The IKEA Bekant and Skarsta desks are both popular sit/stand options, but they differ significantly in customizability, build quality, and price. The Bekant series is a more robust, professional-grade system with multiple sizes, shapes, and finishes targeted at long-term use, while the Skarsta is a streamlined, budget-friendly desk designed for basic functionality in smaller spaces.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right IKEA standing desk for your home office.
IKEA Bekant Desk
The Bekant series is IKEA's configurable office system intended for both home offices and professional workplaces. Known for its sturdy construction and ergonomic design, the Bekant standing desk is built for heavy, daily use, offering a durable work surface and a reliable electronic height adjustment mechanism, along with options for integrated cable management.
- What it is: A heavy-duty, adjustable sit/stand desk series with multiple configuration options.
- Key features: Electric push-button height adjustment, multiple tabletop sizes and shapes (including corner units), built-in cable management net, and a generous 10-year guarantee in many regions.
- Price: Ranges from roughly $250 to over $400 depending on size and features.
- Dimensions: Available in several sizes, typically from 47 1/4" wide up to larger 63" models and corner configurations.
- Materials/Construction: The tabletop is a durable melamine-coated particleboard that resists scratches and stains, set on a heavy-duty powder-coated steel frame.
- Pros: Sturdier and more stable at standing height compared to the Skarsta. More size, shape, and finish options available. Includes a useful under-desk cable management net. Well-suited for multi-monitor setups.
- Cons: Higher price point. Assembly is more complex due to the heavier frame and additional features.
The Bekant is the right choice for anyone building a dedicated home office and seeking a durable, long-term desk that can handle a professional workload.
Shop this product: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/bekant-series/
IKEA Skarsta Desk
The Skarsta desk is IKEA's entry-level solution for those wanting the health benefits of a sit/stand workstation without a significant investment. It prioritizes simplicity and affordability, featuring a clean, minimalist design and a basic electric motor. It's an excellent choice for smaller spaces like dorm rooms, bedrooms, or starter home offices.
- What it is: A simple, compact, and budget-friendly electric sit/stand desk.
- Key features: Simple electric height adjustment, minimalist design, and a compact footprint.
- Price: Typically priced between $200 and $250.
- Dimensions: Most commonly available in a compact 47 1/4" x 23 5/8" size.
- Materials/Construction: Features a steel frame supporting a particleboard work surface with a melamine finish. The build is functional but less robust than the Bekant.
- Pros: One of IKEA's most affordable electric standing desk options. The simple design makes for a quick and easy assembly. Ideal for small spaces where a larger desk won't fit.
- Cons: Limited size and color options. The frame is less substantial and can feel less stable at maximum height. Can struggle with the weight and space required for large, dual-monitor setups. Lacks built-in cable management.
This desk is perfect for students, renters, or anyone needing a simple, space-efficient sit/stand solution on a tight budget.
Shop this product: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/skarsta-series/
Bekant vs. Skarsta Comparison
Dimensions & Sizing
The most significant difference lies in the available options. The Bekant series offers true flexibility, with desktops ranging from a compact 47 inches to a sprawling 63 inches, plus L-shaped corner configurations. This makes it adaptable to nearly any room size or work requirement, easily accommodating multiple monitors, speakers, and peripherals.
In contrast, the Skarsta is far more limited, typically offered in one compact size (around 47 inches wide). Its shallow depth and smaller footprint are designed specifically for tight quarters. While it's perfect for a laptop and a single monitor in a bedroom or small apartment, it lacks the versatility to serve as a larger, more comprehensive creative or professional workstation.
Materials & Construction
Both desks use particleboard tops with a melamine finish and steel legs, but the Bekant’s components are noticeably higher quality. Its frame is heavier and more substantial, which translates to better stability when raised to standing height, reducing wobble. The Bekant's tabletop also feels thicker and more durable, better suited for the rigors of daily 9-to-5 use.
The Skarsta's construction is perfectly adequate for its price point but feels less robust in a direct comparison. While both desks officially support a similar weight capacity of around 154 pounds, the Bekant feels more secure when loaded with heavy equipment.
Price & Value
Price is the Skarsta's biggest advantage. At $200-$250, it provides an accessible entry into the world of electric standing desks, offering core ergonomic functionality on a tight budget. For the price, it delivers exceptional value for light or occasional use.
The Bekant desk starts where the Skarsta leaves off, ranging from $250 to over $400. While more expensive, it justifies the cost with its superior stability, wider range of sizes, more versatile aesthetic, and thoughtful additions like the included cable management net. For anyone planning to use their desk for several hours a day, the Bekant represents a better long-term value investment in durability and comfort.
Style & Aesthetics
Both desks follow a modern, Scandinavian-minimalist design. The Skarsta has a simple, utilitarian look available in basic white or black options. Its no-frills appearance helps it blend into the background without making a strong style statement.
The Bekant offers a more refined and professional aesthetic. With a greater variety of tabletop finishes - including white, black, and various wood veneers (like oak or ash) - it's much easier to match with existing office furniture and decor. Its clean lines and substantial presence give it a more permanent and established look.
Who Each One Works Best For
The Bekant is built for professionals, dedicated remote workers, gamers, and anyone building a serious, long-term home office. Its strength, size options, and stability make it the clear winner for users who need space for multiple monitors or other heavy equipment and depend on their desk for daily, hours-long work sessions.
The Skarsta is tailor-made for students, renters, and casual home users. It’s the ideal solution for someone who needs an occasional sit/stand surface in a multi-purpose room, has limited space, or wants to try out an ergonomic desk without a large financial commitment. It excels as a simple homework or laptop station.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both desks provide excellent ergonomic benefits, but they are built for entirely different users and spaces.
Choose the Bekant if:
- You're setting up a permanent, long-term home office.
- You need a large work surface for multiple monitors or other equipment.
- Stability at standing height is a primary concern for you.
- You want more finish and size options to match your decor.
Choose the Skarsta if:
- You are on a strict budget.
- You live in a small apartment, dorm, or have very limited space.
- You only need a simple desk for a laptop and a single monitor.
- You prioritize ease of assembly over extra features.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Bekant and Skarsta?
The main difference is that the Bekant is a heavier-duty, more customizable office system with better stability and more size options, ideal for professional use. The Skarsta is a lighter, more affordable, and compact desk focused on providing core sit/stand functionality for small spaces and tight budgets.
Which is easier to assemble?
The Skarsta desk is generally easier and faster to assemble because it has a simpler frame and fewer parts than the Bekant.
How much weight can the IKEA Bekant and Skarsta hold?
Both desks are typically rated for a maximum load of 154 lbs (70 kg). However, due to its more substantial frame, the Bekant often feels more stable and less prone to wobble when loaded near its capacity, especially at standing height.
Is the Bekant desk worth the extra money?
For most people working from home full-time, yes. The extra cost of the Bekant gets you significantly better stability, more desktop real estate, more finish options, and better build quality that will hold up better to years of daily use.
Can the Skarsta fit two monitors?
It's possible to fit two smaller monitors (22" or 24") on the 47" Skarsta desktop, but it will be a very tight fit with little room left for peripherals. It is much better suited to a single-monitor or laptop-only setup.
Do these desks wobble when in standing position?
Nearly all standing desks exhibit some wobble at their highest setting. The Bekant is known for being quite stable and has minimal wobble, even at height. The Skarsta, having a lighter frame, is more susceptible to wobble, especially on carpeted floors or when holding heavier equipment.
Are the tabletops durable?
Both desks use a melamine finish on particleboard, which is resistant to scratches, stains, and moisture from spills. The Bekant's tabletop generally seems thicker and feels more robust, suggesting better long-term durability under heavy use.
What is better for a home office, Bekant or Skarsta?
If you have a dedicated room and work from home regularly, the Bekant is the superior choice for a home office. If your "office" is a corner of a living room or bedroom and you're on a budget, the Skarsta is an excellent and practical solution.
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