Which is Best for you: Manual or Electric?

It's time to upgrade your standing desk! Perhaps you've never had a standing desk, but thanks to our helpful articles you've narrowed down your choices. Manual or electric: which standing desk option is best for you? What's the difference? Is one better than the other?

The electric versus manual arguments can go easily one way or the other. For some, it is personal preference; for others, it depends on their budget. Regardless of the differences, both desks will help increase your productivity, but when it comes to making the final decision, perhaps the following information can help.

Quick Overview: Manual and Electric
Manual sit to stand desks or manual standing desks refer to hand-crank styles requiring manual effort to raise or lower, but electric sit to stand desks use a motor to power the desk as it lifts or lowers.

As a prime example of an excellent electric standing desk, we offer the Two-Tier Electric Standing Desk. With a push of a button, the desk quickly goes from sit to stand and is also a smart desk, meaning you can program the desk to remember your favorite settings.

You can compare this to our Crank Adjustable Sit to Stand Two-Tier Desk with Steel Frame. A simple crank at the side of the desk allows you to lift and lower. This type of desk does demand some mobility and muscular action to use, though it is a good workout at the same time.

What Electric and Manual Have In Common
The advantages and health benefits of using a standing desk apply to both electric and manual. As they are both sit to stand, you can opt to sit or stand for optimal comfort and posture health because both of them are adjustable.

Additionally, both varieties are also ergonomic. While there may be variations in the desk's material or top surfaces, their functions are very comparable. Both will accommodate your laptops, PCs, monitors, paperwork, and other devices.

So, let's review the similarities before we cover the pros and cons of both electric and manual:
• They're both sit to stand desks.
• They both allow you to take advantage of the health benefits offered by using a sit to stand desk.
• Both allow you to adjust or lower the height.
• Both are designed to be ergonomic.
• Both can be used to hold devices or be a conventional table.
• Both work well in an office environment or at home.

Pros and Cons of A Manual Sit To Stand Desk

The Pros:
1. Operating a crank sit to stand desk is as easy as rotating the crank or other manual mechanisms to raise or lower the desk.
2. Prices for a manual sit to stand desk are most commonly within budgets and are more affordable.
3. Manual sit to stand desks are a more energy-saving, environmentally friendly choice with no need for power.
4. Manual desks with the proper setup are generally easier to move. There's no worry about placing a desk near a power source if you don't need it, and since they lack a motor, they're more lightweight.

The Cons:
1. To lift and lower the desk, you will need to use a little "elbow grease" and be able to use your hands to grip the crank, which can be challenging to do if you suffer from issues with mobility and the use of your hands.
2. Manual desks take longer to adjust. It's estimated on average, and it takes about 30-38 complete rotations with the hand crank to adjust the height, which can be time-consuming and laborious when in the middle of an important project or a busy workday.

The Pros and Cons of an Electric Sit to Stand Desk
An electric sit to stand desk is a fantastic investment, but is it right for you? The pros and cons of owning an electric desk:

The Pros:
1. An electric sit-to-stand will be much easier to raise and lower than a manual sit-to-stand. With a press of a button, an electric desk can be lowered or raised to switch from sitting to standing quickly, saving you time.
2. Most manual adjusting sit to stand desks will have a handle or lever to control the position of the desk. Lever handles and cranks are not needed with an electric desk, leaving more space for accessories or other items such as file storage, different devices, etc.
3. Height limitations are often less with an electric desk than with a manual.
4. If you have issues with your wrists or hands that limit your movement, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, an electric sit-to-stand raises and lowers with the push of a button instead of using a handle.
5. Many of the newer electric sit to stand desks, such as the 48" Electric Two-Tier Compact Standing Desk, can be programmed to remember the exact height you prefer, meaning you no longer have to tinker with raising or lowering to find the same sweet spot that works for you daily.
6. Raising and lowering an electric sit to stand desk is much smoother in operation than a manual.

The Cons:
1. For those on a strict budget or looking for something more affordable, electric sit to stand desks generally range higher in price than manuals.
2. With an electric desk, you will need a power source to plug into, meaning that the placement of your electric desk may be limited to wherever an outlet can be found.
3. Depending on where you are located, you may need to consider surge protection for your electric desk.
4. If the area you live or work in is subject to frequent power outages, an electric desk cannot be adjusted without power.

Which standing desk option is best for you?
As with any product, there are pros and cons to manual or electric sit to stand desks. Both desks have outstanding health benefits, but the electric sit-to-stand far outshines the manual when it comes to ease-of-use, smoother functions, and faster adjustments. While manual desks are less expensive, with the amount of time it takes to raise or lower them and how much effort is required—for the best long-term option, an electric version would undoubtedly be more suitable for you.

Ultimately, it does come down to your budget and what you desire from a sit to stand desk. But hopefully, now that you have a better understanding of manual versus electric, you'll be able to choose one of our desks with the confidence that it is the best option for you.

Have further questions? Want to know more about what we can do for you? Reach out to us at any time, and we'd love to help!