Best Motorized Desks of 2021- Top 5 Picks

A motorized desk with adjustable standing or sitting height is one of the hottest items for the modern office. The new way of business is all about convenience, flow, and smart working ideas to keep productivity high and redundant thinking low.

An adjustable motorized desk is an excellent addition to any workspace. Having the option to work from a seated position then quickly change your setting so you can reach your work on the move without crouching or bending is a game-changer.

What is a Motorized Standing Desk?

Standing desks have been used for hundreds of years, as far back as Leonardo DaVinci, so this is no new concept. In the last decade, more emphasis has been put on the health risks associated with sitting down for too much of the day and as a result, the standing desk’s popularity has grown exponentially.

An adjustable motorized desk is as it sounds; a desk you stand at. Standing has health benefits, sure, but nobody is expecting you to stand for a whole 12-hour shift, five days a week. Modern standing desks are adjustable to give the option to sit or to stand as and when you like, and a motorized desk makes this easier by making the adjustment electronically controlled.

Depending on the space you have and who is using it, you can go for an individual or dual surface, extended bench space, or even an L-shaped SmartDesk. The idea behind the concept is to create a simple and easy flow between normal desk work and on the move productivity and to encourage people to spend more time on their feet.

How Do They Work?

A motorized standing desk allows for a smooth and easy transition from sitting to stand at the push of a button. Most designs have a discreet button just under the desk surface for easy access, but app-operated Bluetooth controls are also available.

Most designs are compatible with smartphone applications, which means the user can control the height of the desk at any time. For example, they left the motorized desk at sitting level to go and print something and now need to quickly check something on their computer before dashing off to a meeting. They could set the adjustable motorized desk to stand while they are printing so it is ready for them when they get there; no waiting, and no bending or crouching to see the screen.

The motorized desk is made of the frame where the power lifting columns are fitted and the desk surface, which fits on top. These can be bought individually or together. You may have a custom desktop you plan to fit onto a motorized frame, or you have the frame but want to swap out an old or damaged surface. The lifting function is powered by motors and in most cases, the automated controls are built into part of the frame.

When you are sitting, you don’t notice much difference from a normal desk, so they fit in well to an average workspace. Everything, in fact, is the same as any other desk except the motorized lifting built into the desk frame to raise the surface to standing level. This creates a flexible workspace that lets you move and work however you need to.

Are Standing Desks Really Good for Your Health?

Quite simply, yes, they are. The thought of working standing up might seem a bit odd at first, but the benefits of making it part of your routine are great.

Standing is good for circulation and joints.

After sitting down all day, do you ever stand up and feel achy and stiff in your knees and elbows? This happens because the human body is not meant to stay in a stationary position for very long. If you are tucked away under a desk, blood and oxygen can’t freely circulate through your legs and the tissues around your knees become tight and sore.

By raising your motorized computer desk or office desk to a standing level periodically throughout the day, you allow your body the movement it needs simply by standing up and letting your legs stretch for a while.

Sitting down for too long brings other issues.

Back pain is a well-documented woe amongst office workers, the reason being that until recently, most office chairs offered little to no lumbar support and were not designed to be comfortable for long stretches of time. Although ergonomic chairs have come a long way, they don’t remove the need for getting up and moving around.

Sitting down for too long can cause your hips to tighten and lead to pain in your lower back. Bad posture is also easy to slip into if you sit at a desk for hours on end. Pain isn’t the only issue; there are also links between extended periods of sitting down and obesity, diabetes, and even heart disease. This may sound extreme, but there is scientific backing behind it. To find out more, have a look at some of the research into the dangers of sitting for too long.

Standing up and stretching your legs relieves discomfort, aids with feelings of fatigue or boredom, and can make you feel more motivated.

Many people who have used a powerful electric standing desk state that they feel more motivated and productive during the times when they keep it at the raised standing level. It’s easy to feel tired and even a little lazy towards the end of a long working day. The energy boost that comes with standing up, stretching out, and focusing on what is in front of you rather than sinking further into a chair cannot be ignored and is an excellent tool to have at your disposal.

Regular movement benefits your mental health as well as your physical health.

The aforementioned boredom and fatigue and contributors to poor mental health. There are prominent positive effects to standing and walking around that have on the mind and clear negative effects that come from lack of movement. Better oxygen flow through the body has an impact on the chemical level in your brain and increases the feeling of happiness. Surely if simply standing up for part of the day can make you happier, then it’s worth it!

Nobody expects you to stay on your feet from nine till five if it’s not what you want, but at least two hours a day operating at a standing level is enormously beneficial for body and mind. Move movement means better health, which means more positive minds and more successful work results! Having a state-of-the-art adjustable motorized desk makes this a very easily achievable goal.

Are Motorized Desks Worth It If You Work from Home?

Home offices are more common than ever, and with the new Hybrid Working Model style creeping into many businesses, your home office may become more permanent than first expected. Health, comfort, and productivity are just as important to a remote worker as they are to in-office staff and as such there should be no difference in what is considered 'worth it'.

On the other hand, a home office is a highly personalized space, and you may already have a perfect setup designed specifically for your needs, in which case a motorized office desk could be superfluous. Working from home is a more flexible environment by nature, and you are more likely to move around during the time you are there, but if you find yourself sitting for hours without so much as grabbing a coffee, the same health risks still apply.

A motorized desk should be considered worthwhile by anyone concerned about how much of the day they spend sitting down at their adjustable motorized desk, be it in an office or at home.

What Is the Difference Between a Motorized and Manual Standing Desk?

Motorized standing desks are controlled electrically, either by pushing a button or adjusting controls on an app, whereas manual standing desks rise using a lever or handle. When weighing up the question of electric vs manual standing desk design and what is best for you, consider the pros and cons of having a motor:

Pros and Cons of Having a Motor

• Takes no physical effort to raise or lower, so anybody can control it
• Heavy items do not need to be removed for the motorized stand-up desks to rise, with a powerful motorized desk having enough strength to lift around 450lbs- more than ten average office computers!
• More modern styles and designs available
• Button or app control is far more aesthetically pleasing than a lever or handle
• Fits in perfectly with the new streamlined ultra-convenient world of modern smart offices

• More expensive than a non-electric design
• Has the potential to break down unlike good old fashioned elbow grease
• Not always easy to fix if something does go wrong
• Relies on electricity

As with any modern smart design tech, the higher price brings a higher reward, but the more advanced the technology for the motorized desk, the more complicated it is to fix if something goes wrong. The convenience and style of a motorized office desk are not in question; the only consideration is if the cost is justifiable to you.

Top Five Best Motorized Desks of 2021

Now you know more about what a motorized desk is and why it is so beneficial, let’s take a look at some of the best models available on the market today.

1. SmartDesk 2

The SmartDesk 2 is one of the sleekest, most sophisticated, and most versatile motorized desks on the market. Everything about how this motorized stand-up desks model has been designed is pure functionality and style. With one of the largest height ranges of any desk, customizable surface size depending on your requirements, and an impressive 350lb of lifting power, this motorized computer desk is hard to beat.

2. SmartDesk 2 (Standard) Duo

Cut from a similar cloth to the SmartDesk 2, the SmartDesk 2 (Standard) Duo design is built for teams. With two independently controlled but equally strong and spacious motorized computer desk surfaces, multiple built-in power outlets and cable trays, and extra-quiet motors, this motorized stand-up desk design is all about collaboration.

3. SmartDesk 2 L-Shaped

L-shaped motorized desks are a pragmatic and slick way to make use of notoriously space-wasting corners. Combine the effective use of space with the ultra-efficiency of a motorized office desk and you have the SmartDesk 2 L-Shaped.

With more workable space, durable lifting strength, and motor power than every other model on this list, the SmartDesk 2 L-Shaped is truly a thing of beauty.

For more information about L-shaped desk design, check out this guide to the best corner standing desk models of 2021.

4. Uplift V2 Standing Desk

The Uplift V2 shines for its level of customizable comfort and style. The height range accommodates the shortest and the tallest of users at just the touch of a button and boasts one of the best selection of desk accessories available with any current motorized stand-up desks model.

One of the major draws of the Uplift V2 is the choice of over 200 surface materials to suit any personality or space. The frame is built with industry-leading stability and anti-collision technology, backed up by a 15-year warranty.

5. New Heights Elegante XT

The New Heights Elegante range boasts next level Bluetooth control capabilities, even limited voice commands. Users can control the movement of motorized stand-up desks from their Smartphone or other mobile devices quickly and easily. The sophisticated and highly professional looking finish on this desk makes it perfect for a corporate setting or a classic office looking to impress. 

In summary, the benefit of having a motorized desk with adjustable standing and sitting levels is absolute. If the increased productivity and motivation reported by current happy users of this excellent new smart motorized computer desk design is not enough, then the scientifically backed health benefits should be. 

The traditional way of office life is changing. The workplace is rapidly becoming more tech-integrated, fluid and collaborative, with the focus more than ever on revolutionary ways to get the most out of the time you spend there.

Motorized standing desks are only part of the optimal modern office, but they are a pretty good place to start.