Adjustable Height vs Fixed Height Workbench

On this page (14 sections)

1. If more than one person uses the bench
2. If one person does the same work every day
3. If you switch between sitting and standing
4. What height suits which task?
5. How does the CAMMOO's adjustment work?
6. If your garage floor isn't level
7. If you want drawers, outlets and a light
8. If you build the bench alone
9. If space and wall height are tight
10. If you worry about how the adjustment holds up
11. What if a fixed bench turns out to be the wrong height?
12. Specs at a glance: height, power and rated load
13. Who should pick which
14. Adjustable height vs fixed height workbench: which to buy

Choose an adjustable bench if more than one person or more than one working posture uses it, and choose a fixed bench if one person works at one height and wants storage and power built in. We compared the CAMMOO 48 in adjustable workbench with the WEN WB4723T 48 in fixed-height bench to show what each choice gives you and what it asks you to give up.

The CAMMOO moves through six settings from 28.5 to 39 in with tool-free knobs. The WEN stays at its set height, with two drawers, three outlets and a light.

If more than one person uses the bench

Choose the adjustable bench, because a fixed height has to fit the tallest and the shortest person who works there. The CAMMOO's six settings let each user set the top to a comfortable level.

A shared bench is where the adjustment earns its place. Without it, the shorter person reaches up or the taller one stoops, and one of you is always working at the wrong height.

To find a starting height, stand with your arms relaxed and your elbows bent to about a right angle. The top should sit near your forearms for most tasks, a little higher for fine work and a little lower for heavy work.

Our guide to what height a garage workbench should be walks through finding your number. If you have ongoing back, neck or shoulder pain, talk with a doctor before you change how you stand or sit at the bench.

If one person does the same work every day

Choose the fixed bench, because one person doing one kind of job gains little from a height range. The WEN puts everything for that routine in one frame and leaves nothing to adjust.

Set the right height once, and your tools, the light and the outlets stay where your hands expect them. The WEN's two drawers, shelves and pegboard hold the kit for that job, so you aren't moving gear around the garage.

A fixed bench also has fewer parts to check, and nothing to loosen with use. That simplicity is a real reason to pick the WEN, as long as you know the height works for you.

Be honest about the routine, though. If the work changes with the season, or a second person joins in, a fixed height starts to cost you.

If you switch between sitting and standing

Choose the adjustable bench, since CAMMOO says the setup makes working while standing or sitting convenient. The six settings run from 28.5 to 39 in.

The settings are set steps, so measure your stool height and your standing elbow height before you order. Six steps may not land exactly on yours, and you'll want to know which one comes closest.

The WEN has no adjustment, and it gives an overall height of 62 in rather than a work surface height. If you buy it, measure the top at home and plan to work at that height.

Knee room matters if you sit. The WEN's drawers and lower shelf fill the space under the top, so it's a standing bench, while the CAMMOO describes no drawers or lower shelf, so check the leg space before you count on it for seated work.

Our WORKPRO 60-inch adjustable workbench review covers another adjustable bench for comparison. If you'd rather change height with a motor than with knobs, see our best electric adjustable height workbenches roundup.

What height suits which task?

Set the top lower for heavy work, near your elbow for general work and a little higher for fine detail. Those are general comfort rules, not exact numbers, so adjust until the task feels easy.

The CAMMOO's six steps cover that range from 28.5 to 39 in. If the steps are evenly spaced, they sit about 2 in apart, so the closest one may be an inch off the number you want.

How does the CAMMOO's adjustment work?

You turn 360 degree knobs, and CAMMOO says no extra tools are needed. There are six settings, and the bench moves in steps rather than a smooth range.

That is a manual system, so each change takes a minute and a clear top. If you change height often, a motor may suit you better, and the electric roundup above covers those benches.

Follow the maker's manual for how to change the height and how to confirm each setting is locked. Don't change the height with a load on the top unless the manual says it's fine.

If your garage floor isn't level

Choose the CAMMOO, because it has adjustable glides that CAMMOO says suit various flooring types. The WEN describes no leveling feet.

The glides level the bench on the floor, and the knobs change the height. They're different jobs, so check the glides first when you set the bench up, then set the height.

CAMMOO makes its glides from carbon steel and rates the bench for 2,000 lb. WEN rates its top for 220 lb and its heavy duty bottom shelf for another 200 lb, which is well under the CAMMOO's rating.

Each rating is the maker's figure, and it assumes weight is spread evenly rather than piled in one spot. Point loads and the floor matter too, so a rating isn't a promise for every use.

Add up the heaviest tools you plan to keep on top before you pick. If that total gets anywhere near 220 lb, the WEN is the wrong bench for the job.

If your slab slopes toward the door, our guide to leveling a workbench on an uneven garage floor covers what to check.

If you want drawers, outlets and a light

Choose the WEN for drawers and a light, and the CAMMOO for more outlets and pegboards. Both give you power at the bench, but they split storage and light differently.

WEN's bench has two 20 x 18 in drawers, upper and lower storage shelves, a pegboard and three side-mounted 120V 13-amp outlets. An overhead fluorescent bulb lights the top, and WEN describes no dimmer or color setting for it.

Our WEN WB4723T review covers the build in more detail. WEN says the bench has a two-year warranty, and if you do close work, the fixed light is worth a second look.

CAMMOO's built-in power strip has 4 AC outlets, 2 USB ports and a switch on a 6.5 ft wire, and CAMMOO says it is ETL certified. Pegboards sit on both sides, one long enough to hang extra tools, and six hooks are included.

The CAMMOO has no drawers described and no light. If you pick it, a plug-in shop light covers the light, and a separate cabinet covers closed storage.

Follow each maker's manual for the outlets, and ask a licensed electrician about the circuit before you run several tools at once.

If you build the bench alone

Choose the CAMMOO, since CAMMOO says one person can finish assembly with the included instructions. It also weighs 52.7 lb against the WEN's 88.5 lb.

WEN doesn't give an assembly time or steps, so read its manual before you commit. At 88.5 lb, line up a helper to move the pieces.

Both benches arrive heavy, so check the box on delivery and count the hardware. Plan the spot before the bench arrives, since neither is easy to move once it's built.

If space and wall height are tight

Choose the CAMMOO, because it's 23.62 in deep and 39 in tall at its highest setting. The WEN is 25 in deep and 62 in tall overall, so it needs more room above the floor.

Both benches are 48 in long, so floor space rarely decides it. The height above the top does.

The WEN's 62 in is the overall height, which reaches past the top to the pegboard and light, so check the work surface height rather than that figure. Measure for a window, a shelf or a garage door track before the taller bench arrives.

If you worry about how the adjustment holds up

An adjustable bench has more moving parts than a fixed one, so give the CAMMOO a quick check now and then. The WEN has fewer parts to inspect, since its height never changes.

Check that each knob is tight before you load the top, and change the height with the top clear. Follow the maker's manual for how to adjust the bench safely.

The CAMMOO's top is rubberwood, which CAMMOO describes as long lasting, and the WEN's top is enamel coated and non-marring. Wipe liquids off either one, and keep heavy tools from sliding across it.

What if a fixed bench turns out to be the wrong height?

Change your own height instead of the bench's, with a stool for a bench that's too high or an anti-fatigue mat to lift you slightly for one that's too low. Don't cut the legs or prop them up with blocks, since that changes how the bench carries its load.

If you suspect a fixed bench won't fit, check its top height before you buy. For the WEN, that means measuring it, because WEN gives only the 62 in overall height.

An adjustable bench removes that risk, which is the strongest argument for the CAMMOO when more than one person is involved. A fixed bench is a fair bet only when you already know the height that works for you.

Specs at a glance: height, power and rated load

The CAMMOO is the adjustable bench with the higher rated load, and the WEN is the fixed bench with the light and drawers. The table lines up height, power and rated load.

Drawers, shelves and assembly aren't in the table, so use the sections above for those. Our scores weigh specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.

Who should pick which

Pick the CAMMOO if one bench has to serve different people or tasks, and pick the WEN if one person works at one height and wants drawers and a light built in. The question is whether the height has to change.

The CAMMOO suits a shared garage, a builder who alternates between sitting and standing, or a shop where the height changes often. Its pegboards and power strip give a home garage a place for tools and power at the bench.

The WEN suits one user who wants drawers, outlets and a light in a single bench at a height that already fits. It's the practical pick when you don't plan to change the height.

Adjustable height vs fixed height workbench for a shared garage

In a shared garage, the CAMMOO lets two people with different heights use the same bench, since the height changes in six steps. For a single-user garage with a fixed routine, the WEN's storage and light cover most needs without a height change.

For more height options with storage, see our best adjustable height workbenches with drawers roundup.

Adjustable height vs fixed height workbench: which to buy

Buy the CAMMOO when the height has to change, and buy the WEN when one set height is enough. The CAMMOO gives you the adjustment and a 2,000 lb maker's rating, while the WEN gives you drawers, outlets and a light with a much lower top rating.

If you're still unsure about the height, read what height a garage workbench should be before you choose. For the full set of bench types, the garage workbenches buying guide is the best next stop.

Frequently asked questions

Is an adjustable height workbench worth it for a garage?

It is worth it when more than one person uses the bench or the work changes between sitting and standing. A fixed bench is simpler when one person works at one height and wants drawers and a light built in.

What height should an adjustable workbench be set to?

Set the top at a height where your elbows bend close to a right angle while you work, and adjust it for each task. The CAMMOO goes from 28.5 in to 39 in in six settings, so you can match the top to seated detail work or standing projects.

Can a fixed height workbench have drawers and outlets?

Yes, the WEN WB4723T has two drawers, upper and lower shelves, a pegboard, three 13-amp outlets and an overhead light at one set height. Check the work surface height against your own, since WEN gives an overall height of 62 in.

How much weight can an adjustable workbench hold?

The CAMMOO is rated at 2,000 lb, which is the maker's rating and assumes the weight is spread evenly across the top. Point loads and the floor still matter, so treat the figure as a limit rather than a promise for every use.