There are three common ways to stand at a desk. A converter sits on the desk you already have and lifts your screens and keyboard. A complete electric standing desk raises the whole top. A motorised frame does the same job, but you supply your own desktop. This guide compares the three by height range, load, desk space and how often you switch, using each listing's specs and published guidance on keyboard and screen height.
Start with the height you need
Before you compare products, work out where your keyboard should sit when you stand. OSHA's purchasing guidance, as summarized by Hernest, gives approximate adjustable keyboard-height ranges of 22–30 inches for seated work and 36–46.5 inches for standing work. Those figures describe keyboard position, not a required desktop height. Keep that difference in mind, because a keyboard tray or a thick top changes where your hands land.
Height charts give a starting point by body height. One chart lists a standing desk height of 102-107 cm for someone 163 cm tall and 117-122 cm for someone 183 cm tall. Another puts people from 168 to 178 cm at 102 to 112 cm when standing. Both note that body proportions vary, so treat the charts as a first guess.
Then check with your own arms. OSHA's neutral position keeps the elbows close to the body and bent between 90 and 120 degrees, with wrists straight and shoulders relaxed. Measure in the shoes you will wear, and stand on your mat if you use one, since a cushioned mat can lower your effective height. For a step-by-step method, see our guide to setting desk and keyboard height for your elbows.
Option 1: a converter on the desk you already own
The 32 inch sit to stand desk converter with wide keyboard tray sits on an existing desk so you can switch between sitting and standing. Its listing gives a top surface of 31.5 x 15.7 in, a height from 4.3 to 19.8 in, and a 30 lbs max load. A wide keyboard tray sits below the top surface. It comes in white.
With a converter, your standing height depends on the desk underneath it. Measure your desk from the floor to the top of the desktop, then add the converter's raise and compare the result with your standing keyboard height. The listing does not print how far below the top the keyboard tray sits, so expect your keyboard to land lower than the top surface. Check this before you commit, especially if you are tall.
A converter also takes up room on your desk. This one has a footprint of 31.5 x 15.7 in, and common desk depths run 24–30 in. Make sure your desk is deep and wide enough to hold the converter with some space left for papers or a lamp.
Option 2: a complete electric standing desk
The electric height adjustable standing desk with a 63 x 24 in top replaces your current desk. An electric frame raises and lowers the splice board top. It has 2 hooks for a bag or headphones and a wire hole to route cables below the top. It comes in black, oak and rustic brown.
Be clear about what the listing does not say. It gives dimensions of 62.90 x 23.60 x 46.40 in (L x W x H), but it does not list a height range, a minimum height, a motor count or a maximum load. If you sit near either end of the height charts, or plan a heavy setup, confirm those details before you buy.
Surface size is where a full desk differs most from a converter. One desk sizing guide says a dual-monitor setup needs 60 inches of width, and this top is 63 x 24 in. The same guide calls 24 inches the working minimum depth and 30 inches the more comfortable target, so a 24 in deep top puts your monitor closer to the front edge.
Option 3: a motorised frame for your own top
The dual motor standing desk frame with inverted 2-stage legs turns a desktop of your choice into a sit-stand desk. It has one motor in each leg, and the integrated handset shows the height from 28.3 to 47.3 in. The crossbar extends from 1160 to 1700 mm to suit your top. The desktop is not included, and the listing does not give a maximum load.
Compare that range with the guidance. OSHA's approximate standing keyboard range of 36–46.5 inches falls inside the frame's 28.3 to 47.3 in display range. One chart puts someone 188 cm tall at 119-124 cm when standing, which goes past the frame's listed top of 120 cm. OSHA also says a work surface should generally be no more than 2 inches thick, so your choice of top affects where the keyboard ends up.
At the low end, the frame starts at 28.3 in, while OSHA's seated keyboard range starts at 22 inches. If you are shorter, you may need a keyboard tray or a higher chair with a footrest to type with relaxed shoulders while seated.
Monitors and screen height when you stand
OSHA says to put the monitor directly in front of you, at least 20 inches away, with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level. One guide notes that your eye level rises roughly 18-24 inches when you move from sitting to standing. A fixed monitor that stays behind will have you looking down, so plan for the screen to rise with you.
A converter, a full desk and a frame all carry the screen up with the work surface. On the converter, the top holds one monitor, two monitors, or a laptop with a monitor. Everything on it has to stay within the 30 lbs max load, so add up your monitors and stands before you decide.
How often you switch
One ergonomics guide suggests alternating, with sitting for 45-60 minutes and standing for 15-30 minutes, and says standing all day is not the goal. If you switch several times a day, a setup that moves easily matters. The electric desk and the dual motor frame both raise and lower electrically, and the frame's handset shows the height. The converter listing does not describe a motor, so expect to raise it yourself.
Quick comparison
- Converter: sits on your current desk, height 4.3 to 19.8 in, 30 lbs max load, 31.5 x 15.7 in top
- Electric standing desk: 63 x 24 in top, electric adjustment, 2 hooks and a wire hole, height range and load not listed
- Dual motor frame: handset reads 28.3 to 47.3 in, crossbar 1160 to 1700 mm, desktop not included, load not listed
Which one fits your setup
Choose a converter if you want to keep the desk you have and your screens stay within its load. Choose a complete electric desk if you are starting fresh and want a wide top in one box. Choose a frame if you already own a top you like or want to pick one yourself. To see these next to other workspace pieces, browse the ergonomic collection.
