15 Best Standing Desks In Australia For 2024 [Controversial]

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This is controversial, but it will help you choose the best standing desk. Let’s face it, most reviews are full of BS. They are either fake or incentivised.

The reviewers don’t tell you that their recommendations are determined by the commission they get from the manufacturer.

The higher the commission, the more glowing the endorsement.

Worse, most reviewers have never even seen the desks in person. They’ve simply scraped their “best standing desk reviews” from the Internet using ChatGPT.

I’m here to fix all that:

With that in mind, I present you with the best standing desks in Australia. Drum roll, please.

* Indicates that I have a commercial relationship with the brand. I will receive a commission if you buy that desk through links on this page. ^ Indicates that I have personally assembled and tested the standing desk in my home office.

Before I unpack each desk in detail, here are my controversial discoveries that standing desk manufacturers don’t want you to know:

1. UpDown Pro.

Best overall premium standing desk in Australia.

Above: Gorgeous hardwood desktops are just the beginning. The UpDown Pro standing desk with New Messmate desktop, plus a few accessories.

The UpDown Pro Standing Desk continues to hold the title of Australia’s best standing desk in my books – because it offers the most heavy-duty frame, a 100-day money-back guarantee and a huge selection of desktops.

It’s the last electric standing desk you’ll ever need to buy.

Pros.

This standing desk is available in 16 desktop options, including budget-friendly Bamboo, hard-wearing Melamine and premium hardwood Messmate, Rubberwood and Acacia.

Sourced in southeast Australia, it has a stunning, dramatic grain pattern and is available in recycled or freshly cut options.

Not only is a hardwood desktop beautiful to the eye and feels nice to touch, but at 27mm, it’s 2mm thicker than the competition, which amplifies the desk’s rock-solid, quality feel.

Above: The UpDown Pro sit-stand desk is optioned with a lockable metal drawer (must-have accessory), standing mat and a power rail. The cable management spine is from Bradteck.

While hardwood is excellent for creating stunning (but expensive) home offices, budget office fitouts require a more pragmatic approach.

(Related: UpDown Pro Full Review: Still The Best Standing Desk?)

This is where UpDown’s Bamboo and Melamine desktop options become your best friend. Inexpensive and hard-wearing, they’re excellent for keeping the price closer to $1,000.

But the best feature of the UpDown Pro stand-up desk is its bulletproof feel. The 41 kg steel frame feels ridiculously strong and looks satisfyingly chunky.

It’s the meatiest standing desk frame in Australia today, and the company doesn’t use the same supplier (Jiecang) as most brands that tied for second place.

For contrast, Desky’s frame is 36kg and Omnidesk’s is 37.5kg. The budget Artiss, below, is about 25kg. Some Chinese knockoffs selling on Amazon are as light as 19kg.

The powder coating layer is more matt than the competitors’, which I like. Shiny finishes scream “cheap” – at least to me.

Above: A must-have accessory, UpDown’s lockable box is stylish, solid and practical. You can stash some books or papers in the slot above it.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that you could drop this sit-stand desk from the 3rd storey window, and it would stay intact.

At the risk of sounding older than I am, I’ll say that the UpDown Pro’s build quality reminds me of “the good old times” – before cheap, semi-disposable furniture flooded the Australian market.

Dual motors are standard, as are all other features you’d expect to see in a premium standing desk:

Customer reviews regularly praise the company for its friendly service, fast shipping, and responsive customer support.

Above: The 150 x 75 cm desktop provides ample space for all your hardware, accessories, and stationery.

If you’re like me, you’ll want to personalise your workspace. UpDown doesn’t disappoint you with a comprehensive range of standing desk accessories.

Like all other premium standing desk companies, it offers a huge selection of castor wheels, monitor arms, lockable drawers and power rails to build an ergonomic, stylish home office to your exact spec.

Last but not least, the 100-day money back period is great if you’re on the fence. The company will accept the desk even if you’ve assembled it. However, you will have to pay for shipping both ways (see ‘Cons’ below).

Cons.

I have very little to complain about.

When I wrote this review, UpDown didn’t offer pre-drilled holes in the desktop and had an inferior cable tray.

As we approach the end of 2024, the company has fixed both issues; all desktops come with threaded inserts and a hinged, long cable tray.

If I had to get very, very picky, I’d point out that three desktop widths (120, 150, and 180cm) are available, but only one depth (75cm).

If you live in an inner-city apartment, your spare room may not be able to accommodate such a deep desktop; double-check to ensure you have enough space.

Also, UpDown has also recently made its 100-day guarantee conditions more stingy.

Previously, the company would cover shipping both ways, whereas now you’ll need to pay two lots of $49.90 to cover shipping in both directions.

Oh, and UpDown’s controller design is starting to show its age. It’s not dated yet, but is outgunned by Desky and Omnidesk, who have recently upgraded their controller designs.

Above: The UpDown controller offers electric height adjustment with 4 memory presets and pleasantly tactile buttons. The design is competent – but not outstanding.

Finally, the desk’s height range is 61.5-127cm, smack bang in the middle of what competitors offer. This will cover 95% of the population. However:

The table below illustrates my point nicely:

Standing Desk	Minimum Height (cm)	Maximum Height (cm)
UpDown Pro	61.5	127
Desky Dual	60	125
Omnidesk Ascent	60	125
Flexispot E7-Pro	63.5	128.5
Recess	65	130
Vari	63.5	128
Stand Desk	64	127
Artiss Dual Motor	70	120
Stilford Lectern	75	115
Moov Desk Loaded	60	126

Above: UpDown in standing position. Note the chunky frame and the stylish hardwood desktop.

UpDown’s cable management systems are very good, but not outstanding.

The company sells a clamp-on power rail ($169) with 2 X 240v, 1 X USB-A and 1 X USB-C plugs. It does a good job, but if you want fast access to more power outlets, consider a Desky (below).

Its integrated under-desk cable management system is hard to beat.

Verdict.

How Does The UpDown Pro Stack Up?	Score
Price	5/5
Build Quality	5/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Cable Management	4/5
Ease of Assembly	5/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	5/5
OVERALL	4.7/5

We are rapidly approaching Christmas of 2024, and the UpDown Pro Series is still my #1 best sit-stand desk in Australia. This desk is for people who want the highest quality and are willing to pay for it.

If you have the budget and enjoy solid hardwood furniture, choose a hardwood Messmite or Victorian Ash desktop – you won’t regret it.

Above: the New Messmate hardwood desktop is particularly pretty in the morning sun.

What’s The Cost Of The UpDown Pro?

The UpDown Pro series is priced on par with other premium standing desks on the market.

As a guide, prices start at $900 for a desk with a Melamine desktop. Expect to pay about $1,100 by the time you add a standing mat and a drawer – both of which I highly recommend.

You’ll pay between $1,500 and $2,000 for a fully-featured hardwood desktop model.

2. Desky Dual, Stand Desk, Omnidesk Ascent [Tie].

Best premium alternatives to UpDown Pro.

Above: Desky Dual with a bamboo desktop. It’s a very handsome desk, and I love the darkened accents on the rear edge.

These desks tied in the second spot because they’re almost identical.

Don’t believe me?

You may be surprised to learn that many standing desk brands share components.

This is why I recommend that you don’t overthink your decision. The differences are mainly in branding, desktop choices, colour choices and inclusions.

Pros.

Stand Desk is the only company in this review to offer a genuine 100-day risk-free trial. It covers the cost of the desk, plus shipping both ways.

Omnidesk is second best, as it won’t cover original shipping costs nor pickup outside of Sydney and Melbourne metro areas.

(Related: Omnidesk Ascent Full Review: Worth $1,000?)

The company technically allows you to return the standing desk within 7 days of delivery, but you’ll have to pay for return shipping.

Above: Stand Desk’s Birch Plywood desktop. It’s a unique look that is exclusive to this brand.

This will not be a cheap exercise, as you’ll be sending a freight courier to a residential location.

Leg colour and shape are the other nuances that you may want to know about:

I’m a big fan of the look, as it makes the desk look more like an elegant piece of furniture and less like an industrial-grade appliance – without reducing the desk’s stability.

Above: An Omnidesk Ascent with a smart-looking black MDF desktop. A slight curve in the leg columns and a different controller design are two things that differentiate it from an equivalent Desky or Stand Desk.

Desky and Omnidesk, like UpDown, offer ergo edge desktops, in which the front side has a chunk removed.

Stand Desk is the only brand in this trio that doesn’t allow you to view your desk in person before purchase (but remember – it has the most generous 100-day trial policy). Desky leads the pack with 15 stockists or showrooms across NSW, QLD, WA and Victoria.

Omnidesk, meanwhile, has a single location in Melbourne.

(Related: Stand Desk Full Review: Better Than UpDown Desk?)

All three companies, like UpDown, ship their standing desks from Australian warehouses.

While international shipping is mostly reliable, if something goes wrong, I’d rather you deal with local Australian customer support in an Australian timezone.

All three brands are established, with a strong track record of retail sales in Australia and overseas.

This doesn’t mean they are 100% insolvency-proof (as we’ve seen with the recent collapse of Zen Space Desks in Australia), but it does mitigate some risk for you as a consumer.

Buying from a younger startup means you may have nowhere to turn for warranty claims or customer support questions.

The rest of the differences are minor and almost not worth mentioning.

If you’re not careful, you’ll spend weeks agonising over tiny, but ultimately not very consequential, details. For example:

Above: Desky offers scallops and single power grommets (left), while Omnidesk offers pre-cut cable holes and 3-socket retractable power risers (right).

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point.

If you want to go against my advice and geek out over nuances, below is a table that compares the most important differences among all desks in this review.

	100-Day Trial	Wireless Charger	Hardwood Desktops	Ergo Edge Desktops	Australian Warehouse?	Australian Showroom?
UpDown Pro	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Desky Dual	No	Optional	Yes	Yes	Yes	QLD, NSW, WA, VIC
Omnidesk Ascent	Yes	Optional	Yes	Yes	Yes	VIC
Flexispot E7-Pro	No	No	No	No	No	No
Recess	No	No	No	No	Yes	NSW
Vari	No	No	No	No	No	No
Stand Desk	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Artiss Dual Motor	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Stilford Lectern	No	No	No	No	Yes	Any Officeworks
Moov Desk Loaded	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	VIC
Steelcase Migration SE Pro	No	No	No	No	Yes	NSW

By the way, Desky is the only brand that allows you to run up to 10X 240v power sockets directly under the desk. This is possible using a nifty power board that the company sells for $138 (4 sockets) – $288 (10 sockets).

This will appeal to owners of elaborate multi-device workstations who always seem to be one power socket short.

Above: Desky’s unique powerboards. Here, you see my 4-socket variant.

Cons.

Omnidesk’s customer service appears to be hit-and-miss.

I noticed customers on Productreview.com.au complaining about delayed deliveries, items shipped separately and anemic customer support, which almost led me to demote the desk to the bottom of the review.

Admittedly, most of those complaints date back 1-2 years.

Moreover, Omnidesk’s Facebook page appears to be full of happy customers, and none mention delivery issues.

Omnidesk’s assembly instructions are the least user-friendly, while Desky’s are the best, with Stand Desk somewhere in the middle.

It’s a fairly minor point that shouldn’t affect your buying decision, as you’ll (hopefully) only need to assemble your standing desk once.

Stand Desk and Omnidesk trail Desky when it comes to the range of desktop materials.

The former companies offer 1 and 6 hardwoods, respectively, plus a handful of MDF and bamboo alternatives. The latter, meanwhile, offers over 17 bamboo, melamine, and hardwood options.

Verdict.

How Do The Desky, Omnidesk and Stand Desk Stack Up?	Score
Price	5
Build Quality	4.5
Aesthetics	5
Cable Management	5
Ease of Assembly	5
Extra Features	4.5
Warranties & Returns	4
OVERALL	4.7/5

All of these brands offer excellent standing desks.

Even though the UpDown Pro edges them out slightly, it does so only because of its more meaty frame and verifiable 4.9-star customer support.

But as I keep reiterating, these differences are minimal.

The extra 5 kg in UpDown’s frame, although theoretically nice, doesn’t translate to any meaningful difference from a usability perspective.

All of the premium desks (that is, desks in positions #1 and #2) are equally sturdy and wobble very little.

If you want to get very, very picky, Desky, Stand Desk and Omnidesk have better front-to-back stability while UpDown desk is more stable side-to-side.

What’s The Cost Of The Desky, Stand Desk And Omnidesk?

As with the UpDown Pro, expect to pay about $1100 for a desk with a 150-75cm softwood desktop. Hardwood options will push the price into the $1,500-$2,000 territory.

3. Artiss Standing Desk.

Best if your budget is between $260 and $330.

Above: Cute and compact, the Artiss sit-stand desk is in the lowered position.

The Artiss is my third-best standing desk in Australia because it offers a lot of value for a small price.

I had one of these desks in my home office for almost two years until I upgraded to the UpDown Pro series (mostly because I wanted a desk made from hardwood), and I had very few complaints about it.

(Related: Artiss Desk Tested: Best Budget Standing Desk?)

Artiss sells two models of this standing desk. One of them is better than the other:

Pros.

Let’s start with simplicity. When ordering your Artiss standing desk, you only have two decisions: desktop colour and leg colour.

There’s also a choice of 120 cm and 140 cm desktop sizes, but I recommend that you automatically default to the larger 140cm size to maximise your desk space.

Above: Artiss’ fuss-free approach is evident here. No cable management channel and no under-desk drawers are available. Also, note the single metal cross-member. All other desks in this review have two.

This lack of complex options translates to a low price.

Because the Artiss is one of the cheapest standing desks in Australia, I was worried that its electric height adjustment controller would look and feel like a children’s toy.

In fact, the entire desk is surprisingly well-made. Yes, the desktop is not made from real wood, but it feels pretty nice to the touch.

Dual motors for $330 are a nice surprise. I can confirm that the desk moves up and down without issues, smoothly, and at a rapid clip.

And yes, the desk frame is a bit thin on metal (more about this shortly), but the Artiss is surprisingly sturdy – even at the tallest heights.

But the best feature of this desk is its price.

You can have it delivered to your door for between $260-$330, depending on the model. That’s incredible value if all you want is a no-nonsense WFH setup.

Cons.

While the desktop material doesn’t look and feel cheap, you won’t mistake it for bamboo or solid hardwood from a premium manufacturer like UpDown, Omnidesk, Vari or Desky.

Above: Artiss’ desktop is made from a laminate that imitates the look and feel of real wood. As far as imitations go, it’s a very good one.

In my opinion, the desk’s look and feel are spot-on for this price point.

Another thing I don’t love is Artiss‘ 100 kg load capacity.

While this is enough to support a couple of monitors, a computer, and your body parts’ weight, the premium desks beat this figure by over 50%, with their 120-150 kg maximum load rating.

Above: 140cm width is enough to position two laptops side-by-side comfortably, but don’t expect to fit a second person here.

Cable management is not even on Artiss’ radar. You don’t get any cable management channels (and can’t buy one as an option), grommets or pre-cut grooves.

But you do get a packet of cable ties, dear user.

Finally, the desk frame itself.

It’s significantly less significant than the frames of its premium rivals. The Artiss is the only desk here with a single cross-member in its frame, and its legs are clearly made from thinner sheet metal.

I wouldn’t use this desk for carrying heavy-duty loads, but it’s perfectly OK for everyday tasking and emailing.

Artiss’ warranty is also lacklustre.

You get twelve months of coverage compared with 5-10 years from most other brands on this page. You definitely don’t get a 100-day trial, either.

Of course, context is important — you are paying about a quarter of the rivals’ price. Mine lasted for over two years without missing a beat before I sold it.

Last but not least – the Artiss’ max height is one of the lowest of all standing desks in Australia. At 117cm (single motor) or 120cm (dual motor), it will cater to short and regular-sized folks without issues.

People over 195cm, however, will want extra height.

I’m 200cm, and I’ve found that my forearms were always a tad too low.

Verdict.

How Does The Artiss Stack Up?	Score
Price	5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Aesthetics	3/5
Cable Management	2/5
Ease of Assembly	4/5
Extra Features	2/5
Warranties & Returns	2/5
OVERALL	3.1/5

As someone who has used this standing desk for almost 2 years, I know it deserves the #3 spot. It’s also better than budget Ikea options (see below) if your budget is between $260-$330.

If I had to summarise the Artiss in a single phrase, it’d be “outstanding value for money”.

What’s The Cost Of The Artiss Desk?

The Artiss stand-up desk is very well-priced. Expect to pay between $260 and $330 for this bloody bargain.

4. Stilford Lectern.

Most flexible option. Best if you want to keep your fixed-height desk.

Above: You can roll the Stilford Lectern anywhere you want.

I encountered this puppy while casually browsing the standing desks section of my local Officeworks.

Initially expecting to dismiss it as cheap rubbish, I quickly realised how wrong I was.

This is a very impressive little standing desk. So much so that I ended up buying one.

Pros.

Hold on, Steven. This is not a real standing desk, I hear you say.

And you’re right.

But not everyone needs a full-size, electrically adjustable, permanently fixed, 75kg monstrosity that costs $1,500.

You can roll it around, which gives you the flexibility to work from your living room one day and from your balcony the next.

Its tiny footprint means you can stash it away in an unused part of your home when you’re done with it.

Despite its single-pole design, it’s more sturdy than many standing desks I’ve had the (mis)fortune to use.

Above: A handy tray for your stationery is at the rear of the desktop.

It’s definitely not as wobble-free as the Artiss or any of the premium desks above, but even at full extension, the wobbles are acceptable.

All parts feel good to the touch. The frame is made from solid metal – and yes, the desktop is made from particle board.

The quality of the desktop is very similar to that of Artiss. It’s typical mass-produced office value fare – not special, but not offensive either.

The height adjustment is very simple and fully manual, via a little lever at the bottom of the desktop.

The back of the desktop houses a handy tray for storing small booklets, pens and your morning brew.

Cons.

Yes, the Stilford lectern is cheap, but some will say that at $306, it’s overpriced. For context, an Ikea Trotten (below) is $299, while the Artiss (above) starts at $260!

Moreover, both of those are “real” standing desks, with larger desktops and two legs.

That is a valid point, but your decision will depend on your needs. If you need:

Stilford’s biggest downside is ergonomics.

Your laptop’s screen will always be at the same level as your keyboard, which means you’ll always be looking down at your screen while standing.

Above: The Vivo laptop arm raises the screen to eye level, freeing up space on the desktop.

I fixed this issue by buying a $69 Vivo laptop arm from Amazon. However, this bumped the total price up to $375. You’ll also need an external keyboard and mouse. If you don’t already own those, budget another $150-$250.

Is it worth the investment? Only you can decide.

The rest of Stilford’s downsides are, predictably, the opposites of its strengths.

The workspace is not large. It is enough for a laptop, an external keyboard and mouse, a small notepad, a phone, and a few pens, but not much more.

Speaking of laptops, they’re the best use case for this desk. Despite its sturdiness, I wouldn’t place a computer monitor or desktop computer on it.

Above: Placing your laptop directly on the desktop eats up most of the available space. Nonetheless, the desktop is large enough to be useful.

You’ll start rolling it, forget to unplug the cable and watch your expensive electrical equipment tumble to the ground.

Stilford would agree with my recommendation, so it doesn’t offer cable management accessories with the lectern. But you can definitely park it next to a wall power plug to charge your laptop.

Verdict.

How Does Stilford Lectern Stack Up?	Score
Price	5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Aesthetics	3/5
Cable Management	0/5
Ease of Assembly	5/5
Extra Features	2/5
Warranties & Returns	4/5
OVERALL	3.3/5

Very inexpensive and very versatile, the Stilford is the oddball standing desk in this review. In the ocean of same-same products, it offers you the flexibility that no other standing desk can.

5. Steelcase Migration SE Pro.

The most stylish (but expensive) standing desk.

Above: I viewed and photographed the Migration SE Pro in Steelcase’s Sydney retail shop.

The sad reality is that while most standing desks look reasonably smart, none are particularly beautiful.

Migration SE Pro attempts to solve this problem with an upmarket, clean, minimalist design. Think of it as a stylish office desk that also happens to go up and down.

It’s a desk for people who appreciate a great aesthetic but are not sensitive to price. At almost $1900 (plus shipping), the Migration SE Pro is expensive.

Steelcase is a premium brand, and the desk’s design language signals exclusivity. In this context, the high sticker price is not a downside – it’s part of the appeal.

Above: The traditional T-leg design with two-tone round column segments creates a sleek, futuristic look.

The good news is that Migration SE’s build quality aligns with the price.

Commercial-grade pressure laminate desktop with a contrast-coloured chamfered front edge looks striking and feels nice to the touch.

The frame is stable front-to-back and side-to-side, with a 125kg lifting capacity and a speedy 38mm/sec adjustment speed.

Unfortunately, shorter users may find the 65 cm minimum height limiting. If that’s you, a Desky or an Omnidesk, with their 60 cm lowest height setting, may be the best option.

I love the “Flip Top” cable management feature at the rear of the desk, which allows you to run cables straight to the cable management tray without rummaging under your desk.

Above: The “Flip Top” cable management lid at the rear of the desk works very well, but looks untidy when closed.

However, I wish the designers had created cutouts in the lid for cables, as these keep the lid open and take away from the Migration Pro SE’s clean lines.

Two desktop sizes are available, and both are comparatively compact. The 1200x700mm is a tiny desk that will appeal to people short on space.

Meanwhile, the larger 1400x700mm option offers about 20% less desktop space than the “industry standard” 1500x750mm size offered by competitors.

Nonetheless, it will easily accommodate most users, except those who run two large monitors side-by-side.

Is this the right standing desk for you? Well, it depends on your priorities. If you:

Last but not least, Steelcase’s warranty is the best of all desks in this review. You get total peace of mind with 12 years of coverage on electronics and a lifetime warranty on the frame.

Overall.

How Does Steelcase Migration SE Pro Sit-Stand Desk Stack Up?	Score
Price	3/5
Build Quality	4.5/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Cable Management	4.5/5
Ease of Assembly	4/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	5/5
OVERALL	4.3/5

6. MOOV Desk Loaded.

Bespoke standing desk for lovers of fine furniture.

Above: MOOV’s handcrafted designer desktops will definitely turn heads.

The Melbourne-made MOOV bucks the trend by steering away from the mass-produced end of the market and squarely targeting the astute furniture shopper.

But a closer look reveals the logic behind the numbers.

The built-in wooden drawer design gives the desk a striking look, making it stand out in the ocean of “me-too” two-legs-and-a-benchtop designs.

Combine this with gorgeous hardwood desktops (you get a choice of Tassie Oak, Blackwood and my old favourite – Recycled Messmate), and you end up with a standing desk that will elicit a double-take from anyone who enters your home office.

Is that worth almost $3,000 to you?

That’s up to you to decide.

A 30-day trial is available, with Melbournians having the option of a free pickup.

However, interstate customers will need to pay the return postage, which means the trial will cost $660.

Not quite risk-free, is it?

But judging by the appearance of the legs and controller, as well as quoted maximum and minimum height ranges, I’m willing to wager that the company using the ubiquitous Jiecang frames that you’ll find under Deskys, Omnidesks and the like.

It’s a reliable frame with solid electronics, and the manufacturer typically covers it for 7-10 years.

Overall.

How Does MOOV Sit-Stand Desk Stack Up?	Score
Price	3/5
Build Quality	5/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Cable Management	4.5/5
Ease of Assembly	5/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	3/5
OVERALL	4.3/5

7. SecretLab Magnus Pro.

Decent standing desk for gamers.

Above: SecretLab’s marketing is slick, and the desk’s features are abundant.

The Magnus Pro is a height-adjustable standing desk that markets itself as a feature piece you will want to display as a piece de resistance to your gaming setup.

It makes me want to quit my job and have a crack at becoming a professional Counterstrike player.

On a serious note, this review of the best sit-stand desks in Australia isn’t aimed at gamers, so I demoted the Magnus Pro to the bottom of the list.

But I chose to include it because it sets such a high bar in desk design – and I’m hoping that other manufacturers start taking notice.

Why run an ugly power cable up the desk’s leg when you can run it inside the leg?

Above: The integrated power supply is genius. It plugs into the base of the leg, removing the need for unsightly cables.

The desk’s height controller is also fully integrated – and not bolted on like an afterthought. Although not for everyone, the whole desk looks decidedly modern, edgy and fresh.

The main downsides of the Magnus Pro are the flipside of its strengths:

The 5-year warranty is also dubious and raises questions about the sit-stand desk’s build quality.

Stability isn’t great, either. The amount of side-to-side wobble is acceptable, but the front-to-back wobble becomes very noticeable at mid- to to maximum heights.

Overall.

How Does The SecretLab Magnus Stack Up?	Score
Price	3/5
Build Quality	4/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Cable Management	5/5
Ease of Assembly	4/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	3/5
OVERALL	3.9/5

8. Recess, Flexispot E7-Pro, Vari.

Good premium standing desks (with issues you need to know about).

These brands sell very good standing desks, but I chose to disqualify them from the leading pack for a number of reasons that I’ll discuss below.

Recess.

The company sells very good standing desks. A very fun range of colour choices include green and blue legs as well green and black desktops.

Above: Recess standing desk specced with blue legs and walnut desktop. The colour contrast is nice, if you’re going for that early-stage startup look.

The company has a Sydney showroom, where you can touch, feel and smell your desk before buying.

Depite premium-level pricing, it offers the most oddball warranty of all desks in this review.

While it offers the strongest (lifetime!) warranty on desktops and frames, it offers a meagre two years of coverage on electrical components, which are the parts most likely to fail.

This is well short of other premium competitors, which cover electronics for between 5 and 10 years.

Vari.

Vari is a very established furniture office furniture supplier that sells Jiecang-sourced standing desks. It’s been around since 1990s and mostly focuses on the business-to-business market.

However, they’ll gladly sell an excellent desk (again, one that’s very similar to Desky, Omnidesk and Stand Desk to you, the retail consumer).

Above: A Varidesk. If it looks very similar to all other desks here, it’s because it is.

My concern with Vari is its US headquarters and warehouses. I fully trust that their supply chain is sophisticated enough to deliver your desk to Australia.

However, if something goes wrong during the delivery (or after), would you rather be dealing with a medium-sized, direct-to-consumer Australian company in your timezone or a huge business-to-business retailer in the US?

Flexispot E-7 Pro.

Flexispot is a US-based company that sells a range of standing desks, from budget-minded wobbly nightmares to the flagship E-7 Pro.

As you have probably guessed, by issue with Flexispot is the same as with Vari. Buying your standing desk from an Australian company with an Australian warehouse makes a lot more sense.

3 Standing Desks You Must Avoid.

Not all standing desks are created equal. Some brands are very popular – but not for the right reasons.

Ikea Standing Desks: Trotten, Bekant & Idasen.

Above: The Ikea Trotten looks quite smart from a distance. You notice the budget construction when you get close and interact with it.

The Ikea Trotten is a manual standing desk for people on a tight budget. I inspected it closely the last time I visited Ikea and walked away feeling more impressed than I thought I’d be.

Of course, it was nowhere near as sturdy as the premium options from UpDown and Desky, but at 20-40% of their price (depending on your choice of desktop), it’s not a fair comparison.

Well, yes.

Because the Artiss is $260-$330 – and it’s much better. And it will get delivered to your door.

The Trotten will appeal to university students and early-stage startup founders who have been kicked out of all local cafes for overstaying their welcome.

Bekant sit-stand desk is Ikea’s cheap-ish option. I excluded it from this lineup because of its telescopic round legs (notorious for being wobbly) and so-so desktop finish.

While its desktop is much better than Bekant’s the telescopic legs are a deal-breaker.

It retails for about $950; for this price, you’re almost in UpDown and Desky territory.

Pros.

Cons.

My Criteria For Choosing The Best Standing Desk.

Here are the categories I used to evaluate each standing desk:

Build quality	Does the desk wobble? How much metal is in the frame? How thick are the crossmembers? Does the controller feel cheap? Does it have subtle ‘nice-to-have’ details (e.g., rubber grommets between metal parts)
Aesthetics	How many desktop wood choices are available? Do entry-level wood choices feel cheap? What does the controller look like?
Warranties & returns	What do you get, above and beyond the standard Australian consumer protections? Can you get a full refund if you don’t like the desk?
Ease of assembly	How clear are the assembly instructions? How many boxes does the desk arrive in? Do the parts fit logically?
Cable management	Is the cable tray included? How useful is it? Does the desk have grommets, cable channels or scallops?
Extra features	Does the desk have any unexpected “nice to have” features? (For example, wireless charging pads, built-in cable management slots).
Price	How much value does the standing desk offer in the context of its price segment?

What Are The 3 Types Of Standing Desks?

You’ve probably realised that “standing desk” can refer to one of 3 product types.

Terms like “standing desk”, “adjustable sit-stand desk”, “standing table” and “stand-up desk” are often used interchangeably when referring to all of these product types.

1. Sit-Stand Desk Converters.

Above: A very basic standing desk converter. You can pick one of these up for less than $250.

A converter is a device you place on top of your existing desktop. It moves up and down, elevating your workspace.

People choose converters because they’re much cheaper than floor-standing electric standing desks. They’re also more practical, as you can keep your existing desk (and put away the converter if you don’t use it).

They’re a suboptimal option because of their poor lifting capacity. They also raise your existing desktop by about 3 cm, creating a need for a taller office chair.

2. Adjustable Height Standing Desks.

The main focus of my review of the best standing desks in Australia, floor standing adjustable desks offer unbeatable ergonomics. You gain two desks in one device – a standing desk and a traditional sitting desk.

They are available in three types:

3. Fixed Height Standing Desks.

Fixed-height standing desks are typically made from wood, and feature much smaller desktops.

Ergonomics is all about adjustment. Why confine yourself to a fixed standing height when you have one that adjusts perfectly to your needs?

Frequently Asked Questions About Standing Desks.

I receive a lot of emails from people who are about to purchase their first stand-up desk. Below are my answers to the most common queries.

1. Manual vs Electric Standing Desks: Which Are Best?

Some people prefer manual standing desks because of their apparent reliability. The fewer electronics, the fewer chances of something going wrong, right?

Manual lifting mechanisms are not immune from failure, while modern electronics are extremely reliable and cheap.

You are not likely to experience issues with the lifting motors of your electric standing desk – especially if you buy one of the best-rated options in my review.

2. How Important Is Stability?

Very.

Working on a standing desk that wobbles is very annoying.

Contrary to popular opinion, placing more equipment on the desktop (e.g., large monitors) does not solve the issue. It does precisely the opposite, as it raises the desk’s centre of gravity.

At the low to mid-range, most standing desks are very stable. Even the cheap ones.

But price alone is not the best predictor of stability. I’ve tested plenty of desks that cost more than $1,000 and wobble horrendously.

Side-to-side instability is particularly difficult to eliminate, but it’s also not as important, as you’re unlikely to introduce lateral motion to your workspace.

Front-to-back stability is your priority.

It will largely depend on build quality of the columns. The less play between the columns, and the more overlap between each section, the more stable the desk will be.

3. How Slow Is Too Slow?

Most standing desks on the Australian market are fast enough. Anything above 30mm/sec is fine. 

Budget brands (e.g., Artiss) are likely to lift at at more modest speeds (about 25mm/sec). It’s a little frustrating, but not infuriating.

Some manufacturers offer speeds as high as 50mm/sec (Stand Desk) and 43mm/sec (Omnidesk), but they achieve this by sacrificing maximum lifting load.

4. Should You Buy A Cheap Standing Desk?

I haven’t included any of the ultra-cheap desks in this review. While it’s possible to pick one up on Amazon or at Officeworks for less than $250, I believe it’s an exercise in false economy.

Dodgy connection points, thin metal and el-cheapo electronics add up to poor stability and questionable longevity. 

I personally wouldn’t place my Apple Studio Display on one of these. 

Stepping up to mid and upper-range standing desks has a number of payoffs;

5. Are Standing Desks Good For Your Health?

Yes and no.

According to Australian musculoskeletal physiotherapist Antony Lo, moving throughout your workday is the most important thing you can do for your health.

your body is happiest if it adopts various positions throughout the day. Alternate between sitting and standing every 1-2 hours for best results.

That said, standing desks are not a miracle cure that is guaranteed to make your aches disappear.

6. Are Standing Desks Worth It?

I believe so. After switching from a regular sit-down desk, I honestly haven’t looked back.

Studies have shown that standing desks increase productivity by as much as 45%. Users report improved energy levels and a better overall mood.

7. Which Accessories Should I Buy For My Stand-Up Desk?

Don’t get carried away. It’s easy to spend over $3,000 on desk accessories, but in my experience, most of them are useless. Here are the top five upgrades I recommend:

Accessory	Budget	Why You Need It
Ergonomic Chair	$350-$2,000	Chairs with at least 8 points of adjustment and 8 years of warranty are best.
Lockable Drawer	$100-$150	Located under your desktop, it keeps your workspace clutter-free.
Cable Management	$100-$200	Invest in a cable channel, extra power boards, cable ties and a cable spine to keep your workspace tidy and remove tripping hazards.
Lockable Storage Cabinet	$200-$300	For keeping your paperwork, files, extra hardware and spare stationery.
Standing Mat	$50	Non-negotiable. A mat quadruples the length of time you can stand before your feet get sore.

8. How long do adjustable desks last?

The majority of adjustable desk manufacturers provide a minimum three-year warranty, while the top ones offer a 10-year on all parts and desktops.

9. Do electric adjustable standing desks consume a lot of electricity?

Contrary to popular belief, electric standing desks consume minimal electricity.

Typically, they use around 150 W when actively in use, solely powering the dual motors and (if present) the wireless phone charger.

10. What size desktop is best for my home office?

Most sit-stand desktops on the Australian market are sold in the following widths:

120 cm	Best for small inner-city apartments and terraces (less than 120 square metres).
150 cm	Best for regular-sized Australian homes (250 – 350 square metres).
180 cm	Best for two-person setups, as well as single users with a lot of gear.

11. What’s the difference between static and dynamic rating?

Your forearms aren’t that heavy, and neither are your computer, monitor, coffee mug, and notepad. They are unlikely to weigh more than 25 kg.

Here’s what you need to know about static desk lift capacities:

Static Rating	Refers to the maximum load you can place on a stationary desk.
Dynamic Rating	Refers to the maximum load you can place on the desk while it’s either rising or lowering.

Burnt-out motors are typically the most common cause of electric desk faults. The less wear and tear you place on the motors, the longer they’re likely to last.

Why Did I Write This Review?

When I was starting my first business, I worked from my kitchen table for 60 hours a day. This type of scrappiness is vital when starting out, but it’s not sustainable in the long term.

You need to invest in a home office that separates your living and work areas, or you’ll never be able to relax.

Standing desks can help you do this.

Unfortunately, the Internet is full of BS astroturf reviews that sell myths and make false promises to potential standing desk buyers. For example:

I also discovered that hidden incentives skew the reviews in favour of the publishers and desk retailers. You, the consumer, are left in the dark.

The first type of “best standing desk review” you’ll see online is of the “desk for a favourable review” variety.

The brand sends a desk to a content creator and expects a glowing review in return.

The content creator (usually a young guy with aspirations of fame and glory) takes the bait. He gets a free desk.

The second type of “best standing desk review” you’ll encounter is even worse.

This “expert” is usually middle-aged guy with a soul-sucking 9-5 job he is desperately trying to escape by building the review site.

He has never seen the desk in person and instead regurgitated conclusions from other reviews, likely using ChatGPT. He wants you to buy the desk so he can finally tell his boss to go f*ck himself and never work again.

What makes me different?

My businesses generate over $5m in top-line revenue each year, and I have a team of over 15 people reporting to me.

While the commissions I receive from this review are nice, I’m not exactly relying on this money to live. Or to escape my job.

I also like researching and geeking out over how things work, so while my team does the heavy lifting, I write these reviews.

I hope this helped you make the right decision. If I left any of your questions unanswered, drop them in the comments below. I respond to each comment personally.

Bottom Line About The Best Standing Desks In Australia.

Most of the premium standing desks are almost the same. Choose one and get back to work. Don’t agonise about your decision for more than 1 week – because the best standing desk does not exist. But your time is valuable and the law of diminishing returns is real.

Steven