How We Pick
This page explains how OfficeKitHQ arrives at a recommendation, and what our process does not include. Read it before you trust anything else on this site.
What our process is
Our picks are research based. For every product we consider, we work through the published specifications, the product listing, the manufacturer’s stated ratings and listings, the manual where it is published, the warranty terms and what comes in the box. We compare those against the other products in the same category and price range, and against the buyers we write for: three kinds of home worker: people setting up a first home office in a spare room or an apartment corner, remote and hybrid employees upgrading the desk they sit at all day, and students and freelancers who need gear that fits a small desk.
Where a listing leaves something out, we say so, and we list what you will still need to buy before the product is ready to use.
What our process is not
We do not run our own product trials, and we do not take physical measurements of products. When you read a size, capacity or wattage on this site, that figure comes from the manufacturer or the listing, and we label it that way.
The Office Score
Every product we recommend carries a Office Score, shown out of 10. The same five criteria apply to every product in a category, and the weights are fixed and published here rather than adjusted to suit a conclusion.
| Criterion | Raw points | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 30 | The specifications that decide whether the product does its job: seat height range, tilt, lumbar and armrest adjustments and weight capacity for chairs; height range, lift capacity and desktop size for standing desks; VESA range and weight capacity for monitor arms; switch type and connection for keyboards and mice; resolution, frame rate and field of view for webcams; microphone type and battery life for headsets; ports, display outputs and power delivery for docks; outlet count, joule rating and cord length for surge protectors; print speed and paper capacity for printers; shelf load for storage. |
| Build | 20 | Materials and construction: frame and base material, mesh or foam and upholstery, desktop material and thickness, metal or plastic housings, cable and connector quality, and what is included in the box. |
| Value | 20 | What you get for the money within the price range of the guide, including what you still need to buy, such as a monitor mount, a separate power adapter, cables, casters or a chair mat. |
| Safety | 15 | Stated safety listings and features: a UL or ETL listing on anything that plugs in, UL 1449 on surge protectors, BIFMA testing on seating, anti-collision on standing desks, anti-tip hardware on tall storage and a safety lock on shredders. |
| Warranty | 15 | Length and scope of the written warranty, including frames, gas lifts, motors, electronics and batteries. |
The published score weighs these criteria as performance 35%, build 25%, value 25%, safety 10% and warranty 5%. Safety counts for powered products and for listings that state safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.
We do not skip a criterion because a manufacturer stayed quiet. Where a brand does not publish a warranty term or a safety listing, that criterion scores zero. A buyer cannot compare what is not published, and a score that ignored it would reward the least forthcoming brands.
How we choose which products to include
We start from what is available to buy in the United States in the category and price range of the guide, then narrow it down. Products are left out when the listing publishes no meaningful specifications or when the seller cannot be identified. Each guide uses its own set of products where possible.
Language we avoid
You will not read claims on this site that we have put products through our own trials or measurements, because that is not what we do. We review, evaluate, compare, rate and recommend.
Updates and corrections
Every article shows the date it was last updated, and we revisit a guide when a product in it changes. If you find something wrong, write to [email protected]. Our approach to accuracy and sourcing is in the Editorial Policy, and the safety basics are in our Safety Disclaimer.