Cheap vs Expensive Standing Desks...Worth 15x More Money?

If both standing desks move up and down, are cheap and expensive standing deskings really that different?

Watch Next:

Desks in Video:

Video Sections:
00:00 Are They Different?
00:22 Lack of Substance
01:14 Surface Quality
02:03 Stability
03:11 Electronics
04:18 Lifting Gears
05:30 Motors
06:32 Adjustment Speeds
07:25 Lifting Capacity
08:32 Lubrication Issues
09:32 Warranty Coverage

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon, Haworth, Steelcase Associate, and more, BTODtv may earn from qualifying purchases.

[zicafoos]

Having used both, really expensive and cheap standing desks, the law of diminishing returns is very much in effect

You will always pay a premium for better surface materials like solid walnut vs laminate but otherwise the desk itself fades into the background using it 40 hours a week

[blank]

Wow. Im impressed. This was a very well done video and I hugely thank you for giving the time to explain literally everything to think about when choosing a standing desk.

I initially thought, *"Why are desks so expensive when the only thing it does is move up and down"* --- but you went in detail for everything. I really appreciate it.

And thank you for having timestamps in the video!

[Toolmaker-fxxo]

Maybe 2 to 3x for a really good quality Standing Desk, supplied fully built up with a high quality Desktop Material, but 15x would need some serious gold inlay to justify...

My $220 USD Standing Desk (Frame & Dual Motor - (no top)) is very quiet, sturdy, powerful, quick, has 3x Programmable Memory Height Settings and I've tested it up to 120kg weight load with minimal slow down. Anyone loading more than that one their desktop probably has the wrong usage case for a Standing Desk...

I installed my own high quality solid wood Merbau Timber Panel as a Desktop for $40 USD. The solid hardwood, single piece helps make it super stable.

2yrs of zero issue daily operation (same with my work from home wife, who I made a matching desk for the Home Office).

[Slimmeyy]

I got a custom size desk from a somewhat local company for €650, and it could very well be the most robust object in the entire house. I chose a top that pretty closely matches the floor and it looks fantastic.

[Snowsea-gswu]

At 1:50 how about buying a cheap one with split top and find a local woodworker to add a nice custom made top? Thanks for the video!

[zain]

Drama! You don’t need expensive desk. Most likely min requirement should be 48”L x 30”W to get multiple task done. Upon my research space matter the most.I own 59” x 30” electric desk and have sufficient space for standing ps5, 24” and ultra wide 34” lcd. You can completely ignore slight/accidentally shake of desk. It doesn’t feel like earthquake as these videos are describing. why spend $800 vs $150?

[kishbaby]

ABSOLUTELY LOVING the subtle humor in your videos Lol 😆😆 Please may I suggest a video making the case for standing desks? Are they worth the hassle given the prohibitive pricing for quality desks? Anyway keep doing what you do … making interesting and informative videos about office furniture lol!

[KayakKingdom]

Those amazon ones are like $100 now, and can be had with a one piece top. Contemplating getting one.

[SooperFlye]

_So, here's a review that might be worth something, reviewing sound levels (decibel) of standing desk motors as they're lowered & raised._

[jerseygirl]

What about corner standing desks? These aren’t much mentioned in most guides to standing desks. I imagine it’s hard to ship those with a one piece top. But these tend to be more expensive at the mid-tier companies

[qsxnoyd]

Thanks for your reviews. There are two standing desk brands I wish you would review. 1st is the iMovr standing desk base and or complete desk. The second is Ergonofis standing desk. Thanks.

[EduMiguel]

I've been trying to choose a good very stable desk, but unfortunately the best brands (uplift, vertdesk, newheights) don't ship to europe :( Uplift can ship to my country but shipping cost was calculated to $700. The autonomous brand is unclear, the IKEA Idasen has a very basic controller which I don't like and the rest don't look stable on the reviews.

[mickaelsflow]

My real ask is... about the fixed desk! I couldn't care less about these electric standing desk, but man, is it hard to find similar quality fixed desk that aren't crap (or ugly). Any recommendations?

[ajfadeaway]

I just want to know who and why would you put over 75lbs to 100lbs of weight on a desk in the first place

[GaryBoes]

Hi, when will you evaluate the Geiger sit to stand leather wrapped desk please?

[Trancer]

Wow what a detailed video! I just decided to buy one today. Question, are these easy to assembly alone? is it hard to flip them over once the assembly is complete?

[MultiSpur]

The Chinese can replicate a mechanism like that easily. Some Chinese companies cater to the budget segment of the market by making the product as cheaply as possible. Doesn't mean they can't manufacture the expensive stuff.

[lonestarn]

I got myself an uplift desk with an ikea kitchen table. Super stable, great size, and if I remember correctly a lot cheaper than some of the major brands. Just took some drilling work.

[fredbloggs]

I'm not interested in the standing Deskbook I can't find and not adjustable or adjustable desk for under $650 dollars that goes as low as 26 inches--I know some of the mid priced and the above standing desks go down between 22 to 24 inches. I have been using for 10 or 12 years a rolling design big enough for one computer, with a glass top, of round tubular construction by Studio Designs, that can be lowered to 26 inches, which is perfect, although it might be better to go even a few inches lower if I sit on the sofa rather than my executive office chair--actually a top end chair I bought from BTOD a few years ago. I keep the chair lowered all the way down, or else my feet don't touch the floor. The stand I have was painted gray, but I see ones offered on certain websites that are silver--I assume unpainted--but the same design, except they have a slide out mouse tray on the side that people say is not very stable and difficult to put on, so I would probably leave that off. The thing is, with the wheels and all if you move it back and forth it will rock a little bit, and if you put pressure on the front edge it will flex slightly, but there's no danger it structurally failing as far as I can tell. I can just move it wherever I want when I get up or put it to the decide if I'm not using it, etc. I want to get the second one for a new computer and use this older computer from a legacy app that I can update. Unfortunately, on the websites that still show the stand, it is actually unavailable, and the manufacturer's website does not show so it, I believe it is discontinued. In fact, I just got a refund from a third-party seller on a large a company's website (not Amazon) because it was actually unavailable. There's one other listing on another website but I wouldn't trust it, and the last that I can find are two available from an eBay seller who has overall a good record but in the last year has two were three negative reviews because they never got what they ordered or any communication, so...

There're other brands of cheap rolling stands of similar size, if not design, including one that is glass top and I see goes down as low as 20 inches, but the reviews indicate they are pretty poorly constructed--it is only $75.

[EchoYankee]

I want a desk that is adjustable, but I don't believe I will ever use it standing up. I also want it to be sturdy. Any recommendations are welcome.