How Standing Desks Work: Everything You Need To Know

If you want to learn exactly how a standing desk works, you've come to the right place. Today, we're going to explain everything you need to know before pulling the trigger and investing in a setup that can change your life.

Sound like an overzealous claim? It's not. If you're like most people, you spend hours a day sitting at your desk. There are all sorts of reasons prolonged sitting is problematic. It affects both your physical and mental health while decreasing your productivity. With a stand-up desk, you can erase these ailments once and for all - we'll explain how shortly.

In this short guide, we're even going to teach you everything you need to know to make sure you get the most out of your adjustable height desk. You'll even gain the most important piece of knowledge possible - how to make sure you get the best stand-up desk possible. Let's start with some basic information before we teach you how a standing desk works.

What Exactly Are Standing Desks?

Whether you're doing homework, playing games, or getting some work done - the right desk will make all the difference. Standing desks are exactly what they sound like - desks that don't require you to sit at them. The traditional desk sits just a few feet off the floor. This forces you to use a chair and sit.

There is nothing inherently wrong with sitting. In fact, for tasks that require your highest level of focus and attention, sitting up straight in your chair is the right move.

But all that time you spend sitting can be detrimental to your health.

That's where adjustable height desks come in. Rather than sitting a few feet off the floor, these desks can be raised up to eye level when you're standing in front of it. This grants you the ability to alternate between sitting and standing by adjusting the desk.

By spending less time sitting, and more time standing, you'll unlock a few different benefits. For one, you'll save yourself from bad posture associated with prolonged sitting. Spending a few hours a day taking a break from sitting to standing will also eliminate tight hips. Tight hips are inevitable when you spend every day sitting for hours at a time. This causes back pain, knee pain, and of course, hip pain.

But the benefits associated with standing desks aren't limited to just your physical health. You'll also enjoy greater productivity. By getting up in the standing position, you'll stay mentally fresh and get more done in the same amount of time. To learn more about why standing desks are good for you, check out our related blog post.

Usually, these stand-up desks work with a touch screen or button right on the desk itself. The specific way in which each desk works depends on the type of standing desk you're using, though. Let's take a look at the different styles you may come across when shopping.

What Are The Different Types Of Standing Desks?

There are three main types of sit-stand desks you should know about before you make your purchase. Each has its place but make no mistake. There is one that stands alone as the right choice for just about everyone. We'll save it till the end.

Manual Adjustable Desks

The manual height adjustable desk allows you to alternate between sitting and standing but has its limitations. The main drawback of this style is that you have to hand-crank the desk to where you want it. If you're looking to save your body from the woes of sitting, just know the physical toll of constantly cranking your desk isn't great either.

And, adjusting the height is slow. It takes time. Thus, the increases in productivity associated with a sit-stand desk are compromised. You'll also struggle to maintain consistency, finding the right sitting height and standing height each time you adjust the desk. Furthermore, manual stand desks tend to have low weight capacities - a nonstarter for those with a ton of stuff to put on their desk.

While these manual adjustable desks are certainly a cheap, budget-friendly option, there's a reason for that. They're not a great choice if you're looking to build a more comfortable, productive working space. We don't recommend this type.

Adjustable Desk Converters

If you already have a desk that you absolutely love, then going with an adjustable desk converter may be the right choice for you. These are essentially risers that you can place directly under your computer and monitor. They have room for your keyboard, mouse, and maybe even a few accessories.

As you can imagine, these are the cheapest option on the market. That's because they require an existing desk in order to work. And unfortunately, they are also a manual type of desk. This type of desk usually works off a lever system.

These have quite a few drawbacks too. For one, you don't get to raise your whole desk - just a few necessities. This can be quite inconvenient. Plus, you still have to hand crank these - depending on the model you choose this can become both tiresome and cumbersome.

You may have to pull your entire converter towards you as you stand up. Otherwise, you'll have to lean over the desk to reach your keyboard. These converters sound good in theory. But in practice, they don't quite meet the average person's needs. Thus, you will likely want to go with the third type of desk: the motorized standing desk.

Motorized Standing Desks - The Premier Choice

If you're really looking to reap the benefits a stand-up desk offers, stick with a motorized option. These lift and lower at the press of a button in just seconds. This makes transitioning between sitting or standing effortless and fast. You can get back to work quickly and comfortably.

These desks work off an electric motor. Some desks come with two monitors - one per leg. This offers even more efficiency and power. And, the more premium standing desks you'll come across may even have technology built in to help you know when to sit and stand!

These desks are certainly the most expensive option of the three, but you get what you pay for. This is an investment in your well-being and productivity that will surely pay off. And considering you can write off this type of office equipment on your taxes at the end of the year, why not go with the best? Let's explain how exactly a standing works now.

So, How Does A Motorized Standing Desk Work?

Wondering how a motorized standing desk works? We just briefly touched on it - usually, these motorized desks are powered by an electric motor. In the case of the EverDesk+, for example, there are dual motors - one per leg. At the touch of the button, the electric motors activate to raise or lower the surface of the desk.

These desks work fast, moving at a rate of 4.5cm/second! That means you can alternate between sitting and standing fast. And, they also work whisper quiet. At under 50dB, you'll barely hear the desk moving. This is great if you're considering buying standing desks for your workforce - you won't have to worry about annoying sounds distracting your employees.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Standing Desk

Now that you know how a stand-up desk works, let's quickly discuss how to get the most out of yours. If you're new to this style of height-adjustable desks, trust us when we say it's going to take some getting used to! But eventually, you'll become more comfortable working while you stand at your desk job. At that point, you'll start to reap all the benefits stand-up desks have to offer.

The toughest part about adjusting to your new desk is going to be determining when to sit and stand. Start small. If you get your new desk setup and try and stand the full 8 hours right away, you'll end up sore, unproductive, and wondering what you got yourself into.

Instead, spend the first week or two standing no more than 2-3 hours a day. You can start to add more standing time as you acclimate. Don't stand at the risk of compromising productivity - if you feel that you need to sit, sit! The EverDesk+ actually comes with a built-in health coach that gently nudges you when you should sit or stand, making this simple.

Other things you can do to help you acclimate and get the most out of your stand-up desk include investing in an anti-fatigue mat. Standing on this will not only protect your carpet from the wear and tear of standing on it. These also keep your feet comfortable so you can stand longer.

And, remember to set your presets at the correct height. Whether you're sitting or standing, your computer screen should be right about eye level. If you have to look up or down, you're going to develop neck pain. If you want to learn more about how to use a standing desk, read our complete guide.

Final Thoughts On How Standing Desk Works

Now that you have an in-depth understanding of how exactly standing desks work, it's time to start shopping for yours. These types of desks - particularly, motorized standup desks - offer all sorts of health and productivity benefits. This makes them a great investment for your home office or your own workforce. And when it comes time to pull the trigger on buying your desk, we know just the place to start.

Get The Stand-Up Desk You Deserve At EverDesk+!

At EverDesk+, you'll find the best selection of adjustable stand-up desks in Singapore and throughout the world. We have two styles depending on your budget and the type of features you'd like. Whichever you go with, you can rest assured you're getting the best quality for the money.

With a 4.7-star rating across more than 400 verified reviews, you don't have to take our word for it, either. We even back up your purchase with a 10-year warranty! So, head over to the site and learn more about what makes the EverDesk+ lineup so special. You won't regret it!