The 5 Best Manual Hand Crank Standing Desks in 2023

Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hand Crank Standing Desk

Once you have chosen a manual standing desk that is visually appealing to you, you have to analyze a few other vital aspects to pick your perfect match.

Desk Size & Room Size

The first thing to consider is your office space. How much space do you have for your standing desk? Where will you stand? Also, is there room for an ergonomic chair? 

After sizing the space, consider the countertop. How big of a counter do you need? How many monitors do you have?. You may want to decorate your table with plants. Look for a large tabletop or an L-shaped desk setup for a large working area.

Structure & Durability

Steel is the material used to make most standing desk frames. It is robust. Some desk frames are made from carbon steel, which is even stronger than regular steel. To find out if your chosen standing desk is strong, you should look at the maximum weight capacity. The higher the capacity, the stronger the desk is overall.

The other part of a standing desk is the desktop or worktop, in other words. Most desktops are made from particleboard or MDF. Most importantly, you should look for a desktop that has been powder coated. This ensures that the desktop is scratch and water-resistant. All of our listed picks are powder-coated.

Warranty

The manufacturer’s warranty is another essential factor you should take into consideration. Most standing desks come with at least a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. However, some even offer a 10-year warranty. At the end of the day, if a company knows that their product is well-built and durable, they will offer some kind of warranty.

Pricing

The last thing you want is to overpay for your manual standing desk. Here at Overheard on Conference Calls we take this seriously. All of our picks are priced reasonably to ensure you don’t get ripped off. Manual standing desks are most commonly priced between $150-$600; make sure you don’t pay more than that.

Online Reviews

Online reviews are critical to picking the right product. They allow potential buyers like you to get an insight into how previous buyers feel about a specific product. All of the products listed in this guide are positively reviewed. In addition to our own testing and research, we confirm our picks by looking at other genuine customer reviews. If a standing desk is rated below 4 out of 5 stars with many negative reviews, you may find some problems with the product.

Maximum Weight Capacity

The maximum weight capacity tells the buyer how much weight a standing desk can handle. For hand crank standing desks, this is usually between 100 – 250 lbs. If you plan to place heavy office items such as printers or desktop PCs on your desk, you should consider selecting a desk with a weight capacity of at least 175 lbs. 

However, most workstations setups only require a weight capacity of 75lbs, as monitors and keyboards are classed as light hardware. Furthermore, the weight capacity is a good indicator of how solid and well-built the desk is.

Height-Adjustment Range

Using the proper height setting on your hand crank standing desk is key to maintaining the correct posture. Most standing desks enable a height setting of between 25 and 49 inches. This is okay for most people. However, very tall people may require a standing desk that can be lifted to at least 50 inches or more depending on how tall they are.

Does the Desk Have Wheels?

Desk mobility is another crucial factor that most users should consider. Many standing desks come with 360-degree caster wheels. These allow a single user to move the desk effortlessly without lifting. Desks with no casters require two people to lift the desk and move it.

Benefits of Manual Standing Desks

• Compared to electric standing desks, hand crank desks are usually around 20-30% cheaper.
• Manual standing desks don’t use power. Therefore they are more eco-friendly than electric standing desks.
• Because manual standing desks don’t have a motor, they are less likely to break down.
• Standing desks result in significant health benefits, including improved posture, a lower risk of various diseases, and fewer neck pain problems.
• Working at a standing desk can lead to increased productivity caused by higher energy levels and better mental focus when compared to sitting.
• The electrical components of standing desks are most likely to break. Manual standing desks don’t have electrical components, so they usually last longer than electric standing desks.

Combine Your Standing Desk With Other Ergonomic Office Equipment

Create the ultimate ergonomic setup by combining standing desks with other ergonomic office equipment such as:

• Ergonomic Office Chairs – These office chairs are specifically designed to help users maintain the correct posture when sitting down, thus preventing neck and back pain.
• Standing Desk Balance Boards – Balance boards have become increasingly popular in recent years with standing desks. They allow users to perform a balancing exercise while working; it prevents users from being too stationary.
• Ergonomic Monitor Mounts – Monitor mounts or monitor arms, as they are often called, enable users to lift the monitor slightly higher to help users maintain the correct posture. A monitor mount is needed most of the time, especially for taller people.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, hand crank standing desks can be just as good as electric standing desks. They have the same weight capacity and key features. The only difference is they do require multiple turns of the hand crank to lift the desk fully. 

The lack of power usage is a significant benefit to those who want to save costs on electricity and have a more eco-friendly setup. Of course, another major benefit is the price; manual standing desks are much cheaper than their electric cousins. 

We highly recommend manual standing desks as they are less likely to break than electric ones. Hopefully, by reading our guide, you have found the best hand crank standing desk for you.

The most important things to remember are to choose a desk with a good weight capacity, positive online reviews, and a long warranty. If you follow this, you can’t go wrong.

FAQs

Are manual standing desks better than electric standing desks?

There are many ways in which manual standing desks can be better than electric standing desks. Firstly, hand crank standing desks are more eco-friendly as they don’t use power, thus saving the user electricity costs. Secondly, manual standing desks are less likely to break due to not having a motor, the most common part of standing desks that breaks. Thirdly, because there are no cables to mess around with manual standing desks are easier to fix than their electric counterparts. Last but not least, manual standing desks are considerably cheaper than electric standing desks.

However, electric standing desks are still the preferred option for most users; the effortless touch-of-a-button lifting process makes life so much easier.

Is there a proper height for a stand-up desk?

The appropriate height of the hand crank standing desks varies from person to person. The correct height depends on your standing height. Experts suggest that peak height should only be at your elbows. This ensures that the elbows are at a 90-degree angle from the floor. Therefore, it also has ergonomic benefits and prevents pain during the operation.

How long do hand crank standing desks last?

We expect hand crank standing desks to last at least ten years. Some may last much longer. One thing is sure; hand crank standing desks usually last longer than electric standing desks. The main reason for this is that the electrical components in a standing desk are the most likely to fail.