Standing desk converters for shallow desks: what fits

The catch with converters on small desks

A standing desk converter sits on top of your existing desk and lifts your screen and keyboard to standing height. It avoids buying a new desk, but it brings its own depth problem: many converters are deep, and some move toward you as they rise.

Vari's own product page for the VariDesk Pro Plus 36 shows the issue clearly. It recommends a work surface at least 25.75 inches deep, and it measures the unit at about 41.75 inches deep when raised, from the front of the keyboard tray to the back of the base. On a 20 or 24-inch desk, that is too much.

So the first rule for small desks: compare the converter's top depth and its raised depth with your desk depth before anything else.

We have not used these converters ourselves. The specifications below come from the manufacturers' published information, and we note where independent reviewers commented.

What we compared

For each converter we looked at five things that decide whether it works on a small desk:

1. Top depth, because it decides how much desk is left in front of it.
2. Raised depth, where the manufacturer publishes it, because some designs move toward you as they rise.
3. Height range, to check that your keyboard can reach elbow height when standing.
4. Weight capacity of the top and the keyboard tray.
5. What independent reviewers noticed, such as a fixed tray or how much force the lift needs.

Quick comparison

Width and depth are the top surface. Height range is from the desk surface. Check the current listing before you buy.

Best for shallow desks: FlexiSpot ClassicRiser M2B

At 16.3 inches deep, the M2B's top is the shallowest here, so it leaves room in front of it on a 20 to 24-inch desk. According to FlexiSpot, it rises from 5.9 to 19.7 inches above the desk, holds 33 pounds, and has a detachable 28.4 x 12.1 inch keyboard tray rated for 4.4 pounds.

FlexiSpot says lifting takes about 13 pounds of force and lowering about 3, using a single squeeze bar. That is easy for most people but worth knowing if you have wrist or shoulder concerns.

Best mid-size option: VIVO 32-Inch Converter

The VIVO V-series converter has a slightly wider top. A 2021 Top Ten Reviews write-up lists the main top at 31.5 x 15.5 inches, a height range of 4.5 to 20 inches and a 33-pound capacity, and describes the spring-and-lever lift as smooth. Its main limitation: the keyboard tray is fixed, cannot slide, and rises with the top.

VIVO has updated this range since then, so confirm dimensions on the current listing.

For deeper desks: FlexiSpot AlcoveRiser M7B

If your desk is at least 24 inches deep and you use two monitors, the M7B's 35 x 23.2 inch top gives more room. FlexiSpot lists a height range of 4.72 to 19.7 inches and a 35-pound capacity. On a 20-inch desk, its top would overhang the front edge.

Only if your desk is deep: Vari VariDesk Pro Plus 36

The Pro Plus 36 is one of the best-known converters and arrives fully assembled, but it is the wrong choice for most small desks. Vari's specification lists a 36 x 29.75 inch top, a 24-inch-deep base, 11 height settings from 4.5 to 17.5 inches, and a 35-pound capacity. Vari itself recommends a desk at least 25.75 inches deep. BestReviews also flags that it may be bulky depending on desk size.

How to choose a converter for a small desk

1. Compare depths

• Your desk depth: measure it.
• The converter's top depth: from the listing.
• Whether the top or tray moves forward as it rises: check the product video or the manufacturer's "raised depth".

As a rule of thumb, a converter whose top is at least 4 inches shallower than your desk leaves room for your keyboard when seated. That is our estimate, not a standard.

2. Check standing height

At standing height your keyboard should be at about elbow height, which Mayo Clinic's office ergonomics guide describes as hands at or slightly below the elbows. Add your desk height to the converter's maximum height and compare it with your standing elbow height. A 28-inch desk plus a converter rising 19.7 inches gives about 47.7 inches.

3. Weigh your equipment

Add up monitor, laptop and anything else on the top. Converters here hold 33 to 35 pounds on the top; keyboard trays usually hold much less (FlexiSpot rates the M2B tray at 4.4 pounds).

4. Keep the screen at the right distance

A converter often brings the monitor closer to you, especially on a shallow desk. OSHA recommends at least 20 inches between your eyes and the screen. A monitor arm clamped behind the converter can push the screen back; see how far your monitor should be.

Manual or electric?

All four converters here are manual: you squeeze a handle and a spring helps lift the top. Electric converters exist too; VIVO, for example, sells a 32-inch electric model. Electric versions are easier to raise with a full load and can stop at precise heights, but they need an outlet and add weight.

Getting the most from a converter

• Put the heaviest item in the middle. A monitor off to one side can make the top tilt or the lift feel uneven.
• Leave cable slack. Cables need to reach from the desk to the top at full height; bundle the slack loosely so it does not catch.
• Check your keyboard height when standing. Mayo Clinic's guidance of hands at or slightly below elbow height applies when standing too.
• Alternate rather than stand all day. Most people switch between sitting and standing through the day; a converter makes that quick.

Frequently asked questions

Will a converter fit on a 20-inch-deep desk? Only a compact one. Of the four here, the FlexiSpot M2B (16.3-inch top) and the VIVO 32-inch (15.5-inch top, per a 2021 review) are the realistic choices.

How much does a converter weigh? Most full-size converters are heavy, so plan to lift them onto the desk with help and check the desk itself can carry the converter plus your equipment. The manufacturer's listing gives the unit's own weight.

Can I move a converter between desks? Yes, as long as each desk is deep enough. That makes a compact converter a flexible choice if you expect to move home or change desks.

Can I put a converter on a glass or thin desk? Check the desk's weight rating against the converter plus your equipment; converters weigh a lot on their own.

Converter or a small standing desk?

Not sure about your desk's dimensions? Start with what size desk you need.