The 7 Best Standing Desk Converters in 2020

In comparison to the standard 18-inch or 20-inch maximum height reach of competing models, Cooper takes adjustability up a notch by allowing you to move your desk height to up to 22 inches, which is why we also consider it one of the best standing desks for tall people.

Also, see just how easy it is to lift up and down.

What’s even better (especially if you’re a junkie for pens and sticky notes like me) is the Cooper’s wide surface area. With 732 square inches of workable space, you don’t have to worry about where to place your monitor, keyboard, and mouse because it is spacious enough to accommodate all of that, along with extra office accessories. Even two monitors, if you need to.

The best part is you get all these without sacrificing ergonomics as this standing desk converter also encourages proper wrist positioning via its two-tiered build. One for your keyboard and one for your monitor. So in terms of placement and proper body mechanics, this product is a clear winner.

Speaking of build, one of the main factors that make this product a standout is its eco-friendly bamboo design, which is a breath of fresh air. Just imagine standing in a showroom filled with black and gray desks and converters and there, in the middle of it all, you’d see Cooper’s refreshing bamboo design. I personally love the aesthetics.

If there’s anything to fault about the Cooper, it’s its weight and, ironically, it’s spacious surface area, which requires a sturdy and wide table. So if your list of ‘non-negotiables’ includes small and lightweight, this isn’t the desk converter for you.

The VariDesk Pro Plus 36 was built with a solid and sturdy frame that can fully support up to 35 pounds of weight. With thick-gauge steels and a heavy-weighted base topped with a 3-dimensional laminated coating, the VariDesk eliminates “shaky” distractions and offers ergonomic features that help increase productivity.

Another exceptional feature of this product is its spacious two-tiered design, which allows ample room for two 24-inch, or even 27-inch, monitors, a mouse, and a keyboard. While this is a great buying point, this comes as a disadvantage if you are working on a small, confined space.

In terms of height adjustment, this product promotes proper posture and overall body mechanics via a rowing lift and a spring-assisted lift, which gives the back full support during height adjustment. This brings us to our next point: its preset height levels.

The VariDesk comes with 11 height settings that range from 4.5 inches to 17.5 inches. Now, if you’re petite or average-sized, this is definitely good news. But if you’re taller than 6’3″ and looking for new productive ways to work while standing, this might not be the converter for you, and the Cooper is probably a better option.

Aside from these convenient, DIY-free features, this desk converter is a crowd favorite because of its solid steel base frame, which can support up to two 24-inch monitors, minus the shake and wobble, quite surprising considering that this product is lighter as compared to other converters within its price range.

Available in 35-inch and 42-inch variants, the iMovR is a great pick if your existing desk is considerably large and sturdy.

Also, unlike other models, the iMovR comes with a lifting mechanism that has infinite height adjustments. Instead of limiting controls via pre-programmed set heights, the iMovR gives you the full freedom to regulate height adjustments based on your own needs, and height, in this case.

With a 20.5-inch maximum height reach, this model is a strong contender if you’re after adjustability.

Another special feature that sets the iMovR apart is its ergonomic tilting keyboard, which allows you to adjust keyboard angles between -10 degrees and +15 degrees. Sit or stand, your keyboard will move with you so you can assume proper wrist and forearm positioning.

If there’s anything about the iMovR that needs improvement, the depth and surface size of the keyboard and mouse tray is not ideal and some customers have mentioned that it can be a little difficult for keyboard and mouse use.

To keep this review more comprehensive, we’ll stick with the Yo-Yo Mini version, which bears similarities with its bigger siblings without sacrificing its own unique identity.

The Mini variant, as the name suggests, is the most compact among the four models, and is designed specifically for users below 6-feet tall. Engineered with a Smooth-ActionTM gas spring solution, Yo-Yo Mini facilitates smooth and seamless height adjustments so you can make up to 12 calibrations that are based on your height and, of course, level of comfort. And the coolest part: its side control levers are so reliable and easy to use.

Another feature that makes the Mini version a formidable competitor is its sturdy frame. It may be sleek and compact, but it is built with a top-grade frame that offers unrivaled stability and support. So if you’re tired of shaky and wobbly desk converters, this converter is definitely a must-try.

Most importantly, as compared to other desk converters, the Yo-Yo Mini doesn’t take too much space, and is very ideal if you have either a small table or a compact workspace. Space-saving yet multifunctional? Just my kind of desk converter! And oh, before I forget, it comes with a Yo-Yo standing mat, too!

The downside: it leaves just enough room for 1 monitor, which is quite a huge disadvantage if you’re a gamer or if you’re engaged in any kind of work that requires two monitor screens. But overall, this is a pretty good desk converter that functions as advertised.

Aside from its high-grade build, one of the best features of this product is its dual gas spring hovering system, which facilitates smooth up-and-down transitions. In just a simple hand squeeze, you can enjoy 12 preset height settings that range between 5.9 inches to 19.7 inches.

FlexiSpot M2B Standing Desk also has a removable keyboard tray that offers you flexibility without sacrificing stability and support. With or without the keyboard tray, you can expect a generous workspace not just for your gadgets, but for your other office products as well. On that note, FlexiSpot’s maximum capacity is at around 35 pounds, which is ideal for either home or office settings.

Speaking of space and capacity, FlexiSpot is firm and spacious enough to accommodate two monitors without sacrificing your need for keyboard and mouse movement, making it an ideal product if you’re after proper body mechanics and ergonomics.

Our personal favorite: The workstation moves straight up and down within its own footprint, so you don’t need to make any spatial adjustments. (Take a look at the difference between x-frames and z-frames below in our desk converter buying guide.)

A spacious surface area that doesn’t take too much space in your working space? Quite a sweet deal, if you ask me.

With all these friendly, work-anywhere-you-want features, it’s hard to focus on this product’s flaws, except for one: its maximum height capacity is not ideal for six-footers. So if you’re quite tall, don’t expect its sitting and standing height level to meet you eye to eye.

With over 1.3k ratings on Amazon, Vivo is undeniably hard to bump off our list because of 1) its price and 2) its functional features. Cheaper than its other competing models, this desk converter flaunts a 36-inch surface, which is able to accommodate 2 monitors. This, along with a 25-inch keyboard tray, makes up a comfortable and conducive workstation for an in-demand talent like you.

Vivo’s lower-tier allows your keyboard and mouse to sit ergonomically so you can avoid awkward and painful wrist and forearm positioning. What’s more, you can easily remove the keyboard tray with the hex key wrench that comes with the package. This way, you can work uninterruptedly for hours on end without sacrificing your level of comfort.

Sit, stand, or do both while working – Vivo makes it possible for you to play around your body mechanics via its adjustability setting, which lets you switch height levels between 6.5 and 16 inches. Just squeeze its handle and you can fully maximize up to 8 height settings.

Add to that, Vivo makes it possible for you to use any monitor mount, thanks to its mount compatibility feature. And as an even bigger plus: this standing desk converter keeps your cables neatly in place by an adhesive cable clip, which is attached to the steel frame under the surface of the desk, a big winner if you hate untangling cables and wires.

Its main downside is its maximum height reach, which isn’t ideal for people on the taller side. Also, it has a fairly limited preset height setting as compared to other products that made it on our list. But overall, Vivo is a great product if we put price range into consideration.

You can easily switch between sitting and standing with an air pump lift assist that can help you either raise or lower your work surface, and it raises straight up and down due to its x-frame design. It is about as easy a changing the height of your office chair, so you certainly have a pretty good idea of how easy it is to adjust the height of this standing desk.

FlexPro Air Standing Desk comes with two large surfaces that give you a very spacious workstation to complete your daily tasks. The top surface of 36″ x 16″ can fit two side by side monitors. The keyboard tray of 35: x 19.5″ is one of the largest you can find and has a perfect ergonomic design to help you keep the pressure off your wrists.

At its lowest height, the FlexPro Air Standing Desk’s monitor level is 5.5″ off desk, while the keyboard tray is flat on the desk. At its tallest height, the monitor level is 16” off desk, while the keyboard tray is 11” off desk.

This standing desk converter can support the weight of 25 lbs, and it even has non-slip grips, so that it cannot slide and, of course, doesn’t damage the desk beneath. It also has a magnetic backboard which is 36″ long and 3.5″ wide, as well as very useful features for cord management.

Although not as highly rated as some of the other products – what makes the FlexPro one of the best standing desk converters is its price. It is a real bargain!

Different but promising, the StandStand Standing Desk Converter is a unique product especially designed for backpackers, travelers, and, in general, for people who are always on the move. Unlike the usual converters that are fixed atop your shelf, StandStand is engineered for easy assembly and disassembly, making it the perfect product in terms of portability.

What we love the most about StandStand is its eco-friendly bamboo build and, not to sound weird, it’s wooden smell. There’s just something about the feel, the touch, and the overall aesthetic of authentic, wooden furnishings–or, better yet, desk converters.

Likewise, StandStand’s lightweight build is intelligently paired with a patent-pending interlocking design that is fully capable of providing a firm and sturdy support for your laptop. Kickstarter’s campaign page can attest to this as the StandStand was able to withstand more than 900 pounds of weight without breaking apart.

To give you more options, StandStand is available in 9-inch, 12-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch variants, which are all capable of meeting your need for particular sit-down and stand-up height levels.

Too good to be true, it may seem, but StandStand doesn’t come without any flaw, especially if we consider its price point. While portability and durability are its winning points, this product does not come with an extra workspace–which means that you only get to put your laptop or monitor on it–and its surface height isn’t adjustable, too.

But then again, if you’re looking for something you can conveniently pack in your bag and bring along your travels, StandStand can do the magic trick for you.