The best cheap standing desks are those that are flexible enough to work well in not only your existing workspace, but just about anywhere around your home. Standing while working—even in short spurts—is one of the simplest yet effective things you can do for your health, if you are physically able to. The trouble with standing desks, however, is that they are often too expensive and need replacing otherwise perfect office furniture. But thankfully, there are several affordable and portable alternatives out there. Our favorite overall is the FLEXISPOT Standing Desk Converter because it sits on top of your existing desk or tabletop, and it is incredibly spacious, sturdy, and adjustable. That said, the other options listed here are also worth checking out.
Take a look at the best cheap standing desks
In addition to the standalone electronic and manual desks, FLEXISPOT also makes several desktop units that you can pair with your existing workspace. Out of these, this standing desk converter is hands-down our favorite. The unit consists of two levels—an upper section for your laptop and/or monitor(s) and a lower area for your mouse, keyboard, notepad, and other stuff.
This particular unit (EM7MB) is operated by hand, using two clasps on each side that let you grip down on to raise or lower the desk. The raising mechanism is fluid and smooth enough so that practically anyone can operate it, regardless of coordination or strength. It's also sturdy and doesn't move much when elevated, so you can rest assured that your laptop and monitor will be well-supported. Both levels combined can handle a total weight of 55 pounds.
That said, the most significant downsides to this stand are arguably its weight, size, and assembly process. While it's easy for anyone to operate while in place, getting it up onto the desktop might prove to be challenging. It weighs in at 36.9 pounds and is around 36 by 24 x 5.7 inches in size, so it will take up a quite a big chunk of your existing desk real estate.
This adjustable electric desk might be more of something that you picture when you think of an open-plan office filled with worker bees at their standing desks, but we're sure there's a reason for that. This is an excellent form factor having a wide tabletop, plenty of legroom, and the ability to raise and lower at will with the push of a button.
You can get this desk in many different configurations, sizes, and colors, but we think most will opt for the 48-inch or 55-inch rectangular tabletop models. In addition, you can choose from a black or walnut finish to fit the style of your decor. The desk can be adjusted easily, and there are four memory presets to accommodate the needs of multiple users.
One of the most significant drawbacks to a desk like this is that you don't have much storage space (apart from a wire cord organizer under the desk), so if you want to keep the stand up and clutter-free, you'll need to invest in some boxes or other such storage accessories. Also, once you put this desk where you want it, it's not that easy to move, as it doesn't come with wheels or castors. Just something to keep in mind as you arrange your home office space!
Not only is this standing desk converter a great value, but it's also one of the most versatile and portable options we've come across. The 32-inch top surface makes it fairly manageable enough for most people to move around, while still being plenty for dual monitor or laptop and monitor configurations. Its gas spring mechanism lets you easily change from sitting to standing position with effortless ease, and you also get a simple height-locking mechanism for added convenience.
The stand comes partially assembled so you don't have to fiddle much with setting it up. Rated for a weight of up to 33 pounds, it can easily hold up to two monitors and a bunch of accessories. You get three finishes - Black, Brown, and White - to choose from. Also, the metal and wood construction make it feel quite premium. However, there may be some wobbling issues with the keyboard shelf.
This standing desk looks like it would fit in quite well in a hospital as a nurse's mobile workstation, but it is assuredly flexible enough to fit your needs as well. It's equipped with two desks (or platforms) that can be raised or lowered to suit your work style. You can use one platform for a keyboard and the other for a laptop or monitor, or you can even share the desk with a friend, family member, or coworker in a pinch. There's also a lower storage shelf for keeping anything from a printer to a stack of documents.
The size here is fairly decent, so it's not exactly difficult to take this the standing desk from one place to another. And should you want to move it around in order to make your workstation a truly mobile one, there are three smooth-scrolling castors that can also lock up to ease things up. The desk comes in four different sizes (24, 32, 40, and 48 inches) and three other dual-color finish options (black/silver, black/teak, and silver/walnut), so you're sure to find a version that fits your needs and decor.
Among the cutest desks out there, this one stands at a good height of approximately 42 inches and has plenty of room underneath for your legs, computer workstation, trashcan, or whatever else you might need to hide down there. There is a whole lot of workspace on the main tabletop, which measures 47.25 inches by 23.75 inches, but there's a lot more to like here.
With most spartan standing desks, what you gain in flexibility, you lose in utility with things like storage and compartments. That's not the case here, as it features a riser to put your monitor, lamp, plant, or other accoutrements on and three large cubbies to tuck away notepads and knick-knacks. This desk is available in maple or white finish and is relatively easy to assemble.
The biggest drawback here that we can think of is that this desk can be a little on the shaky side if it's not supported against a wall or other piece of furniture. However, if it's anchored against something more substantial, you shouldn't notice much of a wobble.
We've already seen some reasonable portable standing desk solutions on this list, but this option from Levit8 is the ultimate in portability. It weighs less than a pound and when collapsed, it's roughly the same size as a modern laptop. After a few tries, it's easy to assemble and disassemble quickly, and has such a small footprint that you can turn any flat surface into a platform for your standing desk.
This one comes in four colors: Coral, Sesame, Periwinkle, and our favorite—Sea. You also get to choose from three different heights, namely medium, large, and x-large, which equal to about 12, 14, and 16 inches respectively. All variations have the same width and depth at around 9 by 9 inches.
While we love how cleverly designed this product is, there are a few potential drawbacks to note. The biggest disadvantage of this "desk" is that it can support only one laptop and nothing else. So, if you need or want to use an external keyboard, mouse, or monitor, or if you just want room for notes and a pen, you're out of luck. The other thing to keep in mind is that this product is made out of durable nylon and not regular materials such as metal, wood, or even plastic, so its longevity compared with other solutions is somewhat debatable.
Don't keep sitting when working
The best standing desks have become a sensation in the workplace for several years now, and there's no reason why they can't make a move to the home office as well. One of our absolute favorite standing desk solutions is the FLEXISPOT Standing Desk Converter because it's sturdy, supportive, spacious, and quite easy to operate. It also doesn't require you to disrupt your current decor by getting a completely new desk or workspace but works with what you already have.
If you prefer a complete desk solution instead, there are many great ones to choose from, and more portable options for smaller spaces too. Talking about the latter, we like the foldable standing desk from Levit8. It's extremely compact and easy enough to be taken with you anywhere, and you even get four awesome colors to pick from. However, all this comes at a cost because this desk is only good enough for keeping just a laptop, and nothing else.
Whatever choice suits you and your space, you're sure to come to love the freedom and flexibility that a standing desk can provide — not to mention the health benefits that follow!
