17 Best Standing Desks In Australia For 2025 [Controversial]

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This article 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 the 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+ & KLIK [tie].

Best overall premium standing desks in Australia.

Above: The UpDown Pro+ standing desk with New Messmate desktop, plus a few accessories.

The UpDown Pro Standing Desk held my award of Australia’s best standing desk for four consecutive years.

Until the UpDown KLIK arrived on Australian shores in early 2025.

Why?

I’ll explain all the important differences between them in a moment.

But what they have in common are strong core credentials: rock-solid frames, a 100-day money-back guarantee and a huge selection of desktops.

In late 2025, UpDown upped its game once again, upgrading the already impressive Pro to Pro+ spec.

The Pro+ fixed two of UpDown’s biggest issues – the outdated height controller and a slow height adjustment speed.

Pros.

Both the Pro+ and the KLIK are available in 16 desktop options.

You get the budget-friendly Bamboo, hard-wearing Melamine and premium hardwood Messmate, Rubberwood and Acacia.

By the way, do you want a deep dive on a specific desk? I’ve reviewed each one in detail – check them out here:

Not only is hardwood beautiful to the eye and feels nice to touch, but at 27mm, UpDown’s desktops are 2mm thicker than the competition, which amplifies the desks’ rock-solid, quality feel.

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

Above: The UpDown KLIK standing desk has a less heavy and more elegant-looking frame.

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.

The best feature of both the UpDown Pro+ and KLIK stand-up desks is their bulletproof feel:

Extending the desks closer to 120 cm reveals some (predominantly side-to-side) wobble, but this is expected.

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

Above: The UpDown Pro+ sit-stand desk has a chunky, heavy frame with dual motors.

Both desks are packed with features you’d expect to see in a premium standing desk:

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

Shipping, meanwhile, is a predictable $49.90 flat fee – regardless of where you are in Australia.

Above: The KLIK with a 150 x 75 cm Pheasantwood desktop. Ample space for all your hardware, accessories, and stationery.

If you fancy yourself a standing desk nerd (fist bump), you probably know that I’ve been complaining about UpDown’s cable management system for years.

This has been the desk’s main Achilles’ heel.

Compared with Desky’s fancy integrated cable management channel (see below), UpDown’s standard cable tray has been a disappointment.

UpDown designed and launched its own under-desk cable management system.

You can now spec your UpDown with a kick-ass, generously long, integrated cable management channel.

The tray mounts up to 8 externally-facing power points and is hinged on the rear for easy access.

Why is this important?

Above: I highly recommend adding this tray as an option when placing your order.

If you’re asking this question, I envy you.

You’ve clearly never spent 20 minutes under your desk with a torch in your mouth, rummaging through a spiderweb of cables inside a tiny cable tray – just to unplug something.

Finally, UpDown’s new height controller is excellent. The company unveiled it in October as part of the upgrade of the desk from Pro to Pro+.

You get a giant, modern-looking OLED display, the usual four height presets and a button that reminds you to stand up.

While Desky’s square controller design has a more contemporary look, UpDown’s tapered edges are less likely to jam into your desk or thighs while you’re sitting down.

Above: The UpDown Pro+’s new controller has an excellent OLED display. A USB-C charging port is a nice bonus.

Cons.

When I first wrote this review back in 2021, UpDown didn’t offer pre-drilled holes in the desktops. You had to drill your own holes, and it was a major PITA.

The company addressed this issue in early 2025.

All desks now come with threaded inserts for attaching the desktop and pilot holes for attaching the controller.

Unfortunately, the fancy cable management tray I mentioned earlier still attaches to the KLIK using old-fashioned wood screws.

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

Above: Streaks of morning sunlight look glorious on my UpDown Pro’s Recycled Messmate desktop.

But if you live in a modest inner-city apartment, your spare room may not be able to accommodate such a deep desktop.

Double-check to ensure you have enough space.

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

The good news is that they’ve also recently partnered with two furniture retailers (one in Hawthorn, Melbourne and the other in Dee Why, Sydney), where you can view the desk in person.

Finally, the Pro+’s height range is 64-129 cm, skewing towards the upper end. This will cover 95% of the population.

However, if you’re very short (~ 155 cm), the KLIK or a Desky Dual will be a better fit.

The table below illustrates my point nicely:

Standing Desk	Minimum Height (cm)	Maximum Height (cm)
UpDown Pro+	64	129
UpDown KLIK	61	126
Desky Dual	60	125
Omnidesk Ascent	60	125
Flexispot E7-Pro	63.5	128.5
Secretlab Magnus Pro	65	125
Stando Pulse	69	130
Recess	65	130
Stand Desk Pro	64	128
Artiss Dual Motor	70	120
Stilford Lectern	75	115
9am Home Robin Pro	65	130
9am Home Atom Pro	65	130

Above: My 150 x 75 cm UpDown Pro+ in standing position. Perfect workspace size for one person, but the desk eats into a significant portion of the small room.

Verdict.

How Do The UpDown Pro+ And KLIK Stack Up?	Score
Price	5/5
Build Quality	5/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Cable Management	5/5
Ease of Assembly	4/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	5/5
OVERALL	4.8/5

We are well into 2025, and the UpDown Pro+ and KLIK tie in the #1 spot as the best sit-stand desks in Australia.

These desks are for people who want the highest quality – and are willing to pay for it.

Choose a Pro+ or a KLIK, and that will be the last electric standing desk you’ll ever need to buy.

If you have the budget and enjoy solid hardwood furniture, choose a hardwood Messmate or Pheasantwood desktop. You won’t regret it.

Above: The Pheasantwood hardwood desktop is particularly pretty when paired with modern furniture and devices.

What’s The Cost Of The UpDown Pro+ and KLIK?

The UpDown Pro+ and KLIK series are priced on par with other premium standing desks on the market. The KLIK is about $75 more expensive than the Pro+, but this is not a significant difference.

As a guide, prices start at just over $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 Pro [tie].

Best premium alternatives to UpDown.

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 for second place 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.

Desky, meanwhile, offers a limited returns policy instead of a trial.

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

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

And it won’t be cheap. I compiled a few quotes to illustrate my point – see below in the 9am Home section).

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:

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

Stand Desk is the only brand among the frontrunners that doesn’t allow you to view your desk in person before purchase (but remember – it has the most generous 100-day trial policy).

Above: My Desky Dual from a low angle, showing off the wide cable management channel and chunky legs.

Desky, meanwhile, leads the pack with 15 stockists or showrooms across NSW, QLD, WA and Victoria.

All companies, including 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 the Australian timezone.

This doesn’t mean they are 100% insolvency-proof – but it does mitigate some risk for you as a consumer.

(Related: Stand Desk Pro Full Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly).

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 inconsequential, details.

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	NSW, VIC
UpDown KLIK	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	NSW, VIC
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
Secretlab Magnus Pro	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
9am Home Robin Pro	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Recess	No	No	No	No	Yes	NSW
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
9am Home Atom Pro	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Steelcase Migration SE Pro	No	No	No	No	Yes	NSW

By the way, Desky and UpDown are the only brands that allow you to run up to 8 X 240V power sockets directly under the desk.

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.

Both of these companies produce excellent desks, so there’s little to pick at.

But I know you expect me to find something 🙂

So here goes.

My criticism of UpDown’s fixed 75 cm depth applies to this duo as well.

The deep desktop is great if you have the space, but can overpower small home offices.

Second, Stand Desk trails Desky when it comes to the range of desktop materials.

The former offers two hardwoods plus a handful of MDF and bamboo alternatives. The latter, meanwhile, offers over 17 bamboo, melamine, and hardwood options.

Above: Stand Desk Pro’s frame looks almost identical to Desky Dual’s. Because it is.

I’m also surprised that Desky stubbornly refuses to offer a 100-day trial period. UpDown and Stand Desk absolutely smash it on this front.

Last niggle is the price.

These are not cheap, disposable desks for university students intending to send them to the tip after graduation.

Starting at roughly ~$1,000 (see below for details), they are outside of reach for many people.

Verdict.

How Do The Desky And Stand Desk Pro 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

Both of these brands offer excellent standing desks.

Even though the UpDown edges them out slightly, it’s only because of the company’s reputation for bulletproof frames and verifiable 4.9-star customer support.

But as I keep reiterating, these differences are minimal.

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 and Stand Desk’s Jiecang frames are better front-to-back stability, while the UpDown’s European frames are more stable side-to-side.

What’s The Cost Of The Desky Dual and Stand Desk Pro?

As with the UpDown Pro+ and KLIK, expect to pay about $1,000 for a desk with a 150-75 cm softwood desktop.

Hardwood options will push the price into the $1,500-$2,000 territory.

3. 9am Home Atom Pro & Robin Pro [tie].

Best standing desks for design-conscious Australians.

Above: The Robin Pro’s leg design is refreshingly different. Finally, a standing desk that doesn’t look like the rest.

My wife is used to standing desks sprouting up around our apartment.

I test each new one in the living room for a few weeks.

She rarely blinks an eyelid.

Except this time.

As soon as I finished setting up the Atom Pro, the woman swooned over it like it was Ryan Gosling in a tux.

Her reaction was not accidental.

Above: The Atom Pro is Ryan-Gosling-level sexy. Apparently.

Pros.

Unlike the masculine and industrial-looking designs from UpDown, Desky and especially Secretlab, 9am Home’s desks look unusually approachable and friendly. 

I can see them appealing to design-conscious buyers who want their WFH space with a certain je ne sais quoi.

For example, health practitioners, consultants and coaches.

Above: Stamped logos on each side of the frame are a nice touch.

The design philosophy is centred around curvy lines, tubular legs and Scandi-inspired colour palettes.

The $1,449 Atom Pro opts for smoothly blended leg design, while the $869 Robin Pro offers a spicier “Devil’s Pitchfork” legs.

The theme continues to the desktops. 

Atom Pro has a beautiful bullnose edge while the Robin Pro opts for a straight edge – albeit with rounded corners.

It’s cleverly recessed into the desktop – and completely hidden from view – unless you know it’s there.

Above: Deep enough to comfortably hide your keyboard, notepad and a few pens, Atom Pro’s tray is an excellent example of design meeting function. 

While UpDown and Desky insist that you hang a tray underneath like an ugly afterthought, 9am Home’s design is aesthetically superior.

It’s not deep – so don’t expect to stash chunky books into it. But it’s perfect for all the crap that clutters your desk – e.g., stationery.

The Atom Pro is definitely aimed at larger office spaces, with its constant 75 cm depth and a choice of three widths – 120, 150 and 180 cm.

Robin Pro’s desktop size choices, meanwhile, tilt towards apartment dwellers and people with small home offices.

By the way, I must highlight Robin Pro’s incredibly easy assembly. It’s the simplest desk I’ve ever put together.

Above: The Atom Pro showing off its curved lines and under-desk tray.

While 9am Home’s “30-second” assembly claim is ambitious (I assembled it in 15-20 minutes), the Robin Pro is great for people intimidated by screwdrivers and assembly manuals.

However, in a strange plot-twist, the Atom Pro is one of the most fiddly, unpleasant desks I’ve ever had to assemble (see “Cons” below).

Build quality of both desks is top notch – but not perfect.

The Atom Pro – being the premium option – is the better-built of the two:

The Robin Pro is also well-built, but it has a couple of annoying trade-offs in build quality that I’ll discuss in “Cons” below. 

Cons.

The Atom Pro’s assembly could be a lot better.

First, I was surprised to find that it doesn’t arrive preassembled – as does the (cheaper) Robin Pro. Shouldn’t the more expensive product require less elbow grease?

Second, its manual is hard to understand and dense. 

In fact, you get 3 separate manuals – one for the desk itself, one for the cable tray and one for the drawer. 

Each of them tells you to flip the desk upon completion. You do it, only to realise you must flip the desk again. Gah.

Above: Robin Pro’s desktop and controller feel a bit cheap to the touch.

Third, the way the desk comes together is fiddly. You don’t get any quick-lock mechanisms – just the good ol’ fashioned bag of screws and an Allen key.

Both desks are merely good – but not outstanding – when it comes to stability.

They’re fine for normal everyday use – but people with a lot of gear (e.g., multiple monitors) will find that above 100cm extention, UpDown’s, Desky’s and Stand Desk’s desks are more sturdy.

Interestingly, the Atom Pro is more stable side-to-side – while the Robin Pro is more stable back-to-front.

Finally, the 65 cm minimum height may be too tall for users who are shorter than 160 cm.

The cheaper Robin Pro must cut corners in a couple of areas to bring the price down, and they are:

Finally, 9am Home touts its “30 Day Returns” – but they’re a bit of a gimmick. 

They expect you to cover the cost of return shipping. 

Which, if you’re sending from a residential Australian address, isn’t cheap. 

Here are some quotes I got this morning for sending a 140x65cm Robin Pro from my home in Potts Point to 9am Home’s warehouse in Silverwater.

The same criticism applies to all other standing desk brands offering “free returns” without subsidised or free return shipping.

Looking at you, Desky.

Above: Will you pay between $100 and $250 just to return your $800-1400 desk? Didn’t think so.

The “10-year warranty” also has more fine print than I’d like. It’s great that the motors are covered for 10 years. But why cover the controllers and sensors for only three?

My other gripe is that 9am Home doesn’t give you the option to accessorise your Robin Pro with a drawer, grommets or an advanced cable management system.

You’ll have to run cables off the back of the desk into the (admittedly free) under-desk cable management tray.

A drawer is a must-have, in my opinion, for maintaining a neat workspace. Unfortunately, 9am Home won’t sell you one, but there is a workaround.

You can pick one up on Amazon for about $50.

Verdict.

How Does The Robin Pro & Atom Pro Stack Up?	Score
Price	5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Cable Management	4/5
Ease of Assembly	4/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	4/5
OVERALL	4.3/5

The Robin Pro and Atom Pro are the best standing desks in Australia – for people want a standing desk that looks like a normal desk.

If you have roughly $1,400 to spend, the Atom Pro is a strong contender. It looks so “designer” that visitors to your WFH office will not realise it’s a standing desk.

But if you’re on a tighter budget of around $800, the Robin Pro is your pick.

Yes, they’re slightly less stable than the Goliaths (UpdDown, Desky, etc), but if you don’t plan to place huge (or multiple) monitors on them, you’ll be fine.

9am Home kept the price of the Robin Pro down by using inexpensive MDF desktops and controllers, but these are smart tradeoffs.

As the saying goes, you can’t have your cake and eat it, too.

4. Artiss Standing Desk.

Best if your budget is between $290 and $390.

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

The Artiss is my fourth-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 Full Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly).

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 140 cm size to maximise your desk space.

Above: Artiss’s 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.

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 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’s 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.

Cable management is not even on Artiss’ radar.

You don’t get 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.

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

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 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 don’t get a 100-day trial, either.

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

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

I’m 200 cm, 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 #4 spot. It’s also better than budget Ikea options (see below) if your budget is between $290-$390.

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 $290 and $390 for this bloody bargain.

5. Stando Pulse.

Best sit-stand desk if you’re allergic to cable clutter.

Above: The Pulse’s #1 differentiator is its built-in power cord.

At first glance, the Stando Pulse looks exactly like all the Deskys and UpDowns of this world. But look closer and you’ll spot its #1 differentiator: the power cable disappears inside the leg.

Who cares?

Maybe you don’t.

But it makes a lot of difference to neat freaks like me who are constantly looking for ways to eliminate cable clutter.

Add a cavernous cable tray, rapid click-together assembly and rock-solid stability, and you’ve got a desk built for people who want a clean setup they can rely on.

Pros.

Let me linger on the Pulse’s concealed power system a little longer.

This headline act removes the one cable that ruins every otherwise-beautiful WFH setup.

The desk plugs in where it should – at the bottom of the leg – rather than into an obscure powerboard near the crossmember.

Above: The Stando Pulse’s power cord plugs in where it should – at the bottom of the leg.

Stando doubles down on smart features with a huge cable tray equipped with eight outward-facing power sockets.

It’s the same design that’s now standard on Desky and UpDown desks – perfect if you constantly need to plug and unplug gear.

You also get fancy click-together legs, which make the assembly less painful.

Although, as I’ve mentioned above, this feature doesn’t reduce the overall assembly time in a meaningful way.

It’s on par with the best standing desks in Australia, like UpDown and Desky. And it’s more sturdy than 9am Home’s desks.

End-to-end 10-year warranty is a nice touch. It covers 100% of the desk – unlike all other brands, which nickel-and-dime you by splitting coverage.

Above: Paired with a Haworth Fern office chair, the Pulse creates a professional-looking workstation.

Cons.

There are quirks.

The hidden power design limits how far the legs can compress, leaving the Pulse with a tall 69 cm minimum height.

Shorter users may struggle to get comfortable.

It’s also one of the pricier desks in this review, thanks to all the built-in cable-management tech.

You’ll pay about a $300-$350 premium for a Pulse when compared with a similar-specced desk from UpDown, Desky or Stand Desk.

And unlike UpDown or Stand Desk, Stando doesn’t offer a 100-day trial, which may make some of you nervous.

Above: The Stando Pulse looks smart and tidy when extended to full height.

Overall.

How Does The Stando Pulse Sit-Stand Desk Stack Up?	Score
Price	4/5
Build Quality	5/5
Aesthetics	5/5
Cable Management	4.5/5
Ease of Assembly	5/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	5/5
OVERALL	4.4/5

The Stando Pulse is a desk for you if you appreciate clever engineering and care deeply about keeping your setup clean.

Forget about it if you’re looking for a bargain.

But if you value time, hate cable clutter and want something that’s both premium and practical, the Stando Pulse is a great choice.

Just check that you’re taller than 175 cm 🙂

6. Secretlab Magnus Pro.

Great standing desk for young men.

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

The Magnus Pro makes a statement. Sleek marketing and edgy design make it popular with young men and gamers – Secretlab’s core audience.

Honestly, the design alone tempts me to sell my businesses and become a professional Counter-Strike player.

This review isn’t aimed at gamers or uni students – so I bumped the Magnus Pro down the list.

(Related: Secretlab Magnus Pro Full Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly).

Still, no serious roundup of Australia’s best sit-stand desks would be complete without it.

Secretlab set such a high bar for design that I’m a bit obsessed with this desk. I hope other manufacturers stand up (ha) and take notice.

Pros.

Like the Stando Pulse above, the Magnus Pro’s #1 party trick is its integrated power delivery system.

Australian standing desk brands – are you paying attention?

This design keeps the desk’s look clean by removing the need for a cable spine or (worse) hiding the cable behind the leg using cable clips.

The cable management p*rn continues upstairs.

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

Behind the desktop is a hinged cover that conceals a voluminous cable tray.

It sits flush with the desktop and looks like an integral part of the desk – rather than an afterthought.

But Magnus Pro’s best feature is its design. I’ll go out on a limb and say that it’s the only standing desk in this review with real personality.

While the personality may not be to your taste, it’s unmistakably there.

You’ll either love it – or hate it.

You decide. It could be any one of them.

Metal desktop plays a key role here.

Without the (included) MagPad, it looks industrial. Raw. Like something you’d find at a converted warehouse in Alexandria, full of creative hipster types.

You get a choice of colours, with black being the safest, stealth a tad more edgy and the rest decidedly “gamer”.

Above: The magnetic pad is on full display here. It runs edge-to-edge, and gives the standing desk a dose of personality. Bored with the look? You can change it for $119.

The desk’s height controller is also decidedly modern. Fully integrated, it sits flush with the front edge of the desk – instead of hanging below.

It’s a minor detail, but I love it. There’s something about the act of switching the desk on every morning that makes it feel more like a part of my team, rather than a lifeless appliance.

It feels alive.

The desk is as stable as all premium desks in this review. Minimal side-to-side wobble once you raise it above waist level. Almost zero back-to-front wobble.

Desktop dimensions are also on point. Your best choice is the 150 x 70 cm size.

Slightly shorter than the standard 150 x 75 cm offered by competitors, it demonstrates Secretlab’s deep knowledge of its target market.

Cons.

The Darth Vader-esque aesthetic will turn off many people. Even though the desk isn’t garish by any stretch of imagination, it’s definitely loud.

Bold.

If you want understated minimalism or quiet luxury, you’re better off with the Steelcase Migration SE.

I haven’t seen it in the flesh, but it looks OK in the company’s promo photos – and may be a great compromise if you love the desk, but want to tone down the “black hole” aesthetic.

But then again, isn’t the aesthetic the very reason for its appeal? To me, softening the Magnus Pro’s look is akin to installing a 4-cylinder engine in a Ford Mustang.

There are plenty of polite-looking standing desks on the Australian market.

And who dreams of driving a castrated Mustang?

Above: The height controller sits flush with the desk’s front edge, and has 3 height presets.

The 5-year warranty is also dubious.

I’d expect a sit-stand desk selling for $1200 to offer at least 7 – and preferably 10 – years of coverage.

Scanning the company’s TrustPilot reviews, I didn’t see any complaints about failed electronics.

That said, for young guys, $1200 is a helluva lot of money, and I’d feel less nervous recommending the Magnus Pro if I knew that their hard-earned investment was better protected.

Verdict.

How Does The Secretlab Magnus Pro Stack Up?	Score
Price	5/5
Build Quality	4/5
Aesthetics	4/5
Cable Management	5/5
Ease of Assembly	5/5
Extra Features	4/5
Warranties & Returns	3.5/5
OVERALL	4.2/5

The Secretlab Magnus Pro is a masterclass in industrial design. It’s also not just a standing desk – it’s an experience.

Does it live up to the hype? Hell yes.

Is it for everyone? Hell no.

In a marketplace saturated with me-too standing desk designs, Secretlab plucked up the courage to build a truly unique desk. And it won.

How do I know?

The young man in me irrationally wants one. Even though I don’t need it.

7. Stilford Lectern.

Great if you live in a tiny apartment (or 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 on a Saturday morning.

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 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 particleboard.

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.

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 $290!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Inexpensive and 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.

8. 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 appear reasonably stylish, none are particularly beautiful.

Migration SE Pro addresses this issue with a sophisticated, clean, and minimalist design. Think of it as a stylish office desk that also happens to be adjustable.

(Related: Steelcase Migration Pro SE Full Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly).

It’s a desk for people who appreciate a great aesthetic – and are not sensitive to price.

At nearly $2,000 (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, featuring 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, with its 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 directly to the cable management tray without having to rummage under your desk.

Magnus Pro is the only other standing desk in this review that offers this feature (but Magnus’ tray is much wider and more usable).

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 Steelcase designers had created cutouts in the lid for cables. These would allow the lid to close fully.

The partially open lid detracts from the clean lines of the Migration Pro.

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

9. Recess, Flexispot E7-Pro, Omnidesk Ascent.

Decent standing desks (with issues you must be aware of).

These brands sell premium standing desks that I chose to disqualify from the leading pack – for a number of reasons that I’ll discuss below.

Recess.

The 100% Aussie company sells standing desks at the ~$1,000 price point.

Their key differentiator is the fun range of colour choices. These include green and blue legs as well as green and black desktops.

Above: Recess standing desk speced 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 sit-stand desk before buying.

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

The lifetime warranty on the desktop and frame is best-in-class. But the two-year coverage on electrical components is among the shortest.

Only the $300 Artiss offers a shorter warranty..

This worries me when spending about $1,000 on a standing desk, as electronics are parts most likely to fail.

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.

The E-7 looks promising, but my #1 concern with Flexispot is support.

I suspect the company drop-ships the desks directly from a US warehouse.

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?

Omnidesk Ascent.

On 19th November, I decided to move the Omnidesk into the last position.

It was a difficult decision, because I love the desk – and it tied with Desky and Stand Desk in the #2 spot for all of 2025.

But the company has been experiencing stock issues since September.

I contacted the company for clarification. They assured me that business is operating as usual, and stock issues will be resolved by October.

However, as of the time of this writing, we’re well and truly into November – and the situation is the same.

I don’t want to speculate what may be happening behind the scenes. But the more time passes, the less this looks like a simple supply chain glitch.

And I’m not comfortable recommending Omnidesk until the company fixes this issue.

3 Standing Desks You Must Avoid.

Not all standing desks are created equal. These models 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 $290-$390 – 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.

The 7 categories I used to evaluate each standing desk are below.

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?

The 3 Types of Standing Desks – Explained.

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).

But they’re a suboptimal option because of their poor lifting capacity.

2. Adjustable Height Standing Desks.

Above: The Desky dual at nearly full extension. Easily one of the best standing desks in Australia.

Floor-standing adjustable desks offer unbeatable ergonomics. I focused exclusively on them in this review.

You get two desks in one device – a standing desk and a traditional sitting desk.

They are available in three types:

3. Fixed-Height Standing Desks.

Above: This unusual-looking contraption isn’t height-adjustable. You’ll be staring down at your laptop all day.

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 due to their perceived reliability. The fewer electronics, the fewer chances of something going wrong, right?

Manual lifting mechanisms are not immune to 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 has precisely the opposite effect, 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.

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 the build quality of the columns. The less play between the columns, and the more overlap between each section, the more sturdy 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 a more modest speed (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, this is 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?

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

This works best for me. What’s your sit/stand schedule? Let me know in the comments below.

By the way, you’ll find studies “proving” that standing desks increase productivity by 45%. I call BS on this one.

Productive people are productive regardless of their surroundings.

When I started my first business, I worked like an animal for 12 hours daily – from a cheap couch and a $50 laptop table.

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

Don’t get carried away. It’s easy to spend over $2,000 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 warranty 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.

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.

Here’s how it works.

A standing desk company sends a desk to a content creator, expecting 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” 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 a 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. His financial freedom is just around the corner.

Passive income, baby!

What makes me different?

My businesses generate over $5m in top-line revenue each year, and I have a team of over 15 people working for 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 love geeking out over how things work, so I often write these reviews in my spare time.

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 premium standing desks are nearly identical. 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. Every desk has several trade-offs.

However, your time is valuable, and the law of diminishing returns is real.

Steven