The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: KingCoin on February 18, 2014, 11:24:24 AM
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Anyone run across an adjustable sit-to-stand desk that doesn't break the bank? I'm looking for something that seamlessly adjusts from sitting position to standing. My desk setup involves multiple monitors, so a desk where the whole surface rises would be ideal.
I'm liking this beauty, but not the price tag:
http://store.steelcase.com/products/airtouch-height-adjustable-desk/
Somewhat better, but it looks like a $200 desk, not a $700 one:
http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Desk-Adjustable-Height-Standing-Teak/dp/B00GRB6JKG/
It seems like most of the DIY solutions involve some manner of box or mini-desk on top of a standard desk, which isn't really flexible.
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Have you considered getting (or making) one that is fixed in place, and just using a tall chair when you want to sit?
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I am using a conveniently sized filing cabinet for my standing desk. If I want to sit, I grab my laptop.
There is an attachment you can put on a regular desk to make it a sit-stand desk. Varidesk I think it's called. Sturdy and cheaper than a new desk.
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Making a standing desk is the only cost-effective method I've found. You can put a coffee table or some end tables on top of a desk, as a cheap option, and this is rather easy to adjust in height: just take the table(s) off the desk.
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I'm thinking you don't like the DIY "desks" because of having to move the monitors and that they may fall during the moves? Maybe build a base for the monitors to raise them up a bit so they are viewable from both your seated and standing positions? Then you just need to raise the keyboard when standing by putting it on a small box on top of the desk?
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Another option might be mounting the monitors on moveable arms, so that they move independently of the desk going up and down and there's no risk of them falling over.
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I have one of these at work.
http://heightadjustableworktable.com/pickabase
love it. Except it broke and is locked in the 'up' position. So I stand all day. Ended up getting a stool.
Link was the only 'reasonable' priced adjustable option I found looking a year or two ago.
edit:
Actually was not 'broke' a screw just came loose... has gone up and down reliably for some time now.
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Have you considered getting (or making) one that is fixed in place, and just using a tall chair when you want to sit?
That's a possibility. I've never really loved bar-stool style seats though. I prefer to have my feet planted on the ground. Probably a good idea if I'm standing a majority of the time.
Making a standing desk is the only cost-effective method I've found. You can put a coffee table or some end tables on top of a desk, as a cheap option, and this is rather easy to adjust in height: just take the table(s) off the desk.
Unfortunately, I have too many monitors to make this workable. Would be fine with a single monitor and keyboard.
Another option might be mounting the monitors on moveable arms, so that they move independently of the desk going up and down and there's no risk of them falling over.
Possible. Would just need to raise the keyboard then. Those arms are godawfully expensive too. Might be able to score some used ones though.
I have one of these at work.
http://heightadjustableworktable.com/pickabase
Not bad. At $650 it's not exactly bargain basement, but could be worse.
I suppose I could try to get creative with an electric linear actuator. Or something like this might not be impossible to build:
http://www.redesignrevolution.com/minimalist-height-adjustable-standing-table-xtable/
There's gotta be a side-gig in building these things.
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Not bad. At $650 it's not exactly bargain basement, but could be worse.
? base model is 479 with 40$ ground shipping. so is totally cheap at 510$. ( Bring your own table top.)
I would love to see some DIY home brew, hard parts-only-kit thing to make a stand up desk. I can see where the price comes from but still there has to be a better (cheaper) way.
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I would love to see some DIY home brew, hard parts-only-kit thing to make a stand up desk. I can see where the price comes from but still there has to be a better (cheaper) way.
Not adjustable so at first I didn't mention it, but this is what I have built. Pardon the mess in the photos :)
I bought a tabletop at Ikea in the as is section, and built a standing-height frame for it out of 2x4 and 1" steel pipe. The bases are made from tee pieces and 6" nipples (should have used 10"). If I were to build this again, I would add another piece of pipe running across to connect the two legs (would require adding two tee pieces and nipples, with shorter leg sections). The legs were too wobbly at the flange joints so I reinforced them with steel angle brackets held to the pipe with screws running through holes I drilled in hose clamps.
Using 1" steel pipe as a building material adds up in cost quickly because of all the connecting pieces. I don't have a total cost on this because the purchases were combined with another, much more complex project.
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Another option might be mounting the monitors on moveable arms, so that they move independently of the desk going up and down and there's no risk of them falling over.
This is the option I will eventually get:
http://www.ergodesktop.com/content/kangaroo-pro (They also have a non-VESA mount model if you don't have a VESA monitor or want to use it with a laptop.)
A little on the spendy side but the mechanism is really well-designed. Everyone I know who has one is quite happy.
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The previous post looks like it is made out of 80/20 (http://www.8020.net/). Perhaps you could make something yourself with that.
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In the alternative, consider raising your desk and then using an adjustable chair that goes to the height of the desk. Probably a lot cheaper to go that route.
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In the alternative, consider raising your desk and then using an adjustable chair that goes to the height of the desk. Probably a lot cheaper to go that route.
Yeah, that's what warfreak2 suggested. Just need 4 blocks and a drafting chair. Would certainly be the least expensive and time consuming way to go.
http://www.lexmod.com/p-7241-edge-drafting-stool-in-black.aspx
Though it looks like playing with some 80/20 could be fun.
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I made my standing desk from an IKEA scratch and dent table top placed in a corner with three heavy duty wall brackets from home depot. My monitors are wall mounted. When I do want to sit I use a bar stool. There are lots of choices for taller chairs out there. I also bought a good padded mat to stand on. All done for under $50.
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As for having your feet on the ground when you have a taller chair, you could attach a footrest, or just put a crate in front of it.
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This article (http://www.workwhilewalking.com/desktop-riser-comparison-review) might be helpful. I, too, am looking for something adjustable so I can swap back and forth and haven't found anything that looks both solid and inexpensive. For now I sit at the computer and stand when doing anything else (reading papers, etc.) I keep a clipboard handy to help with that.
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Currently I'm just using a couple of boxes and reams of paper that I move around and it actually works just fine. However, my employer has this on order for me:
http://www.ergodesktop.com/content/kangaroo-junior
The 'Kangaroo Junior' is a little smaller than the 'Kangaroo' that Thegoblinchief posted on, but one of my colleagues has been happily using it for about the 1.5 years, and it is 'only' $400 rather than $500 for the 'Kangaroo'. There is a weight limit of 12 lb for laptops or monitors with the 'Kangaroo Junior' , but we've had no problem with that limitation.
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This is a convertible monitor stand to put on an existing desk. $275-$300 depending on the size you need: http://www.varidesk.com/
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Check Craigslist. I found the ModTable AlanStache posted for 50% off used on CL when I was looking for a standup desk.
Many employers now will cover all or part of the cost of a standing desk as well, because they can (when used properly) increase fitness and reduce health issues that pop up from sitting all day.
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How many monitors do you have? I have an Ikea hack stand up desk (this one: http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html (http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html)) and depending on the size of your main desk, you can buy multiple tables for more than one monitor. If you look in the comments there are a lot of good ideas and pictures of people with more than one monitor.
I have a stool for when I want to sit and I just move the keyboard brackets down. (I didn't screw mine in, just zip tied them on so I could slide them up and down.)
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Here's a picture of one with multiple monitors from the comments section:
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I use Ergotron arms. The cost is about $250 for a set. On the whole, I wouldn't recommend them as a multiple position desk. There is not quite enough vertical adjustment for 6' 4" me. For others with less difference between sitting and standing, they might work better.
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I just got a standing desk set up yesterday. I'd been trying to get one at my new workplace and one just appeared on this abandoned cubicle. I asked about it and apparently it'd been in storage for three years and they were thinking about getting rid of it. Now it's all mine. It's an adjustable Ergotron but only elevates one monitor, so if I need both I'll be sitting.
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I am big on standing at work, and just created some plywood boxes and hiked my whole desk right onto them and never looked back. Got a stool to sit on when I wanted to. Did it with "found" wood and screws from the garage and previous projects, didn't cost me a dime. Wasn't pretty (you could always spray paint I suppose) but neither was my I'm-a-public-servant beat up metal green desk either.
It seems like the real expense here is the movable up/down issue. It's cheap to either be sitting, or be standing. It's not cheap to have both/either.
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I started out with a diy (ikea lack + shelf for keyboard) to test the feasibility of standing for long hours.
It took a few weeks to get used to but now I can never go back to traditional sitting.
I looked into the various sit/stand combo apparatuses, but went with the ergotron:
http://www.ergotron.com/ProductsDetails/tabid/65/PRDID/561/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Quality product and great customer support.
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I have a Gen2 standing tabletop desk at work. It was paid for by the company so I'm not sure on the cost. I'm in a cube and the set up is that one whole side of my cube tabletop rises. I have 3 monitors and plenty of room for paperwork and files to be on the desk as it rises. It also rises w/the push of a button to a pre-set height. Don't laugh but I have it pre-set for days I'm wearing heels and days I'm wearing flats.
I did previously have a varidesk at another employer and I loved it. However, the negative is that I couldn't have paperwork or files up on it while standing. Mine must have been a smaller model as I could only fit 2 screens on it.
http://www.gen2officefurniture.com/gen2-up.shtml
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So my employer bought one for anyone that wanted one (so it wasn't an out of pocket expense for me), but I have a Varidesk and I really like it. Very easy to raise and lower. Cheaper ones seem to start at around $400 so they're not cheap, but it's nice to stand and sit, then stand then sit...
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At work I bought the Monoprice sit-stand base and put an old Ikea desktop on it.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=113&cp_id=11326&cs_id=1082808&p_id=15722&seq=1&format=2
I waited for a sale and got it for $279. Shipping was excessive .. $80 I think.
I've had the desk for 8 months and it's been great. Have two 24" monitors on it, a PC tower, UPS power supply, and all kinds of other junk.
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I, personally, found this article helpful from Standing Desk Nation when picking out mine. (I ended up getting a Flexispot)
https://www.standingdesknation.com/pages/best-standing-desk-converters-2018
(https://www.standingdesknation.com/pages/best-standing-desk-converters-2018)
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I bought a VariDesk tabletop that lifts for standing. I’ve been very happy with it. Excellent quality and very easy to work with them. I bought the monitor arm to go with it to support dual monitors. They have several color options and sizes/layouts available. (http://)
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This adjustable height desk is currently available at my local Costco for $329:
http://www.costcoweekender.com/2017/06/costco-tresanti-nouveau-adjustable-height-desk-1074719.html
I could not find it online at costco.com
I paid $269 for it when it was on sale back in November.
I really like it. I had been using a computer desk I bought used on Craigslist for $10.
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Anyone run across an adjustable sit-to-stand desk that doesn't break the bank? I'm looking for something that seamlessly adjusts from sitting position to standing. My desk setup involves multiple monitors, so a desk where the whole surface rises would be ideal.
I'm liking this beauty, but not the price tag:
http://store.steelcase.com/products/airtouch-height-adjustable-desk/
Somewhat better, but it looks like a $200 desk, not a $700 one:
http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Desk-Adjustable-Height-Standing-Teak/dp/B00GRB6JKG/
It seems like most of the DIY solutions involve some manner of box or mini-desk on top of a standard desk, which isn't really flexible.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-62-in-Adjustable-Height-Work-Table-HOLT62XDB12/301810799
you are welcome!
I wanted the same but everything was super expensive. Not to mention everywhere I looked for reviews said even the 300-400 low budget ones were usually crap.
I bought one of those husky work benches for fathers day promo, I think I spent 129$ ...
I replaced the wood top for my glass top from my previous desk:
(https://d2ddoduugvun08.cloudfront.net/items/1B1T013j223j0U2h0R2E/Image%202018-07-15%20at%204.15.48%20PM.png?X-CloudApp-Visitor-Id=2864018&v=733007a9)
not to mention it holds north of 500 lbs - although the weakest link is now the glass so i doubt that :D
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I, personally, found this article helpful from Standing Desk Nation when picking out mine. (I ended up getting a Flexispot)
https://www.standingdesknation.com/pages/best- (https://www.standingdesknation.com/pages/best-standing-desk-converters-2018)standing desk (https://www.smarthomedesk.com/best-standing-desk-review/)-converters-2018 (https://www.standingdesknation.com/pages/best-standing-desk-converters-2018)
These standing desks look like they all are from one manufacturer with different labels. Is there any difference between Flexispot and Vivo or another cheaper brand?
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This is a really old post...
For what it's worth, I just bought this one this week. I haven't set it up yet, so I can't comment there, but it got good reviews and was a decent price.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YNRL44Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Just saw this thread.
Since I will be working from home at least the rest of the year due to COVID-19, I ordered UPLIFT V2 standing desk after several weeks research.
https://www.upliftdesk.com/uplift-v2-standing-desk-v2-or-v2-commercial/ (https://www.upliftdesk.com/uplift-v2-standing-desk-v2-or-v2-commercial/)
Looks like this table has very good rating from the users and 3rd party reviewers like wirecutter.
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-standing-desk/ (https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-standing-desk/)