Are standing desk converters noisy?
Standing desk converters that contain motors, locking or cranking mechanisms for adjusting the height of the desk riser can generate as much as 45 – 60 dB of noise. If a sit-stand desk converter is gas-lifted, spring-loaded or involves manual adjustment, such as hand levers, the noise levels are lower. People in the next desk over often won’t even hear you adjusting between sitting and standing positions.
The below table should help to put the noise levels generated by some standing desk converters into perspective.
|
Noise source |
Sound level dB |
|
Quiet whisper |
30 |
|
Quiet office |
40 |
|
Electric standing desk |
45 – 60 |
|
Conversation |
60 |
|
Open plan office |
60 – 65 |
|
Computer print room |
80 |
Why are standing desk converters noisy?
There are a number of factors which can increase the likelihood of noise being generated from standing desk converters, these include cheap electric motors, excess weight on the desk riser, cranking adjustments, along with cheap materials and a poorly designed sit-to-stand desk converter.
Electric motors
If motors are required to move the height between sitting and standing positions, these will generate noise during operation. This is particularly true if only a single motor is employed to adjust the height; this is exacerbated if the weight to be moved is too much as there is extra force required from the motor to execute the motion. If a dual-motor system was installed, it could spread the effort required between both motors to minimize both the noise levels and the duration it takes the desk riser to move.
Old motors
As motors age, their performance can deteriorate overtime. This can lead to the noise levels increasing incrementally with the growing wear and tear on the motor. Additionally, if the motor is overused or abused, e.g., excess weight applied to the table, the performance of the electric motor will inevitably decline faster.
Weight
The weight constraints that are applied to a standing desk converter are instrumental in gauging the level of noise that they will produce when moving between sitting and standing positions. Heavy desk converters or weighty equipment combined with a weak motor or cranking mechanisms are a recipe for disaster. This can be further exacerbated if the weight capacity of the sit-stand desk converter is exceeded.
Want to disrupt or irritate your co-workers or neighboring friends or family? Well, there’s a sure-fire way of grinding their gears (and probably those in your desk motor too).
Poor quality materials
Purchasing cheap standing desk converters often means that the materials used to fabricate the desk offer sub-optimal performance. This can lead to squeaky, scratchy noises, and if the weak materials cause the desk riser to wobble, it’s possible that these parts will hit off the desk and equipment underneath it, resulting in an indirect noise source.
Additionally, the design of the desk riser is likely going to be inferior which could mean that the equipment will not only be louder to operate, it could also be more likely to break or deteriorate at a faster rate. For instance, if only one motor is installed or the motor is under powered, it will struggle to adjust the height of the desk, thus creating more noise.
Cranking adjustments
When standing desks first entered the market, they often featured noisy and cumbersome crank handles to alternate between sitting and standing. These often yielded a horrible racket each time you would rotate the handle. Fortunately, they have come on in leaps and bounds.
Advancements in technology have meant that cranking adjustments are being engineered to produce less noise and require fewer rotations to reach the required height. A prime example is in the video below.
However, hand crank desk converters still generate noise. This is particularly evident in cheap hand crank desk risers which use cheap materials and are poorly designed. Add a bit of weight to the mix, and it intensifies the noise levels further.
Many hand cranked desk risers require anywhere from 30 – 80 rotations to achieve the desired height. Just imagine each rotation generating a noise and how long the whole process can take!
Did you know? Standing desk converters which use counterbalance technology are one of the most reliable, silent and smooth to operate.
What types of standing desk converters are quiet?
Some of the quietest standing desk converters available include those which require manual adjustment. Based on a range of product reviews that I have completed, desk risers which utilise counterbalance technology to raise and lower the height are practically silent throughout all movements. Hand cranking desk converters are less noisy than they used to be, and some quality products are designed to be almost silent.
If you’re seeking an electrically adjusted sit-to-stand desk converter, there are quiet ones available too. Products with high-quality electronics often have the added bonus of near silent motion. Just don’t expect many cheap electric standing desk converters to feature quiet movement.
What to look for in a quiet standing desk converter?
When choosing a standing desk riser that makes the least amount of noise, look for features such as:
- manual adjustment over electric adjustment
- counterbalance technology
- easy and quick adjustment traits
- if crank operated, seek minimal number of cranking rotations to adjust the height
- sufficient weight capacity to accommodate your needs
- positive customer reviews on noise and performance
- product specification sheets which mention silent motion in their description
If it’s an electric standing desk converter you’re seeking, then also look for:
- motors with sufficient capacity to move the desk
- dual electric motors
- fast height adjustment for shorter noise durations
- strong warranty, minimum 1 year, ideally 3 years plus
Conclusion
To summarize, manually adjusted sit-to-stand desk converters are generally much quieter in comparison to sit-stand desk risers which are adjusted using electric motors. This is particularly true for units that utilise counterbalance technology. However, there are electric sit-stand desk converters available too, they just typically aren’t the cheapest ones on the market.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for – I’ll bet that’s not the first time you’ve heard that, and you’ve probably learned it from experience too.
While you don’t have to spend money on the executive version of a standing desk converter, you can’t expect the cheapest entry-level product to perform at as good of a standard either. Any of the Ergotron products which feature Constant Force technology will offer a silent and smooth counterbalance adjustment.
Believe it or not, noise is only one important element to consider when choosing a standing desk converter. I invested a lot of time and effort into writing a quick and easy-to-follow guide on the 5 types of standing desk converters – ultimate cheat sheet! If you’re interested in learning about the other types of sit-stand desk converters, their pros and cons, and making an informed decision on the best one for you, then it might be worth a read.
My goal with this article is to assist in educating you and also to prevent you getting death stares every time you adjust your desk converter. On that note, if you have any queries or comments on standing desk converters, please leave them in the comments box below. I’ll be happy to hear them.
Sources
https://www.ergotron.com/en-gb/resources/resource-details/3513
Too Much Noise
