Sitting, working at your laptop can put a strain on your posture, arms, wrists, neck and shoulders. Investing in a standing desk can improve your posture and increase your productivity.

For the last few months I’ve become more aware of how much time I was spending sitting. Often this is because more of my workshops and training sessions are now on Zoom, sometimes I get absorbed working on a project for a couple of hours before taking a break.

I already have the separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and laptop stand and an office chair to make working at home more comfortable and less of an impact on my posture but I’ve finally invested in a standing desk.

There are also numerous options for laptop stands. From those you just prop the laptop on – fixed or adjustable. I’ve used one of these for years but was always moving it onto something else to raise the height for Zoom calls, so a standing desk made sense, particularly with working from home means spending several hours a day sitting.

Not wanting to invest in a whole new standing desk which can be raised and lowered as needed, I’ve bought one which sits on my existing desk. The versions I looked into and have listed below, all have adjustable shelves and some will support a separate monitor, not just your laptop.

All these are similar in style, consisting of a wooden upright with slots for placing two or more shelves at different heights. The variations come in style, number of shelves, height and of course price. You can purchase extra shelves in some instances.

Things to consider:

There are a few things you might need to consider when choosing a standing desk that meets your needs.

• How much equipment do you want/need space for?
• How much space do you have where you plan to place it? I’ve listed the Base size but most specify allowing 50cm x 50cm.
• Whether you want a wider shelf with room either side for more than a keyboard and mouse … cup of coffee, water, phone, tablet, speakers, pens, notebook etc.
• How portable you want it to be. Do you want/need to put it up and down each day or move it around within a home office environment or even take it to a different location, remote working, hot-desking etc.
• Do you use a separate monitor and how large is it? Is the stand strong enough and stable enough to support a monitor.

As there are several models out there and I thought I’d share the four main ones I looked at before finally settling on one made by Helves. I’ve included the measurements of each one to give you an idea of the difference in sizes. Not much in most cases, mainly the width of the shelves.

Helves £157

Website: https://www.helves.co

Made in the UK, simple, birch plywood with 3 shelves. Perhaps the bulkiest/heaviest, so this is better for a more permanent solution. It does have an extra shelf as standard, for different settings. The smaller shelf is ideal for a smartphone, tablet or notebook. I’ve actually got my 44cm monitor sitting on it. Another small (middle) shelf might be a helpful addition.

When I first unpacked it, my first reaction was it was going to be too big and heavy! But as I don’t intend to take it up and down every day, it’s actually been fine, even in my relatively small office.

The larger, bottom shelf has plenty of space for your laptop, if seated, or your keyboard, mouse and a cup of coffee, if standing. I can just raise the laptop lid to use the camera, when on a Zoom call.

It’s pretty easy to move the shelves up and down to switch between sitting and standing. I move the keyboard and mouse down to the desk from the wider shelf when sitting and back up if standing. Moving the monitor up two or three slots and insert the top laptop shelf or move the laptop to the side on the wider, bottom shelf.

I’m not tall so the monitor is at a good height for me, with 4 slots remaining when I’m standing. You’ll need to move the stand forward a few centimetres when standing and push it back when sitting, so the keyboard is in the right position.

There’s space underneath the stand, not quite wide enough to slide the keyboard away but useful space for pens, notebook, charger or other desk bits and pieces. That and the third shelf are the main reasons I went for this option.

It comes in bare plywood, lovely smell of wood for the first few days. It’s a little rough around the edges but nothing a quick sandpaper would smooth off, if you wanted. You can leave as is or paint or varnish it.

• Measurements:
  • Height: 82cm
  • Bottom shelf: 76cm x 25cm (width – depth)
  • Middle shelf: 39cm x 14cm (width – depth
  • Top shelf: 39cm x 33cm (width – depth)
  • Base: 43cm x 40cm
  • Weight: 9kg
  • Load: 10kg

Harmoni £179

Website: https://harmoni.design

Very similar to the Helves standing desk and available in different wood options (birch, oak or walnut, the last two are more expensive) which look more finished and smarter. It’s a little slimmer and lighter and has two shelves (see image). Easy if you’re just using a laptop as your screen, would need to swap out if you were using a monitor.

As this is lighter, it might be a little easier to move around or dismantle and use in different places around the home or office or when working remotely. It’s still solid enough to use with a separate monitor.

This would have been my second choice.

• Measurements:
  • Height: 80cm
  • Bottom shelf: 80cm x 24cm (width – depth)
  • Top shelf: 35cm x 25cm (width – depth)
  • Base: 35cm x 40cm
  • Weight: 7kg
  • Load: 10kg

Deskmate £170

Website: Deskmate Stan2

While this company also provides a range of cardboard stands, they have a wooden version of the standing desk similar to the previous two.

The lightest and shortest of all, with two shelves. It would certainly be quick and easy to put up and take down if you’re working at a temporary desk, kitchen, dining table or hot-desking.

Supports screens up to 68cm. The bottom shelf is slightly deeper but both shelves appear to be the same width. There is space for a keyboard and mouse but less space for other things.

• Measurements:
  • Height: 87cm
  • Bottom shelf: 58cm x 32cm (width – depth)
  • Top shelf: 58cm x 27cm (width – depth)
  • Base: 37cm x 50cm
  • Weight: 3kg
  • Load: 10kg

Upstaa £144 (excl VAT)

Website: https://ergo2work.co.uk/item/451-2292/upstaa-xl-birch

Another two shelf version. Comes in white, black and plain wood. A lighter version, but half the load capacity of the others. It has a narrower bottom shelf. Very similar to the Harmoni desk but lighter.

Again a good, light option if you need something you put up and take down on a daily basis.

• Measurements:
  • Height: 80cm
  • Bottom shelf: 80cm x 20cm (width – depth)
  • Top shelf: 35cm x 25cm (width – depth)
  • Base: 37cm x 50cm
  • Weight: 5kg
  • Load: 4kg

These are just a selection of the standing desks available and there are other styles suited to just a laptop. Prices are correct at the time of writing. Offers and discounts are available when you visit most of the sites. Shipping may be extra.

I hope you’ve found this useful, let me know in the comments. Have you used a standing desk, one of those I mention or something different? What’s your experience been and what are your best home office furniture, tools and gadgets?

Get tips on how to work more effectively from home in the free ebook – download by clicking HERE.

Further reading:

Working from home during a crisis

Dealing with the challenges of working from home