Last updated: November 19th, 2025
My love affair with UpDown desks started four years ago. I was using an el cheapo Artiss at the time – and was reasonably happy with it. But a gentleman from UpDown reached out, asking if I’d be interested in reviewing an UpDown Pro.
Little did I know that I’d rank it the best standing desk in Australia four years in a row.
But UpDown didn’t rest on its laurels. They upgraded the desk again in October, releasing the long-awaited Pro+ model.
Today, I’ll give you several reasons to buy it – and several to look elsewhere.
But you don’t need to read another generic review of the UpDown Pro+.
Therefore, I won’t dwell on features covered by other reviewers, which are, frankly, expected in the price segment that UpDown Pro+ competes in. For example:
- Anti-collision sensor.
- Dual motors.
- Child lock.
Instead of covering this well-worn ground, I want to dig into more nuanced aspects of ownership and answer the real question – is the UpDown Pro+ worth your money?
Reasons To Buy And Avoid The UpDown Pro+.
- 100-day money back guarantee.
- The most heavy-duty steel frame of all standing desks in Australia.
- Desktops to suit most taste. You get budget, softwood and hardwood options.
- Responsive, cluey customer support with a 4.9 star Google review rating.
- Height range (61.5-127cm) might not be low enough if you’re shorter than 160cm.
- 75cm desktop depth might not fit small home offices.
- Not cheap!
Today’s Best Deals.
5 Things I Love About the UpDown Pro+.
There’s a lot to like.
Apart from the 100-day, money-back guarantee that covers your investment, the UpDown Pro+ has several features that I find very enticing.
Above: My UpDown Pro+ series with a 150cm New Messmate desktop. Plenty of space for two laptops side-by-side.
1. Build Quality Of The Frame.
The first thing you notice about the UpDown Pro+ standing desk is how reassuringly heavy and solid its metal frame is. This is a welcome change in 2025, when most furniture seems flimsy and disposable Ikea-grade stuff.
The frame feels as bulletproof as the steel bullbar bolted to the front of my 4WD.
Above: Open the cardboard boxes and you’ll be greeted by solid steel beams and satisfyingly chunky legs.
Because of this chunky frame, the desk has a low centre of gravity, which helps it remain very sturdy.
For most people, the standing height of the desk would be roughly 90-100cm. At that height, the desk has almost zero front-back and side-side wobble.
I’m unusually tall (200cm), and set my desk to 115cm when standing.
At this height, deliberately pushing the desk around induces noticeable wobble. But to be fair – every standing desk performs the same or worse at this elevation.
Important!
In my experience, even the best standing desks wobble a little when fully extended. You can’t cheat physics – the telescopic arms need tiny tolerance gaps between them to move without jamming. The further you extend the sections, the larger the angle differential between them becomes.
2. Gorgeous Hardwood Desktops.
I’m a big fan of modern wood furniture and have a long history of buying hardwood dining tables for my homes.
Aesthetics aside, I don’t like standing desks made from cheap particle board – because I clamp a lot of equipment to my desktop and don’t want to worry about things breaking, sagging or creating indents.
Above: The New Messmate desktop showing streaks of morning sun. The naturally occurring wood knots create a striking pattern.
My UpDown Pro+ standing desk is optioned with a New Messmate desktop, so this is the only one I can speak about from first-hand experience.
If New Messmate wasn’t available, I’d choose one of the other hardwoods.
If I had a tight budget, I’d go with the understated style of black melamine or bamboo.
Expert Tip.
Want to see what a black melamine desktop looks like? Check out my review of the Omnidesk Ascent.
Keep reading to see my top 5 hardwood picks in the UpDown Pro+ range.
3. Bulletproof Electronics.
After hearing horror stories of cheap standing desks seizing halfway due to motor failure, I’m happy to report that no such gremlins exist in the UpDown Pro+.
Remember that Simpsons episode where Homer discovers an electronic bed?
This pretty much sums up my experience with the UpDown Pro+. I raise and lower it a few times daily, and it’s never missed a beat.
Admittedly, the 40mm/sec speed is on the lower end of the 40-60mm/sec range you’ll get with competitors, like Omnidesk and Stand Desk (read my full review of Stand Desk), but it’s still very fast.
Four memory presets are surprisingly useful. I use all of them and have programmed them like this:
- 1: Ergonomic seated position (wrists are parallel with the desk).
- 2: Meetings / pondering / management mode.
- 3: Ergonomic standing position (wrists are parallel with the desk).
- 4: Max height (leaning an elbow into the desk).
The motors make a whirring noise while the desk operates, but the sound is not harsh or intrusive.
4. 100-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
You can physically inspect an UpDown desk before buying in either Dee Why (Sydney) or Hawthorn (Melbourne).
If that’s not convenient, you can buy one sight unseen, knowing that the company will let you return the desk within 100 days of purchase.
You’ll get your money back, but will have to pay $49.90 for return postage. And you won’t get the $49.90 you paid for original delivery, either.
Important!
UpDown will arrange to pick up your desk from your home. You won’t have to lug it to the post office.
5. Integrated Power Boards.
Hallelujah.
UpDown Pro+ finally has an integrated cable management tray.
Above: The integrated power tray hinges on the rear for easy access, and will hold up to two 4-socket power boards.
If you’ve been following my standing desk reviews, you know that I’ve consistently criticised the brand for its so-so cable management system.
But now, your UpDown Pro+ can be specced with a superior hinged model with up to 8 external-facing power outlets.
This is excellent, as it allows you to plug peripherals in and out on the fly, without having to climb under the desk and rummage through the cable channel.
Expert Tip.
You can’t simply jam any power board from Bunnings into the tray. It’s only compatible with UpDown-sourced boards, which cost $59 for a single and $129 for a double.
6. New Height Controller Is World-Class.
I also used to complain about the Pro’s height controller.
While it did its job, it looked dated compared with larger, clearer OLED display-equipped controllers by Desky and Omnidesk.
Alhamdulillah (have you had enough of my religious quips yet?), the Pro+’s most significant upgrade is its height controller.
Above: The new height controller is excellent. Tapered edges make it less likely to damage your chair (or thigh).
You now get a snazzy OLED screen and a USB-C port as standard, plus a snooze button that reminds you to stand.
2 Things I Don’t Like About The UpDown Desk.
While I mostly love the UpDown Pro+ sit-stand desk, 4 years of solid use have highlighted a few opportunities for improvement.
1. Can Be Too Large (Or Not Go Low Enough).
UpDown Pro+’s height range spans 61.5-127cm, which will suit 95% of the Australian population.
That said, some desks (e.g., Omnidesk and Desky) go as low as 60cm, making them more suited to short bodies.
Above: The UpDown Pro+ showing off its undercarriage at full extension.
Expert Tip.
If you’re shorter than 160cm, double-check that UpDown’s 61.5cm minimum height works for you. Measure it out, sit in your office chair and check that your forearms and thighs are parallel to the ground.
The fixed 75cm desktop depth can also be a sticking point if you live in a tiny apartment.
While UpDown offers three desktop widths (120, 150 and 180 cm), you’re stuck with only one depth choice.
Expert Tip.
Check whether the desktop depth is right for your space by measuring the exact dimensions on the ground.
2. It’s Not Cheap!
The cheapest UpDown Pro+ is a Melamine desktop version, which will set you back $799 for a 120cm wide model, or $849 for the 150cm.
If you want a dual-motor, premium standing desk from a reputable Australian company, covered by a superb warranty, this is the amount of dough you’ll need to cough up.
You do get what you pay for.
However, if you can’t stretch the budget, consider that a budget-oriented Artiss I mentioned at the start is almost 3 times cheaper!
Yes, the Artiss has a terrible 1-year warranty, a rubbery MDF desktop and a thinner frame with a single cross-member.
But you know what? It also doesn’t wobble, and also goes up and down. I owned one for a couple of years, and it never missed a beat.
How Does UpDown Pro+ Compare Against Other Desks?
The marketplace is getting crowded, giving you, the consumer, many choices.
I’ve written a comprehensive review of the best standing desks in Australia that you may want to delve into when you have 20+ minutes to spare, but for the moment, let’s do a rapid 5-minute analysis of how the Updown Pro+ stacks up against the competition.
UpDown Desk vs Desky.
Desky is a fantastic Aussie company that sells top-quality standing desks. They offer a wide range of wood colours and desktop sizes similar to UpDown.
- Desky frames weigh about 5kg less, suggesting they don’t use as much metal in their construction.
However, Desky’s range of accessories and desktops is slightly better than UpDown’s.
- While Desky doesn’t offer money-back guarantees, it’s rapidly expanding its network of stockists across Australia, so you can see and touch its desks before you buy one.
With 4 locations in Queensland, 4 in NSW and 1 in Victoria, there’s a decent chance that there’s a Desky retailer near you.
UpDown Desk vs Artiss.
Artiss’ main selling point is its affordability. You can pick one up for about $300.
However, they are nowhere near as well-made as UpDown Pro+ desks.
- With a weight rating of 100 kg (vs UpDown’s 160 kg), the Artiss will probably do an excellent job for a few years, then end up at the rubbish tip.
- The UpDown Pro+ meanwhile, will be a desk you buy for life.
Artiss’ colour choices are pretty old-school, too. You get a light and a dark colour option; the light reminds me of inexpensive school furniture, while the dark one has “old man” vibes.
To sum up, it’s a practical standing desk for practical people.
You won’t be very excited by it, but it won’t blow the budget and will probably last for some time – as long as you don’t push it too hard.
UpDownn Desk vs Stand Desk.
A relative newcomer to the Australian market, Stand Desk offers a few unique features.
For example, its desktop includes a built-in wireless charger, so you have one less cable cluttering your workspace.
With a strong focus on sustainability, the brand only offers Bamboo desktops in 3 colours and a few hardwood options.
Frequently Asked Questions About The UpDown Desk.
Here are some questions you’re probably asking yourself. Hopefully, I can provide the answer.
What Is The Warranty Like?
The UpDown Pro+ comes with a 10-year warranty on the frame and 5 years on the desktop. This is one of the best warranties in the business, and it shows that UpDown is confident in the quality of its products.
Does The Desktop Scratch Easily?
Not easily, but you will notice minor wear if you don’t use a desktop mat. I purchased mine from Minimalist Desk Setups.
Apart from preventing scratches, it elevates the desktop’s appearance by creating a central focal point.
Is The UpDown Desk Easy To Assemble?
Yes. The desk comes with clear instructions and all the necessary hardware.
You will, however, need to supply your own Philips head screwdriver.
- If you’ve never assembled a standing desk before, expect the process to take longer than the 20-30 minute stated estimate from UpDown.
- I’ve assembled about a dozen standing desks in my home office by now, and every time the process takes about 1 hour.
What Are The Accessories Like?
UpDown offers quite a few accessories that you can use to build an ergonomic, comfortable and practical home office.
As a bare minimum, I recommend that you purchase:
- Anti-fatigue mat ($99)
- Metal drawer ($149)
- Cable holes and grommets ($84)
I noticed that UpDown includes some at no extra charge during certain promotions; if you see one, jump on it.
Expert Tip.
A lot of aftermarket accessories are available beyond the UpDown ecosystem. Search for “standing desk accessories” on Amazon and watch your money disappear 🙂
What Is The Customer Service Like?
I haven’t needed to use UpDown’s customer service for anything, but a friend bought two desks and reported that their customer service team was outstanding.
He accidentally ordered a desktop of the wrong size, and UpDown quickly came to the party to help him resolve the issue.
Which Size Of Desktop Is Right For You?
The UpDown Pro+ is available in 3 sizes:
- 120 X 75cm.
- 150 X 75cm.
- 180 X 75cm.
Note that the depth of the desk remains the same, regardless of size. Only the width changes.
My desk is the mid-size option, at 150cm in width. It’s ideal for home office setups with a dedicated mid-size room.
- If your room is compact, opt for a 120 X 75 cm option.
- If you plan to run a lot of gear – e.g., a couple of monitors and multiple hard drives – choose the larger 180 X 75 cm option instead.
Which Desktop Colour Is Best?
It’s no secret that I’m a hardwood tragic. If I had to choose my top 5 wood choices and rank them in order of preference, I’d pick:
- New Messmate (gorgeous, modern, clean, dramatic).
- Recycled Messmate (less clean, even more dramatic).
- Pheasantwood (the most dramatic, with hipster vibes).
- Victorian Ash (very clean, very little drama).
- Acacia (cool parquetry-like pattern).
Are UpDown Pro+ Desks Sustainable?
Mostly.
Recycled Messmate, for example, is made from reclaimed hardwood.
It’s also cool to think that a bit of Australian heritage may be built into your home office. What if your desktop contains a chunk of the old MCG or an ancient railway sleeper?
Similarly, Rubberwood is gathered near the end of its life, making it a 100% eco-friendly option.
Final Thoughts About The UpDown Pro+.
While a motivated reviewer will find some perceived flaws in almost any product, you have to be very picky to find a reason not to use the UpDown Pro+ standing desk as the foundation of your home office.
It does everything that matters right.
A strong build, gorgeous wood choices, and solid electronics make this the last standing desk you’ll need to buy.
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