When searching for the best standing desks, you must consider all areas that may affect your workstation, especially the floor. Having the proper floor is crucial to ensuring your standing desk experience is at its best. This consideration is why we are comparing standing desks on carpet floors vs cement floors. And for those considering the shape of their standing desk’s top, you can look through our article that compares contoured vs rectangle standing desks.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- A carpeted floor is notorious for causing standing desks to have stability issues.
- Like a solid wood floor, a concrete floor is more stable but can lead to foot pain and unwanted joint pressure.
- Anti-fatigue mats are a great way to make sure your standing desk doesn’t end up having adverse effects on your health.
Is It Better to Use a Standing Desk on a Carpet Floor vs a Cement Floor?
It’s easy to imagine how these two surfaces are visually different. Still, when it comes down to standing on them for long periods of time, there’s a lot to unpack.
Carpeted floors offer a cushioned surface that is less likely to cause sore feet, leg pain, or varicose veins. However, they can lead to annoying stability issues that can quickly ruin the experience of a standing desk.
Insider Tip
If your desk remains unstable on a completely solid floor, try tightening the frame.
Standing on cement and hardwood floors can be hard on the body. But there are anti-fatigue mats that can ease the pressure of standing on a hard surface for an entire workday. And given that it’s essential to have a seating option when using a standing desk, read our article comparing standing desk chairs vs stools.
Stability Issues
Suppose you have thick shag or exceptionally spongy carpeting materials. In such a case, it’s almost guaranteed that it won’t be a suitable surface for a standing desk. Some thinner carpets may work, but even then, it’s hard to guarantee a very stable foundation for your desk.
When it comes to a cement or hardwood floor, you still might run into problems. But, by and large, solid floors will be more stable. All you need to check for is to make sure the floor space is even and has no bumps or cracks.
Managing Stress and Fatigue
One risk of a prolonged standing position is extra stress due to body weight or poor joint health. Carpets hold an advantage over hardwood or cement floors when reducing stress because the softer surface puts less pressure on the back, feet, and legs.
But although carpeting is a better option than a solid surface for reducing stress on the body, an anti-fatigue floor mat on hard flooring is the best option to battle stress and fatigue from standing.
Alternative Solutions
If you have a carpeted floor that you need to use for work, try using either wood blocks or desk risers to help provide stability.
Warning
If you use a standing desk without an anti-fatigue mat, you may experience more pain and be less productive.
F.A.Q.S
What are anti-fatigue mats?
You can find anti-fatigue standing mats made from anything from rubber to bamboo. They are meant to reduce muscle ache and fatigue brought about from standing still on hard surfaces for too long.
What should be considered first when a person stands all day at work?
When using a standing desk, one thing to consider is that it’s vital to make sure you are alternating between standing and sitting. This consideration means prioritizing an ergonomic office chair, suitable footwear, and an excellent anti-fatigue mat made from durable materials.
Can a standing desk help my back pain?
Many studies point to evidence that standing desks are effective in preventing back pain.
STAT: The number of Americans that claim to experience back pain every year is around 50% (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Flooring+for+a+standing+desk
- https://utswmed.org/medblog/standing-desk-back-pain/
- https://www.autonomous.ai/ourblog/what-you-should-consider-when-buying-anti-fatigue-matsr
- https://handsdownbetter.org/health-and-wellness/back-pain-facts-and-statistics/#:~:text=One%2Dhalf%20of%20all%20working,back%20pain%20symptoms%20each%20year.&text=Back%20pain%20accounts%20for%20more,time%20worker%20in%20the%20country.&text=Experts%20estimate%20that%20up%20to,some%20time%20in%20their%20lives.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKnEcQ4u3Uo
