How to Make a Standing Desk Wobble Less

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Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:13 PM

The best standing desks come with many benefits, including increased productivity and health. But if there’s one thing that’s an enemy of concentration, it’s a wobbly desk. So for those who have ditched the desk chair, it’s essential to know how to make standing desks wobble less.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Reduce standing desk wobbles through cross support, tightening screws, and weight management.
  • The amount of wobbling can be due to cheap quality or uneven surfaces.
  • One of the easiest ways to reduce wobbling is to buy and install desk wedges.

Why Your Standing Desk Wobbles

Standing desks wobble for many reasons. But more often than not, it is due to one of these recurring problems.

  • Loose parts and too many parts
  • Cheap glides
  • Lack of cross support
  • Uneven floor surface

Method 1 – Identify and Fix Loose Parts

  1. After assembling your desk, make sure to examine every bolt and screw to see that all connections are snug and that no critical joints or support bars are loose.
  2. After checking, if you still have a wobbly desk, see that you have not accidentally switched up the parts. Mistaking the small components can be easy because many bolts and screws can look similar but have slight differences.
  3. Inspect the desk every six months and slightly tighten all the screws and bolts that support your desk frame.
  4. If you are interested in making one for yourself, here is a guide on how to make a standing desk.

Insider Tip

One of the easiest ways to address a wobbly desk is to examine and tighten your desk screws and bolts every six months.

Method 2 – Look Out for Desks With Too Many Parts

  1. Often, a standing desk can be overcomplicated with many parts.
  2. Expandable cross-sections and excessive points of connection multiply the likelihood that the desk will become loose and wobble.

Method 3 – Check for Cheap Glides

  1. Glides are also fundamental to making sure your standing desk stays wobble-free.
  2. These are parts found inside the upright aluminum columns that help stabilize the desk by decreasing friction as the desk height is raised and lowered.
  3. Unfortunately, on many cheaper desks, glide systems are poorly manufactured.
  4. Cheap glides limit a stable height range, which is why it can be good to consider a higher quality model.

Method 4 – Avoid Desks that Lack Cross Support

  1. When buying a standing desk, one of the most important elements to consider is the sturdiness of its cross support.
  2. The cross support design bolsters the strength of its legs, making wobbles a rarer occurrence than desks that don’t include it.

Method 5 – Inspect for Uneven Floor Surfaces

  1. One of the most common reasons for a wobbly standing desk isn’t the desk itself but the ground on which it stands.
  2. So always check to make sure that the floor surface is level and free of obstructions.

How to Fix, Adjust and Tighten Your Standing Desk

Depending on how far you are willing to go, there are many steps you can try in your effort to reduce your wobbling woes. Similarly, there are also resources on how to make your standing desk easier on the knees.

Method 1 – Stabilize Desk Legs

  1. The quickest and easiest way to increase stability is by buying wedges and placing them underneath your desk legs.
  2. Wedges are made for all shapes and desk sizes, making it easy to find a good set for your desk at a cost-efficient price.

Method 2 – Install Cross Support

  1. If your desk didn’t come with a cross frame, you could try to install it yourself by adding a wood board or metal bracket to the back of the desk.
  2. Just make sure that the cross support design applies even pressure on either side of the desk.
  3. Also, check that the installation doesn’t block or damage any key parts, especially with an electric standing desk.

Method 3 – Examine Balance and Weight Capacity

  1. Something to always look out for is how many items you have on your standing desk.
  2. Having too much weight can cause your desk to become uneven.
  3. On the other hand, if you have a cluttered desk, it can be a good idea to remove any item that isn’t necessary and see if that reduces the amount of wobbling.
    1. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple rearranging of desk items.
  4. To ensure that you haven’t gone over the weight capacity, reference the user manual because the max weight depends on the desk size and model.

Warning

While there are more affordable options for standing desks, lower price desks tend to have much more wobbliness than pricier models.

F.A.Q.S

Will a standing desk work on a carpeted floor?

While standing desks can work on a carpeted floor, installing a hard mat or placing it on a hardwood floor is always a good idea to decrease any wobbling.


How much weight can a standing desk hold?

Weight limits depend on the model and material of the desk. Still, most desk manufacturers say that they should reasonably hold between 100-300 pounds.


Why are standing desks so expensive?

Finding a smooth, stable, and spacious standing desk is hard to find at a low starting price because the power it takes to make something that functions well takes lots of expensive and intricate equipment. If you do your research, you might find an affordable option that works, but you will likely sacrifice on important elements, as well as the option for a more customizable desk.



STAT: Texas A&M did a study showing that those who use standing desks are 45% more productive than those who sit. (source)

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