- I’ve been using the Uplift Desk since 2018 after getting tired of sitting all day.
- The base price isn’t cheap at $629 and add-ons will get the price even higher, but it’s been an investment into my productivity and overall health as someone who used to sit for hours.
- See more: The best standing desks
Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky
Studies suggest that sitting for long stretches at a time can be bad for you. And with more people working from home, there's less incentive to get up for a stretch or take a lunchtime walk.
This is where a standing desk might be able to help. While standing desks aren't the miracle for soreness from sitting for hours at a time (standing has its own set of issues), they can help in certain ways.
As a full-time freelance product reviewer who's in front of the computer for hours at a time, my Uplift standing desk has made a big impact on my day and productivity.
Specs
You get to customize just about every aspect of your electric height-adjustable desk. The boilerplate desk is a one-inch-thick carbonized bamboo rectangular top approximately 48 inches by 30 inches. From there, it's easy to pile on the options and go a bit crazy. I went a bit crazy.
With all of the add-on options, my desk came to more than $1,000 if I were to purchase it. Since I was able to customize the desk for free through the company as a member of the press, I chose the following components that most people would benefit from. Certain options aren't available since I first reviewed this back in 2018, so I've noted them below.
- A 60' by 30' desktop with a slight curve on the front
- One power grommet (Note: This is no longer available, but there are similar options)
- An advanced digital memory keypad that remembers four preferred desk heights and will automatically adjust to them with the push of a button
- A basic wire management kit, which comes with adhesive cable ties, screw-in cable mounts, reusable cable ties, cable dropdowns, a six-outlet surge protector power strip, a cable coil organizer, and an under-desk hook (Note: This kit has been trimmed down to just cable management tray, cable ties, and anchor plates.)
- Large half-circle desk drawer
- Two-drawer rolling file cabinet with seat
Uplift also has accessories like standing desk mats and bamboo desk organizer sets, and if you really want to go wild, you can even add a desk treadmill or bike.
Everything arrived in six boxes, and the whole assembly process took me about 80 minutes. The directions were fairly straightforward except one point where I confused the adhesive pads and cable clips. This was a fairly minor error on my part that didn't cause any major problems but I mention it so you might learn from my mistake.
Review of the Uplift Desk
One of the most important aspects of an adjustable standing desk is its height range. The advertised height range of the Uplift Desk is 24.5" to 50.25." It's my job to not take brands at their word so I measured it myself. From the top of the desk, I measured the range to be 25.5" to 50.5" - pretty close to what Uplift Desk says it is.
According to the Mayo Clinic, your desk should be around your elbows whether you're sitting or standing. As a six-foot-tall guy, I can verify that the Uplift Desk was at these levels. Though there was only half an inch to spare, the desk even accommodated me when I was standing on the motion board, an excellent tool for staying in motion while working.
The digital memory keypad was easy to set even without reading the directions and remembered all of my preferred heights. And, as the height adjusted, there was little sound. I did not have a decibel meter at my disposal, but Uplift Desk states that the sound is 50 decibels while the desk is in motion, which is about the level of a normal conversation, and that seems accurate in my experience.
The desk has a weight capacity of 355 pounds, so you can place everything you need and not worry about straining it. Most people won't get anywhere close to this weight limit, and with my normal usage, it never seemed to strain. There was no wobbling either, I never had any concern that it might fall over.
If you experience any issues with 30 days, you'll have 30 days to return it. The desk also comes with a seven-year limited warranty.
Cons to consider
There aren't many features to dislike about the Uplift Bamboo Stand Up Desk, but I did have a few incidents with the curved "ergo edge."
Basically, along the curved front edge of the desk, the bamboo tapers from one inch thick to three-quarters of an inch thick. It's slight enough to not notice visually, but enough to cause drinks to spill, which happens on occasion. If you're someone who keeps food and drinks nearby while working, make sure to avoid putting them near the edge of the table.
While the desk itself is all-around solid, for anyone who likes matching chairs to the desk, I would recommend the Uplift Vert Ergonomic Office Chair over the Uplift Motion Stool, both of which I'd tested.
The stool was nice to take a load off when standing for a while, but I wouldn't recommend it as your main desk chair because there's no back support. I sat on the stool exclusively for a few days and wasn't getting the back support I needed, so I would wake up the next day with soreness. I was pretty impressed with Uplift Vert Ergonomic Office Chair for its comfort and support.
Lastly, it takes discipline to stand. Some people just stop using the standing feature of adjustable desks if they just approach it as a regular desk. If you're going to invest in a standing desk, set an alarm to remind yourself to stand or sit every half hour. I found it worked well to alternate half-hour shifts of sitting and standing. The motion board kept me moving rather than just standing in one spot, and we have a guide to the best standing mats as well.
The bottom line
Overall, I strongly recommend the Uplift Bamboo Stand Up Desk if you're tired of spending all day sitting. The height range is enough to accommodate most people, there are dozens of customization options, and the desk is built with sturdy, high-quality materials.
Though it starts at around $500, Uplift Desk backs their product with a seven-year warranty so you can count on the desk lasting you well into the future.