It may have been a few years since working from home became the norm, but it's never too late to treat yourself with a standing desk, especially if you haven't already. This upgrade to your WFH setup can dramatically improve your productivity as it changes your posture and encourages you to stretch from time to time.

We can't really say for sure when precisely adjustable height desk became a popular fixture in the home office, but we can hazard a guess that the whole work-from-home situation that kicked off in 2020 helped fuel the trend. Then again, people have been using sitting desks for centuries before standing desks. So the big question is: which is better for you?

To help you make a more informed decision about whether a standing desk or a sit desk is better for your work-from-home arrangement, we've taken a deep dive into both types of desks. We also asked people from both camps to tell us why, or why not.

Standing Desks: Pros and Cons

Ergonomics became a hot topic when flexible work arrangements started to affect many of us, leading to an explosion in the adjustable standing desk market. Even chair makers and custom PC builders want to get in on the action, offering desks with features like multiple height presets, docking stations for bulky PCs, and built-in cable organizers.

Advantage:
One of the biggest benefits of a standing desk is that it enables healthier posture habits, which is what drew Joycelyn, Natalie and Samantha to buy the desk.

"I'm standing up every 1-2 hours because my back hurts from sitting," Joycelyn says of her newfound work habits. Natalie agrees, saying that just having a table is a good reminder to make the most of it when you stretch out in the middle of the day. She also puts it on her treadmill to help her beat food coma during her post-lunch walks.
As for Samantha, she appreciates the small tweaks made on her Taobao standing desk. "Because of my (below average) height, I can lower the desk when I sit down to relax my arms and shoulders while I work," she says.

Three women also shared how standing for an hour after lunch can help with digestion. While you might argue that all you have to do is stand or go for a walk after a big lunch, a sit standing desk allows you to make the most of your time, especially if you have a tight schedule.

Researchers at the University of Turku also observed how standing helps improve insulin sensitivity, especially if they are used to a sedentary lifestyle and sit down. Other benefits to your health include increased productivity and reduced physical fatigue.
There are also many aesthetic advantages to standing desks. Alastair, owner of the Omnidesk Pro, likes the sturdiness of the desk and the fact that features like cable management are inherently built into the desk rather than an afterthought. Natalie also said she loves the standing desk with drawers and uses them a lot.

Shortcoming:
What is the price for all these benefits listed above? Literally, the price tag. One of the most affordable convertible standing desks we've found is the Squirrey Electric Height Adjustable Desk Smart on Shopee for $299. On the other hand, the XL version of the Omnidesk Ascent Wildwood costs a whopping $1,169. A sitting desk might be just a fraction of the price.

Those who are not used to working on their feet for long periods of time may also want to invest in an anti-fatigue mat. While this may not be expensive, the little things add up in the long run. Don't forget that even with a "standing desk," you still need the best ergonomic offical chair. Although Joycelyn says she can use any stool and adjust the table as needed.

One of my colleagues, Raewyn, laments that an adjustable standing desk has to be plugged in, which can limit where you can place the desk in the room. This isn't a problem if the extension cords or electrical outlets are in the right place, but too many wires can make things very messy and not very Marie Kondo-like.

Who Should Get a Standing Desk

If you're considering buying a standing desk, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you often work from home? (more than 50% of weekly working hours)
• Do you suffer from back pain from sitting?
• Can you afford it?

If the answer to all of the above questions is yes, then buying a standing computer desk is a great idea. If you're on a tight budget but still want a standing desk, a standing desk converter might be a better fit for your wallet.

Sitting Desks: Pros and Cons

Sitting desks need no introduction. They're the de facto work desk, but they're quickly being replaced by standing desks as the conversation about ergonomics and posture heats up. Do they still have a place in the Ministry of the Interior? We asked some die-hard sit desk fans what got them hooked.

Advantage:
The following is as above. A sitting desk can cost a fraction of the cost of a standing desk. Most of us will default to IKEA's wide range of study desks and their low prices, as the Swedish furniture giant starts at $39 for a simple TORALD desk and $597 for a gaming-specific desk.

There are also more design options for typical fixed desks, and some homeowners have even asked their carpenter to build a desk for them in their home. And because there are no motors on your desk, you have fewer wires to deal with.

If you decide to try standing while you work, but don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on another desk, you can always put one of the above standing desk converters on top of your beloved desk.

Shortcoming:
It's hard to come up with a con when stationary desks have been around for thousands of years. But the biggest downside compared to an adjustable standing desk is also its biggest feature: It's stationary. Only sit to work or stand to rest; unlike standing desks, there is no middle ground.

Most desks also only have one height. This means you have to adjust the chair to make yourself comfortable, but this may come at the expense of ergonomics where your feet may not be able to touch the ground. That's one reason Samantha chose an electric standing desk, as it allows her to lower it down for better posture.

Standing vs Sit Desks - Which Is Best for You?

There is no right or wrong answer as to whether a standing desk or a sit desk is best for you. From how the table looks and feels to the price of the table, the most important thing is what you are most happy with.