Why are electric desks so expensive?

Adjustable sit/stand desks are a great way to improve your mobility if you typically sit down all day. As pieces of furniture, though, they can can go from the incredibly cheap and cheerful to the near-ludicrously expensive, and everything in between.

The Uplift V2 desk with Saman Butcher Block hardwood surface looks and feels gorgeous. It's also ... [+] incredibly heavy.

For the past few years, I've been using the most affordable full-size standing desk I could find when I bought it: A $300 frame from Flexispot, that I added to with a desk surface from a previous desk.

But when I got the chance to test something much fancier (and much more expensive) from Uplift, I was intrigued. How does the $1,200 Uplift V2 (that's at least $770 without a fancy solid wood surface) compare to my comparatively cheap standing desk solution? Is a desk that much more expensive, that much better? And is it worth upgrading from a cheap standing desk to an expensive one?

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What Do You Get For Your Money?

My original standing desk was, by choice, one of the most affordable full standing desks I could find at the time. The Flexispot E2B is a steel, dual-motor desk frame, with a 220-pound load capacity, an adjustable height range of 28-47-inches, anti-collision detection, and a five year warranty for the frame (three years for the motor).

This is a Flexispot E2B standing desk frame, fitted with a vinyl-coated chipboard desk surface, and ... [+] a couple of stick-on, under-slung plastic drawers.

I had to source my own desk surface, but I could detach the legs from the previous cheap office desk I had pretty easily and it fit nicely, giving me a very functional standing desk which I subsequently used every day for four years. Total cost, $320.

The Uplift V2 included both the frame itself and the desk surface, making it more expensive off the bat. The frame has a 25.3-55.9 inch height range with a triple leg design, which Uplift claims makes the desk faster and gives it more height range than its contemporaries. It has an overall lifting capacity of 355lbs, dual motors, an anti-collision sensor, and a whopping 15-year warranty.

Amazon

UPLIFT Standing Desk V2

The standard desk comes with this frame, plus desk surface options of various laminate wood effects or a white board which you can draw on to your heart's content. It includes a basic up and down motor controller with no memory functions, three free accessories and free shipping. With a comparable-sized laminate surface measuring 60 x 30 inches, it starts at $769.

This desk, however, is fitted with a Saman Butcher Block hardwood desk surface, which tacks on a not-inconsiderable $450 to the price tag. As an example of a more premium standing desk, it's also fitted with the advanced paddle controller. Total cost, $1,280.

What's The Difference Between a Cheap And Expensive Standing Desk?

The important takeaway from any standing desk, is that the more you spend, the nicer the experience. The experience itself, though, is still the same. By that I mean that whether you're using a super expensive, gorgeously surfaced standing desk, or one of those desk converters that let you lift up your keyboard and monitor to a standing height, you can stand and work. You become more mobile and gain all of the benefits of working long hours from a more versatile position.

Flexispot

Flexispot EC3/EC4 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk Frame

The above standing desk frame is the closest option Flexispot sells today. It's better than my original E2B, with a three stage motor of its own, and greater range of possible heights.

In the same way, the core experience of both the $320 Flexispot frame and the $1100+ Uplift V2 desk is much the same. Both allow me to sit in my chair for work and play, and when I want to stand, I can lift them up to a standing height. They both remember my preferred heights (although the Uplift's fancy paddle controller only has two. The Flexispot frame remembers three). They both have timer alarms to remind you to stand again after short periods, and they both move up and down relatively quickly.

If you just want a standing desk and aren't concerned about all the little extras that make the experience of using it that bit nicer, a cheap standing desk that costs you as little as possible is almost as good. But it isn't as good.

The Uplift V2 is much more stable than my Flexispot frame. The incredibly heavy desk surface helps there, but the frame is much more sturdy too. The Flexispot frame with borrowed desk surface wobbles when you lean on it, and bounces around a bit as it lifts up and down. The Uplift is super smooth and only shifts by a fraction of an inch even if you lean most of your weight in the middle of the leading edge.

Each Uplift V2 comes with these clever accessory mounting points, that make it easy to add desk ... [+] extensions, desktop PC holders, and a range of other accessories which you can purchase later.

The motors are quieter too, with Uplift's "less than 50 decibels" rating underselling how quiet it is when raising and lowering. It's much faster, going between positions in just a few seconds, whereas the Flexispot desk, especially when not using its memory functions, moves pretty slowly.

The Uplift frame has a better finish with smoother edges; better paintwork; more metal, less plastic; color-coded screws; cutouts in the desk surface for cable management; generous free accessories; and a range off add-on options which make Uplift more than just a standing desk manufacturer.

The Saban butcher block hardwood is beautiful, with a fantastic finish.

The desk surface too, is absolutely gorgeous. The finish is super smooth, and the grain of the wood is beautiful to look at. There are a couple of blemishes, but they're rare and hard to see. It's easily one of the best looking pieces of furniture I've ever had in my home.

All of this makes the Uplift V2 the superior standing desk in every way possible. It's nicer to use, nicer to look at, more stable, able to support more weight, has a much longer warranty, and can act as a standout piece of furniture in your home or office.

As far as acting as a standing desk though, it doesn't do much that the vastly more affordable Flexispot frame does.

Are Expensive Standing Desks Worth it?

It's tempting to consider standing desks like other pieces of furniture in your home. There's a very good argument for spending more on a mattress or sofa, because the core experience is changed by that added investment. They're more comfortable to use and more supportive.

There is a serious, tangible difference that can make spending that bit more worthwhile. It's different with a standing desk, because the core experience of a relatively affordable standing desk and an expensive one is pretty close.

The Uplift V2 has heaps of cable tidy locations, and comes with some wire management solutions (not ... [+] the clear plastic options pictured) which help make the desk look neat and tidy underneath.

There is absolutely no denying that in this scenario, the Uplift V2 is the overall better standing desk. It's quieter, faster, has a greater height range, is more stable, has a better range of accessories, and comes with a bunch of free ones to sweeten the deal. The long 15-year warranty is a nice touch too.

And it looks absolutely amazing. But is it $900 better? No. Not for the kind of money I typically spend on myself and can afford.

The $770 standard desk, though? That's a much more compelling a price for me. The laminate options still look great, and the overall desk is almost identical. It's around double the price, but if you plan to use the desk for years, it may well be worth the added investment.

The advanced paddle keypad is a great example of what makes the Uplift V2 great, but more than you ... [+] actually need. It's super handy, and a really nice touch. But completely unnecessary.

I absolutely adore the hardwood surface on this desk, and wish I had more furniture like it. But with what I earn, with the kind of things I like to spend my money on, it's hard to justify that added cost.

So, are expensive standing desks worth it? Maybe, but not if all you need is function over form. If you're looking to just save your back, save your money too. If you're willing to pay to get a load of nice extras, though, there's no taking away from how simply lovely the Uplift V2 is to use—especially with a few little extras and that beautiful desk surface. Just know that the overall experience isn't drastically changed, no matter how much more you spend.

For years, the Uplift V2 Standing Desk has been our pick for the best standing desk for most people. It accommodates a wide range of heights, and it’s stable even at its tallest setting. And it has a greater variety of attractive customization options than you’ll find on any competitor.

Want a productivity and energy boost? Push a button to raise the desk so you can move a little while working. Feel like leaning back in your chair for some deep focus time? Push another button to lower the desk.

An electric, height-adjustable standing desk provides the best of both worlds.

No matter how great your office chair is, you’re not doing your body any favors by sitting in it for the whole day. But being on your feet constantly isn’t good for your comfort or health, either.

This desk works well for small spaces, and it has a height-adjustment range that’s ideal for people between 5-foot-8 and 6-foot-5. But the controls aren’t intuitive and have limited preset options.

The laminate-desktop version is made mostly from recycled wood, and it’s available in seven finishes. It has the same frame options as the other Jarvis desks.

This attractive desk is pleasant to work on, and it has a lower base price than many competitors. It’s available in small sizes, and it accommodates people under 5-foot-4 better than the Uplift V2. But it’s not as customizable.

This is the most customizable desk we’ve ever tested, and it works for a wide range of heights (people between 5-foot-4 and 7 feet).

We favored desks with 30-day refunds (at least), free return shipping, and assembly that’s no more challenging than for IKEA furniture.

Your workspace is highly personal, and that includes your desk. So we looked for models that offered lots of customization options.

Since good desks are a big investment, we think they should come with excellent, fast customer service and at least a five-year warranty.

We selected desks with frames that fit people under 5-foot-4 (the average height of US women), as well as those suited to taller people.

Of the desks we’ve tested, the Uplift V2 Standing Desk offers the best mix of performance and features. It responds quickly to control-pad input (from your choice of five keypad designs), and it produces minimal wobble, even at tall heights.

It accommodates average seated and standing heights for men and women. But if you’re under 5-foot-4, this desk likely won’t work for you if you don’t use a footrest. In that case, we recommend the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk or the Fully Jarvis Laminate Standing Desk with the three-stage low-range frame.

We found the Uplift V2’s walnut laminate to be attractive and realistic, and panelists loved the look of the 1-inch curved bamboo desktop, as well. If you’d prefer a different style, Uplift has more than 30 desktop options, including several unusual but expensive wood tops, such as acacia and pheasantwood.

You can also choose from four frame colors, five grommet colors, and three keypad colors, as well as multiple add-on accessories.

The Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk and the Fully Jarvis Laminate Standing Desk have the same frame, with different top options to suit various preferences. These models offer everything we look for in a good adjustable-height standing desk: a wide range of heights to accommodate most people, a long warranty, and stability in line with that of most other desks we tested.

The Jarvis was our top pick for more than four years, and it’s still a great desk—one that’s become even better with frame improvements that have reduced wobbling at all heights.

This desk doesn’t have as many customization options as the Uplift V2. But when it’s equipped with its three-stage low-range frame, it works for people as short as 4-foot-9.

The laminate tops we tested look great but are prone to smudging, so if you can spend a bit more, we recommend the bamboo top.

We like that the Branch Duo Standing Desk comes with a compact, 36-by-24-inch desktop that works well for small spaces, like a home office or studio apartment.

Surprisingly for a small desk, it has a two-tier lifting column that’s ideal for people between 5-foot-8 and 6-foot-5. Most other two-tier lifting columns we’ve found accommodate narrower height ranges, such as between 5-foot-8 and 6 feet. While the Duo’s height adjustment range of 28 to 47.5 inches works best for taller people, even our 5-foot-tall panelists and a panelist in an electric wheelchair said they could adjust it to their liking. (It’s best to find your height preferences and consider your ergonomic setup before selecting a good standing desk.)

But the Branch Duo has only five laminate finishes, and it doesn’t offer nearly as many customizable features as our Uplift and Fully picks. The control paddle can also be clunky to use, and it can’t accommodate more than two presets, which may be an issue in multi-user households or offices.