Which electric adjustable desk should you choose?
For most home and office workstations, the single-motor S1 is the best value: a 70–115 cm range, up to 80 kg (enough for two or three monitors) and tabletops up to 180 cm. The dual-motor S2 is the upgrade for those who want the very best: a 60–125 cm range that suits any height, up to 120 kg, maximum stability at standing height, a frame for tabletops up to 2.2 m and a 5-year warranty. For a small room there's the 120×60 Sun, and for a corner desk the three-motor L3 frame.
See also: How to choose an electric standing desk | How much does an electric standing desk cost? | Work desk height calculator | Standing desks and accessories for working on your feet
Types of Adjustable Desks
There are two types of adjustable desks, each built slightly differently. Electric computer desks generally fall into two main categories: the first is a single-motor adjustable desk that moves up and down using one motor, while the second type features two motors positioned inside each of the desk legs.
Single-Motor Adjustable Desk
A single-motor adjustable work desk has one motor mounted on one of the legs, which transfers all the movement to the second leg via a steel rod connected between the motor and the other leg. As shown in the image, a rod connects the motor to the second leg, effectively transferring the driving force so the desk rises and lowers smoothly. Once a tabletop is attached, it serves as a fully functional adjustable computer desk.
Dual-Motor Adjustable Desk
A dual-motor adjustable desk features two compact motors seated inside each leg, driving the movement simultaneously in parallel. Typically, a dual-motor adjustable desk frame is a more robust unit capable of lifting up to 120 kg with a wider range of motion. As a result, the price of such a standing desk is also higher.
How to Choose an Adjustable Work Desk
Once you've decided to purchase an electric adjustable computer desk, you'll need to determine exactly which type of adjustable desk is right for you — whether it's a single-motor desk, a dual-motor sit-stand desk, the ideal tabletop size, and more.
During the desk selection process, you'll want to ask yourself the following questions:
- What tabletop size do I need?
- How much weight do I plan to place on the desk?
- What is my height?
After answering these questions, the choice becomes easy. A single-motor desk like the S1 lifts up to 80 kg, which is enough for a tabletop of up to 180 cm with several monitors and a computer, and it fits most users up to 1.9 m tall. The dual-motor S2 lifts up to 120 kg, is more stable at full standing height, fits tabletops of up to 2.2 m, and its wider range of motion (60-125 cm) also suits people who are shorter or taller than average.
See also: How to choose an electric standing desk | Work desk height calculator | Standing desk benefits and how long to stand each day | Adjustable desks for kids and students
Differences Between Single-Motor and Dual-Motor Desks
| Feature | Single-Motor Desk S1 | Dual-Motor Desk S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Range of Motion | 70 cm to 1.15 m | 60 cm to 1.25 m |
| Total Base Weight | 20 kg | 29 kg |
| Distance Between Legs | 1 m to 1.4 m | 1 m to 1.8 m |
| Max Tabletop Width | Up to 1.8 m | Up to 2.2 m |
| Weight Capacity | Up to 80 kg | Up to 120 kg |
| Movement Speed | 2 cm/sec | 3 cm/sec |
| Best Suited For... | Home use, small office, light to medium loads | Intensive use, large tabletops, heavy loads |
Electric computer desks come in various configurations. As the table above shows, the dual-motor adjustable desk outperforms the single-motor model across all parameters. However, both are high-quality desks that will perform as expected — the choice between models should be based on your specific needs.
Compare all Comfortly adjustable desks
| S1 single-motor | Sun single-motor | L3 corner (frame) | S2 dual-motor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motors | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Height range | 70–115 cm | 71–115 cm | 60–125 cm | 60–125 cm |
| Lifting capacity | Up to 80 kg | Up to 80 kg | Up to 150 kg | Up to 120 kg |
| Memory presets | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Sizes | 120×60 to 160×80 | 120×60 | 90° or 120° corner, or straight | 120×60 to 180×80 |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Best suited for... | Most workstations, even with several monitors | A small room or work corner | A corner or extra-long workstation | Any height, heavy equipment and tabletops up to 2.2 m |
| Product page link | Details | Details | Details | Details |
Want to check which height range suits your height? Our calculator works out your ideal sitting and standing desk heights and shows which models reach them.
See also: Work desk height calculator | How to choose an electric standing desk
Health Benefits of an Electric Adjustable Desk
Using an adjustable desk offers numerous health benefits. Today, working at a computer is extremely common, and as a result, we spend most of our day sitting in a chair. Prolonged sitting, also known as "sedentary behavior," can lead to many health issues, including:
- Back and neck pain
- Weight gain
- Wrist pain
- Reduced physical fitness
When you have the ability to adjust your desk height and switch to a standing position, you'll spend fewer hours sitting throughout the day. You can continue working at your electric desk in a posture that differs from sitting — whether it's for Zoom calls where you want to feel more relaxed or simply to get the blood flowing to your legs. Incorporating standing intervals at your adjustable desk can help prevent many health issues caused by prolonged sitting over time.
Electric Adjustable Desk — Who Is It For?
Today, the vast majority of us spend many hours a day working at a computer. This solution addresses the problems faced by many people suffering from the widespread phenomenon of sedentary behavior. An electric adjustable desk is suitable for virtually anyone who sits for extended hours each day.
- IT professionals and tech workers
- Architects and drafters
- Lab technicians
- Lawyers and anyone who works long hours at a computer
