared to when sitting. Though it’s not enough to be considered a primary mode of exercise, making the switch to a standing desk converter could ultimately help you ease into a more fitness-forward, active-forward lifestyle. The Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab’s Deputy Director and certified personal trainer, Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, NASM-CPT confirms that standing provides a “modest increase in energy expenditure than sitting, which can accumulate to quite the benefit over time” and even help increase productivity. She recommends starting slow when transitioning to a standing desk converter and gradually increasing standing time.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski oversees product testing and covers everything from connected devices to home appliances, health and fitness. With a B.A. from George Washington University and a Master’s in Communications from Sciences Po Paris, Olivia has several years of experience writing about tech and trends. She continues to stay on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helps readers make better buying decisions by testing and reviewing the best gadgets and home essentials to hit the market.

In his role as Health Editor, Zee Krstic works hand in hand with analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute to highlight consumer-facing input from leading health experts; he interweaves doctors’ and healthcare providers’ expertise into shopping guides to better educate readers. He also independently reviews new products in the wellness space for Good Housekeeping, which he has done previously for Martha Stewart Living and Cooking Light.

Rachel Rothman was born into a family that owned and operated a consumer electronics distribution business for over seven decades (her first Consumer Electronics Show was in the womb)! She has since tested just about any consumer tech gadget, ranging from computers, TVs, smartphones, smart home products and more.

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