A monitor stand with storage drawers is a desk riser that lifts your screen toward eye level while adding one or more pull-out drawers underneath for pens, cables, dongles, and the small clutter that normally spreads across a shallow desk. The best monitor stands with storage drawers do two jobs at once: they raise the display and they reclaim the strip of desk behind your keyboard.
I spent several weeks going through ten of the most-reviewed drawer risers on the market, comparing published dimensions, stated load ratings, drawer interiors, and the actual clearance they leave under the shelf. What I kept coming back to is that the difference between a stand you keep and a stand you move to a closet is rarely the material. It is the drawer depth, the height adjustment range, and whether the frame rocks when you type.
Below is the full lineup, ranked. Every dimension and weight figure comes from the manufacturer listing, and I note clearly where a measurement came from a listing rather than from our own bench. If you want the broader picture on risers first, our guide to the best monitor stands overall covers arm-based and clamp-mounted options too.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Monitor Stands With Storage Drawers (October 2026)
WALI Computer Monitor Stand
- Adjusts to 4.6
- 5.4 or 6.1 inch heights
- Removable drawer and two pen holders
- Supports up to 44 lbs
- Tool-free assembly
Simple Trending 2-Tier Stand
- 5.8 inch fixed lift
- Metal mesh platform for airflow
- Drawer and two pen holders
- Supports up to 33 lbs
OPNICE 2-Tier Riser
- 20.5 inch wide two-tier top
- Powder-coated carbon steel rated to 44 lbs
- Drawer and two hanging pen holders
- Adjustable non-slip feet
The WALI PTT003-B takes the top spot because it is the only stand in the group that offers real height selection without a complicated mechanism, and it has the largest review base of anything we looked at. The Simple Trending metal mesh model is the runner-up for anyone who wants ventilation under a laptop and does not care that the height is fixed. The OPNICE two-tier riser wins on frame stiffness at 44 lbs and a top shelf wide enough for a full keyboard plus a monitor.
All 10 Monitor Stands With Storage Drawers in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| WALI Computer Monitor Stand with Storage and Pen Holder |
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| Simple Trending Monitor Stand with Drawer, 2-Tier |
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| OPNICE Desk Organizer 2-Tier Monitor Stand Riser |
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 gianotter Monitor Stand with Drawer and 2 Pen Holders |
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 Simple Houseware Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer |
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 Zimilar Monitor Stand Riser with Metal Mesh Drawer |
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 WESTREE Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Two Drawers |
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 gianotter Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer |
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 OPNICE Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer |
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 ECOLOVI 2-Tier Monitor Stand with Storage Drawer |
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Before you read the individual reviews, here is how the ten break down by format. Five are single-screen two-tier metal risers in the 14 to 20 inch width range, priced and sized for a home office. Two are wide dual-monitor units above 33 inches. Two are smaller printer-shelf risers under 15 inches. One is a retractable wood unit that spans single to dual monitors.
1. WALI Computer Monitor Stand with Storage and Pen Holder
WALI Computer Monitor Stand with Storage and Pen Holder
14.6 x 9.3 inch shelf
4.6, 5.4 or 6.1 inch lift
Up to 44 lbs
Removable drawer
Pros
- Three height settings for sitting or standing desks
- Removable drawer plus two hanging pen holders
- Tool-free assembly in minutes
- Non-slip rubber pads protect the work surface
- Rated to 44 lbs with wide size and color range
Cons
- Drawer is thin and suited to small items only
- Limited range of height and angle options
- Surface finish shows fingerprints
The WALI PTT003-B is the stand I recommend first, and the reason is unglamorous: it is the only unit in the group with three genuinely different working heights. The legs snap into position at 4.6, 5.4, or 6.1 inches above the desk, which means you can match it to a seated desk now and a standing desk later without buying anything else.
The shelf itself is 14.57 by 9.25 inches, so it clears most flat panels, laptops, and small office printers. At 44 lbs, it is rated higher than the light mesh units and holds a 27-inch panel without visible sag. The drawer pulls out from the front and lifts free entirely, which is the part reviewers mention most often as the reason it stays in use.
Two hanging pen cups on the side take a stylus, a couple of pens, or a set of hex keys. They hang rather than sit, so they do not add depth. Assembly is tool-free: the legs press into the shelf and the whole thing is ready in a few minutes. Rubber foot tabs keep it from sliding on a movable desk surface, which matters more than it sounds on a sit-stand frame.
Is the WALI drawer big enough for real desk items?
No, and that is the honest limitation. The drawer is thin and shallow by design, so it suits charging cables, dongles, sticky notes, and a spare phone cable. It will not hold a paperback, a phone laid flat, or a box of pens laid on their side. Reviewers repeatedly describe it as a place for the small stuff that otherwise migrates across the desk, which is exactly what we wanted from it.
The fingerprint complaint is real but cosmetic. The matte black finish shows smudges after a heavy typing session, though a microfibre cloth clears it in seconds. The narrower height range compared with metal rivals is the other trade: three positions is generous here, but there is no swivel or tilt, so your panel angle still depends on the monitor itself.
Who should buy the WALI PTT003-B?
Buy it if you move between sitting and standing, or if you want one stand to cover a monitor today and a printer later. It is also the pick for anyone on a shared desk who needs a riser that can be wiped down and moved without tools.
Skip it if your drawer needs to swallow a headset, a power bank, or a full-sized notepad. In that case look at the gianotter D-3-2 below, whose drawer is the most generous in the group. If you want a wider top for a full-size keyboard parked underneath, our monitor risers with storage roundup goes deeper on that comparison.
2. Simple Trending Monitor Stand with Drawer, 2-Tier Laptop Stand
Simple Trending Monitor Stand with Drawer, 2-Tier Laptop Stand, Black
20 x 10 x 5.8 inch footprint
Fixed 5.8 inch lift
Metal mesh top
Supports up to 33 lbs
Pros
- Metal mesh platform improves airflow for laptops and panels
- Two-tier layout parks a keyboard or cable box underneath
- Smooth-gliding drawer plus side pen holders
- Four non-slip suction cups grip the desktop
- Compact 20 inch width fits narrower desks
Cons
- Fixed 5.8 inch height with no adjustment
- Single lower shelf limits what fits underneath
- 33 lb rating is below the steel rivals
This is the metal mesh riser that shows up in the most setups, and the reason is the platform. The mesh surface is perforated rather than solid, so a laptop or a small form factor PC sitting on top gets air from below and above rather than cooking against a steel panel.
The lift is a fixed 5.8 inches, which lands close to eye level for most seated users at a standard desk height. The top is 20 by 10 inches, wide enough for a monitor plus a small speaker, and the lower tier is open so a keyboard or a cable box can slide underneath. Load rating is 33 lbs, the lowest of the metal units here, but comfortably above a typical 27-inch panel with a stand.
Four non-slip suction cups on the base are the detail reviewers credit most. On a smooth laminate or glass desk they hold the stand in place when you pull the drawer out, which is a small thing until you have a stand that slides every time you reach for a pen. The drawer glides smoothly and the side pen holders take a stylus or two markers without adding to the footprint.
Does the 5.8 inch lift feel high enough?
For a seated desk of normal height, yes. The number that matters is the gap between your eye height while seated and the top edge of the screen, and 5.8 inches closes most of that gap from a factory monitor position. If you are tall, or if your desk sits unusually low, the fixed height leaves you short and there is no adjustment to compensate.
The mesh platform also has a texture. It is not sharp, but it will mark a soft or painted desk surface if you slide the unit around, so put down a felt pad first if your desk finish is delicate. The single lower shelf is the other limit: no second compartment means a keyboard plus a printer is a stretch.
Who should buy the Simple Trending mesh riser?
It suits a small home office where a laptop shares the desk with an external monitor, and it suits anyone running a warm mini-PC or a console on the same surface. If you want ventilation and a working drawer without paying a premium, this is the pick.
Skip it if your screen sits noticeably below eye level already and needs more lift, or if you plan to run two monitors side by side on one shelf. For multi-screen setups, the triple monitor stand guide covers the width and load questions that a 20 inch shelf cannot answer.
3. OPNICE Desk Organizer, 2-Tier Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer
OPNICE Desk Organizer and Accessories, 2-Tier Computer Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer and 2 Pen Holders, Laptop Stand, Office Desk Accessories for Office Supplies, Black
20.5 x 9.5 in footprint
Two-tier carbon steel
Rated to 44 lbs
Drawer plus pen holders
Pros
- Powder-coated carbon steel frame rated to 44 lbs
- Top shelf wide enough for a keyboard and a monitor
- Drawer and two pen holders consolidate desk supplies
- Spare screws
- feet and a screwdriver included
- Multiple colors
- widths and pack sizes
Cons
- Bulky footprint that eats desk depth on compact desks
- Pens in the side holders can block laptop ports
- A and B stickers are hard to remove and can leave residue
At 20.5 by 9.5 by 6.3 inches, the OPNICE two-tier riser is the largest of the compact metal units in this group, and that size is the whole point. It is one of the few stands here where a full-size keyboard genuinely parks underneath with room to spare, which is the single most common reason people buy a drawer riser in the first place.
The frame is powder-coated carbon steel rated to 44 lbs. Four height-adjustable non-slip pads on the base are the detail that separates it from cheaper rivals, because they let you level the unit on an uneven desk and they take pressure off the surface so the finish does not ring. Assembly includes extra screws, spare feet, and a small screwdriver in the box.
The sliding drawer sits under the top tier and the two hanging pen holders attach to the sides. Storage is not enormous, but it is the right size for cables, a mouse pad-sized notebook, headphones, or a stack of charging bricks. The styling is deliberately plain, a black frame that disappears against most office setups.
Owners on desk-setup communities describe this unit as a space solution for small desks, though the same thread notes that you reorganise the whole desk around the riser once it arrives. That is fair: at nearly 10 inches deep it claims a real slice of your writing area.
Will the depth fit your desk?
This is the question to answer before anything else. At 9.5 inches deep, the OPNICE leaves you with whatever desk depth remains minus the depth your keyboard occupies. On a 24 inch deep desk that is workable if you use a low-profile keyboard. On a smaller surface it pushes your mouse arm to the edge.
The hanging pen holders can collide with the side ports on a slim laptop if you slide the laptop under the top tier, which is the second complaint that comes up repeatedly. The A and B assembly stickers are genuinely hard to get off and can leave a mark on the powder coat.
Who should buy the OPNICE two-tier riser?
Buy it if you want to park a keyboard under the riser and you have the desk depth to spare. It is also the pick for a shared office desk where a 44 lb steel frame needs to survive being bumped. The multiple widths and pack sizes mean you can match it to a wider desk later.
Skip it if your desk is shallow or if you need the drawer to hold larger objects. A narrower unit with a deeper drawer will serve you better. For gaming desks specifically, our gaming desk riser picks weigh in on headroom and mouse space.
4. gianotter Monitor Stand with Drawer and 2 Pen Holders
gianotter Monitor Stand with Drawer and 2 Pen Holders
17.7 x 9.6 x 5.3 in footprint
44 lb steel frame
Sliding drawer with dividers
Two pen holders
Pros
- Roomy lower drawer with optional dividers for pens and cables
- Two adjustable sliding pen holders on the sides
- Steel frame holds a 27 inch monitor without sagging
- Ventilated panels keep equipment from overheating
- Light enough to move between desks
Cons
- Pen holders and drawer are plastic
- which undercuts the solid frame look
- Holes can be hard to align during assembly
The gianotter D-3-2 wins the drawer category outright. Where most of these units give you a shallow tray for pens and cables, this one gives you a lower drawer deep enough to sort things, with optional dividers so a coiled charging cable does not roll around with a set of hex keys.
The body is alloy steel with plastic fittings and a ventilated top panel, rated to 44 lbs. At 17.7 by 9.64 by 5.31 inches it sits between the compact printer-shelf units and the wide two-tier risers, which makes it the most versatile footprint in the group for a mid-size desk.
Two adjustable side pen holders slide up and down the frame, so you can put a stylus and a marker where your hand naturally falls instead of where the factory drilled holes. The ventilated panels are genuinely useful if you park a laptop or a small desktop on the top tier for hours at a time.
Assembly is the one friction point. Owners note the holes can be fiddly to line up, so budget ten minutes rather than three. Once together it weighs 3.8 pounds, light enough to lift to a different surface without pulling the whole desk around.
How does this drawer compare with the competition?
It is the only one in the group where the drawer interior is a genuine compartment rather than a tray. Dividers turn it into two or three sections, which is the difference between a drawer that ends up full of loose pens and one that stays sorted. The Zimilar below comes close with a paper-sized mesh drawer, but that one is flat and open rather than boxed in.
The plastic drawer and plastic pen cups are the trade for that interior size. On a desk where the surrounding furniture is wood, the contrast is noticeable up close. The alignment difficulty at assembly is the other cost, and it is the reason this sits fourth rather than higher.
Who should buy the gianotter D-3-2?
Buy it if the drawer is the reason you are shopping, or if you need somewhere to put a headset, a power bank, and cables that would otherwise sit loose. The dividers make it a good fit for anyone who draws, does admin work, or keeps a charging kit together.
Skip it if the finish has to match solid wood furniture, or if you want to assemble it in under five minutes with no alignment. Our studio monitor stand guide covers the acoustic and vibration side of putting equipment on a riser.
5. Simple Houseware Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer
Simple Houseware Desk Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer, Rustic Brown
33.3 to 45 in extendable width
5 in fixed rise
6 removable dividers
Phone slot and drawer
Pros
- Extendable width covers one or two monitors in the same frame
- Organizer tray with six removable dividers creating up to nine compartments
- Built-in phone and tablet slot keeps calls in view
- Two side caddies plus a sliding drawer
- Patented design offered in eight finishes
Cons
- Wide footprint needs a large desk
- Fixed 5 inch rise offers limited ergonomic adjustment
The Simple Houseware DO-09K-R is the only unit here that changes width. It retracts to 33.3 inches for a single monitor and extends to 45 inches for a dual setup, so you are not buying twice when the second panel arrives. Owners on r/battlestations give the same advice in reverse: if the width will fit, go bigger now.
Storage is unusually varied. The top deck holds the monitors and the front of the riser carries an organizer tray with six removable dividers that create up to nine compartments. Two side caddies take cables and tools, a sliding drawer runs underneath, and a built-in slot holds a phone or small tablet upright so a call stays in view.
The frame is engineered wood in a rustic brown finish with a wood grain top. The rise is a fixed 5 inches, which is a little lower than the metal risers here, and that lower profile is the trade for the retractable span. It is a heavier unit at nearly 10.5 pounds, so moving it between desks takes two hands.
At 45 inches fully extended it needs a genuinely large desk. If you are running a dual monitor setup on a desk under 48 inches wide, the extended position will overhang or crowd your mouse space. Retracted to 33.3 inches it behaves like a wide single-monitor riser with far more storage than you need.
Is the storage actually usable, or just plentiful?
Plentiful and usable, which is rarer than it sounds. The removable dividers are the reason: a tray with nine fixed compartments wastes space when you only need two, while dividers you can pull out let you reconfigure for a day of writing versus a week of editing. Reviewers call the number of built-in storage options the standout feature.
The phone and tablet slot is more useful than it looks. Props a phone at viewing height during a call without a separate stand, which clears one more item off the desk. The 5 inch fixed rise is the main ergonomic limit, and for a tall user sitting at a low desk that is not much of a lift.
Who should buy the Simple Houseware DO-09K-R?
Buy it if you are on a large desk now and may add a second monitor later, or if you want a single riser to carry monitors, a phone, a notebook and cables without a separate organiser. The wood finish suits a desk that already has warm tones rather than an all-black setup.
Skip it on a compact desk, on a standing desk where a fixed 5 inch rise is wrong, or if you only ever run one small panel. That use case is better served by a 14 inch unit such as the Zimilar further down.
6. Zimilar Monitor Stand Riser with Metal Mesh Drawer, Height Adjustable
Zimilar Monitor Stand Riser with Metal Mesh Drawer, Height Adjustable
Heights: 4.13, 4.92, 5.71 in
Mesh drawer fits letter paper
Star-mesh top
Tool-free assembly
Pros
- Three height settings for a closer eye-level match
- Mesh drawer sized to hold letter-size paper
- Foldable phone holders on both sides tuck away
- Star-mesh top improves airflow and resists overheating
- Tool-free assembly with padded anti-skid feet
Cons
- Drawer can bind on the track and needs the fins straightened
- Phone holder slots are narrow with little useful tilt
- One owner reported a small dent in the tray out of the box
The Zimilar Z10306 answers the complaint that most adjustable risers have: the adjustment actually changes the working height rather than just adding a riser block underneath. Three settings at 4.13, 4.92, and 5.71 inches let you match a monitor to your eye line, your keyboard, or a taller desk.
The drawer is the other draw here. It is a metal mesh tray sized to take letter-size paper, which means it also takes a notepad, a licence, a fold-out schematic, or a small stack of index cards. That is a genuinely different use from the pens-and-cables tray most competitors offer, and it is why this stand earns its place on a working desk.
Foldable phone holders sit on both sides and fold flat when you are not using them, so they do not permanently claim desk space. The top is a star-mesh pattern rather than a grid, which keeps airflow high under a laptop. Assembly is tool-free and takes about a minute, with padded adjustable feet that have anti-skid rubber underneath.
The recurring complaint is the drawer track. Owners report it sticking or running loose on first use, and the practical fix is to straighten the fins before the first slide. It is a small annoyance that costs you two minutes, but it is the reason this sits sixth rather than higher.
Are three height settings better than one?
For most people, yes. A fixed 5.8 inch riser either fits your setup or it does not, and there is no in between. Three settings let you raise the screen for a laptop-plus-monitor arrangement, lower it when you switch to a standing desk, and pick a middle setting for a screen with a tall stand already attached.
The phone holders are the weaker half of the feature set. They fold away, which is genuinely useful, but the slots are narrow and the tilt range is limited, so a phone in one reads as an afterthought rather than a designed use. The star-mesh top is also loud under a hard mouse tap, which matters on a desk you type on hard all day.
Who should buy the Zimilar Z10306?
Buy it if you move between sitting and standing, or if you want a drawer that takes paper rather than pens. It is a good fit for study desks and drafting setups where you need both documents and cables within reach of the keyboard.
Skip it if you are sensitive to surface noise while typing, or if you want a deep compartment for a headset. The gianotter above has the deeper drawer. If your desk is very shallow, check the full footprint before ordering: 9.25 inches of depth is not nothing.
7. WESTREE Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Two Drawers
WESTREE Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Two Drawers, Extra Large Storage Monitor Stand for 2 Monitors, Desktop Organizer Stand Storage for Computer,Laptop,Screen,Printer,TV
36.2 x 8.7 x 4.9 in footprint
Two slide-out drawers
100 lb wood build
Large open bay below
Pros
- Wide top shelf holds two monitors side by side
- Two slide-out drawers plus a large open bay
- Extra-large bay parks a keyboard
- books or a printer
- Sturdy build rated to 100 lbs
- Includes a small screwdriver and spare hardware
Cons
- Fixed height may sit too low for taller users
- Drawers are fabric with no back panel and can be pushed through
- Assembly takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes
The WESTREE CS3003 is the load monster of the group. Rated to 100 lbs in wood, it is the only stand here that will carry two large panels, a speaker pair and a printer on the top deck without any concern about the frame, and the extra-large open bay underneath is genuinely big enough to park a keyboard and a stack of books.
At 36.22 inches wide by 8.66 deep by 4.92 high, it is a wide, shallow unit. Two slide-out drawers sit in the upper section for cables and small supplies. The rustic brown wood finish suits a desk with warm tones, and pink and black variants exist for other setups.
Owners of small desks describe the space recovered as transformative, and at 100 lbs the frame does not flex when you lean on it to reach a drawer. All tools are included, including a small screwdriver and spare hardware, which matters because assembly is the longest of any stand here at roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
The drawers are the weak point. They are fabric with no back panel, so a hard push from behind can pop items out the back and onto the floor, and they do not hold their shape when heavily loaded. Treat them as cable and accessory bins rather than places to store a power tool.
Do the drawers earn their place on a stand this wide?
Partly. The open bay is the real storage on this unit and it is where a keyboard or printer ends up. The two drawers add cable routing and a place for remotes, adapters, and notebooks, which is enough to justify them on a desk that has no other storage, but they are not the reason to choose this model over an open-shelf riser of similar size.
The 4.92 inch rise is low by the standards of this list. If you are tall, or if you have already raised your monitor on a tall factory stand, the screens may still sit below eye line and this will not fix it. Verify your needed lift before you commit.
Who should buy the WESTREE CS3003?
Buy it for a dual monitor desk where you also need to park a keyboard and a printer, or where several people share a large desk and the surface has to survive daily handling. It is also the pick if you want a wood riser that visually matches furniture rather than a black steel frame.
Skip it on a desk under about 40 inches wide, if you need adjustable height, or if you plan to store anything fragile in the drawers. For that last case the gianotter D-3-2 has a hard-sided compartment.
8. gianotter Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer
Computer Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer
14.1 x 9.6 in footprint
34 lb ventilated steel
Sliding drawer plus tray
Works with printers
Pros
- Ventilated steel plates keep printers and laptops from overheating
- Compact enough for a small desk while still raising the screen
- Tray space and sliding drawer use vertical space well
- Non-slip rubber pads for stability
- Load-bearing steel legs rather than plastic
Cons
- Fixed height with no adjustment
- Modest 34 lb rating compared with the metal rivals
This gianotter D-3-1 is the printer-shelf specialist. At 14.1 by 9.64 by 5.31 inches it is small enough to sit beside a monitor rather than under one, and the ventilated alloy steel plates mean a printer, scanner, or laptop on top gets air instead of pushing its heat back down into the desk.
Storage comes as a sliding drawer plus tray space on the lower deck. It is enough for paper reams, an ink cartridge, a set of cables, or the manuals you keep meaning to file. The legs are load-bearing steel with non-slip rubber pads, and the whole thing is rated to 34 lbs, which covers a printer but not two monitors plus peripherals.
Owners use it as a monitor riser, a printer stand, or both, which is what makes it flexible. A 100-day return policy also takes some of the risk out of the sizing gamble, since a 14 inch footprint is easy to misjudge from a listing photo.
The fixed height is the clear limitation. There is no adjustment at all, so if 5.31 inches does not put your screen where you want it, nothing about this stand will help. The 34 lb rating is the lowest of the alloy steel units here, and it is worth doing the load math before you stack anything heavy on top.
Is a ventilated printer shelf the right use of a monitor stand?
It is one of the best uses, because the failure mode of a printer shelf is heat and this one is perforated for it. The same reasoning applies to a small form factor PC or a dock. Keep in mind that ventilation only helps if the unit is not pushed against a wall or into a cabinet, and that a warm-running adapter should not be buried in a drawer under the tray.
Do not put anything that vents downward onto this shelf. The open deck below is for paper and cables, not for a power brick that needs its own airflow. Owners who run printers long-term here report steady performance, which is the practical proof that matters.
Who should buy the gianotter D-3-1?
Buy it if you need a compact riser beside a monitor rather than a full-width shelf, or if you want a ventilated surface for a printer, scanner, or laptop and you can live with a fixed height. It is also the natural second riser for a dual monitor desk where space is tight.
Skip it if you plan to put two displays on it, if you need more than 34 lbs on the deck, or if you want to tune the screen height later. In those cases the WALI at the top of this list has three settings.
9. OPNICE Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer
OPNICE Computer Monitor Stand Riser, Desk Organizer with Drawer, Printer & Laptop Stand, Office Desk Accessories & Workspace Desktop Organizers Storage for Office Supplies(Black)
14 x 9.1 x 5.6 in footprint
44 lb carbon steel
Mesh drawer for cables
Tool-light assembly
Pros
- Compact 14 inch footprint suits small desks well
- Carbon steel construction rated to 44 lbs
- Mesh drawer holds pens
- sticky notes and small items
- All screws and rubber feet included in the box
- Eight colour options and a 2-pack variant
Cons
- Drawer sits on a simple track and tends to drop when pulled
- Feet can need adjusting before the unit sits level
- Height may be too tall for some monitors
The OPNICE 14-inch model is the compact answer, and its 44 lb rating is the highest of any stand in this group under 15 inches wide. At 14 by 9.1 by 5.6 inches it leaves more desk than the 20 inch risers while still carrying a monitor, a laptop, or a scanner on the deck.
The lower tier parks a keyboard, and the mesh drawer underneath takes staples, sticky notes, and short cables. Assembly is tool-light with all screws and rubber feet in the box, and four height-adjustable non-slip pads on the base help protect the desk surface and level the frame.
Eight colour finishes and a 2-pack option mean you can match an existing setup or fit two small desks with the same model. Styling is deliberately plain so it blends into a mixed equipment desk, and reviewers consistently call the build sturdy for the size.
The drawer is the recurring complaint. It runs on a simple track rather than a proper slide, so it tends to drop when pulled out and can swing. The feet may also need a turn before the unit sits flat, which is a two-minute fix but worth knowing about before the unit arrives.
What do you give up with a 14 inch stand?
Width, mostly. Fourteen inches fits a 24 to 27 inch panel with its stand and not much else, so there is no room for a speaker beside the monitor and no top space for a second device. Depth at 9.1 inches is comparable to the larger units, so mouse space is not meaningfully better.
The 5.6 inch rise is close to eye level for most seated users, but it is on the taller side for a monitor that already has a raised factory base. Check the total height of screen plus stand against your own eye level before ordering.
Who should buy the OPNICE compact riser?
Buy it if your desk is small, you run a single monitor or a laptop, and you want a steel frame that will not flex. It also works well as a second riser on a dual monitor desk where each panel gets its own lift.
Skip it if you need the drawer to hold anything large or heavy, because the loose track will not inspire confidence. The gianotter D-3-2 has the better drawer, and the WESTREE has the bigger bay.
10. ECOLOVI 2-Tier Monitor Stand with Storage Drawer
ECOLOVI Desk Organizer and Accessories, 2-Tier Computer Monitor Stand Rise with Storage Drawer & 2 Pen Holders, Laptop & Printer Stand for Desktop, Workspace Organizers for Office Supplies (Black)
16 in low-profile body
45 lb thickened metal panel
Drawer with divider
Two pen holders
Pros
- Low profile fits under cabinets where taller risers will not
- Thickened metal panel holds up to 45 lbs without flexing
- Drawer has an internal divider to separate notes and pens
- Simple assembly most owners finish without the instructions
- Ten colour and finish options including walnut and sage
Cons
- Drawer has little guidance so it slides loosely
- Some units arrive slightly warped and need a foot adjusted
- Screws are black rather than matched to the finish
The ECOLOVI EC-MS1 is the low-profile option, and that is a real category rather than a compromise. If you work under a cabinet, a wall-mounted shelf, or a desk with a low rear obstruction, most risers here will not fit and this one is short enough to slide into the space.
Even so, the top panel is thickened metal rated to 45 lbs, the highest rating in this group. That is unusual for a compact low-rise unit and it means a printer or a small form factor PC on top will not flex the deck. The two-tier lower shelf takes a keyboard, notebook, or console.
The drawer has an internal divider, so pens stay on one side and sticky notes on the other. Dual pen holders sit on the upper deck. Assembly is straightforward, and most owners finish it without reading the instructions, which is a good sign about the hardware.
Ten colour and finish options include walnut and sage, so it can be matched to furniture rather than only to black equipment. Quality control is the weak spot: some units arrive with a slightly warped panel that needs one foot adjusted before the wobble stops, and the screws are plain black rather than matched to the finish.
Does a low profile defeat the purpose of a riser?
Less than you would think, as long as your monitor is already low. The lift this stand gives is modest, so the benefit shows up most on a desk where the screen is sitting at factory height right at desk level, or where you need vertical storage more than you need extra lift. If your screen already sits above eye level, this is unnecessary.
The loose drawer is the honest drawback. It has a divider and it holds real items, but it lacks the track guidance that makes a drawer feel solid, so it slides easily and needs a gentle push to close. Inspect it on arrival and check the panel for warp before you load anything on top.
Who should buy the ECOLOVI EC-MS1?
Buy it if you are working under a cabinet or in a tight alcove, if you want a finish that matches furniture, or if you want a genuinely heavy rating in a small footprint. It also works for a laptop plus external monitor arrangement where the top deck has to take more than a keyboard.
Skip it if you need real ergonomic lift, or if a loose drawer would drive you mad. For adjustable height the WALI covers three positions, and for a drawer that stays put the gianotter D-3-2 has hard sides.
How to Measure the Lift You Actually Need?
Most buyers guess at height and end up with a riser that is too tall or too short. Three measurements fix that, and none of them require anything more than a tape measure.
Sit at your normal working position and measure from the desk surface straight up to the centre of your eyes. This is your target eye height.
Measure from the desk to the top edge of your screen in its current position, including the factory stand. That is your current screen height.
Subtract the second number from the first. The result is the lift you need. Most seated desks land somewhere between 4 and 6 inches, which is exactly the range the adjustable units in this list cover.
If the result is under 3 inches, a drawer riser is probably overkill and a simple open shelf will do the job for less money. If it is over 7 inches, look at an adjustable stand or a monitor arm instead, because no riser in this group lifts that far and you would end up raising the whole desk instead.
How to Check Keyboard Clearance and Desk Depth
Drawer stands claim desk depth in a way open-shelf risers do not, and that is where most disappointment comes from. Check these three things before you order.
Measure your available depth. Subtract the riser depth from your desk depth, then subtract your keyboard depth from what is left. Anything under 5 inches of clear space in front is tight for mouse work.
Check the opening height under the shelf. A 5 to 6 inch riser usually clears a low-profile keyboard with a wrist rest. A 4.9 inch unit like the WESTREE is tighter, and a keyboard with a thick frame may not fit at all.
Test the drawer with the keyboard in place. Pull the drawer fully out. If your keyboard is in the way, you will be moving it every time you reach for something, which is the fastest way to stop using the drawer.
For reference, the depths across these ten run from 8.66 inches on the WESTREE to 10.87 inches on the Simple Houseware, and that difference is roughly the difference between a comfortable and a cramped mouse area on a mid-size desk.
Weight Capacity and Dual Monitor Load Math
Stated weight limits on these stands range from 33 lbs to 100 lbs, and forum users consistently say they trust the numbers they can verify more than marketing copy. Two steps make the arithmetic easy.
Add up everything on the deck. For a single panel, use the panel weight plus its stand, plus a speaker and a laptop if they sit up there. For two panels on one shelf, add both panels and both stands to the total.
Compare the total against the rating with margin. If your total load is within 20 percent of the stated limit, choose a heavier rated stand. A 34 lb rated unit carrying 30 lbs of panels will flex at the joints even if it does not visibly fail.
Two 27-inch panels with stands commonly land in the 25 to 35 lb range together, which rules out the two 33 and 34 lb rated units on this list for a dual setup. If you are running an ultrawide, measure its actual weight with the stand, because curved panels run heavier than flat ones of the same diagonal.
Drawer vs Open Shelf: Which Format Fits Your Desk
Open-shelf risers give you a wider top and better airflow, and they cost less. They do not give you anywhere to put a pen. Drawer risers give you a compartment and, more importantly, give you a reason to buy a riser on a desk where depth is the constraint, because the keyboard parking space is real.
Tiered and compartment stands, like the Simple Houseware, go further and divide the storage into multiple zones. That works when you have desk width to spare. Adjustable-height units win when you move between sitting and standing or when your eye line does not match a fixed rise.
The honest trade is this: a drawer stand eats a few inches of usable opening under the shelf compared with an open riser of the same height, and it costs more. It earns that back if you actually put things in the drawer, which is why dividers and drawer depth are the two features worth paying for.
Who Should Skip a Drawer Monitor Stand
Some setups are better served by something else, and it saves money to say so. If you already own a monitor arm, a riser fights it for the same desk space, and a clamp-mounted shelf under the arm often does the job without a drawer at all.
You should also skip this category if your desk is shallower than about 20 inches, because the riser plus keyboard plus mouse will not fit. Skip it if you need more than 7 inches of lift, or if your monitors already sit at eye level. And skip it if you need a deep compartment for a headset, a camera, or a set of tools, because the drawer on a compact riser will not take them.
Users on r/AskBattlestations regularly describe dual monitor stands with drawers as a big improvement on small desks, but the same threads caution that extra storage is not worth a stand that rocks under typing. Check the stability before you commit to a unit with a wide top and a light frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high should a monitor stand be?
Measure from your desk surface to the centre of your eyes while seated, then subtract the height of your screen in its current position. Most seated desks need between 4 and 6 inches of lift, which is the range covered by the adjustable risers in this guide.
How much weight can a monitor stand hold?
Stated limits across these stands range from 33 lbs to 100 lbs. Add the weight of every monitor plus its stand, then any speaker or laptop on the deck, and keep at least 20 percent of headroom so the frame does not flex.
Can a monitor stand hold two monitors?
Only the wide units. The WESTREE at 36.2 inches and the extendable Simple Houseware cover dual setups comfortably. Most compact risers under 15 inches are rated between 33 and 45 lbs, which is not enough for two panels plus stands.
Are monitor arms really worth it compared to a riser?
An arm frees far more desk surface because it clamps to the desk edge instead of consuming depth. A drawer riser wins when you need the raised storage and the keyboard parking space. Many setups end up using both: an arm for the monitor and a riser for storage.
What are the common problems with dual monitor stands?
Wobble under typing, overstated weight limits, and too little clearance under the shelf are the three most reported issues. Wide wooden frames with a 100 lb rating are the most stable, while light plastic drawers and narrow steel legs are the most likely to move.
Are monitor risers good for small desks?
They are useful on small desks if the riser is narrower than your keyboard plus mouse area, so a 14 inch model works where a 20.5 inch one does not. Below about 20 inches of desk depth, a clamp-on shelf or a monitor arm is usually the better answer.
Conclusion
After working through all ten, the WALI PTT003-B remains our pick as the best monitor stand with storage drawers for most people, because three real height settings and a removable drawer solve more setups than any other single unit here. If you need ventilation under a laptop, the Simple Trending mesh riser is the runner-up, and if you want the deepest drawer in the group, the gianotter D-3-2 wins that comparison outright.
Whatever you choose, measure your needed lift and your remaining desk depth before you order, and check that the drawer opens with your keyboard in place. Those two checks eliminate most of the disappointment we saw. For risers without drawers, or stands that clamp rather than sit on the desk, our guides to the best monitor stands and the best monitor risers with storage cover the rest of the category as of 2026.