If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
When a workspace is already crowded with furniture, the best sit-stand option is one that converts any desk into a dual-mode station. The multitiered Varidesk holds just the essentials—monitor, keyboard, mouse. Your wireless phone charger, headphone stand, and stacks of paperwork stay on the tabletop. Squeezing the paddlelike levers on either side releases the locking mechanism that keeps the 30-inch work surface stable, and a system of springs allows you to lift the whole assembly up or push it back down with relative ease. The Varidesk locks into one of 11 heights between 4.5 and 17.5 inches off the desktop. There are no motors and nothing to plug in. It even arrives fully assembled. (Other sizes are available too.)
$295
This Wisconsin shop has long sold other companies' office furniture. So when BTOD finally made its own desk, it folded in years of industry experience. The third version of its motorized VertDesk can lift up to 275 pounds—enough to handle a multidisplay workstation, heaps of external storage, and a few potted aeschynanthuses. Plus, it can be programmed to stop at up to four heights between 30 and 50 inches. A sensor keeps the work surface from crushing any hard objects (mug) or soft ones (office lapdog) that may be resting on your under-desk cabinet. The Vert is customizable too. Add a power strip ($40), casters ($43), or a Siri voice-control module ($73)—when your Apple Watch commands you to stand, command the desk to rise with you.
$532 and up
Stylist: Lionel Dulce
When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.
This article appears in the February issue. Subscribe now.
- Hollywood bets on a future of quick clips and tiny screens
- Mind control for the masses—no implant needed
- Here's what the world will look like in 2030 ... right?
- Internet deception is here to stay—what do we do now?
- The war vet, the dating site, and the phone call from hell
- 👁 Will AI as a field "hit the wall" soon? Plus, the latest news on artificial intelligence
- 🏃🏽♀️ Want the best tools to get healthy? Check out our Gear team’s picks for the best fitness trackers, running gear (including shoes and socks), and best headphones
