This cheap standing desk has worked wonders for my productivity, and relieved my tight hips and aching back

The Flexispot E2 Pro is our top pick for a budget standing desk. Here's why, after testing it firsthand, I'll never go back to a traditional desk.

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I'm a pretty active person but, like many of us, I spend way too much time sitting at my desk. While I can't quit my 9-5 in order to get more movement into my day, I have discovered a little work around: standing desks. When I'm standing for at least a portion of my day, I'm less likely to have painfully tight hips or an aching back. I can work for longer without needing to go for a little walk to loosen my stiff body, which helps with my overall productivity. 

I was looking for a standing desk with plenty of workspace, lots of adjustable height options, and a high-quality finish (I didn't want to worry about scratches or stains on the desktop). I tested the Flexispot E2 Pro Standing Desk, the best budget option in our guide to the best standing desks, to see if it stood up to these criteria. 

Design and setup

My first task was to decide which E2 Pro desk I wanted to test. The frame is available in three colors (white, black, and gray). I went with the white, hoping to brighten up my office a bit. There are two desktop sizes (55" x 28", or 48" x 24") and six desktop finishes to choose from (chipboard, bamboo, solid wood texture, solid wood, Ergo series, or gaming series). I'm accustomed to a large workspace, so I chose the bigger desktop in solid wood.  

I was a little confused when I received tracking information for two boxes. Then I realized the frame and desktop were shipping separately. They both arrived at my home within a day of each other, only about three days after I ordered. I was able to wrangle both packages inside by myself, but the frame (which was labeled "team lift") weighed 43 pounds, so it might be difficult for some shoppers to move. 

Next came assembly. This took me about an hour, with occasional interruptions from kids and the football game I was watching. In addition to the hex keys that Flexispot provided, I needed a drill (a screwdriver would have also worked) and a wrench. The directions were slightly unclear at points, but I found the available YouTube tutorial very helpful. I did make one mistake: I assembled the desk in my living room, and because of its size it was difficult to get it through the doorway into my home office. I'd recommend assembling it near where it's going to stay.

Our review of the Flexispot E2 Pro Standing Desk

Overall, I thought this desk was very well designed, high quality, and easy to use. The solid wood work surface was pretty and bright, with well-designed touches like rounded edges. The desk felt incredibly solid, with no wiggle or vibration while typing, even at its full height.

I loved that the desk is infinitely adjustable between 28" to 47.6" — my husband, who is 6'1", has had trouble with some standing desks being too short, but he was able to work at the Flexispot with plenty of room to spare. The desk adjusts with the push of a button, and the motor is strong and steady, but quiet. I work with a lightweight laptop, so to test Flexispot's claim of being able to support 187 pounds I offered my daughters a ride, much to their delight. The motor moved them with no trouble, so it would be perfectly capable of handling a heavier computer setup, as well as books and files on the desktop.

The desk had plenty of well thought out touches and a thorough cord management system that made it easy to use. It's simple to program your preferred sitting and standing work height thanks to the four available preset buttons. A USB charging port on the panel with the adjustment buttons was a great addition. 

With the 55" x 28" desktop, I had plenty of room to spare. If anything, it was a bit too much room, but would be a great option for people who like to spread out their work and have plenty of open desk space. Flexispot doesn't advertise the E2 Pro as being compatible with two monitors, but it seemed to have plenty of space for that setup. For a single screen, the smaller size version of the desk is likely plenty, and has the added benefit of being able to fit into smaller spaces.

Cons to consider

The biggest drawback to this desk was the lack of storage drawers (a quirk that is quite common in standing desks). However, the frame is wide enough that you could put a file cabinet or basket underneath to help with organization. You could also easily fit file folders on the desktop, but I found myself wishing for at least a drawer to hold pens and pencils. (Flexispot does offer a standing desk with drawers, but even on that model, storage is very limited). 

There are a few other considerations. Like all electric standing desks, the E2 Pro needs to be plugged in to work. The pre-drilled holes for attaching the control panel were only on the left side of the desk, which could present a challenge for some people and office layouts. 

Finally, the control panel for the motor needed to be reset almost daily during my testing period. Granted, I was moving the desk up and down much more often than I would during normal use. The reset process was quick, easy and well-explained. However, this made me a bit worried about how the control panel would hold up over time. 

What are your alternatives?

Sometimes the process of finding the right desk for your body, your work habits, and your office space can be challenging. We've reviewed the best standing desks, as well as the best standing desk converters. Personally, I've found that a standing desk converter is best for me. While standing desks are great, I appreciate being able to keep the storage that my traditional desk offers, while utilizing the stand-to-work benefits of a converter.

The bottom line

The Flexispot E2 Pro is a well-built, stable and easy-to-use standing desk that offers plenty of work space. The desk is more affordable than many other standing desks, but you may need to budget for storage systems that can be used with it to keep your workspace clean and tidy.