Let’s face it we’re just not evolved to sit still all day. Remaining active boosts blood flow, and productivity. And the ability to change position helps prevent back pain.
Work from home is the new normal and if you are working from home, you need a good workspace setup that preserves your health and improves your productivity.
If you are looking to buy a desk in Australia then one that you can both sit and stand at is definitely worthwhile so in this article, I’ve put together a list that will help you choose the best sit-stand desk to buy in Australia. I’ve evaluated each desk’s performance over a number of factors including:
- Quality
- Price
- Comfort
- Design
Towards the end of this article I will go into the full details behind my judgments, but next allow me to unveil my #1 choice, and my other top picks.
1. UpDown Pro Desk.
Overall the Best stand-up desk in Australia.
The UpDown Pro Desk takes first place in my list of the best Australian stand-up desks, the UpDown Pro offers the widest range of options to choose from in a reasonably priced package.
Pros
This desk has excellent build quality and many desktop options, these include Messmate, Victorian Ash, Bamboo, and a hard-wearing Melamine board. The Messmate is the most attractive option in my opinion, the Victorian Ash and Acacia are also very attractive options.
Messmate (also known as “Wormy” or “Stringybark”) is a native Australian eucalypt mostly found in the south east of Australia. It is a hard wearing and dense hardwood, with a natural highlights and a lovely grain.
The free 30-day trial offered on all of the UpDown Pro series electric desks adds yet another strong reason to add them to the top of your wish list. The long trial period will help you experience and understand the desk with complete peace of mind and if you wish to return the desk, the company will pay for the shipping cost too.
The best thing about the UpDown Pro Desk is however the wide range of options that will help you to personalise the desk according to your wishes. Choose your favourite castor wheels, handy lockable drawers, monitor arms and power rails to build a convenient, stylish and structured workspace that matches your taste. The desk will remain rock-solid even at the tallest heights.
The UpDown Pro standing desk is also backed up by a 10-year Australian warranty for the frame and electrical components.
Cons
While the wide range of customisable options available makes up for an unbeatable stand-up desk tailored to your needs, it is quite easy to end up spending more than your original budget if you choose the most stunning hardwood desktop and then go about adding many of the options such as:
Another cost related gripe is that cable management holes are optional, to kit out your desk with this you would need to pay more for a set of grommets, UpDown are happy to drill the holes for you however be aware that this will void your 30-day trial on the desktop.
The Verdict
The UpDown Pro is my overall pick for the best standing-up desk in Australia. If you're looking for a standing desk that breathes sophistication, quality, and charm, this model should be at your top list. If you love solid hardwood furniture then select one of the hardwood desktop choices for your UpDown Pro desk and you will not regret it. Not only is the hardwood great to touch and beautiful, also at 27mm it’s 2mm thicker than the other finishes, this boosts the high quality, rock-solid feel.
Key Specifications
- 150 Kg Load capacity
- 150 cm (W) x 75 cm (D) work area
- Height extension between 64cm and 129cm
Cost
There are so many options and you use the UpDown 3D Desk Designer to specify and look at your perfect desk and see an instant price, but as a ballpark the UpDown pro desks are start at $879 with a Melamine desktop and can cost more than $2,000 once you choose hardwood and several optional extras. It's not cheap, but you 100% get what you pay for.
2. Movi Desk Converter
Best converter for an existing desk
Let's be clear, a converter for an existing desk is not normally the 'ideal' solution, they all have a lower weight limit, you are likely to lose some of the surface area of your existing desk and you live with things falling between the two surfaces.
The Movi height-adjustable desk converter is my pick of desk converters, the spacious (for a converter) 115cm x 70cm work area and electric motor are just a few of the best things about the Movi’s height-adjustable desk converter to choose from.
The Movi arrives at your doorstep fully assembled with a 2-year warranty for all the parts. There are Lite and Pro models to choose from with the Pro containing features such as two USB charging points and one-button memory recall.
The Movi stand up desk converter moves pretty quickly at 3 centimetres per second, but it is essential to remember that this desk converter has a weight limit of 15 kg and if you have multiple large monitors or other heavy peripherals in your work from home setup to get your work done then any desk converter might not be the best option for you.
Overall
Pros
- Comes assembled
- Low cost (compared to a full stand up desk)
- 2019 Good Design Australia award winner
Cons
- 15 kg weight rating
- 115cm x 70cm workspace area (although good for a converter)
Other specifications
- Up to 44cm height above your existing desk
Cost
It's best to check the current price on Movi's website.
3. Artiss Standing Desk
The Best Budget stand-up desk.
This Artiss sit-stand desk is the second on my list as it is a great desk at a relatively low price.
Pros
The Desk includes all the essential features as standard like cable management holes complete with grommets and combines this with a minimalist and modern design. So when you order the Artiss you just have to make two decisions...
First: Regarding the colour of your desk’s desktop and frame. The Artiss stand-up desk comes in four desktop colour choices, they are all at the same price point, the choices are White, Black, Natural Oak and Walnut. The Natural Oak seems to be only listed on the manufacturers website, where all the desks are more expensive than they are from the resellers. My choice would be the Walnut, of course it depends on your office space.
Second: There are two sizes of desk options available to choose from, one of 120cm and the other of 140 cm. I suggest you take the larger one unless there’s a huge space constraint in your room.
As the Artiss stand up desk is cheaper, I was worried that its controls would look and feel cheap too, however I was able to try this model out at my friends house in between lock downs and the control module has a sleek design while the height adjustment buttons have a nice, tactile feel.
Cons
While the overall look of the sit-stand desk doesn’t look inexpensive, it cannot be mistaken for a high-end desk like the UpDown Pro Series.
The Artiss is bang on for it's price point, more of an Ikea feel with the desktop being based on particleboard, the desk is well-designed, very functional and has some charm rather than unmistakably high-end.
The Artiss is the one for you if you wish to stick to a budget. If you are looking for a beautiful and unmistakably high-end product the UpDown pro is the best stand-up desk that will go the distance and take your home working space to a new level.
Overall
Pros
- Sturdy
- Inexpensive
- Stylish controls
Cons
- Load Capacity limit of 100 kg - vs the UpDown Pro's 150kg limit
- Not a top of the range piece for a luxury home
Other Specifications
- 100Kg load capacity
- Height can be extended from 69cm to 118cm
- 140 cm x 70 cm or 120 cm x 60 cm workspace area
Cost
The Artiss Stand-up desk is well priced at time of writing between $600 to $700, as mentioned before it is priced higher on the manufacturer's site, however you can compare the best deals here.
4. Desky Dual Stand Up Desk
Best for the largest workspace
Desky’s adjustable standing desk is a stylish stand-up desk available in various sizes and colours, most people would be fine with the medium size of 150cm x 750cm, however the large at 180cm x 70cm perfectly suits professionals in search of a very wide adjustable height desk.
The Desky Dual Scalloped Sit Stand Desk has 4 programmable pre-sets which allow you to save your frequently used height settings and in addition to that, the huge 140 kg load capacity will easily help you set up your multiple monitors, cameras, and laptops together for easy and efficient work time. Lifting heights have been designed to provide a seated and standing height range that is ergonomically suited for 95% of all users.
The 10-year warranty on all parts of the desk promises you peace of mind along with an easy return policy that also allows you to try out and return the product within a week from the date of purchase.
The scallop carved from the rear of the desk allows cables to freely run down the back making it easy to place your desk directly against the wall.
Overall
Pros
- Large working area
- Cable management system included
- Scalloped design allows placement against a wall or another desk
- Available in Small, Medium and Large.
Cons
- More expensive than many of the other options here
Specifications
- Height can be extended between 60cm and 125cm
- Lifting capacity of 140kg
5. Vari Standing Desk
Best standing desk for taller people
The Vari Desk may not do anything that other desks can’t and it won't win any design awards either, however it has one distinct quality - boasting the best-in-class height of 128 cm, making it fit perfectly for taller people.
Similar to my #2 desk the Artiss, if you would like a good desk on a budget and you are unusually tall then Vari is the one for you. The Vari has all the specifications and features that Artiss has, however it cost about $300 more so unless you are over 6ft then if your on a budget you can stick to the Artiss.
The Vari does has one other boast - their patent-pending legs are much easier to attach and they claim the entire desk assembles in ten minutes or less.
Overall
Pros
- Tallest desk available on the market
- Can be assembled in under ten minutes
Cons
- Not a very stylish design
Specifications
- Load capacity of 99.8 kg
- 122cm x 76cm workspace area
- Height extension between 63.5 cm and 128 cm
6. BEKANT Sit Stand Desk
Best Super Cheap Standing Desk
Let's be clear, you get what you pay for, the aesthetic style of the BEKANT sit-stand desk is simple and it should not be too offensive in a budget work from home setup. The table top is made up of Particleboard, Melamine foil and Plastic edging and the cable management system mostly consists of steel and rubber.
The sit-stand desk also comes with an adjustable height of 65cm to 125 cm. The BEKANT desk is functional and it can helps you feel and work better which is why I have included it on this list, if you need to buy a standing desk and price is your only consideration then get at it.
I actually have one of these, it is a bit wobbly and researching other desks inspired me to write this article.
Overall
Pros
- Cheap and still ergonomic!
- If you need a large desktop workspace can pay extra $70.
Cons
- Stability issues
- Low weight capacity
- No height pre-set buttons.
- Only available in white, or black for extra $30.
Specifications
- 69 kg load capacity
- Height can be extended from 65 cm to 125 cm
- 120cm x 80cm workspace area (or 160cm x 80cm for an additional $70)
7. IDASEN Sit Stand Desk
Best IKEA standing desk
Another IKEA offering the IDASEN is definitely step up in looks and functionality, the desktop is still made of particleboard like the IDASEN and like my budget pick the Artiss.
The IDASEN does have one advantage over the Artiss, that is the height it can go to, going up to 128cm, this is a fair bit more than the 118cm of the Artiss so it would be better for very tall people, however then I would prefer the Vari Desk for the better build quality.
The IDASEN has a mobile phone app rather than dedicated pre-set buttons that all the non Ikea offerings here have to set the height, this is not a feature it is a gimmick, I do not want to find my phone to set the desk height, I'll just end up using the manual height adjustment.
It worth noting two more comparisons between the IDASEN and the Artiss now, the price and the load capacity, the Artiss wins on both of these:
- Price: $150 cheaper at the time of writing
- Load bearing: 30kg more.
This is why the IDASEN is at the bottom of my list, note that with the price comparison I am comparing the larger 140cm wide desktop option of the Artiss.
Overall
Pros
- Large 160cm wide workspace
Cons
- Low weight capacity
- Price vs the Artiss
- No height pre-set buttons.
Specifications
- 70kg load capacity
- Height can be extended from 63 cm to 127 cm
- 160cm x 80cm workspace area
Should You Buy A Standing Desk?
If there is one positive of COVID-19 it will be the long term increased flexibility or option to work from home more frequently if you wish to.
When you first start working from home, you may be working on your laptop on your couch or kitchen bench. This can come with a cost, bad posture will lead to spinal problems, including neck and back pain.
Research shows that sitting for long periods of time damages your health, some studies link it to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
Using a standing desk can have many long term benefits, many people even set one near their treadmill and exercise while attending meetings, I have a number of people tweeting about walking while writing code and I plan to do the same with my new desk after moving house, I just need to choose that treadmill too!
Types Of Standing Desks
Any of "sit stand desk", "standing desk", "stand up desk", "standing table" and "stand up sit down desk" are often used to describe any of the distinct types of standing desks that are available in Australia, the three main categories are:
- Fixed Height Standing Desks
- Dedicated Standing Desks
- Sit-Stand Desk Converters.
I have ignored Fixed Height Standing Desks for this guide as most home offices will not have the space for a dedicated stand-only desk, it's not something you would normally see in a home as someone will surely want to sit down at the desk sometimes!
As I mentioned earlier you will generally get the best result with a dedicated standing desk, however the converters have their uses.
Dedicated Standing Desks can also be subdivided into those that are manually adjusted by a lever or electronically adjustable standing desks, I have only listed electronically adjustable ones in this article - if you have a bad back you do not want to be bending under the desk to manually adjust it and the manually adjusted ones tend to be less smooth, nobody wants expensive computers and monitors falling off when adjusting.
Accessories for standing desks
While an adjustable standing up desk is the starting point, it’s useful to remember your home office upgrade may not be complete unless you consider some of the following options...
- Cable management system
- 'Power bars' with power sockets and USB ports for charging phones
- Fitted Speakers
- Draws or other storage
- Chairs or stools
A few of these accessories come as standard with some desks, but for others they do not and are optional extras.
What I looked for in Stand-Up Desks
Some people value practicality, even when ugly while others put design first at the expense of all else. I would think the majority people would not like to trade of too much practicality for design and I would argue that strong fit for purpose is indicative of good overall design.
For my stand-up desk analysis, I considered the following as key criteria:
- Practicality (useful space, cable management and build quality)
- Aesthetics
- Value for Money
These aspects are not in an order, rather I picked winners from different angles at different price points.
Should You Trust My Review?
Around a year ago, I decided to get an adjustable standing desk to give me the option of working from a standing position.
The problem was that the Australian market had so many electrically adjustable standing desks available and I didn't have the time to research, so I just went to IKEA and picked up something cheap, so I ended with the BEKANT. My wife hates it and says it is not moving with us to our new house! So recently I started researching something better.
All the existing desk reviews and guides of best standing desks I found were lacking in detail, nearly all of them just repeat the specifications you can easily find on the websites that sell the desks, worse many of them even get the specs wrong.
I decided to invest a chunk of my time in research, this research took a lot more time than I first expected, more than two weeks of evenings, I got thinking that I will save others time by sharing my research.
My main goal is to share with you my thinking and results around choosing the best stand up desk available in Australia, however for full disclosure some of the links in this article are 'affiliate links', this means I may get paid a small commission if you buy a desk that I recommend. My choices are not driven by financial incentives, however if the commissions do end up making the time writing and publishing worthwhile then I will invest more time in other genuinely useful articles (at no cost to readers).
The good thing for you if you do make use of the links belows is that all of the top five desks offer delivery so whether you are looking for a sit stand desk for your Melbourne home or anywhere in Australia then you should be good.
The Best Standing Desks In Australia
- Up Down Pro – The Best overall standing desk in Australia
- Movi Pro – Best sit-stand desk converter in Australia
- Artiss – Best value standing desk
- Desky Dual – Best desk for a large workspace
- Vari Desk – Best standing desk for taller people
- IKEA BEKANT Sit Stand Desk - Best if need to go super cheap
- IKEA IDASEN Sit Stand Desk - Best IKEA standing desk
I would love to hear from you if you find this research useful, please use the comments below to let me know whether you agree with my findings or if you have further questions.
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