As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something through a link on this page, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I recommend and it does not change your price.
How to pick
Start with height, not with spending. Your screen wants to be at eye level so you are not looking down all day, and your elbows want to be at about ninety degrees. A stack of books under the monitor tests the first one for nothing, so try that before buying anything. The order that gives the most benefit per dollar is usually a riser, then a footrest if your feet do not sit flat, then a monitor arm, then a sit stand desk. One honest warning on those: standing all day is no better for you than sitting all day. The benefit comes from changing position every hour or so, so if you know you will never press the button, save your money.
What I recommend
Start here, it is nearly free
Your screen wants to be at eye level so you are not looking down all day, and your elbows want to be at about ninety degrees. A stack of books under the monitor tests the first for nothing, so try that before buying anything.
Monitor riser or stand
Lifts the screen so the top sits at about eye level and you stop craning downward. The single cheapest thing on this page and for many people the only one they need. Many have a shelf underneath so the keyboard tucks away.
- Fixes the most common cause of neck ache
- Very cheap
- Shelf underneath reclaims desk space
- Fixed height on cheap models may not suit you
- Takes up desk depth
- Wobbles under a heavy monitor if flimsy
- Height
- Top of screen at eye level
- Bonus
- Shelf to tuck the keyboard under
- Test first
- A stack of books proves it works
- Material
- Wood or steel over plastic
Footrest
Once the chair is at the right height for your desk, a lot of people find their feet dangle, and that is where afternoon back ache comes from. The angled ones are more comfortable than a flat box.
- Fixes afternoon lower back ache
- Cheap
- Angled and rocking versions encourage movement
- Slides on hard floors unless it has grips
- Takes up legroom
- Easy to kick out of position
- Use when
- Your feet do not sit flat
- Shape
- Angled beats a flat box
- Nice to have
- Tilts or rocks
- Fixes
- Afternoon lower back ache
Freeing up the desk
Worth it once the basics are right.
Monitor arm
Clamps to the back of the desk and holds the screen in the air, so you get the desk space back and can move the screen wherever is comfortable. Check your monitor's weight and its VESA pattern before buying.
- Reclaims the whole footprint of the stand
- Adjusts to any height and angle instantly
- Makes a second monitor practical
- Must check weight limit and VESA pattern
- Needs a desk edge it can clamp to
- Cheap ones sag over time
- Fiddly to install alone
- Check first
- Your monitor's weight
- Check also
- VESA pattern, 75mm or 100mm
- Mount
- Clamps to the desk edge
- Gains
- The whole desk back
Standing
One honest warning: standing all day is no better for you than sitting all day. The benefit comes from changing position every hour or so, so if you know you will never press the button, save your money.
Sit stand desk converter
Sits on top of the desk you already own and lifts the screen and keyboard together. Much cheaper than a whole new desk, no assembly to speak of, and you can put it away if you decide standing is not for you.
- Far cheaper than a full desk
- No assembly, and reversible
- Good way to try standing before committing
- Takes up desk depth permanently
- Heavier ones need a shove to raise
- Wobbles more than a proper desk
- Looks like an add on, because it is
- Sits on
- The desk you already own
- Lifts
- Screen and keyboard together
- Trade off
- Uses up desk depth
- Good if
- You are not sure about standing yet
FLEXISPOT electric sit stand desk
A full desk with a motor in the legs and buttons to save your sitting and standing heights. Get a dual motor frame if you can, because they are steadier and quieter than single motor ones.
- Steady at any height, unlike a converter
- Memory buttons make switching effortless
- Dual motor frames are quiet and quick
- Lasts many years
- Expensive
- Assembly takes a couple of hours and is heavy work
- Single motor versions wobble and are slow
- Cable management becomes your problem
- Frame
- Dual motor, steadier and quieter
- Memory
- Buttons for your two heights
- Check
- Desk depth against your room
- Worth it if
- You are at it all day, every day
Related reading
Setting up a home office?
I can get the whole thing working properly, screens, printer, network and all, so it feels like one setup rather than a pile of boxes.