Last updated: April 22nd, 2024
Standing desks have emerged as a popular alternative to sitting all day, boasting a range of health benefits. Like most office equipment, they must meet quality and safety standards to maximise their benefits and prevent any unintended consequences.
$46 billion of office furniture is sold in the USA alone each year – and only 40% of it is ANSI/BIFMA certified.
- The remaining 60% of fixed-height or adjustable desks, filing cabinets, and chairs do not meet the ANS/BIFMA standards.
- These are usually sold through retail and online outlets like IKEA and Amazon. They’re much cheaper but offer less assurance of durability and safety.
(Related: What Are The Benefits Of Standing Desks?)
What Are ANSI Standards?
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organisation that creates frameworks and best practices for technology standards in the United States.
ANSI safety standards provide guidelines and requirements for products to ensure that they’re:
| Safe. | The company makes a reasonable effort to minimise accidents and injuries. |
| Reliable. | The company makes a reasonable effort to maximise longevity and minimise the need for repairs. |
Committees of experts develop the standards, handpicked from industry, government and academia.
What Are BIFMA Standards?
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) is an independent organisation with official accreditation from the ANSI.
It has established itself as a leader in developing standards for modern office furniture.
- BIFMA safety standards cover standing desks, office chairs, tables, and storage units.
These standards include testing protocols for product safety, stability, durability, and strength. They also address ergonomic considerations, such as adjustability and user comfort.
Important!
BIFMA also develops sustainability standards for furniture products. These address environmental considerations, such as using recycled materials and reducing waste during production.
Do ANSI & BIFMA Standards Apply To Standing Desks?
Yes. A BIFMA certification is a quick and easy way to tell if your standing desk has been designed with safety and health in mind.
Above: ANSI/BIFMA X5.5, which applies directly to standing desks. Download here.
In 2021, BIFMA published its updated version of the ANSI/BIFMA X5.5 standard to include standing and adjustable desks:
- BIFMA describes testing methods that require adjusting the load-bearing test to accommodate standing desk models.
- The result is a more reliable strength test for desks with a height of 38″ and above.
Is Furniture Without ANSI & BIFMA Compliance Illegal?
No. Legally, office products without BIFMA compliance can be sold to consumers. Likewise, employers aren’t under any legal obligation to purchase BIFMA products.
However, obtaining office furniture with BIFMA certification means:
- A product has gone through rigorous testing performed by a BIFMA-approved lab.
- The manufacturer cares about quality, comfort, and durability.
- The product adheres to industry standards and meets modern workers’ needs.
Office furniture can demand significant capital investment, with some ergonomic chairs costing over $1000.
We advise businesses to think of ANSI & BIFMA standards as proxy indicators of quality and safety, which translates to tangible business ROI by:
- Reducing the chances of employee injury.
- Reducing the risk of workers’ compensation claims for workplace-related injuries
- Increasing productivity and morale of the workforce.
As more businesses develop employee well-being programs, replacing old office furniture with BIFMA-compliant products becomes a measurable goal.
(Related: Are Standing Desks Worth It?)
Frequently Asked Questions About ANSI & BIFMA Standards.
Business owners, managers and professionals who purchase office equipment for their home offices ask us the following questions.
Do ANSI & BIFMA Standards Apply To Office Furniture Sold In Australia?
Office furniture sold in Australia may carry an ANSI/BIFMA certification mark, although the standards are designed for the US market. The closest Austalian equivalent standards are:
- AS/NZS 4442:1997 – Office desks.
- AS/NZS 4438:1997 – Height adjustable swivel chairs.
How Can I Tell If A Standing Desk Meets ANSI And BIFMA Standards?
Look for a label or certification mark from ANSI or BIFMA on the desk or its packaging.
What Is The Difference Between ANSI And BIFMA Standards?
- ANSI covers a wide range of industries (including office furniture), overseeing and monitoring the process of safety standards.
- BIFMA is dedicated to the furniture industry and develops technical safety requirements.
Where Can I Find Additional Information About The Standards?
ANS and BIFMA standards are available in these documents:
| BIFMA X6.5-2022 | A document focusing on furniture products used in small businesses and home offices. This standard looks at stability, leg strength, and more. |
| G1-2013 | A set of ergonomic guidelines which include recommendations for designing office products that support health and productivity. |
Office furniture manufacturers can also refer to BIFMA standards when choosing materials:
| ANSI/BIFMA e3-2019 | A standard that establishes best practices for using sustainable materials in office furniture. |
| ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2011 | Addresses formaldehyde and TVOC emissions from furniture, while the accompanying standard M7.1-2011 sets best practices for measuring TVOC emissions. |
| 8.1 Standard | A document that would create best practices for using materials that can withstand cleaning and sanitising. |
How Are The Standards Developed And Tested?
The independent lab that performs BIFMA testing on standing desks will set up a custom experiment.
There are approximately 50 tests the item can undergo, but it only needs to meet standards in a designated category.
Some of these tests include:
- Stability under vertical load test.
- Horizontal stability test for desks/tables with casters.
- Force stability test for tall desk/table products.
- Concentrated functional load test.
- Leg strength test.
- Work surface vertical adjustment test.
- Keyboard support and input device support adjustment tests.
- Durability test for desks and tables with casters.
- Pull force test.
The lab will:
- Test the product thousands of times over weeks.
- Utilise robotic sensors to simulate a user adjusting the desk repeatedly.
- Attempt to tip, break, or overwork the motors in the desk to gauge its limits.
Are There Any Gaps In ANSI/BIFMA Safety Standards?
Like any safety standards, ANSI/BIFMA standards cannot cover every possible safety issue or hazard from furniture products.
Important!
There may also be gaps in coverage for certain types of products for user populations, for example, employees with disabilities.
Are Treadmill Desks Covered By ANSI & BIFMA?
Yes. Treadmill desks combine a sit-stand desk and a treadmill, allowing users to walk while they work. However, standalone under-desk treadmills are not covered.
Important!
While the health benefits of these desks are not yet clear, ANSI & BIFMA standards apply to them too.
What Are The Levels Of BIFMA Certification?
When tested, the desks are awarded points in four categories: materials, energy and atmosphere, human and ecosystem health, and social responsibility.
Based on the number of points awarded, BIFMA offers three levels of rating:
| Level 1 | The first tier of certified performance. |
| Level 2 | Certifies that additional levels of performance have been achieved. |
| Level 3 | The highest level that can be awarded. |
Final Word On ANSI & BIFMA Standards For Standing Desks.
There is a growing awareness that sedentary lifestyles can lead to poor health outcomes.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine showcased that sitting for just four hours per day can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 125%.
With that in mind, office workers are open to embracing alternatives to the traditional cubicle. Standing desks are a welcome addition to offices, as they:
- Encourage workers to stay active throughout the day.
- Engage leg and core muscles for more excellent lower body stability.
- Can Reduce one’s risk of developing obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
ANSI & BIFMA standards create a uniform benchmark of excellence for standing desk manufacturers committed to providing consumers with best-in-class standing desks.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven