Vari Electric Standing Desk Review (2023) – Is It The Best Affordable Standing Desk?

Vari Electric Standing Desk Review Summary

The Vari Standing Desk is one of the most well-built and easiest to assemble height adjustable desks on the market. It features steel construction with a study T-style frame for enhanced stability. The contract-grade laminate finish desktops are also of high quality, resistant to scratching, and easy to clean. Its powerful dual motors raise and lower the desk quickly and smoothly within a height range that is suitable for tall people. The programable handset with memory settings and an LED display make the desk easy to adjust to any height from 25”-50.5” (63.5 cm – 128.27 cm).

The popular Vari Standing Desk 60”x30” size can support not only heavy equipment but also multiple monitors. Similar to other brands with the same structure, the desk shows a slight wobble at the desk’s high standing height, which is common for high desks with 2-legged frames. The desk also meets the ANSI/BIFMA durability standards and comes with a 5-year warranty.

Vari Electric Standing Desk

• Height range: 25″- 50.5″ (63.5 cm – 128.27 cm)
• Weight capacity:
  • 220 lbs. (99.8 kg) for 48″W x 30″D (121.92 cm x 76.2 cm)
  • 200 lbs. (90.7 kg) for 60″W x 30″D (152.4 cm x 76.2 cm)
  • 180 lbs. (81.6 kg) for 72″W x 30″D (182.88 cm x 76.2 cm)
• Frame: 3-stage frame with T-Style Leg
• Warranty: 5 years

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The Vari Electric Standing Desk is a full electric standing desk sold by a company called Vari®, whose world headquarter is in Irving, TX, USA. Vari is a workspace innovation company. It is well-known for creating the original VariDesk® sit-stand desk converter which transformed the ergonomic industry and inspired related products. 

In this article, we’ll review and provide information on the Vari Electric Standing Desk which is Vari’s most popular height adjustable standing desk. It’s also famous as the easy assemble standing desk in the market. We’ll also be taking a closer look at its design, quality, and performance, as well as things you should consider to help you determine whether this is the desk for you.

Vari Electric Standing Desk: Distinctive Features and Benefits

Apart from the general functionality that you can expect from a standing desk, here are the Vari Electric Standing Desk’s distinctive features and benefits that differentiate it from other electric standing desks in the market.

• Good build quality with ANSI/BIFMA certified for stability, strength, safety, and durability
• Well-known for easy and quick assembly with all tools included
• T-Style legs enhance stability at any height
• Built from safe materials with GREENGUARD-Gold Certified for low emissions and safe indoor use.

Vari Electric Standing Desk: Specifications

*This is a suggested height range, please refer to How to Determine the Ideal Standing Desk Height for further information on suitable desk height.

Sources: Vari and Amazon product pages

Vari Electric Standing Desk Review: Design

From a smooth chamfered desktop to the easy assembly process, the Vari Standing Desk is a well-designed electric standing desk. However, its simplicity and lack of customizability compared to its rival do not lower its quality and functionality but rather make it more affordable.

Frame

The Vari Standing Desk is a 2-leg desk without a traditional crossbar. A non-cross bar frame gives the desk a modern look. The desk has a sturdy T-Style frame and a contractor-grade laminate finish that’s easy to clean. The frame is centered under the desktop, with equal space in front of and behind the frame. As the T-frame style has a symmetrical leg frame, it has less legroom and space underneath the desktop compared to a C-frame style, where the legs and frame body offset to the rear. Also, the desk frame comes in only one color option, which is gray, coated steel legs.

Height Adjustment Range

The Vari Standing Desk is a great option for tall persons. It has a wide range of heights, with a minimum height of 25″ (63.5 cm) and a maximum height of 50.5″ (128.27 cm), with the desktop included. The desk can be used comfortably by people with a height of around 5’4″ and 6′ 10″ (162.56 cm and 208.28 cm).

Desktop

The Vari Standing Desk’s desk surface features a durable laminate with a matte finish. It is smooth and resembles real wood. The desktop has chamfered edges and rounded corners, which feel nice to the touch. Its high-quality surface texture makes it resistant to scratching.

Also, there is a small cutout centered at the rear of the desktop. So, you can feed your wires and cords through the back of the desk while having the desk against the wall. The desktop is available in four sizes, which are:

• Vari Electric Standing Desk 60” W x 24” D (152.4 cm x 60.96 cm)
• Vari Electric Standing Desk 48” W x 30” D (121.92 cm x 76.2 cm)
• Vari Electric Standing Desk 60” W x 30” D (152.4 cm x 76.2 cm)
• Vari Electric Standing Desk 72” W x 30” D (182.88 cm x 76.2 cm).

The 60” W x 30” D (152.4 cm x 76.2 cm) is the most popular desk size as it easily holds general work or home office gear, including a laptop or PC, monitor, keyboard and mouse, speakers, and small office items. It can also accommodate a three-monitor setup. However, if you require a two-monitor setup, you can get away with the 48”x30” (121.92 cm x 76.2 cm) desk size which is also popular for home office setup.

Regardless of the size, the desktop is available in five finish options, which include black, butcher block, dark wood, reclaimed wood, and white. The desktop is GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD-Gold certified for low chemical emissions. So, it is safe for use in indoor spaces.

Other Features

The company includes two hooks that can clamp onto the side of the desk for a headphone, bag, or any light item. It also throws in a coaster to make sure you don’t get coffee ring marks on your standing desk. To keep a clean look and all cables organized, especially during the up and down motion, we suggest using a cable management tray to secure all your wires and cords. Unfortunately, the Vari Standing Desk doesn’t come with a cable management tray. It is available for purchase as an added accessory.

Assembly

Thanks to the Vari Electric Standing Desk’s patented quick-attach system, the desk is very easy to assemble, and it includes all necessary easy-to-use tools. Compared to other brands with similar constructs, the Vari Standing Desk has the most straightforward assembly process. However, as the desk has steel legs, it can be quite heavy. The company suggests two people required for assembly. Also, according to the company, the desk can be assembled in 5-10 minutes. However, an average assembly time for most users is between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on their DIY experience.

Accessories

You can also elevate your experience with the desk by completing your workstation’s setup with Vari Standing Mats and Task Chairs. Vari also has other accessories available, such as monitor arms, power hubs, cable management trays, and LED task lamps.

We highly recommend the cable management tray, which costs extra. The tray can be assembled in minutes, and it is a perfect storage solution for your wires. You can feed your wires and cords through the cutout at the back of the desk into the cable management tray and store any excess wires to keep your desk look clean and organized. The company also offers power strips that easily fit in the tray, making it convenient to plug in your computer, monitor, speakers, or other devices.

Vari Electric Standing Desk Review: Quality

Build Quality

The Vari Electric Standing Desk has a good build quality with metal framing and steel legs. The desk features a heavy-duty frame. It is certified by ANSI/BIFMA for durability, structural performance, and safety for use in a commercial office environment. The Vari Electric Standing Desk also passes UL 962 standard as it meets electrical, flammability, and personal injury safety requirements.

The Vari Electric Standing Desk’s laminate desktops are GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD -Gold Certified. The GREENGUARD certification assures that products meet strict chemical emissions limits and are safe for indoor use. The GREENGUARD Gold Certification offers stricter certification criteria for use in schools and healthcare facilities.

Strength and Stability

The 60”x24” (152.4 cm x 60.96 cm) and 60”x30” (152.4 cm x 76.2 cm) desks can support 200 lbs (90.7 kg) while the 48”x30” (121.92 cm x 76.2 cm) can hold up to 220 lbs (99.8 kg). However, the biggest workspace, 72”x30” (182.88 cm x 76.2 cm), has the least lifting capacity of 180 lbs (81.6 kg). These weight capacities are more than enough for most common workstation which requires around 30-40 lbs. (13.61-18.14 kg).

The Vari Standing Desk is a heavy desk. It has solid built steel legs, featuring robust and sturdy T-Style legs. The T-shaped frame is designed for equal weight distribution. So, it enhances the desk’s stability and keeps the desk securely in place. The legs also include adjustable feet to help level and remove rocking in case you have an unleveled floor.

Vari Electric Standing Desk Review: Performance

The Vari Electric Standing Desk uses powerful dual electric motors, engineered to adjust the desk’s height easily and smoothly. It has a three-stage frame, providing a large range in height adjustability (25.5″ or 64.77 cm). The company does not clearly mention the adjustment speed of the desk but the speed appears to be around 1.28”–1.3” (3.25-3.3 cm) per second.

Despite the company highlighting its whisper-quiet dual motor, users experience some motor noise but it’s far from being loud. They report a noise level of 45 dBs and 55 dBs. If you are wondering what 45-55 dBs is like; according to Yale University’s decibel chart, 40 dBs sound like a suburban area at night while 55 dBs sound like a household refrigerator.

The Vari Electric Standing Desk is not only easy to assemble but also very easy to use. It features a digital control panel, with four programmable height settings. The height can be set to any height between 25” (63.5 cm) and 50.5” (128.27 cm). The control panel memory also has a small display, showing the desk’s current height. You can preset your favorite heights and adjust the desk to your desired position with just one touch.

To program the desk, you just set the desired height using the up/down buttons, press the ‘M’ button, and then the number that you want to set the height for. You can also adjust the desk height manually using the up/down button. During the motion, the sturdy frame ensures your equipment is safe and secured. In addition, if you want, you can also lock the control panel to prevent other people from messing with your settings.

Vari Electric Standing Desk Review: Things To Consider

When it comes to a stability issue, like other desks, the Vari standing desk is rock solid at its minimal sitting height of 25” (63.5 cm). However, the desk starts to wobble gradually from the standing height towards its full height.

As stated by one user, “Somewhat wobbly when extended: The most disappointing thing is it is somewhat wobbly (very noticeable) when the desk is extended. It is something I can live with but at this price range, I was expecting more than this. Other than that, I don’t have other complaints.” Reviewed by Sangmin L. Verified Buyer on 7 Feb 2021 – 3.0 star rating

Another user says, “Easy to assemble but slight wobble: I ordered the Vari 60 x 30 desk from Amazon with a Dark wood top, paying $715 plus tax. I got the Vari mainly because Wirecutter said it was rock solid, but there is a definite side-to-side wobble when elevated. Maybe the 48” version is more stable. The desk is very heavy and I had to get help moving the boxes around. Overall,

Good: quick easy assembly, nice finish, smooth motor even when loaded with 100 pounds of monitors, quick delivery (3days) with Amazon Prime.

Negatives: very heavy, slight wobble when raised above 40.” Reviewed by Shopaholic (Amazon Buyer) on December 26, 2021

This is not surprising as the Vari Standing Desk has a two-legged frame with no horizontal support bar. The bar provides a stronger frame and minimizes the desk from wobbling when reaching its maximum height. This issue is also common with other brands that have a similar structure. Nevertheless, many users find that during normal use, everything remains solid and overall rate the Vari Electric Standing Desk as a sturdy and stable desk. The majority of reviewers (more than 95%) give the desk 4-5 stars.

The Vari Standing Desk does not feature anti-collision detection in its product documentation. This can be a major concern, especially if you have pets or kids. The anti-collection system helps prevent accidents and injuries as it stops the desk from moving if something is in its way.

Also while the iMovR Lander Desk has a lifetime warranty and the Uplift V2 Standing Desk and Jarvis Standing Desk offer a 15-year warranty, the Vari Desk only comes with a five-year warranty. 

Final Words

While the Vari Electric Standing Desk does have some drawbacks, they are not deal-breakers. Although its simplicity and lack of customizability may limit your creativity, it is well-engineered for strength. The desk has a good build and durable laminate finish with steel legs and is made from certified safety materials. If you are seeking ergonomic stability alongside a minimal design at an affordable price, consider the Vari Electric Standing Desk.

From ease of assembly, gorgeous desktop finish, easy transition from sitting to standing, and vice-versa to reliable functionality, the Vari Electric Standing Desk offers an intuitive and enjoyable experience to encourage your movement throughout your work routine. However, the Desk doesn’t have a safety system like anti-collision detection. If this is important to you, you might want to consider other similar models, such as the Uplift V2 Standing Desk or the Jarvis Standing Desk.