Last updated: June 4th, 2025
A standing desk is the best way to promote better health during long work weeks; however, knowing the best way to use one is essential. Whether you work in a corporate environment or from home, an adjustable desk is the best option to allow you to sit and stand throughout the day, optimising productivity and comfort.
Not convinced? Researchers have linked extended periods of sitting with poor health outcomes, including:
- Obesity.
- Increased blood pressure.
- High blood sugar.
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels.
Whilst a standing desk can mitigate these, without the proper support and ergonomics, it has the potential to cause aches and pains.
You’ll be relieved to know it all comes down to the height of your desk. Read on to find out how to determine the correct standing desk height, how often you should stand, plus other tips to get the most out of your work environment.
(Related: Is Artiss Australia’s Best Budget Standing Desk?)
Ensure Ideal Standing Desk Height In 3 Easy Steps.
All bodies are unique and require different working environments to thrive.
You should begin by measuring your height to determine the proper height of your standing desk:
- Stand up straight with your head parallel to the ceiling and your shoulders pulled back
- Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, keeping your arms at your side.
- Measure from the floor to your elbows (or have a friend/colleague assist you). This measurement should match the height of your standing desk.
If you stand and sit throughout the day, note the height of your standing option or pre-programme this into the desk (many options show the desk’s height in centimetres on display).
Expert Tip.
Discover our recommendations for the best sit-stand desk options here. You won’t look back!
How Often Should I Stand?
Experts agree that the best way to support your health at work is to combine sitting and standing at regular intervals throughout the day. Every hour, we recommend the following:
- 20 minutes standing.
- 35 minutes sitting.
- 5 minutes of walking/stretching.
Expert Tip.
Standing is an excellent option to boost energy throughout the day (say goodbye to those pesky afternoon coffees). 9 out of 10 Take A Stand study participants reported more energy when using their standing desks!
The other benefits of standing desks are irrefutable, including:
- Increased blood flow: Sitting can result in poor circulation and varicose veins. Standing for periods promotes blood flow to the heart and brain.
- Strengthened muscles: Proper posture can strengthen muscles such as the quads, glutes, and core.
- Back pain alleviated: The spine’s flexion is less supported when sitting, placing additional stress on the lumbar region (lower back). Standing alleviates this.
- Heightened focus: This study confirmed that the thickness of your temporal lobe (responsible for forming memories) directly correlates to how often you stand!
- Additional calories burnt: Standing can burn up to 2,000 extra calories every week, potentially putting you in a calorie deficit if weight loss is a goal.
Like anything, it’s best in moderation. Standing all day can contribute to additional stress on the body, so be sure to mix things up.
(Related: Best Corner Desks For Your Home Office).
5 Factors That Affect Your Standing Desk Height.
Asking, “how high should my standing desk be?” may be the first question when you set up your workspace. Whilst you may find relief from simply adjusting to the correct height, other vital factors are at play.
(Related: Secretlab Magnus Pro Standing Desk Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly).
Your workstation should support your working style, regardless of where you work. Consider the below changes to optimise your output and well-being.
1. Your Shoes.
Two critical questions to ask are:
- What type of shoe do you choose to wear whilst working? This can have a significant impact on your comfort and posture whilst standing.
- What is the surface of the floor you stand on? Tiles and concrete significantly impact joints more than carpets or floorboards.
Many also prefer to work barefoot. The purpose of a shoe is to offer stability and support, so keep in mind that without this, the stabilising muscles in the feet and legs must overcompensate (what to do if your feet hurt?).
However, working barefoot can enhance posture and balance plus improve muscle tone. But be mindful of the length of time you do this for.
Expert Tip.
If you wear heels or boots in the office, measure your desk whilst wearing them to ensure your desk height reflects your correct height while standing.
2. Your Posture.
If you use a standing desk to support your back pain, posture is imperative. An awareness of your body throughout the day (whether sitting or standing) can make all the difference in preventing chronic pain plus retaining mobility.
When standing, run through this checklist regularly:
- Straight back: Be sure not to slouch.
- Head up: See our notes on monitor angles below to prevent ‘tech-neck.’
- Shoulders relaxed: With the correct desk height, your elbows should be supported on the desk, reducing the need to lean or slouch.
- Core engaged: Prevent excessive lumbar curve by locking in your abdominal muscles.
- Weight balanced: To prevent additional stress on one hip or leg, be sure your weight is distributed evenly through both feet, flat on the floor.
You should also incorporate standing desk exercises daily to retain mobility and strength.
3. Monitor Height And Angle.
Having your monitor at an incorrect angle can cause headaches and shoulder or neck pain. A good monitor arm costs about $150 and will allow you to place your monitor in an optimal position. It will:
- Be high enough to focus on the upper third of the screen.
- Allow you to see over the monitor.
- Be slanted back at a 10-20 degree angle.
- Position your monitor approximately 50 centimetres away from your head. Any closer or further away can cause eye strain.
Expert Tip.
If you work from home and cannot access an adjustable monitor arm, consider stacking slim books on top of one another to make fine adjustments to monitor height.
4. Standing Mats.
Standing all day on a hard surface like tiles or concrete can lead to pain, aches, and terrible posture. Consider a comfort mat to support you whilst standing. Options are:
- Traditional/anti-fatigue: These office standing mats are for people wearing shoes and provide additional cushioning. Research shows that standing desk mats can reduce fatigue by up to 50%!
- Ergonomic: These options are thicker to support no shoes or minimalist footwear.
- Acupressure: If you want to increase blood flow and massage your feet whilst working, look no further!
5. Keyboard Angle.
Placing your keyboard at the correct angle will help prevent wrist aches or chronic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain injury.
Our tips:
- Ensure your keyboard is directly in front of your monitor.
- Place the keyboard at arm’s distance from your body.
- Tilt your keyboard back 10 degrees to keep your wrists in line.
- Choose a gel mouse pad to support your wrist.
- You won’t remain standing 100% of the time. Adjust your office chair height when you sit down, to ensure your wrists remain straight.
Expert Tip.
You can invest in desk and office accessories to support you better and reduce discomfort while standing.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Choosing a standing desk can be overwhelming, with so many great options on the market. Before you dive in, we are happy to answer some common questions.
Will A Standing Desk Improve Posture?
Using a standing desk with the proper ergonomics can improve posture. However, setting one at the wrong height could worsen posture and pain.
Taking a holistic view of your health and well-being in the workplace is essential; sitting and standing are only one element of the equation. Read more tips here.
What Are The Cons Of A Standing Desk?
Standing desks have many pros, but there are a few cons to consider.
- Pain: Standing all day can place additional pressure on your knees, hips and feet.
- Fitness: Standing doesn’t replace exercise. You will need to find other ways to incorporate movement into your day. We suggest walking on a lunch break.
- Practicality: Standing desks are a great way to break up your day but aren’t suitable for all tasks. Consider admin-heavy work whilst sitting and calls/meetings whilst standing.
Doing any form of work without a break can lead to pain and discomfort, but don’t let the above recommendations deter you. Incorporating proper standing desk ergonomics will allow you to stand throughout the day and feel your best.
So, What’s The Ideal Standing Desk Height?
If you’re using a height-adjustable standing desk, you’ve taken a significant step towards better health and well-being. Ensuring your desk height and other factors are correct is crucial to avoid any issues.
All bodies are unique, so your standing desk height will be specific to you. Undertake a quick measurement of your size and avoid using a standing desk height chart for the most accurate information.
Optimising your workspace, whether in the office or at home, can change your working life. Who would say no to improved health and well-being, heightened focus, increased productivity, and a pain-free work day? Not us.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven