The problem concerning sedentary lifestyles is real. In fact, a 2011 report of Statistics Canada revealed that Canadian adults are sedentary for 9.5 hours per day. Recently, this got even worse with the pandemic keeping more people at home. And it’s not confined to specific areas; sedentary lifestyle appears to be a global problem. A more recent 2022 research shows that 28% of adults worldwide are physically inactive.

As a population, we need to start moving more, not only by exercising but by creating small moments of natural movement. In Canada, standing desks are among the tried-and-tested solutions for breaking sedentary habit at work. They allow you to stand more and move more while working. If you are still using an old, fixed-height desk, this might be the right time to consider a height-adjustable desk and go for a standing desk.

Standing Desk: Why You Need It

In this post, we’ll share a complete guide to standing desk shopping to help you find the right desk for you. But first, let’s take a closer look at what a standing desk is and why it’s beneficial.

In Canada, a standing desk is called by many names—a sit stand desk, a stand up desk, or as already mentioned, a height-adjustable desk. What it is, is a desk that can move up or down from sitting to standing height, and back. And, you can make this happen by simply pressing a button on a keypad built into the desk.

The goal is to make it easy for you to alternate between sitting and standing while you are working, to make this so seamless and natural that it easily becomes a habit.

But how often should you stand and sit? According to studies, the ideal time for standing is 30-45 minutes every hour, which leaves you 15 to 30 minutes of sitting in the same hour. However, it is important to remember that this may vary according to your body and according to where you are in your sit-stand journey. If you’re just starting to transition, feel free to sit as much as you can while allotting intentional moments for standing—maybe with an alarm clock or a reminder posted somewhere in your working space. And then, progress over time by increasing your standing time after a while.

Factors to Consider When Shopping for the Best Standing Desk in Canada

If you’re ready to make the transition to more standing and less sitting while working, it’s time to consider investing in a standing desk. But which sit-stand desk should you get? Well, finding the right desk involves careful consideration of several factors.

Think about your working space where the desk will be placed. Consider your working schedule and the situation in your space. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you determine which desk is fit for you.

Who will be using the standing desk?

Will you be the sole user of this desk? Or will it be shared by several people? If you’re getting a desk for your home office, will it also be used by your spouse or by your kids, perhaps?

This is an important question because this will determine the right height range you need from the desk. If you have kids using the desk, it’s likely that they will need the desk to be in a different height from the height you are setting for yourself. Adjustment is easy, but make sure the desk will be able to cater to your whole family and the people who will be sharing it. Read more about height range further in this post.

How much space do you have? 

Standing desks come in different sizes and styles, and you need to find one that will fit your space. If your space is limited, check if a small standing desk will work for you. You will also find desks in L-shape, perfect for those who plan to place it in the corner of their room.

When choosing the right size, make sure you will have enough space to move around and enough space for all your other stuff. You can take advantage of the space underneath the desk, and you may also opt to invest in under desk drawers and rolling cabinets in case you need extra storage for your stuff.

How much stuff do you need to place on the desk?

And what are these items? Apart from your computer, will you need your standing desk to hold a bunch of other things? If you do, you need to make sure that you get a desk that will be able to handle all the weight you plan to put on it.

Different desks have different lifting capacities, from as low as ~150 lbs to as high as ~350 lbs. Take some time to consider all the items you will need the desk to handle, and then find a desk with the lifting capacity to match this.

What features are important to you? 

In Canada, the best standing desks come with cool features that make operating the desks safer and more convenient. Check out the following:

• Anti-collision feature stops the desk from moving up or down when it touches and senses an obstruction, protecting it and your space from possible damage.
• Child lock feature enables you to lock the desk after you have set its height, keeping your child from making any unwanted changes in desk height when he finds and tinkers with the keypad, and thereby protecting him from any potential accident.
• Scratch-resistant feature on the table top surface protects your desk’s top from premature damage caused by daily use, so you get to keep it looking new for a long time.

These are some of the top features you will find in today’s standing desks. Check which of these are important to you (maybe all of them!) and look for a desk that can give you the said feature/s.

What to Look for in a Standing Desk?

We’ve talked about the importance of standing desks, and we hope the questions above will be helpful in your search. In this next section, we’ll take a closer look at the things you may check further as you look for the best standing desk for you.

Standing Desk Motor

Electric standing desks are powered by one or two motor, and the number of motor in a desk usually determines its speed and stability as it moves up and down carrying its load. Dual motors are generally preferred for their power. For a detailed comparison between a single and dual motors, head over here.

Height Range

As mentioned earlier in the article, a desk’s height range will determine just how many people can use it. In general, the wider the height range, the better. Carefully check the range when you shop to ensure that the desk can cater to the people in your family, or work, who will be using it.

Operating Noise and Speed

This might be a small thing at first glance, but imagine using the desk everyday and having to operate it regularly. The speed of the desk’s movement will affect how seamless it is for you to move from sitting to standing and back. If the process is slow and takes extra work, it can discourage you from shifting between these two positions. In the same manner, a noisy operation can be irritating, especially during those days when you just need your peace and quiet.

When shopping for a new standing desk in Canada, take a look at the noise level and the speed to make sure they’re right for you.

Table Top Size and Design

Small, medium, large, or extra-large—these are the common sizes you can choose from when it comes to your table top. For the design, the most common tops come in neutral colors such as white, black, or grey. However, there are customized options you can choose from, as simple as going for bold colors or investing in customized and handcrafter tops such as this one!

Love all of these so far? It’s time to take a look at the standing desk options for you!

The Best Standing Desks in Canada

Below is a quick list of the top 12 standing desks you can choose from:

• Motion Series Standing Desk
• Motion Ergo2 Series
• Effydesk Business Adjustable Standing Desk
• Autonomous SmartDesk Core                                                        
• Progressive Desk: Economy Ryzer Standing Desk
• Flexispot Standing Desk (Pro Plus E7)
• Ergonofis Shift Standing Desk
• Varidesk Electric Standing Desk
• Ikea Bekant Office Desk
• Rise Desk
• Uplift Standing Desk
• Motion Series Standing Desk with Handmade Table Top

For a complete overview of the mentioned standing desks above, check out this top 12 standing desks blogpost.

Ready to shop for a new standing desk? We hope this guide has been helpful, and we hope you find the right desk to help you transition to a new, improved lifestyle with less sitting and more standing. Be healthy!

About Us

MotionGrey is a Canadian standing desk company that specializes in ergonomic furniture. We supply and install only the best quality standing desks and ergonomic chairs in the country.

Our products are designed with wellness as the focal point. From our electric standing desks to our office and gaming chairs, we deliver best value by putting your health, safety, and comfort as top priority. Boost your creativity and level up work performance. We want you to create great outcomes so we’re providing you only the best tools to make them possible.
 
Click here to view our selection of products. Got questions?