How many calories does a standing desk burn?

Curious to know the amount of calories you burn using a standing desk? There are plenty of health benefits to introducing a standing desk into your work setup and extra calories burned from standing instead of sitting is just one of them. 

But exactly how many? The home office desk experts at Slouch are here to answer.

Does standing up burn calories?

You’re right to wonder whether you burn calories standing vs sitting down. It might not immediately spring to mind that standing burns more calories, but it does. 

The how

Essentially, when you’re seated in a desk chair, your muscles can fully relax because the chair supports you. 

When you stand, your body engages the muscles in your legs, core and back to keep you upright and balanced against gravity, requiring more energy than sitting. That’s how you end up using slightly more calories to stand than sit.

Exactly how many calories does a standing desk burn?

The studies into standing desk calories burned vary a lot. However, a recent study puts it at around 0.15 extra calories compared to sitting per minute.

There have been plenty of scientific studies into standing desk calories and their health benefits over the years. In fact, the very first study – though it predated standing desks – was in the 1950s. Researchers found that bus drivers, who sat down all day, were twice as likely to develop heart disease than bus conductors, who stood. 

Over time, more and more studies have been conducted to get to the bottom of the various health benefits of standing desks and standing vs sitting in general, including trying to work out exactly how many calories a standing desk burns.

The problem with lots of this research is that they compare participants of different ages and genders and have vastly different sample sizes and time frames. After all, different people with different weights, lifestyles and body types will have faster or slower metabolisms. 

That’s why many estimates you’ll find vary considerably.

Standing desk calories burned by men vs women

We think the study by the Mayo Clinic is a good benchmark because researchers use a sample size of over 1000 people. It also gives separate results for men and women, as it’s understood that men burn more calories on average than women. 

The study found:

• Men burned 0.2 extra calories per minute standing up vs sitting aka. 12 more calories an hour
• Women burned 0.1 extra calories per minute standing up vs sitting aka. 6 more extra calories an hour

That might not sound like a lot, but look how it scales up over time:

That’s right, if you spend the entirety of a 7-hour working day using a standing desk, the average man will burn approximately 84 extra calories and the average woman 42.

The average full-time working British person works approximately 260 working days a year. So if you used a standing desk every day in a working year, you’d be looking at a whopping 21,840 extra calories for men and 10,920 calories from using a standing desk for women.

Over a year of standing for 7 hours each workday, a woman could burn enough extra calories to offset 103 KitKat bars (at 106 calories each) – for a man that rises to 206!

Explanatory video by Francisco Lopez-Jimenez MD of Mayo Clinic speaking about their study into calories burned standing vs sitting.

How to burn more calories at your standing desk

Taking time out of your day to stretch and move isn’t just great for your joint and heart health, it also burns extra calories. 

Here are some extra ways to maximise your calorie burn while working at a standing desk:

• Do some calf raises while reading
• Shift your weight from leg to leg periodically 
• Take time out for regular stretching breaks
• Consider a balance board or anti-fatigue mat to encourage movement
• Try an under-desk treadmill

Why is standing so much healthier than just sitting?

What you probably don’t realise is that when you’re standing, your body is constantly making micro-adjustments and staying more active, even if you don’t notice it.

Standing engages your muscles, improves blood flow, and encourages natural movement throughout the day. All of which contribute to better posture, reduced risk of heart disease, and improved overall health compared to remaining sedentary at your desk. Pretty neat, right?

How can I make using a standing desk more comfortable?

One big problem people face when they start using a standing desk for the first time is that they don’t immediately find it comfortable. After all, it’s a big change for your body if you’ve been sitting day all day. That’s why it pays to have some expert tips before you dive straight into using one. Here ours:

• Begin with 30 minutes of standing and slowly increase the split between standing and sitting
• Keep your screen at eye level, position your monitor at an arm’s screen distance away, and set your keyboard at elbow height to ensure the right desk height setup and comfortable posture your back will thank you for
• Wear comfortable shoes with good shock absorption
• Try an anti-fatigue mat if you’re finding your legs get especially tired as they can help with aches and pains
• Finally, make sure you listen to your body and take regular breaks 

Need more advice on how to stand at a standing desk comfortably? We’ve got you covered with loads more tips and tricks.

Take a stand against mediocre office furniture

Whether you’re looking to burn a few extra calories, improve your posture, or simply shake up your working day – a standing desk could be a smart addition to your office setup.

Peruse our full product range for the comfiest and best-looking office chairs you’ll ever find as well as office desks that are a complete game-changer.

Want to talk something over? Email in at [email protected] with any questions or queries about our office furniture.