How much weight can a standing desk converter hold?

Often one of the most important elements that people neglect to evaluate when choosing a standing desk converter is the weight capacity of it. It is after all, a critical safety parameter that could result in severe injury. In this article, I ask, how much weight can a standing desk converter hold? Furthermore, does weight capacity of a standing desk converter matter?

Weight limits are a critical component which could be the difference between you working in blissfully happiness. Alternatively, make a poor purchase and it could lead to complete and utter failure as the desk riser wobbles or completely collapses before your very eyes!

To aid you in choosing a desk converter, not only have I answered these questions, but I also collated an extensive list of standing desk converters based on their weight capacity. You can consider this your cheat sheet to weight capacity for height adjustable desk converters!

P.S. I’ve also dropped some interesting and useful tips in along the way. So, without further ado, let’s get started…

Before we dive in, let’s clarify a few things…

Weight and weight capacity are two different measurements which can easily cause confusion. Knowing the difference between them is vital when searching for a desk riser.

What is weight capacity?

Weight capacity is the maximum amount of weight that an object can hold. For instance, many standing desk converters have a weight capacity of 35 lbs / 15.9 kg. This means that the total weight of the objects added to the standing desk converter cannot exceed that weight limit.

What is the difference between weight and weight capacity?

The weight of an object refers to how heavy an object is, or in more complex terms, the amount of force being exerted on the object due to gravity. Weight capacity is the amount of weight that object can hold. For example, a standing desk converter can weigh 40 lbs / 18 kg, but the weight capacity of that unit is 31 lbs / 14 kg, meaning that only 31 lbs / 14 kg worth of objects can be placed on it.

How much weight can a standing desk converter hold?

Standing desk converters typically have a weight limit anywhere from 1.5 lbs / 0.7 kg to as much as 44 lbs / 20 kg. This is more than adequate for holding a laptop along with a keyboard and mouse. Electric standing desk converters tend to offer as much as 3 times more weight capacity compared to standard desk risers, which can amount to a weight limit of 100lbs / 45 kg.

The weight capacity of sit stand desk converters is lower than a standing desk; this can create stability issues along with restricting the amount of equipment that can be stored on the height adjustable desk riser.

Weight limits are often an issue for users as desk risers tend to have a low weight threshold than desks or standing desks. This is attributable to features including the size of the desk, type of materials that it is manufactured from, desk components, type of standing desk converter and the type of equipment that the desk riser is designed to hold.

Did you know? The average weight of a monitor, keyboard and mouse combined equates to between 5 – 15 lbs / 2.3 – 6.8 kg.

The below table should help to put the weight and weight capacity of some of the most popular standing desk converters into perspective. Find out what standing desk converter can hold the most weight in the below table.

I’ve sorted them based on lowest to the highest weight limit. For any desk risers which had the same weight threshold, I sorted them based on lightest weight of the standing desk converter itself.

Standing desk converter	Type of standing desk converter	Maximum weight capacity	Weight
Cadence Express standing desk converter (dual monitors)	Hover arm	1.5 – 19.5 lbs / 0.7 – 8.8 kg	33 lbs / 15 kg
Ergotron Workfit corner standing desk converter (dual monitors)	X-lift	4.5 – 15.9 kg	57.5 lbs / 26.1 kg
Cadence Express standing desk converter (single monitor)	Hover arm	6.5 – 24.5 lbs / 2.9 – 11.1 kg	29 lbs / 13.2 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-LX sit-stand desk mount system	Hover arm	7 – 25 lbs / 3.1 – 11.3 kg	30 lbs / 14 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-TX standing desk converter (dual monitors)	X-lift	9.9 – 39.9 lbs / 4.5 – 18.0 kg	58.5 lbs / 26.6 kg
Ergotron Workfit corner standing desk converter (single monitor)	X-lift	10 – 35 lbs	57.5 lbs / 26.1 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-TX standing desk converter (single monitor)	X-lift	10 – 40 lbs / 4.5 – 18.1 kg	58.5 lbs / 26.6 kg
Ergotron Workfit-Z mini sit-stand desktop	X-lift	25 lbs / 11.3 kg	32 lbs / 14.5 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-A dual monitor with work surface	Hover arm	25 lbs / 11.3 kg	47 lbs / 21.31 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-S dual sit-stand desk converter	Post and base	31 lbs / 14 kg	40 lbs / 18 kg
Vivo Gas Spring Riser converter 32″	Z-lift	33 lbs / 15.0 kg	28.7 lbs / 13 kg
FlexiSpot M8MB 35” standing desk converter	X-lift	33 lbs / 15.0 kg	37 lbs / 16.8 kg
VIVO 36 inch stand up desk converter	Z-lift	33 lbs / 15.0 kg	41.4 / 18.8 kg
Mount-It M1 standing desk converter	Post and base	33 lbs / 15.0 kg	47.5 lbs / 21.5 kg
ClassicRiser M3 standing desk converter	X-lift	33 lbs / 15.0 kg	53 lbs / 24.0 kg
ClassicRiser M1 standing desk converter	X-lift	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	46 lbs / 20.9 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-T sit-stand desktop workstation	Z-lift	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	49 lbs / 22.3 kg
ClassicRiser M2 standing desk converter	X-lift	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	50 lbs / 22.7 kg
VariDesk Pro Plus 36” standing desk converter	Z-lift	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	52.5 lbs / 23.8 kg
FlexiSpot M4B 41” standing desk converter	X-lift	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	52.9 lbs / 24 kg
Cooper standing desk converter	X-lift	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	60 lbs / 27.2 kg
FlexiSpot M7B 28” standing desk converter	X-lift	37.4 lbs / 17.0 kg	34 lbs / 15.4 kg
ClassicRiser M4 standing desk converter	X-lift	44 lbs / 20.0 kg	54 lbs / 24.5 kg
FlexiSpot M3B 47” standing desk converter	X-lift	44 lbs / 20.0 kg	59.9 lbs / 27.2 kg
Apexdesk ZT electric desk riser	X-lift (electric)	90 lbs / 40.8 kg (static load) 45 lbs / 20.4 kg (dynamic load)	50 lbs / 22.7 kg
ErgoTech One-Touch Free Stand Sit Stand Workstation	Post and base (electric)	100 lbs / 45 kg	80 lbs / 36.3 kg

Tip: If these weight limits sound too low for your needs, most standing desks have a weight capacity starting at 154 / 70kg and upwards.

Does weight capacity of a standing desk converter matter?

The weight limit of a standing desk converter is an important safety factor. Exceeding the weight limit can be dangerous and in a worst-case scenario, it could result in the table converter collapsing under the pressure of the load; worse again, it could even lead to serious injury! The weight capacity will affect some users more than others, especially if:

1. The user intends to store heavy equipment or materials on it

2. The consumer requires a stable desk that’s free of wobble

3. The user is heavy-handed or intends to lean on the desk riser

4. The desk that holds the desk converter has a low weight capacity

The above critical considerations will affect the user while directly using the standing desk riser. Below are the indirect factors attributed to the unit weight (because weight of the desk riser tends to increase as weight capacity increases). While these won’t affect you while you’re using the desk riser, they may influence your overall choice of unit:

5. The consumer is concerned with the cost of the unit

6. The consumer is worried about the shipping costs of the desk converter

7. The user is concerned about the manual handling of the unit

Tip: When assessing the weight capacity of a standing desk converter, also review the subdivision of the weight limits, e.g., there will be a separate weight limits for the keyboard tray and for the work surface.

The weight limit of the desk riser is not all you need to consider…

Table weight capacity

The weight capacity of the table that will be bearing the desk converter is a critical component when choosing a standing desk converter. If the weight of the desk riser is near or exceeds the weight capacity of the table, it could merely lead to desk wobble… if you’re lucky.

Let’s not forget that weight capacity is a safety factor! If the weight limit of the table is surpassed, it could result in serious injury, the table collapsing or equipment damage.

What’s more, you’ll also need to assess the weight of the equipment (monitors, CPUs, laptops etc.), materials (such as stationery, documents, books etc.) along with the force that you apply to the desk when performing routine activities, such as typing or reviewing documents.

What affects weight capacity of a standing desk converter?

Below I describe the components and features that can influence the weight capacity of a height-adjustable desk converter.

Size of desk riser

The overall size of the desk riser is influential in determining the weight capacity. You’ll notice that the larger desk risers generally allow a higher weight limit compared to the more compact ones.

I’ve provided some examples of this in the table below. I say generally because this doesn’t prove true in all cases. It’s also probably not something to get too hung up on either, unless you are tight on space and require a high weight capacity for your activities.

Standing desk converter	Maximum weight capacity	Weight
Ergotron Workfit-Z mini sit-stand desktop	25 lbs / 11.3 kg	32 lbs / 14.5 kg
Ergotron WorkFit-T sit-stand desktop workstation	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	49 lbs / 22.3 kg
ClassicRiser M4 standing desk converter	44 lbs / 20.0 kg	54 lbs / 24.5 kg
ClassicRiser M2 standing desk converter	35 lbs / 15.9 kg	50 lbs / 22.7 kg

In addition to size, the thickness of the parts will affect the weight capacity and stability. I have reviewed some standing desk risers where the keyboard tray provided was flimsy and had a low weight limit. With some products, you can upgrade to a sturdier and thicker keyboard tray which increases both the weight limit and reduced instability.

Number of hovering arms

The number of arms included on hovering sit-to-stand desk converters will dictate the overall weight capacity. For instance, the Ergotron WorkFit-LX sit-stand desk mount system has two hovering arms, one hovering arm dedicated to the monitor and another hovering arm for the keyboard. It features a weight limit for both arms, which ultimately increases the total weight threshold for the entire unit.

In comparison, the Cadence Express units operate from a single hovering arm that holds both the monitors and the keyboard. It suffers from a reduced weight limit in comparison to the Ergotron product.

Standing desk converter	Maximum weight capacity	Weight
Ergotron WorkFit-LX sit-stand desk mount system	7 – 25 lbs / 3.1 – 11.3 kg (screen) < 5 lbs / 2.2 kg (keyboard)	30 lbs / 14 kg
Cadence Express standing desk converter (single monitor)	6.5 – 24.5 lbs / 2.9 – 11.1 kg	29 lbs / 13.2 kg
Cadence Express standing desk converter (dual monitors)	1.5 – 19.5 lbs / 0.7 – 8.8 kg	33 lbs / 15 kg

Number of monitors

Desk converters which can accommodate multiple monitors tend to offer a lower weight capacity when compared with desk risers that hold a single monitor.

You can see from the table below that the Cadence Express (single monitor) is almost comparable with the Ergotron WorkFit-LX sit-stand desk mount system (single monitor) weight limits. In comparison, the Cadence Express (single monitor) and Ergotron product have a greater weight capacity than the Cadence Express (dual monitor) unit.

Standing desk converter	Maximum weight capacity	Weight
Ergotron WorkFit-LX sit-stand desk mount system	7 – 25 lbs / 3.1 – 11.3 kg	30 lbs / 14 kg
Cadence Express standing desk converter (single monitor)	6.5 – 24.5 lbs / 2.9 – 11.1 kg	29 lbs / 13.2 kg
Cadence Express standing desk converter (dual monitors)	1.5 – 19.5 lbs / 0.7 – 8.8 kg	33 lbs / 15 kg

Accessories

Some desk converters come equipped with the ability to add on accessories which improve the features of the item, such as increasing storage capacity. Adding on these items reduces the overall weight capacity of the entire unit.

For instance, adding on a work surface to the Ergotron WorkFit-S will reduce the overall weight capacity of the desk riser by approximately 6 lbs / 2.7 kg, it’s not massive but it is something to bear in mind, particularly if the weight capacity is low or you are tethering on the weight limit.

Standing desk converter weight

The weight of the standing desk converter often correlates with the weight capacity of the standing desk converter. Generally, you’ll notice that in the majority of cases, standing desk converters that weigh more provide a greater weight capacity. There are a few outliers that you’ll see in the table I drafted above, but this concept usually proves true in most cases.

Material quality

The strength-to-weight ratio of materials will dictate the weight capacity for the unit. Standing desk converters are primarily constructed of plastic, steel or aluminium. Sometimes they incorporate a combination of these materials to make the numerous sections of the desk converter.

Plastics are winning the race…

When choosing a standing desk converter, plastic is often the most lightweight material used followed by steel and aluminium. Not only that, but modern plastics are also now overtaking many metals in the strength-to-weight ratio. This means that you can purchase a lighter standing desk riser that can carry much heavier weights than ever before.

Investing in low-cost standing desk converters often means that the materials used to fabricate the desk are weak and of low strength. This can lead to a lighter product, but it also can reduce the weight limits.

That said, a high weight capacity desk riser is not necessarily indicative of a high-quality product. It hinges more so on the quality of materials and the design.

Did you know? Plastic can weigh as much as 16% less than the same amount of steel material or even 50% less than the same part of aluminium.

Are high weight capacity standing desk converters better?

Standing desk converters with a high weight capacity are generally more beneficial, particularly when you consider the below criteria:

Criteria	Are high weight capacity standing desk converters better?
Portability	No*
Moved frequently	No*
Storage of heavy equipment	Yes
Quality and durable	Usually
Stability and free of wobble	Usually
For heavy-handed users or for leaning on	Yes
The table holding the desk converter has a low weight capacity	Not usually*
Overall cost of the unit	No*
Reduced shipping costs	No*

*Assuming the weight of the desk converter is higher due to high weight capacity.

When deciding if the weight of a standing desk converter is important for you, consider how you plan to use the desk riser using the above criteria as a guide. If you’re still not sure, drop me a message in the comments or email and I’ll try to help you as best as I can!

Conclusion

To summarize, sit-to-stand desk converters have a weigh threshold in the region of 1.5 lbs / 0.7 kg to 44 lbs / 20 kg. A weight limit on the higher end of the spectrum is almost always more advantageous. The weight capacity of a desk converter is first and foremost a safety factor; it is a particularly substantial factor to consider if the weight capacity of the table holding the unit is limited.

It also plays a role in determining the amount of equipment you can position on the unit. I hope the tables and data provided above empowers you to choose which type of weight capacity meets your needs and desires. Although it is an indirect factor, don’t neglect to consider table weight capacity because it is such a critical safety consideration.

Choosing a desk converter can be time-consuming and tiring. Let me help you by taking the guesswork out of the equation and directing you on where to look. The Ergotron products are my personal favourite and I’d have no hesitation recommending them to a friend or family member! If you’re looking for a reputable brand which have a range of products that showcase both robust and reliable desk risers, then they are definitely worth a quick look! 

If you think you’ve learned everything that you need to know about height adjustable desk converters, think again! Weight capacity is only one of a range of important aspects that you should evaluate when choosing a standing desk converter. Fortunately for you, I devoted a lot of time and energy into writing a helpful and easy-to-follow guide on the 5 types of standing desk converters – ultimate cheat sheet!

If you’re interested in learning about the types of desk converters available, their advantages and disadvantages, and making an educated judgment on the unit that’s best suited to you, then go check it out.

My ultimate dream with this website is to assist and educate you on all things related your desk converter. With that in mind, if you have any questions or comments on standing desk converters, please leave them in the comments box below. I’ll be happy to hear them.

Sources

https://www.askdifference.com/weight-vs-capacity/

https://www.ergodirect.com