There are many reasons to choose a height-adjustable desk. Some are dictated by your office environment and others merely on the fact you want a healthier way to work. That said, there are several options available today for adding height adjustability to your workstation. How can one choose? We’re here to help! Here is a brief breakdown on some of the most common models of height-adjustable desks I have seen on the market today.

Electric 

With an electric height-adjustable desk, you simply push a button to raise your entire workstation to standing level or lower it to a seated position. Within this category you can find an office-type desk with two legs and monitor arm(s). Trust me when I say that there are a lot of manufacturers of this office-style adjustable height desk! Next, you might find more durable, multiple-monitor desks for heavy usage. I have also seen a desk that converts your typical cubicle corner desk into a height-adjustable desk.

Crank

This type of desk is popular because of its price. These desks are usually much cheaper than the electric model, but can be cumbersome for the user, who has to manually crank the desk up and down. Think of the crank used to roll up and down windows on older cars. This can be both time-consuming and — let’s be honest — a little sweaty.

Counterbalanced 

This type of desk uses a counterbalance to move the surface up and down. The user simply grabs a lever and squeezes a break-type mechanism to adjust the desk to a standing or sitting position. Lever desks have even been adapted for home-office use, where the platforms that your monitor and keyboard sits on are raised and lowered to standing and seated height.

As you can see, there are several different types of adjustable height desks to choose from (and believe me when I tell you that this blog barely scrapes the surface of all the versions available). The desk you choose should depend on your particular situation and usage. If you’re in the market to invest in a height-adjustable desk, I recommend that you take to research your options and ask yourself the following questions: 

• How much will you be adjusting between sitting and standing?
• What’s the range of height adjustment? (See the latest ergonomic design criteria)
• Do you want a quick fix or a long term solution?
• What type of equipment will you be using at your desk? (Computers, additional monitors, etc.?)
• What is the maximum weight the desk can hold?
• What type of cabling is needed for your work equipment, and does the desk offer any cable management?
• How much are you willing to spend?
• Is there a warranty? If so, how long and what exactly does it cover? (Make sure to get specifics!)
• How long do you intend on keeping your investment?