With increasing talk about sitting down being ‘the new smoking’, more and more people are choosing to invest in standing desks. If you’re thinking of doing the same, then be sure to read this guide to standing desks from the Rosehill team first.
What is a standing desk?
A standing desk is a desk which, as the name suggests, allows the user to work whilst standing up, be it using a computer, writing or any other task commonly carried out at a desk.
However, it’s at this point that we need to let you know about an important distinction.
The term standing desk is often used interchangeably with sit stand desk. But, these are two completely different types of desk.
When people talk about standing desks, they can be referring to:
- Standing desks.
- Sit stand desks.
Below, we’ve set out the difference between the two.
What’s the difference between a standing desk and a sit stand desk?
A standing desk is defined as being a desk which is designed only to accommodate working whilst standing up.
That is, they are fixed – like any other traditional desk – but the table-top is at a higher-level (at what is often called ‘standing working height’). In hospitality settings, this type of table that’s fixed at a taller height is known as a ‘poseur’ table.
A sit stand desk, on the other hand, is a desk which can change positions, allowing the user to work at either sitting working height or standing working height.
It’s important to note at this point that you can also purchase sit stand desk conversion units (also known as ‘standing desk converters’). These are units which sit on top of traditional-sized desks, holding your workstation, allowing you to elevate it to standing working height.
Should you buy a standing desk or a sit stand desk?
At this point, you may be wondering which option is best for you. The answer is that it’s mainly down to personal preference and the context in which the desk will be used.
Let us elaborate…
If you’re truly committed to banishing sitting from your working day, then a standing desk will be the best option. Given that a standing desk is ‘fixed’ at standing working height, you’ll have little choice but to remain standing whilst you’re using it.
On the other hand, if you’re going to be doing a mix of sitting and standing throughout the day, then a sit stand desk will provide the flexibility to accommodate this.
There’s also the point about context to consider. Given that everyone has slightly different standing working heights (i.e. we’re all different heights), then a sit stand desk will be more suitable in environments where multiple people may be using the desk (e.g. co-working spaces, breakout areas).
Sit stand desks can be adjusted to different sitting and standing working heights, and are therefore more suitable for multi-use environments.
Your working preferences will also influence which type of desk you buy. For example, some people prefer to read whilst sitting, and write whilst standing. A sit stand desk will accommodate this – providing you with more varied ways of working throughout the day.
How to buy the correct size sit stand or standing desk
Whether you want to buy a standing desk or a sit stand desk, it’s vital that you select a desk of the correct size and dimensions. Get this wrong, and you’ll find that your desk is uncomfortable to work on, and can even result in injury.
So, how do you go about selecting the correct size sit stand or standing desk?
You’ll need to know two things:
- Your sitting working height.
- Your standing working height.
As we mentioned earlier, everyone is of a different height, so your sitting and standing working heights are likely to be different from your partner’s or colleagues’.
How to calculate your sitting working height
Okay, to work this out you’re going to need a chair, a measuring tape and someone to help! (Ideally, the chair will be the one you’ll be using when sitting at your new desk).
First, sit down on the chair. Ensure you’re sitting in a relaxed yet upright posture. Keep your feet flat on the floor (wearing the shoes you’d normally be wearing for work).
Let your arms hang loosely by your sides. Again, relax when you’re doing this. You want to ensure you’re in as natural a posture as possible.
The next step is to raise your forearms horizontally in front of you (as if you are typing on a keyboard). Remember, don’t stretch your arms out too far. You don’t want to be leaning forward.
The final step is to get your helper to measure the distance from the floor to the underside of your elbow (whilst sitting in the position detailed above). You now know your sitting working height.
Based on this, you now know at what level you need your sit stand desk to lower to so that you can work comfortably at it whilst sitting down.
How to calculate your standing working height
Now it’s time to figure out your standing working height. Begin – rather predictably – by standing up.
You want to be standing in an upright, but relaxed, posture. Ensure your shoulders and arms are relaxed, too.
Next, let your arms dangle loosely by your sides. In that position, you should then raise your forearms in front of you at a 90º angle – as if you’re typing on a keyboard.
Once in that position, ask your helper to measure the distance from the floor to the underside of your elbow. You now have your standing working height.
With this information, you will know what height your chosen sit stand desk needs to raise to in order for you to work comfortably whilst standing up.
Note – if you intend to use a balance board or floor mat with your sit stand desk, be sure to include them in your calculations, e.g. measure your standing height whilst standing on the floor mat/balance board.
How to buy the correct size sit stand desk for use by more than one person
Given that sitting and standing working heights are so important – and that they vary greatly between different people – buying a standing or sit stand desk that’s going to be used by multiple people can be a challenge.
The key to buying a sit stand or standing desk that can be used by multiple people is to work out the sitting working height and standing working height of each member of staff who will be using the desk.
You then need to choose a desk which can lower to the lowest sitting work height, and can raise to the highest standing working height of your shortest and tallest staff, respectively.
Tip – as a general rule, if you’re buying a sit stand desk for communal use, buy the desk that offers the greatest range of adjustability.
How to select a sit stand desk or standing desk of the correct depth
Aside from thinking about sitting and standing working heights, you should also give some thought to the depth of your chosen desk.
By depth, we’re talking about the front-to-back measurements of the desk’s top.
In order to achieve a comfortable working setup, we recommend picking a desk which has a top with a depth of at least 30-inches (76.2 cm).
This will provide enough room for an individual to work at the desk without being too close to the monitor screen or generally feeling cramped.
How to select a sit stand desk or standing desk of the correct width
If you’re going to be looking at desk depth, you’d be remiss not to look at desk width too!
Desk width is a rather more subjective point compared to depth. In many cases, the width of the desk you select will be determined by where you’ll be locating the desk.
Nevertheless, you should still ensure you have enough width to comfortably spread your arms whilst typing or operating a computer.
Sit stand desk adjustment mechanisms
As you shop around for sit stand desks, you’ll find that there are a number of different adjustment mechanisms used to raise and lower desk tops.
The adjustment mechanisms used on sit stand desks usually take one of the following three forms:
- Hand-cranked.
- Pneumatic.
- Electric.
Hand-cranked
As the name suggests, hand-cranked sit stand desks are desks whereby the desktop is raised and lowered via a hand-turned crank. This crank usually works on a ratchet which progressively raises/lowers the tabletop with every turn of the crank.
For many people, hand-cranked sit stand desks are tiresome and often involve too many ‘cranks’ to achieve their desired working height. This is especially true if they have their desks loaded with a computer, paperwork etc.
Pneumatic
Pneumatically-adjusted sit stand desks are an increasingly popular option, as they remove the need to crank the tabletop into position.
Not only are pneumatic desks easy to operate, but they are also virtually silent, don’t require an electricity supply and require little to no effort on behalf of the user to adjust the height of the desk.
On the downside, cheaper pneumatic sit stand desks can lose pressure over time, making it necessary to replace or recharge the desk’s pneumatic cylinders.
Electric
Widely regarded as being the best option, electric sit stand desks allow users to quickly and easily change the working height of their desk – often with little more than the push of a button.
Electric sit stand desks also tend to offer very precise adjustment; something that’s not always possible with hand-cranked or pneumatic sit stand desks.
Sit stand desk adjustment speed
Whilst this is only a minor point, it is something that occasionally crops up during our conversations with customers.
It’s largely a hangover from the earliest days of sit stand desks, when some models would take quite a long time to adjust in height.
Most modern sit stand desks adjust at a decent speed. The point is, the speed can differ between sit stand desks – so if this is important to you, be sure to check how fast your chosen model can adjust position.
Note – it’s important to note that the movement up and down of sit-stand desks is very smooth. So, for example, you don’t need to worry about your tea or coffee spilling when you adjust the height of your desk.
Sit stand desk weight capacity
A monitor, laptop/desktop PC, keyboard, mouse, various bits of paperwork and other office bits and pieces – these things can quickly mount up on a desk. And, collectively, these things can weigh more than many people realise.
So, it’s essential that you check the weight capacity when you’re looking for a new sit stand desk.
After all, if you’re going to be loading up your desk with plenty of equipment and items, you want to know that it can handle it all…
To know what weight your chosen desk can support, look for its ‘ideal use weight’. This is the approximate weight the desk can lift and support. Some manufacturers refer to ideal use weight as ‘lifting capacity’ or ‘recommended use weight’.
Here at Rosehill, we can supply sit stand desks with a very impressive 160 kg weight capacity.
Sit stand desk operating noise
A point that is often overlooked by shoppers is the noise given off by a sit stand desk when it is changing position.
Whilst this is largely confined to sit stand desks with either a mechanical or electrical adjustment mechanism, it’s not something to ignore – especially if you’ll be using the desk in an environment where other people may be irritated by noise.
If you want to know what level of noise your chosen sit stand desk gives off during operation, look for its ‘dB noise level’. As we’ve written previously, your typical office will have an average noise level of between 50 and 60 dB. So, you’ll certainly want your sit stand desk to have a noise level lower than this.
Sit stand desk and standing materials and manufacture
You get what you pay for! It may be an old adage, but it’s one that still rings true – especially when it comes to sit stand desks and standing desks.
If you’re buying desks for an office or other public environment, you’ll want to make sure that the desks you select have been designed and manufactured to ‘contract quality’ standards.
This means the desk has been designed to withstand heavy, repeated use every day. As such, it will be manufactured from robust, long-lasting materials.
Here at Rosehill, all of our sit stand desks and standing desks meet this ‘contract’ standard, being made with strong metal frames, robust adjustment mechanisms and solid MFC tabletops.
Other sit stand desk features to look for
As you can see, there’s quite a lot to think about when it comes to buying a sit stand desk. However, if you really do want to buy the perfect desk for your needs, then look for these other features too.
Cable routing
If you’re going to be changing the height of your desk throughout the day, it’s vital that you keep all the various cables from your computer etc at bay.
Cable management is particularly important when it comes to sit stand desks, as you don’t want cables to interfere with the adjustment mechanism.
Bluetooth control
Should you really want to ‘smarten’ things up, then it’s possible to buy sit stand desks with Bluetooth control. This means you can control them remotely using your smartphone or other connected devices.
Programmable desks
Some sit stand desks can be ‘programmed’ so that they will move to a certain, pre-programmed height.
This is perfect for scenarios where a desk may be used by multiple people. At the touch of a button, the desk can automatically adjust to an individual’s set working height.
Finishes
Here at Rosehill, we know that the finish and colour of a desk is an important part of deciding which desk to buy for many people.
That’s you’ll find sit stand desks at Rosehill with different finish table tops (e.g. grey oak, oak, beech, walnut, white), as well as different finish frames and legs (e.g. silver, white, black).
Guarantee
This isn’t a ‘feature’ per se, but you should always check the guarantee (if any) that comes with your chosen sit stand desk or standing desk.
Here at Rosehill, the majority of our sit stand desks come with a five-year guarantee.
Chairs for sit stand desks and standing desks
Naturally, if you’re thinking about upgrading your desk, it can be a great idea to upgrade your chair whilst you’re at it.
Regarding what type of chair you select, this is largely down to personal preference as well as how you envisage you’ll be spending your time working.
If you think you’ll be spending most of your time sitting – with only the occasional standing session – then a standard office chair will suffice.
On the other hand, if you’ll mostly be standing, then you may want to go for a height adjustable stool that’ll allow you to ‘perch’ and sit in a slightly more active way. These types of seating options are not designed for long term sitting, and as such will encourage you to stand up more often.
Looking for a sit stand desk? Try these ones…
We hope you’ve found our guide to standing desks and sit stand desks interesting and useful.
If, having read it, you’ve decided that a sit stand desk is the perfect option for you, then take a look at our most popular models below.
Elev8 Touch Sit Stand Office Desk Range
The Elev8 Touch range of sit stand desks is extremely popular – and for good reason.
Offering all the features and quality you want from a sit stand desk, but at an attractive price point, the Elev 8 Touch range of sit stand desks is ideal for a range of environments, from offices and breakout areas to colleges and home offices.
Available in three rectangular sizes; 1200 x 800 mm, 1400 x 800 mm, and 1600 x 800 mm, the Elev8 range has something for everyone.
The Elev8 is manufactured with a robust metal frame and a 25 mm thick MFC table-top which can be selected in a number of colours; white, white (with oak edging), beech, walnut, grey oak, or oak.
A variety of really useful optional extras can also be specified. These include a number of cable management options, Bluetooth control and a digital control box.
That’s not all. Operated by touch button, the Elev8 range of sit stand desks can support an impressive 160 kg of weight, meaning they can support even considerable amounts of computer equipment etc.
The Elev8 range is also smooth and quiet, with an operating noise of only 39db, far below the noise level in the majority of offices.
Apex Sit Stand Office Desks
Whether you want a sit stand desk for the office or for home, the Apex range of desks is a brilliant choice.
Available in a range of sizes, the Apex range has options for compact to capacious spaces alike:
- 1200 x 800 mm.
- 1400 x 800 mm.
- 1600 x 800 mm.
- 1800 x 800 mm.
- 2000 x 800 mm.
Aside from a large choice of sizes, the Apex range offers a large choice of finishes. The frame can be finished in either black, silver, or white. The tabletop can be finished in a range of colours or natural finishes including (but not limited to); white, silver, maple, graphitewood, white marble and many more.
With a weight capacity of 120 kg and an MFC tabletop, the Apex range is designed to provide years of dependable service.
Other features include an easy-to-use controller which has three memory programs – making the Apex range ideal for use in areas where multiple people may use a single desk throughout the day/week.
Optional extras available for the Apex range include cable baskets, and cable ports.
Mast Adjustable Laptop Table
Are you working to a tighter budget, but still want to benefit from standing working? Then the Mast is for you.
With a simple, yet robust design, the Mast is highly adjustable and is available in a range of finishes. The metal frame is available in a black, white or chrome finish. The MFC top is available in black, white, or walnut.
For added portability, the Mast can be specified with castor wheels, so it can be easily wheeled around.
ASSMANN Plaza Height-Adjustable Boardroom Tables
Just because you’re having a board meeting doesn’t mean you have to sit down for it!
If you’re making an effort to be a healthier, more proactive company, then a height adjustable boardroom table makes a great addition to the office.
Allowing all attendees to stand during group meetings/board meetings, the ASSMANN Plaza is electric powered, meaning it’s easy to quickly adjust the height of the table.
What’s more, the ASSMANN Plaza is available with a wide range of tabletop finishes and five frame finishes. So, no matter what your office’s decor, you’ll almost certainly be able to specify the table in a finish that’ll complement it.
Rosehill: the outstanding choice for your sit stand desks
Here at Rosehill, we’ve been supplying offices and other public buildings with high-quality furniture for nearly four decades.
We do this in a consultative way, working closely with you to truly understand your needs, ensuring you select only furniture that’s right for you and your building.
If you’d like to discuss your office desk requirements, the Rosehill team will be happy to help. You can reach us on 0161 485 1717 or at: sales@rosehill.co.uk.
Shop sit stand desks and other desks at Rosehill now
For more commercial and contract furniture buying guides, information and advice, read the Rosehill blog…
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