Why Choose an Electric Standing Desk, and Why Dual Motors Matter
Sit-stand desks are now a familiar sight in offices and home offices. If you are about to buy one, two questions come up quickly. Is an electric desk worth it over a fixed or manual desk? And does it matter whether the frame has one motor or two?
This guide answers both, and finishes with a short checklist for choosing a desk. We use our DM22F-04D dual motor electric desk frame as the worked example.
Why a sit-stand desk at all?
Safe Work Australia's guidance on sitting and standing at work notes that sitting for long periods without a break can be a risk. It recommends designing workstations so people can change position and move, and suggests standing for tasks like computer work, reading and phone calls.
A sit-stand desk is one practical way to make that easy. It does not replace breaks and moving around, and the aim is not to stand all day. The point is that switching between sitting and standing takes seconds, so people actually do it.
Why electric?
Height-adjustable desks change height in different ways. Here is how the common types compare:
| Type | How you change height | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed desk | It doesn't change | Seated-only work |
| Manual crank | Turn a handle, often many turns | Desks that are rarely adjusted |
| Pneumatic (gas spring) | Release a lever and the gas spring helps lift | Light loads such as a laptop, no power needed |
| Electric | Press a button, or a memory preset | Full workstations with monitors, used every day |
For most office desks, electric is the practical choice:
- Changing height is effortless. Hold a button and the desk moves. The less effort it takes, the more likely people are to switch during the day.
- Memory presets. Save a sitting height and a standing height, then return to either with one press. The DM22F-04D controller has three memory presets.
- It carries a full workstation. Monitors, a computer, a lamp and paperwork can all stay on the desk while it moves, within the frame's load rating.
- Shared desks are easier. At a hot desk, each person can set the desk to their own height in seconds.
Electric is not the only answer. For a laptop-only setup, or a desk you want to wheel between rooms, a pneumatic desk such as our MWS03 mobile sit-stand desk needs no power. It has a 650 × 450 mm top, a 720–1120 mm height range, a 15 kg maximum load and castors on the base.
Single motor or dual motor: what's the difference?
Every electric desk frame has at least one motor. Frames are built in two main ways:
- Single-motor frames use one motor, with a drive shaft running across the frame to lift the second leg.
- Dual-motor frames have a motor in each leg. The control box runs both motors together so the legs move in step.
Why choose dual motors
- Two motors share the load. Each motor lifts its own leg, which is why dual-motor frames generally carry higher load ratings than single-motor frames. The DM22F-04D is rated for a maximum load of 100 kg.
- Each leg is driven directly. There is no drive shaft between the legs. Each leg has its own motor, coordinated by the control box.
- Better suited to full and changing setups. If you plan to add a second monitor, monitor arms or a desktop computer later, a higher load rating gives you room to grow.
A single-motor frame can be enough for a light setup, such as a laptop and one small monitor. For full workstations, shared desks and wider desktops, a dual-motor frame is the better fit.
The DM22F-04D at a glance
These are the listed specifications for the frame. The desktop is sold separately.
| Type | Dual-motor, two-stage electric height-adjustable frame |
|---|---|
| Maximum load | 100 kg |
| Height range | 730–1180 mm (including desktop thickness) |
| Width range | 1000–1700 mm |
| Lift speed | 22 mm/s |
| Noise | Under 50 dB |
| Controller | Up/down buttons, 3 memory presets and M button |
| Crossbar | Dual telescopic |
| Feet | 600 mm steel feet with plastic end caps |
| Included | Cup holder and headphone hook |
| Colour | White |
The frame takes either of our white desktops: the DT-120 (1200 × 600 mm) or the DT-140 (1400 × 700 mm). Both are 18 mm particleboard with a 50 mm round cable hole.
Before you buy: a quick checklist
- Add up the load. Include monitors, monitor arms, the computer, accessories and the desktop itself. The DT-140 desktop weighs about 12.3 kg on its own. Compare the total with the frame's maximum load.
- Check the height range. Look at both the lowest and highest settings, and whether the figure includes the desktop thickness. The DM22F-04D's 730–1180 mm range includes it.
- Choose the desktop size. A 1200 × 600 mm desktop suits compact spaces. A 1400 × 700 mm desktop gives more room for a second screen or paperwork.
- Plan power and cables. Put the desk near a power point. Leave enough slack in every cable for the desk's highest position, and run cables through the cable hole.
- Check the clearance. Make sure nothing above or beside the desk can get in the way as it moves, such as a windowsill, a shelf or a drawer unit.
- Save your heights. Once the desk is set up, store your sitting and standing heights in the memory presets.
A common starting point for both positions is elbows at about 90° with relaxed shoulders, and the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.
Buying for an office
- Volume pricing counts every item. Discounts of 5%, 10% and 15% apply automatically at 5, 10 and 20 or more items, counted across your whole order. A frame and a desktop count as two items, and chairs count too. For 50 or more items, request a quote.
- Order several products at once with the quick order table.
- Pair the desks with chairs. Our guide to mesh vs foam office chair seats helps you choose.
Orders are dispatched from our Auburn NSW stock within 1–2 business days of payment. We deliver across mainland Australia (not Tasmania), and free pickup from our Auburn warehouse can be arranged after you order. See our shipping policy for rates and estimated delivery times.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dual-motor standing desk worth it?
For a full workstation, usually yes. Two motors share the load, which is why dual-motor frames generally carry higher load ratings. For a laptop-only setup, a lighter option can be enough.
Does the DM22F-04D include a desktop?
No. It is a frame only. Desktops are sold separately: the DT-120 and DT-140.
How much weight can the DM22F-04D hold?
Its maximum load is 100 kg. Include the desktop's own weight when you add up your setup.
How high and low does it go?
From 730 to 1180 mm, including the desktop thickness.
Does it need power?
Yes. Like all electric desks, it runs from mains power, so place it near a power point. If you need a desk without power, look at the MWS03 pneumatic mobile desk.
How loud is it?
The listed noise level is under 50 dB.
For more on choosing chairs and desks together, read our buyer's guide to ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks, or browse the full catalogue.