Four standing desk products have been recalled in the United States, and only one of them was an electric standing desk. That desk was the Realspace Magellan Performance, sold by Office Depot and recalled in 2019 for a shock hazard. The other three recalls covered sit-stand converters, the units that sit on top of a regular desk.
No electric standing desk from UPLIFT, FlexiSpot, Vari, Branch, IKEA, Autonomous, Fezibo or Vivo has been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Standing Desk Recalls at a Glance
| Product | Type | Date | Units | Hazard | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Depot Realspace Magellan Performance | Electric standing desk | July 10, 2019 | About 19,000 | Electric shock | Free replacement control box |
| Knape & Vogt workstations (sold as 3M, Workrite, iMovR, Volante and others) | Sit-stand converter | May 14, 2019 | About 76,000 | Gas cylinder can separate and discharge | Free repair |
| Humanscale QuickStand Lite | Desk-mounted sit-stand unit | September 17, 2019 | About 22,700 | Arm can break and the unit falls | Free repair kit |
| UPLIFT Desk converter, model UPL147 | Sit-stand converter | June 2, 2016 | About 750 | Pinched or broken fingers | Free repair kit |
Office Depot Realspace Magellan Performance (2019)
This is the only recall of a full electric standing desk. On July 10, 2019, Office Depot recalled about 19,000 Realspace Magellan Performance Electric Height-Adjustable Desks, recall number 19-759.
- Models: espresso, SKU 358370, and cherry, SKU 216230.
- Hazard: an electrical fault in the control box can reverse the polarity, which is a shock hazard. No incidents or injuries were reported.
- Sold: April 1, 2017, to February 22, 2019, for about $500.
- Remedy: a free replacement control box from Office Depot.
If you own one of these desks and never replaced the control box, unplug it and contact Office Depot.
Knape & Vogt Sit-Stand Workstations (2019)
The largest recall covered a desktop converter sold under eight names. On May 14, 2019, Knape & Vogt of Grand Rapids, Michigan, recalled about 76,000 sit-stand workstations, recall number 19-121.
- Sold as: Adas Elevo, K&A Manufacturing Helium Surface, 3M Precision Standing Desk, Inscape Rockit, Neutral Posture StandUp X1, Workrite Solace Desktop, Volante, and iMovR ZipLift. Affected units are about 36 by 24 inches and have lot numbers ending in “VOL”.
- Hazard: the gas cylinders that lift the surface can separate and discharge with force. There were two reports of separation, one of which damaged drywall, and no injuries.
- Sold: October 2016 to February 2019, for $350 to $560.
- Remedy: a free repair in your home or office. The recall line is 888-667-1501.
3M’s own notice covers its Precision Standing Desk models SD60B and SD70B sold before May 14, 2019. Health Canada recalled the same workstations on July 10, 2019, covering about 4,000 units sold in Canada.
Humanscale QuickStand Lite (2019)
On September 17, 2019, Humanscale recalled about 22,700 QuickStand Lite workstations in the U.S. and about 2,200 in Canada, recall number 19-205. The QuickStand Lite clamps to a desk and holds a monitor and keyboard on a counterbalanced arm.
- Hazard: the arm can break and the unit can fall. Humanscale received 52 reports of breakage and 12 of minor injuries.
- Sold: January 2015 to November 2018, for about $600.
- Remedy: a free repair kit.
UPLIFT Desk Converter UPL147 (2016)
On June 2, 2016, Square Grove LLC, the company behind UPLIFT Desk, recalled about 750 sit-stand desk converters, recall number 16-750.
- Model: UPL147, in freestanding and clamp-on versions.
- Hazard: the pneumatic lift can pinch or break fingers during assembly or use. There were two reports: one broken finger and one pinched, bruised finger.
- Sold: January to March 2016 at upliftdesk.com and thehumansolution.com, for about $220.
- Remedy: a free repair kit.
This recall covered a converter. No UPLIFT standing desk or desk frame has been recalled.
Brands With No Standing Desk Recall
The CPSC’s recall database lists no recall of a standing desk, frame or control box from these brands:
| Brand | Standing desk recalls | Other recalls |
|---|---|---|
| UPLIFT | None | 2016 converter, above |
| FlexiSpot (Loctek) | None | None |
| Vari | None | Stand2Learn stools, January 2020 |
| Branch | None | Ergonomic chairs, September 2026 |
| IKEA | None | None involving desks |
| Autonomous | None | None |
| Fezibo | None | None |
| Vivo | None | Speaker wall mounts, July 2019 |
The CPSC has also issued no stop-use warning for a standing desk. Walking pads are a different story: see our list of walking pad recalls and warnings.
How to Check if Your Standing Desk Is Recalled
- Find the model. Look for a label on the control box or the underside of the desktop. It lists the brand, model or SKU, and often a lot number.
- Search the CPSC. Go to cpsc.gov/Recalls and search the brand and model. In Canada, search recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- Check the maker’s site. Recalls are usually posted on the support page.
- Register your desk. Makers contact registered owners first when something is recalled.
Warning Signs of an Unsafe Standing Desk
A recall is not the only reason to stop using a desk. Unplug it and contact the maker if you notice any of these:
- A tingle or shock when you touch the frame or keypad.
- A burning smell, or a control box or power adapter too hot to hold.
- A frayed, pinched or melted power cord. Cords get caught between the frame and the wall when a desk moves.
- The desk moving on its own, or not stopping when you release the button.
- One side rising or falling faster than the other, which strains the frame and can tip what’s on the desk.
A desk that shows an error code or stops partway is usually protecting itself, not failing dangerously. A reset fixes most of those. See our guides to resetting an UPLIFT desk and FlexiSpot error codes.
Standing Desk Recall FAQ
Have any standing desks been recalled?
Yes. One electric standing desk, the Office Depot Realspace Magellan Performance, was recalled in 2019 for a shock hazard. Three sit-stand converters have also been recalled: Knape & Vogt’s in 2019, Humanscale’s QuickStand Lite in 2019, and UPLIFT’s UPL147 in 2016.
Has UPLIFT Desk had a recall?
Only for a desk converter. Square Grove LLC recalled about 750 UPLIFT UPL147 sit-stand converters in June 2016 because the lift could pinch or break fingers. No UPLIFT standing desk or frame has been recalled.
Have FlexiSpot standing desks been recalled?
No. The CPSC lists no recall for FlexiSpot or its parent company, Loctek.
Has IKEA recalled a standing desk?
No. None of IKEA’s recalls since 2014 involves a desk or sit-stand product.
Has Vari recalled a standing desk?
No. Vari, formerly Varidesk, recalled its Stand2Learn stools in January 2020 for a fall hazard. No Vari desk or converter has been recalled.
Was the 3M Precision Standing Desk recalled?
Yes. The 3M Precision Standing Desk, models SD60B and SD70B sold before May 14, 2019, is part of the Knape & Vogt recall. The gas cylinders are replaced free of charge.
Are electric standing desks safe?
The recall record is short: one electric desk since 2014, with no injuries reported. The practical risks are pinch points, cords caught as the desk moves, and children playing with the controls, which a keypad lock prevents.
