7 Questions About the Varidesk Adjustable Standing Desk I Actually Needed Answered

Everything You Wanted to Know About a Varidesk Adjustable Standing Desk (But Were Afraid to Ask)

When I started managing office purchasing for our company back in 2020, I had a million questions about standing desks. My boss wanted healthier workspaces, Finance wanted a budget-friendly solution, and I just wanted something that wouldn't break down after six months. After buying dozens of Varidesk units across our three locations, here are the questions I get asked most often — and the answers I wish someone had given me.

1. Is a Varidesk adjustable standing desk actually worth the investment for a budget-conscious company?

From my perspective, yes — but with a caveat. The upfront cost of a Varidesk (especially the electric models) is higher than a cheap converter you'd find on Amazon. But in my experience managing about 60-80 equipment orders a year, the lowest quote has cost us more in 40% of cases.

Here's the thing: a $200 converter that wobbles or breaks after a year means you're buying again. That's two purchases, double the setup time, and annoyed employees. We saved maybe $120 per unit by going with a budget option on our first order. By year two, we'd replaced 3 of them, nullifying the savings.
Don't hold me to this because I didn't track every dollar, but I estimate that 'cheaper' decision ended up costing us an extra $400 in replacements and lost productivity. The Varidesk units we bought? Still going strong after 4 years. (Mental note: I really should formalize our TCO analysis for the next budget meeting.)

2. Manual converter or electric sit-stand desk — which one is better for my team?

That depends entirely on who's using it. For a shared workspace or someone who switches positions only 2-3 times a day, a manual converter like the Varidesk ProPlus 36 is solid. It's cheaper, doesn't require power, and is easy to move. For individual users who change positions hourly, go electric. The smooth motor means they'll actually use it — not leave it stuck in one position because cranking is annoying.

What most people don't realize is that a manual converter isn't necessarily less durable than an electric one. The springs and gas lifts in quality units (Varidesk included) have fewer parts to fail than a motor. But the trade-off is convenience. I've seen employees with manual converters just... stop using them after a few months. The electric desk? They use it consistently.

3. What tools should I prepare to set up my Varidesk standing desk manual correctly?

This one surprised me on my first purchase. The Varidesk manual is fairly straightforward — most converters come mostly assembled, and you're just securing the top platform and attaching the keyboard tray. You'll need a basic screwdriver and maybe a Allen wrench (usually included).

But here's an insider tip: grab a piece of printable graph paper before you start. Seriously. I use it to measure and mark monitor placement, cable routing paths, and desk edge alignment. It saves you the headache of mounting the keyboard tray crookedly (ugh). Also, if you're a neat freak like me, a calculator watch is handy for timing assembly — though my phone works fine too. (I still wear my old Casio out of habit, honestly.)

And one more thing: if you get permanent marker on the desk frame while marking measurements (which I've done), how to get permanent marker off wall tips apply here too — rubbing alcohol or a dry erase marker works. Not that I learned this the hard way or anything.

4. The Varidesk has an app? Do I actually need it?

Yes, the Varidesk app exists, and I was skeptical too. I thought it was gimmicky — why would I need my phone to control a desk? But the app is mostly for setting reminders to switch positions, which is surprisingly useful. People think the app controls the motor (it can, via Bluetooth on some models), but the real benefit is the reminder system. A lot of employees who bought standing desks forgot to stand after the first week. The app pings them, and usage increases.

Personally, I don't tell everyone to install it day one. Wait a month. If they're not using the standing feature consistently, then suggest the app. That's my approach.

5. How do I get my team to actually use their Varidesk adjustable standing desk?

Purchase alone doesn't create a healthy office culture. We bought 20 desks in 2022, and after three months, only about 40% of employees were using the standing feature regularly. The rest just kept them at sitting height.

Here's what helped: adding a simple team challenge. We tracked standing time for a week (I shared a spreadsheet — low-tech, I know), and offered a $30 UberEats voucher to the team who stood the most. Usage jumped to 70%. The hardware is fine, but you need to nudge the habits. (Personally, I think this is where the app reminder shines.)

6. Can I use a Varidesk at home, or is it strictly an office piece?

Totally fine for a home office. The build quality is the same. People think 'commercial-grade' means it's hard to install or bulky — not true. The ProPlus 36 fits on a standard 30-inch-deep desk at home. At 40 lbs, it's heavy enough to be stable but light enough for one person to move. I've done it.

Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd say 70% of the sales on our last order were for remote employees. The warranty doesn't change, so it's a solid purchase either way.

7. What happens if I don't like the Varidesk I bought?

Varidesk has a decent return policy — typically 30 days. But the catch is return shipping, which can be $40-80 depending on the model because these things are heavy. I'm not 100% sure, but I think they've had some variability in how they handle this, so check the current policy before ordering.

In my experience, returns are rare. We've only had 2 out of 40+ desks come back — one because the user wanted a narrower model for a tight cubicle, and one where the gas spring felt stiff. Varidesk replaced that one under warranty without hassle.

So if you're on the fence? I'd argue it's worth the try. Just budget for the return cost if you're unsure.