If you live in a small apartment or house but want a versatile working environment, a small standing desk is a great solution.
Nowadays, more and more of us are working from home and need to create an office space, sometimes with dual monitors on the desk as well.
The problem is that many (particularly city folks and students) live in compact accommodations and have to carve out a little corner somewhere in which to work.
Needless to say, it’s not the best for you if you already suffer from back pain during the workday.
Working in smaller spaces is tough enough, but having an unsuitable desk makes everything ten times more complicated than it needs to be, especially if you are two people sharing a desk.
Small, height-adjustable standing desks are a godsend. They give you a comfortable and ergonomic place to work without taking up more space in your living room.
I only wish they were around during my time at university.
What Are The Best Small Standing Desks of 2023?
If you live in a small space, check out the best small electric standing desks below. They’re packed with features to make any home office a joy to work in.
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1. SmartDesk Core
Best standing desk for small spaces – SmartDesk Core
Brand: Autonomous
Height and Dimensions: 29.4” to 48” / 53” x 29”
Price: Starting at $499
The SmartDesk Core is one of the best sit/stand desks available right now. And just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s not mighty. It can handle a weight load of 220 lbs and can even work as a gaming desk.
Available in three colors, the desk features a solid steel frame, while the work surface is made from durable MDF. The clean and simple aesthetic will look great in any home, and cable management is easy with the included cable ties.
The lifting mechanism is powered by a near-silent dual motor that can be programmed to save your preferred working heights.
All Autonomous desks have a five-year warranty, which is a testament to the quality materials and workmanship used in their construction.
Customers love using this work desk in their home environment and report that it’s reliable and sturdy even after years of use.
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2. Cooper Standing Desk Converter
Best desk converter – Cooper Standing Desk Converter
Brand: Fully
Height and Dimensions: 5.9” to 19.7” / 31.9″ x 18.6″ (Size S)
Price: Starting at $239.20
If you already have a regular desk that is the right size, a desk converter is a great way to give yourself the option to stand.
The Cooper converter looks great and has different color and size options available to match your existing office furniture. The riser is constructed from sustainable bamboo or powder-coated MDF and is scratch resistant.
Although not electric, the lifting mechanism is hydraulic, so you can do it with one hand and with no effort. The laptop desk can handle 36 lbs of weight—just enough for a large monitor, keyboard, keypad, and a mouse.
The separate keyboard tray is a nice touch and can be raised along the monitor shelf or left on the desk’s surface. This means you don’t have to move everything if you want to sit and work.
The added advantage is that this converter makes a perfect mobile standing desk, so if you work on the go a lot, you can bring it with you.
Customers rave about the design of this product and love how it looks. They also love how easy the lifting mechanism is to operate and how versatile the product is.
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3. ZipDesk
Best for fast shipping and setup – ZipDesk
Brand: ZipDesk
Height and Dimensions: 22.4” to 48.5”
Price: Starting at $656
If you need a standing office desk like yesterday, the ZipDesk is the one for you. American-made, the desk can be delivered to your door in just a day, and it is the only standing desk that comes delivered in one box.
You can assemble and set up this desk in under five minutes. No tools or DIY knowledge is required!
The dual motor can handle 265 lbs. and has a fully programmable digital controller with an LCD readout. You can save and use your favorite height settings if you download the app and pair it with Bluetooth.
If you need more space, you can buy and set up matching monitor arms or a monitor stand. To prevent accidents, the desk has an anti-collision and tilt-over detection device built in.
The makers of computer desks offer a huge 10-year warranty and a 100-day satisfaction guarantee, so you don’t have to worry about trying them out.
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4. The Captain’s Standing Desk
Best premium compact desk – The Captain’s Standing Desk
Brand: IMOVR
Height and Dimensions: 27.35”-47.5” / 41” x 27”
Price: Starting at $2,450
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. This Captain’s standing desk is a real statement piece made from high-quality materials.
The solid wood surface is available in a range of finishes. The desk has a grommet for organizing cables and a built-in drawer for more storage. The smallest size is only 41″ wide, which is perfect for fitting your office chair in small spaces.
The lifting mechanism can handle 225 lbs, and you get an inbuilt “health coach” that reminds you when to change working positions. With the app and Bluetooth, you can control the height range from a distance and set your favorite heights.
This writing desk comes 90% assembled, so you don’t have to waste time constructing it, and it comes with a 15-year warranty.
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5. Tempered Glass Lumi Series
Best for storage and tech – Tempered Glass Lumi Series
Brand: ApexDesk
Height and Dimensions: 30” to 47.7” / 47” x 23”
Price: Starting at $399.99
The ApexDesk tempered glass surface is another eye-catching statement desk. The touch-screen control panel is built into the desk’s surface, and it has three memory presets that can be set to your own preferences.
Available in black or white, the desk features a storage drawer and a 2.4-amp USB input to charge your phone or tablet.
The frame is constructed from solid steel for stability and wobble resistance. The tempered glass tabletop is wipe-clean and can handle 130 lbs of equipment.
Customers are impressed with the quality of the workmanship on this desk and how quick and straightforward it is to assemble. They also write positively about how stylish and attractive the design of this desk is.
What to Consider When Buying a Small Standing Desk?
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1. The Size of the Desk
Size is crucial when choosing a standing desk for small spaces. Therefore, measure the available area in your room to select a desk that fits appropriately without taking up too much extra space.
The good news is that many stand-up desks come in two or more sizes, so you can pick the perfect shape when you find one you like.
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2. What Equipment it Needs to Hold
A small desk is no good if it won’t accommodate all your equipment. Useful space-saving features like keyboard trays, integrated drawers, and headphones hooks allow you to place everything in your workspace in an intelligent way.
So, if you need your desk to hold a lot of equipment, choose a desk that will easily accommodate everything.
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3. The Weight Capacity
Smaller standing tables usually have a desk frame that can only handle a limited amount of weight. If you have a lot of heavy equipment, you must first understand what weight capacity you need.
Before purchasing a desk, weigh all your equipment so you know what weight capacity you must look for.
Small Standing Desk FAQs
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Is a Small Standing Desk Worth Your Money?
Small spaces limit the size and shape of the desk you can have. For example, L-shaped desks are usually unsuitable for compact living spaces.
With a height-adjustable standing desk, you can change how you work without taking up more space on your floor.
And having the functionality to switch to a standing position helps prevent back strain and pain and reduce fatigue.
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Does a Small Standing Desk Help With Ergonomics?
It’s unhealthy to remain seated for long periods. Doing so puts strain on your body and can contribute to neck and back problems.
If you can stand and work, it stretches out the body and maintains proper spinal alignment, thus lessening strain and tension. You also burn more calories when standing which is a nice plus!