Andrew Heinzman
Standing desks are a great way to take care of your back, but they’re not always easy on your wrists. If you can’t find a comfortable spot for the keyboard on your standing desk, then we’ve got a keyboard tray for you.
There’s a lot of different keyboard trays on the market. Most of them claim to improve your typing posture, but you need to get the keyboard tray that’s right for your particular standing desk. Otherwise, you’re going to put your wrists through even more strain. For example, you would only want to put an under-desk tray on a standing desk, not on a regular desk with a riser. You know, because bending over to type would be a pain.
That’s why we’ve taken the time to find the best keyboard trays for every kind of standing desk. We’ve even considered two standing desk converters on this list, in case you’re frustrated with your standing desk, or just now considering what it’s like to own one.
First-Rate Acrylics Keyboard Stand ($15)
Let’s start small. If you already have a standing desk or keyboard riser, then there’s a good chance that you don’t need a dedicated keyboard tray. But it couldn’t hurt to grab an ergonomic, tilted keyboard stand for just $15. This tilted keyboard tray by First-Rate Acrylics is made of a durable plastic that should handle your violent keystrokes with gusto. It’s 17″ wide, which is enough space for your average keyboard, and it has a long rubber foot to prevent slippage.
Again, this product isn’t going to convert your regular desk into a standing desk. It’s just going to increase the ergonomics of your standing desk or keyboard riser. It’ll take up a little bit of desk space, and it can’t hold your mouse, but we’ve covered some options that can do those things.
Stand Up Desk Under-Desk Keyboard Tray ($44)
If you have a smaller standing desk, then you’re probably not looking for a flashy keyboard tray. An under-desk styled keyboard tray is great for economizing desk space, and it keeps you from standing too close to your desk. The retractable, under-desk keyboard tray by the Stand Up Desk Store is a simple, affordable keyboard solution for your standing desk. It’s more than big enough to fit your average keyboard, and you should have enough space to fit a mouse on it too. This keyboard tray is installed using clamps, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your desk with any holes.
Of course, you wont want to use an under-desk tray if you’re trying to convert a regular desk into a standing desk. This keyboard tray is 25″ x 11.5″, which should be plenty of space for your keyboard and mouse. If you have a particularly large keyboard or mouse, then you can drop an extra $5 for a 27″ wide under-desk tray.
Uncaged Ergonomics WorkEZ Keyboard Tray ($43)
If you’re looking for the most ergonomic and adjustable keyboard tray option, then you should consider the Uncaged Ergonomics WorkEZ tray. It rests on top of your standing desk, and it can actually tilt your keyboard toward or away from your body. That way, you can keep your wrists straight while using the keyboard from any angle. Of course, you can also adjust the height of the WorkEZ keyboard tray up to 18″, so you don’t have to worry about it being too tall or short for your desk.
The WorkEZ keyboard tray is 18″ wide, which is more than enough space for a regular keyboard. It’s floating mouse pad is 7″ x 7″, which should satisfy anybody, including gamers. If you’re left handed, it’s not too hard to take the mouse pad off of the keyboard tray and move it to the other side.
North Bayou Adjustable Sit/Stand Converter ($80)
If you don’t already have a standing desk or a riser, then you’re in a good place to calmly consider your options. Maybe you’re not sure that you’ll like having a standing desk, or you’d like the option to switch between sitting and standing. If that’s the case, then you should check out this converter North Bayou. It holds your monitor, keyboard, and mouse without taking up much space on your desk, and can be adjusted for any position or any angle. You can also rotate your monitor with this converter, which is pretty neat. It’s particularly good for situations where you may need to walk to and from your desk, like in a classroom.
The North Bayou converter can be installed though a couple of different methods, which is good for people with an awkward desk or a fear of power tools. You can install this converter by clamping it to the back edge of your desk, or by drilling an inch-wide hole in your desk and installing a grommet.
Obviously, this product isn’t for everybody. It’s versatile and nifty, but it won’t work well for you if you have multiple monitors, or if you already have a standing desk.
$99.90 
VARIDESK Height Adjustable Riser ($450)
Here’s another option for people who don’t already have a standing desk or a riser, or for people who want to be able to switch between a sitting and standing desk. VERIDESK‘s adjustable riser is a durable behemoth of a desk topper, and it can hold just about everything you need at a desk without compromising for looks or usability.
The VERIDESK riser is 40″ wide, which is more than enough space to hold a couple monitors, a large keyboard, and a mouse. Its keyboard tray is slightly tilted for ergonomics, which eliminates the need for an additional tilted keyboard tray. The VARIDESK also looks great when converted to sitting-desk mode, as it doesn’t waste any desk space or make it any harder to use your keyboard.
This is a pretty expensive option. If you’re set on getting a standing desk, I would suggest taking your $450 and getting a new desk instead of a riser. But if you’d like the option to sit or stand, then this is the riser to get. If you can’t get a new desk, want to try out a riser, and $450 is just out of the question, check out our other picks in this category here for a few budget-friendly options.
