Methodology

How We Score Desks

Every desk on ErgoDesk gets two scores: an Ergo Score (0-100) measuring ergonomic fit, and a Comfort Index (0-100) measuring everyday convenience and build quality. Both are fully deterministic: computed directly from manufacturer specifications, never from reviews, ratings, or opinion. The same inputs always produce the same score.

Three Scoring Profiles

Desks are scored differently depending on what kind of desk they are, since "ergonomic fit" means something different for each:

• Adjustable: height-adjustable standing desks. Max Ergo Score: 100.
• Converter: desktop risers/converters that sit on top of an existing desk. Max Ergo Score: 100, scored on a different scale than full desks (a converter's usable lift range and surface size are inherently smaller than a full desk's, so the point bands are calibrated separately).
• Fixed: non-adjustable desks. Max Ergo Score: 80, not 100. The Adjustability pillar is capped at 0 for fixed desks (there's no adjustment to measure), so the other two pillars' caps are raised instead (45 points each instead of 30) to keep the scoring meaningful without inventing points for a feature the desk doesn't have.

Ergo Score Pillars

Adjustability (up to 40 points, 0 for fixed desks)

For adjustable desks: the adjustment mechanism (up to 28 points; electric dual-motor scores highest, followed by electric single-motor, pneumatic, then manual), the usable height range span (up to 18 points), memory height presets (up to 8 points), and anti-collision sensing (4 points).

For converters: lift range span (up to 28 points, using converter-scale bands since a good converter's range is naturally narrower than a full desk's), the adjustment mechanism (up to 8 points), and memory presets (up to 8 points).

Build & Stability (up to 30 points for adjustable/converter, up to 45 for fixed)

Frame material (up to 15 points; steel and aluminum score highest, then wood+metal hybrid, then wood), weight capacity (up to 15 points, on a converter-appropriate or desk-appropriate scale), warranty length (up to 10 points; 5+ years scores highest), wobble-control features (5 points), and leveling feet (5 points).

Surface & Ergonomic Fit (up to 30 points for adjustable/converter, up to 45 for fixed)

Surface width (up to 12 points) and depth (up to 12 points), surface thickness (up to 8 points), and cable management features (3 points), all on scales calibrated separately for converters vs. full desks, since a converter's usable surface is naturally smaller.

Comfort Index Pillars

Workspace Convenience (up to 35 points)

Drawers (up to 12 points for 3 or more, 8 points for 1-2), power outlets built into the desk (6 points), USB ports (6 points), a keyboard tray (6 points), and hooks for bags or headphones (5 points).

Stability & Quiet Operation (up to 35 points)

Measured noise level (up to 15 points; quieter scores higher), number of motor stages (up to 10 points for 3 or more stages), anti-collision sensing (5 points), and leveling feet (5 points).

Material & Finish Quality (up to 30 points)

Desktop material (up to 12 points; solid wood, bamboo, and carbon fiber score highest), any safety or quality certification (10 points), and frame finish (up to 8 points, same material tiers as Build & Stability).

What We Never Do

• We never use star ratings, review counts, or review sentiment in either score.
• We never guess a spec we couldn't verify: a missing field scores 0 for that specific point source rather than an assumed average.
• Every point value above comes directly from the same scoring code that computed every desk's real score. This page describes what the code does, nothing more, nothing less.

Questions or Corrections

Have questions about our methodology? Email ergnometry@gmail.com. If you think a spec or score is wrong, include the desk name and we will look into it.