Since you are here we believe you already know what a height adjustable desk is. Still, for the uninitiated, let us quickly define a sit-stand desk. It is essentially a desk designed for use by students and office workers alike, wherein one can change the height of the desk and alternate between sitting and standing. Height adjustable desks are becoming hugely popular for the myriad of health and productivity benefits that they entail.
Let us now move on to understand the various types of height adjustable desks.
As the name suggests, manual desk require the user to manually change the height of the desk, usually with the help of an appended handle.
Also known as automatic desk, electric desk can transition between the two positions with the help of a motor.
Owing to a gas spring mechanism, Pneumatic desk can seamlessly transition between the sitting and the standing position in a swift 3-second action.
Now that we know what each desk stands for, let us quickly go through the pros, cons and applications of each desk.
Manual Height Adjustable Desks – Pros, Cons and Applications
Pros
The following aspects put manual desks at a great advantage, especially for those who are just starting off their careers and don’t want to invest heavily in their home office furniture.
- Manual desk don’t require electricity making them ideal for areas that face multiple outages throughout the day
- Manual desk is extremely affordable
- Manual desk is simple in their make and do not comprise any motor, thereby do not require much maintenance
- Manual Desk is more or less noiseless
Cons
As is with any good product, even manual desk is limited in their capacity with respect to
- Height adjustment handles when placed at the side of the table may be out of reach for some users.
- Manual desk might prove to be heavier to lift, thereby making them somewhat impractical for children as well as for adults with disabilities
- Usually, manual standing desk have a lesser weight capacity of only up to 80 kgs
- The levels of height that can be achieved with a manual desk is often confined
Applications
Manual height adjustable desk is best suited for –
- Students/ professionals with only a little money to spare
- Individuals residing in areas where the power supply is unreliable or in the case where there aren’t many power outlets in the workspace
- Users who are physically capable of applying additional force required to bring down the table from the standing position
- People who are looking for a desk with a life-span of 7-8 years
- Users who want a low-maintenance desk
From the Verified Amazon Customer:
“Its only been a few days that I am using this table. It is very ergonomic and going good so far. The adjustable options provided are superb. However, I would come back on the stability of the table top (once the angle is adjusted) after some time. Needless to say the service of the seller was awesome. Very customer oriented!”
Electric Height Adjustable Desks – Pros, Cons and Applications
Offices and individuals with a relatively better spending capacity often opt for electric desks, with the aim of enjoying the below-mentioned benefits –
- Electric desk can lift a considerably high amount of weight, usually ranging between 125 kg to 175 kgs, depending on the model
- Automated electric desk is enabled with preset height levels wherein the desk can memorise up to 3 height levels so that the user can have the precise level that they want, every single time
- Electric desk is designed to ensure that the user faces no physical strain when adjusting the height, as the motor does the task rather seamlessly
Cons
Of course, even electric desks have their fair share of limitations including the following –
- Electric desk is more expensive when compared to their manual counterparts, however, the price is often justified thanks to the ease of use they provide
- The motor in the electric desk usual makes a noise ranging from 50-60 dB when the height is adjusted, which may not be suitable for closed or quiet office environments
- Overloading the desk as well as multiple up/down cycles might lead to slow down and burn out the motor
Applications
Electric height adjustable desks are best suited for –
- Professionals who are looking to enhance productivity and better spine health
- Individuals who do not mind using a power outlet for plugging in the desk
- Young students and female professionals who wouldn’t want to exert pressure for height adjustments throughout the day
- Users who are physically incapable of using any additional force to switch between positions
- Users who are looking for convenience, and don’t mind a few maintenance costs (if any)
From the Verified Amazon Customer:
“I purchased this table a few weeks back and I’m quite satisfied with it. I’ve used high-end electric standing tables in my office and this one almost matches it in terms of quality and finish. The motor is powerful – I have a 24 inch monitor + 16 inch MacBook Pro in the table and the movement of the table top is very smooth.”
Pneumatic Height Adjustable Desks – Pros, Cons and Applications
Pros
Owing to the gas spring that Pneumatic Desks are enabled with, they allow for exceptionally seamless height adjustment of the table, thus giving them a competitive advantage over the other two types of standing desks. Some of the most prominent benefits of pneumatic desks include –
- A simply ‘holding down the lever action’, with a single finger ensures absolute smooth and near-weightless movement of the desk
- Nearly silent switching between the heights thanks to the absence of any motor
- Eco-friendly alternative as there is no electricity required to operate pneumatic desk
- A vast majority of pneumatic tables are equipped with wheels for convenient movement from one place to another
Cons
As you may know by now, every piece of furniture comes with its own downsides, and so do pneumatic desks. Some of their limitations include –
- Over the course of time, the gas springs may lose pressure leading to tricky functioning, and inability to hold the desired height of the desk
- If overloaded consistently, the gas spring may degrade quickly, leading to frequent maintenance needs
- In case of misbalancing of the table, the switching motion may become abrupt
- Pneumatic tables may take some manoeuvring to achieve the desired height to precision
Applications –
Pneumatic height adjustable desks are best suited for –
- Users who are looking for absolute convenience
- Knowledge workers who want their desk to function quietly
- Professionals who might need to move their desk quite frequently
- Individuals who do not want to be limited by outlet-locations
- Users who do not want to use any strength to switch between the sitting and standing modes
- Individuals seeking a no-maintenance desk with an exceptionally long lifespan
We hope that you now know all about the benefits, limitations as well as applications of Manual Standing Desk, Electric Standing Desk as well as Pneumatic Standing Desk. It is our sincere belief that this know-how will equip you to make a well-informed decision when you choose to take the much-needed leap towards a healthier, more productive work life.
From the Verified Amazon Customer:
“TLDR; Close your eyes and Go for it. This is an excellent product.
Now the Amazing part:
The best part is before it was delivered, the support contacted me over whatsapp and sent the installation videos so that installation goes smooth. And they also answered all my questions if I can connect monitor stand with it etc. in matter of minutes. I never had such a great experience with any of Amazon sellers in my long association with Amazon.”
FAQs
Pneumatic Vs Electric Standing Desk: Which Is Better?
While both pneumatic and electric standing desk carry their own merits and demerits, your final call will depend on a few factors including –
- Your budget
- Your requirements
- Your office environment
- The level of convenience you desire
As far as the aesthetic appeal is concerned, which desk should I opt for?
If you are on the lookout for a standing desk that helps elevate the look and feel of your office, we suggest you opt for a manual height adjustable desk or a pneumatic standing desk. The absence of cords and a noisy motor makes these two table types both minimal and aesthetically pleasing.