Last updated: November 24th, 2025
The updated Steelcase Migration SE Pro is more than another premium desk to hit the Australian market. While some might find it unnecessarily expensive, others will think it is the perfect mix of style, quality, and features.
Why should you buy it instead of Australian brands like Desky and UpDown?
(Related: UpDown Pro Standing Desk – Still The Best?)
Quick Verdict.
Above: Stylish and elegant, the Migration SE Pro looks like a premium office table that also happens to go up and down.
Steecase’s Migration SE Pro sits squarely in the premium standing desk category. Its larger 140 cm wide model will set you back about $1,900 (plus shipping).
Expensive? Yes.
But the desk’s build quality and appearance do not disappoint.
(Related: 9am Home Atom Pro Full Review: Good, Bad & Ugly).
The desk has a distinct, premium look and is covered by Steelcase’s rock-solid warranty.
The sizzle makes you feel like you’re getting a lot of desk for your money. But let’s be honest, $1900 is a lot of dough, and it pays for the Steelcase badge.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent Aesthetic. This is not another boring-looking desk. Clean lines, 7 two-tone desktop options with tapered edges and premium materials create a stylish look. | It’s Expensive! The ~$2,000 price tag is eye-watering. This money buys you a great desk + an excellent ergonomic chair at Desky, Omnidesk or UpDown. |
| Premium Build. As you’d expect from Steelcase, a 12-year warranty covers a raft of premium components that include Linak actuators and commercial-grade pressure laminate desktops. | No larger sizes. The 140×70 cm maximum desktop size may frustrate people with many peripheral components. |
Who Should Buy The Steelcase Migration SE?
Above: The Flip Top cable management feature gives you easy access to the cable tray, but doesn’t close fully.
Professionals with a high sensitivity to design and low sensitivity to price.
People “in the arts”, e.g., wealthy gallery owners living in Potts Point or Paddington. Luxury inner city apartment dwellers who wear thick-rimmed glasses. Architects.
(Related: Omnidesk Ascent Standing Desk Review).
5 Things I Love About The Steelcase Migration SE.
The Migration SE Pro is the only standing desk Steelcase offers in Australia. While the price isn’t cheap, you get a lot for your buck:
- Gorgeous Upmarket Design: I love the contrast-coloured chamfered front edge, two-tone base option and the choice of 7 colour schemes. In a world of “me-too” standing desk designs, this one is one of the best.
- Beefy Frame: A healthy 125 kg lifting capacity and, at 38mm/sec, one of the fastest adjustment speeds I’ve seen. This is even faster than 32mm/sec you get on our current best standing desk in Australia, the UpDown Pro.
- “Flip Top” Cable Management: A hinged recess at the rear of the desktop gives you direct access to the cable management tray. It functions very well (but looks unfinished – because the cables will keep it partially open).
- Incredible Warranty: Steelcase doesn’t shortchange you in this department. You get 12 total peace of mind with 12 years of coverage on electronics and lifetime coverage on the frame.
- Above Average Stability: Tubular columns usually wobble more than their square counterparts, but Migration SE Pro feels very sturdy. You’ll notice a moderate amount of movement at the top of the height range, but that’s expected.
Did You Know?
You can view the Migration SE Pro standing desk at the company’s Sydney WorkLife showroom, at 75 Elizabeth St.
Above: The undercarriage has reasonably thick steel, with tubular columns attached to the upper frame using bolts.
5 Things I Hate About The Steelcase Migration SE.
Despite its strengths, the standing desk has several quirks and downsides:
- Limited Adjustment Height: Raised feet and tubular legs limit minimum height adjustment height to 65cm, posing a problem for the shortest users. For context, most standing desks will lower to 60cm. (By the way, the upper end of the range is excellent, topping out at 125cm – this will satisfy people as tall as 195cm in height).
- High Cost: Yes, almost $2,000 is steep, but treating this as a business faux pas would be a mistake. Steelcase is a premium brand, and the high price is part of the appeal. It acts as a filter that screens out “undesirables”, adding to the desk’s signalling value.
- Small Desktop Sizes: The 120cm desktop is tiny but will suit people with limited office space. Meanwhile, the 140cm desktop is 10cm shy of the industry-standard 150cm. It’s also 5cm shallower. People who run multiple monitors will find it too squishy.
- The “Flip Top” Aesthetic: As I mentioned above, this feature has a lot of potential, but it needs a better design. Without cutouts for the cables, the lid will stay partially open to allow the cables to pass through. It looks unfinished, taking away from the Migration SE Pro’s sleek look.
Above: Steelcase’s 4-button programmable controller. There are also manual height adjustment buttons you can use on the fly.
Important!
Steelcase doesn’t offer a risk-free trial, but it provides a (very limited) 14-day Change-Of-Mind refund option. You can return the desk if you pay a $119 restocking fee and the desk is in “as new” condition. You’ll also have to forfeit the delivery cost and pay for the return shipping. The latter won’t be cheap, as you’ll be sending a heavy item from a residential address.
Technical Specifications.
Key facts you need to know before you buy:
| Height Range | 65-125cm |
| Motor Speed | 38mm/sec |
| Max Load | 125 kg |
| Desktop Size | 120×70 cm or 140×70 cm |
Is The Steelcase Migration SE A Good Buy?
Above: The Migration SE Pro in an extended position. Traditional T-leg bottom-glide system design with round segments is on full display.
Is the Steelcase Migration SE worth almost $2,000? It depends on what type of buyer you are. Buyers:
- Looking for a practical, cost-effective, long-lasting desk will find more value in Bamboo and softwood-topped Desky, Stand Desk and UpDown products.
- Who view themselves as more sophisticated and/or as having an eye for excellent design will think the Migration SE Pro is worth every penny.
Sadly, most standing desks look the same. That is, like light commercial appliances. The Migration SE’s designers worked very hard to make it look like a stylish desk that also happens to go up and down.
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