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Sitting at a desk all day isn’t fun. Your back gets sore, your neck gets sore, your joints get stiff, and your mind goes a little stir-crazy. It’s not great for your circulation, either. You may have even noticed that you feel low on energy or you have trouble concentrating on the work in front of you. Believe it or not, there’s a better way.
Standing desks are a revolutionary idea. They’re game-changing. Life-changing, even. Standing desks are height-adjustable, meaning you can sit to work and stand to work without moving all of your belongings around. They come in a bunch of sizes and designs, so you can customize your workspace however you want.
Whether you’re a remote, 9-to-5 office worker or a self-employed creator, a standing desk probably sounds like a great idea. To make sure you choose the right one, we suggest that you look at all of the features—price, height range, number of surfaces, working space, automatic vs manual height adjustments… the list goes on!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best standing desks in Canada in 2023 and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk
Upgrade Pick: Ergonofis Sway Standing Desk
Budget Pick: MotionGrey Ergonomic Stand-Up Desk
Portable Pick: Vivo K Series Desk Converter
Gaming Pick: Secretlab Magnus Pro Sit-to-Stand Metal Desk
The FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk is a well-thought-out option. We love it for two main reasons. First, it’s offered at a great price. And second, it’s a really solid and reliable choice for pretty much every purpose. Since it’s been tested for more than 20,000 up/down cycles, you’ll be able to enjoy this desk for 10 years or more. How great is that?
As long as the desk isn’t moving anything too heavy, you can transition from sitting to standing in less than 10 seconds. We love that you don’t have to wait around. It’s really quiet while it’s moving, too, so it won’t interrupt a phone call or annoy you over time. Since the legs are positioned away from the desk corners, you won’t have to worry about hitting your knees when you sit down. Thank goodness.
This desk has one of the lowest weight capacities for a full-size model, so that’s something to keep in mind if you have heavy equipment—the motor may struggle to lift it smoothly. Otherwise, the only thing we don’t like about this desk is the lack of extras. There are no accessories to speak of, which is why the price is so low, and we just want you to be prepared for a pretty simple design.
Reviewers are really happy with the FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk. It feels stable, even when they add shelves and multiple monitors, and it moves up and down easily. The only negative comments that popped up all had to do with assembly, so the desk itself is pretty flawless in their eyes.
Tabletop Dimensions: 55” x 28”
Height Range: 28” to 47.6”
Height Adjustment Type: Electric
Weight Capacity: 154 lbs
Number of Levels: 1
Colour: 6 options
Warranty: 5 years for frame and motor, 2 years for electronics
Pros:
Takes less than 10 seconds to go from sitting to standing
Desk leg design leaves plenty of space for your knees
Very quiet while adjusting height
Tested to last for more than 20,000 up/down cycles (10 years)
Cons:
Low weight capacity
No extras (cord management, memory function, etc.)
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the FlexiSpot Electric Standing Desk is an amazing option for everyday use. The lower weight capacity might be an issue if you plan on using it for heavy equipment, but we can’t imagine many people will even approach it. It’s a reliable and well-rounded option for a great price.
Do you love a desk made of natural and sustainable materials? Do you want to customize your design? Do you need to share your desk with another person? Or two? Or even three? The Ergonofis Sway Standing Desk is our top recommendation if the answer to those questions is yes. The natural wood tabletop comes in four styles, and you can choose a black or white frame to match your existing decor.
The control panel has a swipe design (no more buttons!) for changing the height, and it’s able to save two heights each for four different users—it’s the perfect choice for a family desk. The height range is wide enough to suit everybody, too. You have the option of adding a cord management system, drawer, or monitor shelf, which we love. Our favourite thing is the sit/stand reminders. You can even set your intervals.
When it comes to quality and functionality, we don’t have a single problem with this option. We want you to be aware of a couple of things though. The price for this one is very high, and the surface may seem a bit small for the price. Also, since the desk is made of natural wood, you’ll need to monitor the temperature and humidity in the room to stop it from cracking and curving.
Reviewers could not be more in love with the Ergonofis Sway Standing Desk. Not a single person who’s bought it has regretted their decision at any point. The swipe system for height adjustments is so easy, and it’s usable by the whole family with eight memory slots. The sit/stand reminders are really helpful, and people love that the wood is natural and ethically sourced.
Tabletop Dimensions: 24” x 48”
Height Range: 22” to 48.3”
Height Adjustment Type: Electric
Weight Capacity: 360 lbs
Number of Levels: 1
Colour: 8 options (4 tabletop and 2 frame)
Warranty: 10 years
Pros:
Minimalist control panel lets you slide to change height rather than buttons
Can purchase extras to customise (monitor shelf, cable management system, drawer)
Can save two heights each for four different users
Has sit/stand reminders with custom intervals
Cons:
Very expensive
Small surface for the price
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Ergonofis Sway Standing Desk is a nearly unbeatable option. Seriously. No matter what you’re looking for in a standing desk, we’re quite confident you’ll be happy with this one.
If budget-friendliness is your priority, you can’t do better than the MotionGrey Ergonomic Stand-Up Desk. But that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on great features. With the help of the cable management holes, you can direct all of your cords to the floor without having a waterfall over the back of the desk. We love that. A lot.
You’ll also get a water bottle holder, headphone holder, and cable clamps as accessories. We all want our things within reach, right? A digital keypad makes it easy to change the height, and it has a memory function as well to save your favourites. The desk won’t make much noise while it moves up and down, either. Say goodbye to interruptions! If that isn’t enough yet, you’ll also love the waterproof tabletop—it’s spillproof and super easy to keep clean.
Now for the part we all hate… the downsides. We love the memory setting, but it’s only able to save two heights. If you plan on sharing this desk with another person, you won’t both be able to use this feature. The height range is also not the greatest, so it won’t fit everybody.
Since there is a seam in the middle of the desk, it isn’t a great choice for people who rely on a flat surface. The seam can get in the way of your work and even snag your clothes at the front edge if you lean on it.
Reviewers are pretty happy with the MotionGrey Ergonomic Stand-Up Desk. No matter what height it’s set to, the desk feels sturdy. The height adjustment system is smooth and quiet, and people don’t feel like it interferes with their concentration at all. They would prefer more than two memory settings, though, so multiple people could use it just as easily.
Tabletop Dimensions: 55” x 24”
Height Range: 28” to 46”
Height Adjustment Type: Electric
Weight Capacity: 176 lbs
Number of Levels: 1
Colour: Dark wood
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Has a water bottle holder, cable clips, cable management holes, and a headphone holder attached
Tabletop surface is water-resistant and very easy to clean
Height adjustments are nearly silent
Digital keypad will save your favourite heights for seamless switches
Cons:
Can only save two heights to memory
Height range is narrower than other options—won’t suit people below 5’5” or above 6’8”
Seam in the middle of the desk can be a problem
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the MotionGrey Ergonomic Stand-Up Desk is the perfect choice if you want a solid desk for a great price. It has a few low points, but it offers all of the essentials plus a few extras to keep you happy while you’re working or creating.
The Vivo K Series Desk Converter is really cool. It’s one of the easiest things to set up we’ve ever seen—you just need to attach the keyboard tray and you’re ready to go. Just because this option is small and inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s cheaply made, either.
The X-frame is solid, and with the help of a lift assistance system, it’ll help you raise your work surface up in a straight line, without that pesky side-to-side or back-to-front wobbling that puts your belongings at risk.
We really like how wide the keyboard tray is on this one. There’s plenty of room for a mouse, keyboard, and essentials like your phone or a pen and small notebook.
The thing we love most about this one is how the height adjustment works. The top surface will sit between 4.5 and 20 inches above your desk surface, and with an infinite number of adjustment points, you’ll be able to find your sweet spot no matter how tall you are.
We only have a couple of minor things to point out before you fall in love with this option. First of all, you’ll need to already own a full-size desk, or this won’t be of much use to you. Also, since the tabletop is only large enough to fit a couple of monitors, you won’t always be able to bring all of your supplies with you when you raise the desk.
Reviewers are incredibly happy with the Vivo K Series Desk Converter. They have found it to be incredibly easy to set up solo, large enough to fit two monitors, and very sturdy even at max capacity. The keyboard tray is large enough for a mouse and keyboard, too. Most people bought it as an alternative to a full-size standing desk, and they have no regrets.
Tabletop Dimensions: 15.7” x 31.5”
Height Range: 4.5” to 20” above desk height
Height Adjustment Type: Manual
Weight Capacity: 33 lbs for desktop, 4 lbs for keyboard tray
Number of Levels: 2
Colour: Black
Warranty: 3 years
Pros:
Very minimal assembly required—just attach the keyboard
X-frame is very sturdy and lifts straight upward with lift assist
Unlimited number of adjustment points for precise comfort
Wide keyboard tray pulls out for convenience and folds in for easy travel/storage
Cons:
Must already have a desk for it to be useful
Only large enough to hold monitors/laptops and keyboards—some things get left behind when you raise the height
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Vivo K Series Desk Converter is our top pick if you want to bring your standing desk with you wherever you go. And if you’re just curious about the benefits and want a low-risk commitment. And if you love your current desk and don’t want to give it up entirely. It’s great for everyone, is what we’re getting at.
The Secretlab Magnus Pro Sit-to-Stand Metal Desk is one of our all-time favourite standing desks, and you’re about to find out why. The height adjustment is electric (you can save your energy for standing instead!), and you can set three custom heights to make it easier to move up and down without interrupting your gameplay.
One of our favourite things is the cord management setup. Not only do you plug your equipment directly into the desk (it plugs into the wall at the bottom so there are no trailing cords), but there’s a cable management area that tucks all the cords out of sight to keep your space free of clutter.
We love the magnetic desktop the most. It’s a genius system that lets you stick cool mats down, and then switch out for a new design anytime you want. You’ll have to buy them separately, but you won’t find anything like it anywhere else.
As if all that isn’t enough, you even have the option of customizing even more. They’ve got addons such as monitor mounts, headphone holders, and more. You can create your perfect gaming setup with a single desk. We don’t have any issues with this one. The price tag might be a little offputting, but we promise it’s worth it!
Reviewers are blown away by the Secretlab Magnus Pro Sit-to-Stand Metal Desk. People have customized their desks in so many ways, and they love that they can make a change anytime. The height adjustment works flawlessly, and the custom presets make life easier. Everyone is happy with how stable and secure all of the moving parts are, too.
Tabletop Dimensions: 59” x 27.6”
Height Range: 25.6” to 49.2”
Height Adjustment Type: Electric
Weight Capacity: 265 lbs
Number of Levels: 1
Colour: Black
Warranty: 5 years
Pros:
Magnetic tabletop can be customized with a variety of mats (purchase separately)
Tons of additional customization options available (monitor mounts, headset holder,
Power supply column and integrated cable management keep cords neat and tidy
Can set three custom height presets
Cons:
Pretty expensive
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2.5/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Secretlab Magnus Pro Sit-to-Stand Metal Desk is an amazing choice whether you’ll be using it for gaming or not. You can’t beat the customization options, and the quality of every feature is undeniable.
Standing desks can range in price from $150 to nearly $2000. We strongly advise that you set a budget before shopping. More expensive desks will have more accessories and a more stable design.
The tabletop size of a standing desk is one of the most important features to consider. It will affect how much space it takes up in your office and how well it can manage all of your supplies.
The height range is an incredibly important factor when deciding on the right desk. The range will fluctuate by several inches on both sides of the scale depending on what desk you look at, and if you’re extra tall or extra short, you’ll need to check that it can accommodate a comfortable working height for you sitting and standing.
Most standing desks will have electric height adjustment systems, meaning they operate with the push of a button, but some require you to adjust it manually. Since most people won’t want the hassle of a manual desk, it’s something to keep an eye on while you’re browsing.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.