Adjustable Desk Buyer’s Guide: 6 Important Features to Consider

Adjustable desks, sometimes called sit-stand desks, allow you to switch between a sitting and standing position as you’re working. They provide a more comfortable work environment and prevent tiredness and strain on your body from sitting in the same position all day.

In this post, I’m sharing the six important features you should pay attention to when purchasing an adjustable desk. The first three are essential things to consider, and the last three are bonuses!

#1 Size

Adjustable desks come in a variety of sizes to fit any office space. I always recommend choosing one with a surface that is 48 inches wide by 30 inches deep. This size has plenty of room for a laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, with a little extra space for a notebook or some photos. The 30-inch depth also allows you to move your monitor a little farther away from your face, which can help reduce strain on your eyes. I have the FLEXISPOT Adjustable Desk and it’s the perfect size for my remote workspace!

If you have a smaller office space and need something more compact, there are also adjustable desks that come in 40 x 24 inches, like the FEZIBO Desk. This size can fit a laptop, monitor, keyboard and mouse, but it doesn’t have much surface space for anything beyond the essentials. If you’re limited on space, a smaller desk is a great option, just keep in mind that you won’t be able to fit a lot of other items on it.

There are lots of different adjustable desk sizes, such as 48 x 24 inches and 55 x 28 inches, which means that there are good options for any remote office space.

#2 Motors

If you choose a desk that’s 55 inches wide or larger, make sure it has an upgraded motor or dual motors. This is important because when you have a bigger desk, the surface weighs more, and your motor needs to be more powerful just to raise and lower the desk height.

A larger desk also means that you’ll most likely put more things on it. If you have a 55-inch desk, you might add two monitors instead of just one, or some extras like a printer, speakers, or a microphone, which will make the surface of your desk a lot heavier. The bigger your desk, the more powerful the motor needs to be in order to adjust the height.

#3 Memory Settings

Not all adjustable desks are equipped with memory settings, so if this is important to you, make sure you choose a desk with this feature. The memory settings allow you to program a set height for the desk when you’re sitting, and a different height for standing. This is really nice because all you have to do is press a single button when you want to change positions, rather than having hold and switch buttons to manually adjust the desk height every time.

Memory settings aren’t a dealbreaker for most people, which is why they’re not a feature on every adjustable desk. However, I’ve found that it’s super helpful to get your desk to the correct height quickly, instead of manually pressing the up and down arrows to get the desk exactly where you like it.

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The next three features are bonuses that may not be essentials for an adjustable desk, but I’ve found that they’re really nice to have.

#4 Grommets

Grommets are holes in the back of your desktop that allow you to send cords or cables through them to reach an outlet behind your desk. This prevents cords from running all across the desk and behind it.

Some people absolutely love these, and others don’t really care for them, so depending on what you’re looking for, check to see if the desk has grommets. Also, keep in mind that some desks, like the FEZIBO, that have options to have the grommet open or closed, so if you’re not sure what you want, that can be a good feature to look for.

#5 Wheels

This one really depends on how and where you use your sit-stand desk. Wheels aren’t necessary for everyone, but if you plan on moving your desk around, it’s a really useful feature to have. If you’re not sure, some adjustable desks, like the FLEXISPOT have the option to buy wheels separately and add them on if you want!

Wheels are a must-have for me because I move my desk around a lot. I’ve also found that it’s nice to be able to shift the desk slightly to the side, or forward and backward throughout the day. I often do this just to plug something in behind it or even vacuum underneath, so even if you’re not planning to move your remote workspace much, a desk with wheels can still be helpful. I even know some people who have a desk on wheels that they roll out to work each morning and roll it back into a closet to store at night!

#6 Cable Management Tray

This is a small bin or basket underneath the back of your desk that allows you to store a power strip or all the cables from your devices so that there aren’t cords all over the surface of your desk.

A cable management tray is a great feature to keep your workspace organized so that your cords don’t get tangled or become a tripping hazard on the floor. I typically put a power strip into the cable management tray, and then plug all my device cables into that, so the only cord that’s plugged into the wall is from the power strip. The FEZIBO Desk is equipped with this feature. A cable management tray isn’t a necessity, but it does save a lot of space and hassle and is super helpful for keeping your remote work desk organized.

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Now that you’ve read everything you need to know about buying an adjustable desk, here is a comparison of three great adjustable desks from Amazon!

I own both the FEZIBO and FLEXISPOT, and something to note is that the FLEXISPOT desk surface is a single smooth piece, while the FEZIBO surface is made of two pieces that fit snugly together. They were both pretty easy to assemble.

Also, the SHW Desk does not have a cable management tray, but it does have cable management ties to organize cords behind the desk.

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Those are the top 6 features to consider when buying an adjustable desk! It’s the perfect place to start because, like we share in the post The Top 3 Reasons a Desk Should be Your First Remote Work Purchase, a desk is the starting point for your remote work setup!

If you’re looking for more resources for working remotely, be sure to read The 6 Best Self Care Practices for Remote Workers.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope this post helped you decide which adjustable desk is the right fit for you.