8 Must-Have Accessories for Your Standing Desk

Buying a standing desk is the beginning, not the end, of building a comfortable sit-stand workstation. The desk raises and lowers — great. But without the right accessories, you'll deal with cable disasters during transitions, sore feet, wobbly monitors, and a workspace that undermines the ergonomic benefits you bought the desk for. Here are eight accessories that complete the setup.

1. Anti-Fatigue Mat

Standing on a hard floor for hours causes foot pain, leg fatigue, and lower back soreness. An anti-fatigue mat provides cushioned, slightly unstable footing that encourages micro-movements in your legs and feet, reducing static load on joints and improving blood circulation.

Choose a mat that's at least 30x20 inches (large enough for natural foot movement) and thick enough to provide real cushioning (3/4 inch minimum). Beveled edges prevent tripping. Some mats include contoured terrain — raised bumps, wedge shapes — that encourage foot stretching and position changes.

Place the mat where you stand and slide it under the desk when sitting. If you don't want to deal with mat storage, a permanently placed mat works fine — just roll your chair over it (most anti-fatigue mats handle chair casters without damage).

2. Monitor Arm

A monitor arm is even more important on a standing desk than a regular desk. When the desk surface moves, the monitor needs to stay at the correct height relative to your eyes in both sitting and standing positions. A fixed monitor stand adds its own height on top of the desk surface, which means the monitor may be too high when standing.

A gas spring monitor arm lets you independently adjust monitor height regardless of desk position. Raise the desk, lower the monitor slightly. Lower the desk, raise the monitor slightly. The arm also frees up desk surface area — on a standing desk where you might choose a smaller desktop, that recovered space matters.

3. Cable Management Spine

Regular cable management works on static desks. Standing desks need a cable management spine — a flexible, segmented channel that runs vertically from the desk surface to the floor, expanding and contracting as the desk moves up and down.

Without a spine, your cables go taut when the desk rises and drape in loose arcs when the desk lowers. This puts strain on cable connections and looks messy. A cable management spine keeps all cables contained in a neat, accordion-like channel that adjusts with the desk height.

Most standing desk manufacturers sell matching cable spines, or you can buy a universal one. Attach it to the back of the desk near the power strip and route all cables through it to the floor outlet.

4. Under-Desk Cable Tray

Mount your power strip and surge protector in a cable tray under the desk surface. When the desk moves, the power strip moves with it, keeping cable runs consistent. This is critical — a power strip on the floor with cables running up to a standing-height desk creates a taut, stressed cable run that can pull plugs loose.

The VIVO under-desk cable tray clamps to the desk edge without drilling and holds a full-size power strip plus excess cable length.

5. Keyboard Tray (Optional but Ergonomic)

A keyboard tray mounted under the desk surface lets you type at a height independent of the desk surface. This matters because optimal keyboard height (elbows at 90 degrees) and optimal desk surface height (for your mouse, notebooks, and other items) aren't always the same.

Keyboard trays also add negative tilt capability — angling the keyboard slightly away from you — which reduces wrist extension and carpal tunnel pressure. Not everyone needs one, but if you experience wrist discomfort, a keyboard tray often resolves it.

6. Desk Shelf or Monitor Riser

A small shelf or riser on the desk surface creates vertical storage without consuming horizontal space. Place your laptop, tablet, or reference materials on the shelf while keeping the desk surface clear for active work. Some risers include drawers for pens, sticky notes, and small items.

On a standing desk, the shelf also provides a second height tier — useful for placing a secondary device at a different eye level than your primary monitor.

7. Footrest (For Sitting Mode)

When your desk is at standing height, your chair height needs to match, which often means your feet don't reach the floor. A footrest provides a stable platform for your feet at the adjusted chair height.

Even at normal sitting height, a footrest encourages active sitting — you can shift your weight, rock your feet, and change leg positions throughout the day. This movement reduces the static pressure that causes circulation problems and stiffness during long sitting sessions.

8. Desk Clamp Headphone Holder

Headphones on the desk surface take up space and get tangled in cables during desk transitions. A desk clamp headphone holder mounts to the side of the desk, keeping headphones accessible but off the surface. When the desk moves, the headphones move with it — no risk of them falling off or snagging on the cable management.

Priority Order for Purchasing

If you can't buy everything at once, prioritize in this order:

1. Anti-fatigue mat — immediate comfort improvement when standing
2. Cable management tray + spine — prevents cable damage and mess during desk transitions
3. Monitor arm — proper screen position in both sitting and standing
4. Everything else — add as budget allows

The desk itself is maybe 60% of the standing desk experience. The accessories make up the other 40%. Skipping them is like buying a car without adjusting the mirrors and seat — technically functional, but far from comfortable.

---

As an Amazon Associate, BestElectronicsReviewed earns from qualifying purchases.