Height-adjustable cubicles

Sit Stand Workstations: Three Tiers Compared

Height-adjustable desks inside a workstation give your team a choice of posture. Here is how the three price tiers compare, and the costs that are not in the sticker price.

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Pre-owned office workstations

Sit stand workstations combine a height-adjustable worksurface with the privacy and storage of a cubicle. Your team can move between sitting and standing through the day without leaving their station.

Office Station offers workstations in three tiers: liquidation-grade, remanufactured and new. This page compares them and explains the costs that sit outside the furniture price, starting with electrical.

The three tiers side by side

These are furniture-only reference prices for a 6'x6' workstation. Height-adjustable bases and components can change the final figure depending on configuration.

Liquidation-gradeRemanufacturedNew
6'x6' baseline$615$1,245$1,920
Lead timeAs little as 72 hours in stockUsually 7 to 14 days4 to 6 weeks
ConditionGraded A, B or CRefreshed componentsFactory new
Finish choiceWhat is in stockMore flexibilityWidest selection
Best forFast moves, tight budgetsBalance of look and costExact specs, uniform floors

Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.

Grades on pre-owned pieces are A like new, B very good and C good. Pre-owned brands can include Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth, Humanscale, Teknion, Allsteel, Kimball, AIS and Friant, depending on inventory. Office Station is an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer, and manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture.

Price your sit stand workstations

Electrical is excluded: plan for it early

Workstation prices do not include electrical. With sit stand stations, that matters more than with fixed desks, because every electric base needs power for its motor on top of the monitors, laptops and chargers your team already uses.

Questions to bring to your electrician:

  • How many stations can share each circuit, given desk motors plus equipment?
  • Will power come from the building through panel base feeds, floor cores or wall outlets?
  • Are pre-owned panel power components suitable for use in your building?
  • Does the landlord or building require permits or approved contractors?

Electric, crank and counterbalance bases

Not every height-adjustable desk uses a motor. The mechanism affects cost, speed and how often people actually stand.

MechanismHow it adjustsNeeds powerConsider
ElectricMotor with up/down or preset controlYesEasiest to use, so people adjust more often
Hand crankManual crank turns a gearNoSlow; many users stop adjusting
CounterbalanceSpring or gas assist lifts the surfaceNoQuick, but load range must match equipment weight

What to inspect on pre-owned sit stand stations

  1. Full travel. The base should move smoothly from lowest to highest position without stalling or grinding.
  2. Level lift. Both legs should rise evenly with no tilt.
  3. Controls. Test buttons and any memory presets.
  4. Complete parts. Control box, handset, motor cables and power cord should all be present.
  5. Stability at standing height. Push gently on the surface at full height to check wobble.
  6. Collision clearance. Confirm pedestals, panels and overhead storage do not block the desk's travel.
  7. Cable slack. Monitor and power cords need enough length for the desk's full range.

Layout tips for height-adjustable cubicles

A sit stand desk changes how a workstation feels when someone is standing. A few planning points:

  • Panel height between neighbors. Taller panels or toppers between facing stations keep standing users from looking directly at each other.
  • Overhead storage. Check that it does not sit where a standing user's head or monitor would be.
  • Freestanding pedestals. Mobile or freestanding storage avoids conflicts with a moving worksurface.
  • Monitor arms. These help users set a proper screen height at both positions.

Office Station provides free space planning so these conflicts show up on paper rather than on install day.

Choosing the right tier for your situation

The tiers are not a quality ladder so much as a set of tradeoffs between speed, budget and control over the specification.

  • Choose liquidation-grade when you have a move date coming fast, a set budget, and flexibility on finish color. Grade B and C stations are often a good fit for high-traffic team areas.
  • Choose remanufactured when you want a more consistent look than open inventory offers but cannot wait a month or more.
  • Choose new when you need a precise specification across a large, uniform floor and your schedule allows 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Mix tiers when leadership or client-facing areas need one standard and back-office teams can use another.

Estimating the total project cost

For a rough budget, add these to the furniture price:

  • Installation: $95 per workstation, $495 minimum
  • Delivery in Greater Phoenix: $195 central or $295 metro
  • Freight elsewhere nationwide: quoted per project
  • Electrical: quoted separately by your electrician

Volume pricing applies: 5% off at 20 or more stations, 8% at 50 or more and 12% at 100 or more. For example, 24 liquidation-grade 6'x6' stations at the $615 baseline come to $14,760 before the 5% discount, or $14,022 after it, plus installation of 24 x $95 = $2,280, delivery and electrical. Your actual price depends on the bases and components selected.

Replacing fixed desks as part of the change? The old furniture may offset part of the cost through a written net offer: resale value minus removal cost.

Estimate what your old desks are worth

Email hello@officestation.com with your headcount and floor plan to get started.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sit stand workstation cost?

As a baseline, a 6'x6' workstation, furniture only, is about $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured and $1,920 new. Height-adjustable bases and components can change the final number, so request a quote for your exact configuration. Prices exclude electrical, delivery and installation.

Is electrical included with sit stand workstations?

No. Prices exclude electrical work. Electric height-adjustable desks need a power source for the motor, and any panel power, hardwiring or new circuits should be handled by a licensed electrician hired separately.

Are used electric standing desk bases reliable?

They can be when tested before sale. Ask whether each base has been run through its full height range, whether the control and any memory presets work, and whether all cables and the control box are included. Manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture.

How fast can I get sit stand workstations?

Liquidation-grade inventory in stock can be available in as little as 72 hours. Remanufactured stations usually take 7 to 14 days and new stations typically take 4 to 6 weeks.

Do I need taller panels for standing desks?

Often. When someone stands, a low panel may put their eye line right at a neighbor's. Many layouts use taller panels or toppers between facing stations, while keeping lower panels along aisles for light.

Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.

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