Hand Crank Standing Desks vs. Electric Sit-Stand Desks: Which Is Best?

Standing for three hours a day, five days a week burns 30,000+ calories over the course of a year. That adds up to about eight pounds of fat lost, or a whole pant size. Aches and pain can be reduced by standing periodically throughout the day, and your brain is able to get the blood and oxygen it needs to keep you focused and productive.

Sit-to-stand desks are all the rage right now, and for good reason! Hours spent sitting in front of a computer are wreaking havoc on our bodies and we've decided to do something about it. Stand up!

Hand-Crank vs. Electric Sit-Stand Desk

Okay, we know you're sold! It's easy to see the benefits of using a sit-to-stand desk.

There are quite a few options available, like height-adjustable desks, hand-crank standing desks, and electric sit-to-stand desks, all ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to more than $2,000.

The best way to get the benefits of a standing desk is to be able to easily transition from sitting to standing while you work. This way, you get the best of both worlds and don't get burned out on standing by overdoing it. So, let's narrow these desks options down to two and compare them.

Hand-Crank Standing Desks

Hand crank standing desks allow you to manually adjust the height of the desk by turning a crank. It takes about 38 turns to go from sitting to standing. You'll want to figure out the perfect heights that work for you, both sitting and standing, and then make a note of how many times you turn the crank to get there. Constantly searching for the right height every time you transition will get a bit frustrating.

After testing and reviewing a slew of sit-to-stand desks, the Wirecutter writes that hand-crank standing desks are "a pain to work with and prone to load-imbalance issues." If you think you'll get tired of manually adjusting your desk height after a while, this isn't a good option for you. You won't reap the total benefits if you end up keeping the desk in only one position. While standing is healthier than sitting for hours, standing all day leads to its own set of problems.

Hand-crank standing desks start at about $230.

Electric Sit-to-Stand Desks

Electric sit-to-stand desks are the more popular choice. With a touch of a button, you can go from sitting to standing. Some electric options come with a two-button, up-and-down, controller, or you can get a memory height controller that allows you to save presets. Talk about convenience! You're more likely to transition between sitting and standing as you work with an electric controller on the desk.

Which Is Best?

Honestly, you're the only one who can answer this question. After you decide what you want in a sit-to-stand desk, you'll have to decide which option is best for you. If you're wanting to save some money and are committed to using the sit-to-stand feature, even if you have to manually adjust it throughout the day, then a hand-crank standing desk is a good option. If you don't mind investing a little more for the convenience of having an electric controller and easy transitions, then go for the electric sit-to-stand desk.

Most importantly, you should be happy with your purchase, from the quality and cost to the buying experience. Read our tips for avoiding buyer's remorse when purchasing your new desk.

Want to build your own standing desk? Check out this link to find the Standing Desk that works for you: Build Your Own Standing Desk