Buying guide
A standing desk converter, also called a desk riser or sit-stand riser, sits on top of the desk you already own and lifts your screen and keyboard to standing height in seconds. It is the cheapest way to work standing without replacing your desk, and paired with a walking pad it turns any desk into a walking desk. We have compared five of the best on Amazon UK, from a £35 budget riser to a motorised model, and scored each on our RunRank system.
The short version
A converter is a platform, not a desk. Manual gas-spring models rise with a squeeze of a handle and need no power; electric models raise at the push of a button but must be plugged in. Here are the picks by need.
- Type Gas spring
- Top 80×40cm
- Holds 15kg
- Type Gas spring
- Top 91cm wide
- Holds 15kg
- Type Electric
- Top 80×40cm
- Holds 20kg
- Type Gas spring
- Top 101×40cm
- Holds 15kg
- Type Gas spring
- Top Two-monitor
- Holds 15kg
Prices checked August 2026 and change on Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
What is a standing desk converter?
A standing desk converter is a height-adjustable platform that sits on top of your existing desk and raises your monitor, keyboard and mouse to standing height. It is also sold as a desk riser, a sit-stand riser or a riser desk. Unlike a full standing desk, it needs no assembly of legs and no drilling, and it costs a fraction of the price. When you want to sit again, you lower it back down in one movement.
Almost all of them share the same two-tier layout: a larger upper platform for your screen or screens, and a lower shelf for the keyboard and mouse. That split keeps your wrists at the right level relative to your eyes, which a flat riser cannot do. The five here range from a £35 budget model to a £125 motorised one, and every one is bought through Amazon UK.
The walking-desk angle. A converter is the missing half of a walking desk. Put a walking pad on the floor and a converter on your desk, and you can walk at 3 to 4 km/h while you work without buying an expensive fixed standing desk. Walking at that pace adds up over a working day, and our walking pad calorie calculator shows roughly how much it burns. The one thing that matters more in this setup than in a normal office is stability, because you are reaching for the keyboard while moving. We flag how each model holds up for walking-pad use below.
Manual gas spring vs electric: which do you need?
This is the first decision, and for most people the manual answer is the right one.
For a walking-pad setup, a manual gas-spring model is usually the better match: there is no trailing power cable near your feet, and the height change is quick between walking and sitting. Go electric only if the load is heavy or lifting is a problem.
What to look for in a standing desk converter
Best standing desk converters compared
| Converter | Best for | Type | Worktop | Holds | RunRank | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VonHaus Converter | Best overall | Gas spring | 80×40cm | 15kg | 4.4 | £59.99 |
| VIVO 91cm K Series | Best premium | Gas spring | 91cm wide | 15kg | 4.3 | £119.99 |
| VonHaus Electric | Best electric | Electric | 80×40cm | 20kg | 4.1 | £124.99 |
| ERGOMAKER 101cm | Most desk space | Gas spring | 101×40cm | 15kg | 4.0 | £101.99 |
| bonVIVO Riser | Mega budget | Gas spring | Two-monitor | 15kg | 3.7 | £35.99 |
1. VonHaus Standing Desk Converter – best overall
VonHaus Standing Desk Converter
£59.99
This is the converter we have been using in our own office for the past month, and it is the one we would tell most people to buy. At £59.99 it undercuts the premium brands while getting the fundamentals right: a genuine gas-spring lift that floats up and down with a squeeze of the side handles, a spacious 80 by 40cm top that swallows a monitor and a laptop with room to spare, and a separate lower tier that keeps the keyboard and mouse at the right level below your screen. It arrives built apart from the keyboard tray, which takes a screwdriver and a couple of minutes.
In daily use it is stable, ergonomic and easy to live with. The gas spring holds its height without creeping, the steel X-frame and non-slip feet keep it planted, and the two-tier layout is genuinely more comfortable than the flat risers we have used before. There is a tablet slot and a grommet hole if you want to add a monitor arm, and it comes in four finishes.
Our own VonHaus converter, in daily use above a walking pad
The one honest caveat, and it only shows up in a walking-desk setup, is a slight wobble if you lean your weight heavily onto the keyboard tray while typing and walking at the same time. Standing still it is rock solid; it is only that combination of leaning and moving that finds the flex. Type with a light touch, as you should on a walking pad anyway, and it is a non-issue.
- Smooth gas-spring lift, no power needed
- Spacious 80 by 40cm top for screen and laptop
- Separate keyboard and mouse tier
- Stable steel X-frame, arrives near-assembled
- Tablet slot and monitor-mount grommet
- £59.99, well below the premium brands
- Slight wobble if you lean hard while walking and typing
- 15kg limit is ample but not the highest here
- Manual lift rather than a button press
2. VIVO 91cm Desk Converter, K Series – best premium
VIVO 91cm Desk Converter, K Series
£119.99
VIVO is one of the best-known names in desk risers, and the K Series is its polished, wide-format model. The 91cm top is noticeably roomier than the 80cm picks, so it takes two monitors comfortably rather than at a squeeze, and it rides on a dual pneumatic spring with a one-touch lock that feels a step more refined than the budget models. The keyboard tray is wide and removes with the supplied tool if you prefer a single-tier setup.
At £119.99 it costs roughly double the VonHaus, and for a single-monitor desk that is money you do not strictly need to spend. Where it earns its keep is a genuine dual-monitor workstation, or if you simply want the extra width and the reassurance of an established brand with a strong review history. Stability is among the best here thanks to the wide base.
- Wide 91cm top, easy dual-monitor use
- Refined dual gas-spring lift with one-touch lock
- Wide, removable keyboard tray
- Established brand, strong reviews
- Very stable thanks to the wide base
- Around twice the price of the VonHaus
- Overkill for a single-monitor desk
- Wide footprint needs a deeper desk
3. VonHaus Electric Standing Desk Converter – best electric
VonHaus Electric Standing Desk Converter
£124.99
The electric sister to our top pick shares the same 80 by 40cm top and steel X-frame, but swaps the gas spring for a quiet motor that raises and lowers the platform from a control panel at the touch of a button. It runs at about 6mm per second and under 55dB, and it lifts the highest load here at 20kg, so a heavy dual-monitor setup is no trouble. There is no lifting effort at all, which suits anyone who finds the squeeze-and-guide of a manual model awkward.
The catch is the one all electric converters share: it has to stay plugged in, so there is a 1.5m cable to route, and for a walking-pad setup that means keeping a lead clear of your feet. It is also the priciest pick at £124.99, and a motor and controller are more to potentially go wrong than a simple gas strut. Choose it for the effortless button-press height change and the higher capacity, not to save money.
- Effortless motorised height change
- Highest capacity here at 20kg
- Quiet motor, under 55dB
- Same spacious top and sturdy frame as the manual
- Must stay plugged into the mains
- Trailing cable to manage near a walking pad
- Priciest pick, and more to fail than a gas strut
- Slower to raise than a gas-spring squeeze
4. bonVIVO Standing Desk Converter – mega budget
bonVIVO Standing Desk Converter
£35.99
At £35.99 the bonVIVO is the cheapest way onto this list, and it covers the basics better than the price suggests. It still uses a gas spring with a side-lever release rather than a crude notched riser, still has a wide enough top for two monitors, a lower keyboard shelf and a tablet slot, and still carries the same 15kg as models costing three times more. For trying whether standing or walking at your desk suits you before spending more, it is hard to argue with.
What you give up at this price is refinement and long-term reassurance: the lift is not as smooth as the VIVO, the finish is plainer, and a budget unit is the one most likely to develop a wobble or a sticky spring over time. It is the honest entry point rather than a forever purchase. If it clicks, the VonHaus is the natural upgrade.
- Just £35.99, the cheapest here
- Real gas-spring lift, not a notched riser
- Wide enough for two monitors
- Keyboard shelf and tablet slot included
- Same 15kg capacity as pricier models
- Lift is less smooth than premium models
- Plainer finish and build
- Budget units are likeliest to wobble over time
5. ERGOMAKER 101cm Standing Desk Converter – most desk space
ERGOMAKER 101cm Standing Desk Converter
£101.99
If desk real estate is the priority, the ERGOMAKER has the largest top here at a full 101cm wide, with an unusually big 91 by 30cm keyboard tray to match. That is enough for two monitors plus a laptop, or a monitor and a lot of paperwork, and the wide keyboard shelf easily takes a full-size board and mouse with elbow room. It uses a gas spring with a single-handle release and a height lock, rises across the full 11.5 to 51cm range, and folds down on a vertical X-frame that keeps the footprint sensible despite the width.
At £101.99 it sits just below the VIVO, and the choice between them comes down to width against brand polish: the ERGOMAKER gives you more surface, the VIVO a slightly more refined lift and a longer track record. The wide top does demand a reasonably deep desk, so measure before you buy.
- Widest top here at 101cm
- Large 91 by 30cm keyboard tray
- Easily fits two monitors plus a laptop
- Full 11.5 to 51cm height range
- Vertical fold keeps the footprint in check
- Needs a deep desk to sit on
- Less brand track record than VIVO
- More surface than a single-screen user needs
Which standing desk converter should you buy?
Frequently asked questions
What is a standing desk converter?
It is a height-adjustable platform that sits on top of your existing desk and raises your monitor and keyboard to standing height, then lowers again when you want to sit. It is also called a desk riser or riser desk, and it needs no assembly or drilling, unlike a full standing desk.
Is a manual or electric converter better?
For most people, manual. A gas-spring model rises with a squeeze of the handles, needs no power and costs less, with nothing electrical to fail. Choose electric only if you have a heavy dual-monitor load, want zero lifting effort, and have a mains socket within reach.
How do you lower a standing desk converter?
On a gas-spring model, squeeze and hold the handle on each side and press gently down; the struts control the descent and it locks when you release. On an electric model, hold the down button on the control panel. Never force it down without releasing the handle or lock first.
Can you use a standing desk converter with a walking pad?
Yes, and it is one of the cheapest ways to build a walking desk. Put a walking pad on the floor and a converter on the desk, raise it to standing height, and you can walk slowly while you work. Use a manual model to avoid a trailing cable, and keep your typing touch light, since leaning hard while walking is what reveals any wobble. For gentle routines you can follow while you work, see our walking pad workout guide.
Are standing desk converters stable?
The good ones are, thanks to a steel X-frame and non-slip feet. Every model flexes a little at full height if you lean your weight on it, and wider, heavier units are the steadiest. For walking-pad use, stability matters most, so favour a solid frame and a light touch when typing.
What size standing desk converter do I need?
For a single monitor and a laptop, an 80cm-wide top is plenty. For two monitors, look at 90 to 101cm. Check your desk is deep enough for the platform, and that the top of the height range brings your screen to eye level when you stand, allowing extra if you are tall or standing on a walking pad.
Where can you buy a standing desk converter in the UK?
All five here are on Amazon UK, which is the simplest option for price, delivery and returns. IKEA and Argos also stock a small range, but the choice of gas-spring and electric models is wider on Amazon.
Turn your desk into a standing or walking desk
The VonHaus Converter is the best all-round pick at £59.99, and the one we use daily. Add a walking pad underneath and you have a full walking desk for a fraction of the cost of a fixed one.
Prices checked for 2026 and subject to change; Amazon pricing moves often, so confirm the current price on the product page. Our top pick, the VonHaus Standing Desk Converter, is based on genuine daily use in our own office over the past month; the other four are assessed on published specifications and owner feedback. HomeTreadmill.co.uk is reader-supported: if you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations, which use our own RunRank system.
