What is the best height for a desk?

28 to 30 inches is the ideal height for a sitting desk for most adults. People who are particularly short or tall may prefer an adjustable desk that they can customize for their use. An adjustable chair (with a footrest) is another great way to create a work environment that will keep you comfortable. For those who prefer a standing desk, look for one that you can adjust to be right at your elbow.

Where should you put your desk?

The ideal place for your desk is where you can focus on work, free of distractions. For some people, this means having a dedicated home office. Others can work in a shared space, such as a bedroom or living area in their home. Either way, consider how you work and what other people may want or need from you as you are trying to work.

How often should you clean and organize your desk?

It’s great to keep your desk clean and organized as you go, which is why having plenty of storage ranks so high on many people’s lists for a new home office desk. At a minimum, try to organize your desk weekly to keep your workflow efficient. Take time to deep clean and organize every month or two, preparing documents like tax records and any licensing or professional certifications records as needed. It’s important to find a system that works for you and stick to it.

Is a straight or curved desk better?

Depending on where the curves are, contoured desks can be more ergonomic than traditional rectangular models—like if there's a half-moon cut-out in the front to promote proper positioning while typing. But other than that, it's mostly a matter of aesthetic preference. For instance, something with rounded corners may flaunt a mid-century modern vibe that breaks up the monotony of a streamlined home office space.

What size should a home office desk be?

"A home office desk should range between 48 x 24 inches to 60 x 30 inches," says Forshew. "These sizes allow you to spread out some papers with a laptop or monitor on your desk while not taking up too much space in the room." As AbouZanat notes, it should ultimately be large enough to accommodate your needs for everyday use.

Should a desk be high or low?

For most adults, 28 to 30 inches is the ideal sitting height. However, as Forshew points out, "Clients are growing more interested in counter-height desks and counter stools to provide a standing workspace." Some of the best computer desks offer the best of both worlds, with adjustable designs that can be lifted or lowered depending on whether you want to stand or sit.

The 11 Best Home Office Desks of 2023

A home office desk is crucial, whether you work from home a few days a week, telecommute full-time, or just need somewhere to focus on your household bill-paying process. "Finding the right desk requires having an understanding of how one works," says interior designer Ahmad AbouZanat. "For example, someone who works on a laptop has completely different desk needs than someone who works on multiple screens."

With buying tips from multiple designers in mind, we researched options of various sizes with functional features. Our top choice is Pottery Barn's Pacific Desk, a durable, two-drawer workstation with a minimalist-modern aesthetic. Scroll down for the best home office desks.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Pottery Barn Pacific Desk with Drawers at Pottery Barn

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Best Budget:

OFM 2-Drawer Office Desk at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

Herman Miller Mode Desk at 2modern.com

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Best Adjustable:

SHW Electric Adjustable Computer Desk at Amazon

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Best Standing:

Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk at Amazon

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Best with Drawers:

Monarch Specialties Hollow-Core Office Desk at Amazon

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Best Compact:

West Elm Mid-Century Mini Desk at West Elm

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Best L-Shaped:

East Urban Home Cuuba Libre L-Shape Desk at Wayfair

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Best Curved:

Crate & Barrel Courbe Curved Wood Desk at Crate & Barrel

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Best Solid Wood:

Castlery Seb Desk at Castlery.com

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce?

Courtesy of Pottery Barn.

View On Pottery Barn

What We Like

Kiln-dried wood
Minimalist-modern design
Arrives fully assembled

What We Don't Like

Only one finish
Takes weeks to ship

Pottery Barn is always a reliable resource for high-quality furniture, and this piece is no exception. The Pacific Desk is crafted from kiln-dried poplar wood to enhance durability and prevent splitting, cracking, warping, mold, and mildew growth.

It has an oak wood veneer, and all sides are finished in a uniform color, allowing you to place it anywhere in your home office, even with the back exposed. More color options would be nice, but the natural finish and minimalist-modern design are undoubtedly versatile.

This mid-sized workstation also has two wide drawers with smooth-gliding groove pulls. Like many Pottery Barn products, the Pacific Desk is made to order and takes weeks to ship out. But delivery includes white-glove service, meaning it arrives fully assembled and will be placed in your room of choice.

Price at time of publish: $799

_{Dimensions: 60 x 24 x 30 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Poplar wood, oak veneer}

Essentials Collection 2-Drawer Office Desk

Courtesy of Walmart.

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

What We Like

Affordable
Conveniently compact
Sturdy steel frame

What We Don't Like

Assembly required
Not solid wood

On a budget? The OFM Essentials Collection two-drawer home office desk is an excellent choice. While the surface is made of engineered rather than solid wood, the frame is ultra-strong powder-coated stainless steel. It's roomy enough to hold a laptop, a desktop monitor, and any other workspace essentials, with an especially durable 3/4-inch-thick desk top meant to stand up to daily wear.

At 44 inches wide, it's on the smaller side, but you can bet it'll fit in nearly any room of your home. Just a heads up, though: You'll have to put this desk together at home. Luckily, the process should be quick and easy.

_{Dimensions: 44 x 19 x 30 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Powder-coated steel, engineered wood}

Courtesy of Herman Miller.

View On 2modern.com View On Design Within Reach View On Hermanmiller.com

What We Like

Perfect medium size
Reversible drawers
Six colors available

What We Don't Like

Assembly required
Takes weeks to ship

If you have a larger budget for furnishing your home office, consider the Mode Desk from Herman Miller. Available in six colors, this best-seller is constructed from powder-coated steel and wood with a smooth laminate surface. It's designed for sleek functionality, with perks like discreet cable management, optional storage solutions, and a leg slot that'll hide any unsightly dangling wires.

The modern, streamlined design is the perfect medium size—you'll have plenty of room for your computer and other essentials but won't have a problem fitting it in your space. We also like that this desk has three drawers that can be mounted on either side and a hidden cable-management slot.

Price at time of publish: $795

_{Dimensions: 56 x 30 x 30.5 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Powder-coated steel, laminate, wood}

SHW Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk

Courtesy of Amazon.

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Reasonably priced
Electric lift system
Industrial-grade steel frame

What We Don't Like

No drawers
Assembly required

"Sit/stand desks provide the flexibility of differentiating heights depending on your preferred use throughout the day," says AbouZanat. We like this reasonably-priced Adjustable Standing Desk from SHW, with its electric lift system that adjusts from 25 to 45 inches in height.

The digital controls have four memory profiles, allowing multiple users to easily adjust it to their ideal height. While this desk doesn't have any drawers, we appreciate the industrial-grade steel frame and reliable telescopic legs. The only drawback is a lack of available storage space. With no drawers, you'll have to find somewhere else to stash your desk essentials.

Price at time of publish: $249

_{Dimensions: 55 x 28 x 28 inches, 47 x 24 x 28 inches, 40 x 24 x 28 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Steel, wood veneer}

The 9 Best Ergonomic Office Chairs of 2023

4.2

View On Amazon View On Fully.com

What We Like

Eco-friendly materials
Adjustable height
15-year warranty

What We Don't Like

No storage
Assembly required

You can always count on Fully for innovative office furniture, and you can bet the brand makes the best standing desk. We like the Jarvis Bamboo Adjustable-Height Desk because it combines versatile comfort with sustainability. Made of eco-friendly bamboo and steel, this thoughtfully designed piece boasts dual motors that raise or lower the surface to your preferred standing height or seated position.

Thanks to rubber grommets, the motor noise is muffled when it goes up or down. It also has four presets, so multiple users can quickly access their go-to height. Backed by a 15-year warranty, the Jarvis's heavy steel frame makes it exceptionally stable, too, supporting up to 350 pounds of weight.

Price at time of publish: $1,029

_{Dimensions: 7 sizes available | Shape: Rectangular, contoured | Material: Bamboo, steel}

We Found the Best Standing Desks for Any Office

Courtesy of Amazon.

View On Amazon View On Home Depot View On Walmart

What We Like

Sizable work surface
Two small and one file drawer
10 finishes available

What We Don't Like

Assembly required

If built-in storage is a must, this three-drawer Hollow-Core Metal Desk from Monarch Specialties might be your best bet. Available in a whopping 10 finishes, the relatively lightweight design is made of metal, particleboard, and melamine (a super durable plastic).

At 60 inches wide, the sizable surface offers a spacious workstation with plenty of room for a computer, keyboard, mouse pad, accessories caddy, charging station—you name it. The drawers provide ample hidden storage for office supplies and files as well. The smooth drawer glides and interior filing capacity make it a breeze to stash or access everything from important paperwork to everyday essentials. Just note that you will have to put this desk together yourself when it arrives.

Price at time of publish: $358

_{Dimensions: 60 x 24 x 30.5 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Metal, particleboard, melamine}

The 11 Best File Cabinets of 2023

Courtesy of West Elm.

View On West Elm

What We Like

Kiln-dried, FSC-certified wood
Sophisticated design
Keyboard/storage drawer

What We Don't Like

Assembly required

Need something smaller? Check out West Elm's Mid-Century Mini Desk. This compact yet sophisticated piece is just 36 inches wide and 20 inches deep, but it's still big enough to fit a laptop or small desktop monitor. And you can place a wireless keyboard in the wide, shallow drawer.

This piece is made of crack- and warp-resistant solid kiln-dried eucalyptus wood, sustainably sourced from lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). One thing to note is that unlike most West Elm products, you'll have to put it together at home. You'll also want to keep in mind potential shipping time, which can take weeks.

Price at time of publish: $499

_{Dimensions: 36 x 20 x 30 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Eucalyptus wood, engineered wood, veneer}

Courtesy of Wayfair.

View On Wayfair

What We Like

Sturdy joinery
Ample storage
Adjustable orientation

What We Don't Like

Not solid wood
Assembly required

If you need something bigger with more storage, the Cuuba Libre Desk is a stellar choice. While it's not solid wood, this L-shaped beauty is constructed using mortise-and-tenon joinery to ensure long-lasting durability. And when it comes to available working space, you'll have plenty of room for everything from monitors to laptops to paperwork thanks to the dual work surfaces. Or, if you'd prefer, you can decorate the shorter arm of this desk with accents, photos, or plants.

The Cuuba Libre flaunts a spacious drawer, a large cabinet, and two shelves, plus a hole in the back to hide cords. You can adjust the orientation to have the storage components on either side, and thanks to the finished back, you don't have to place it in a corner.

Price at time of publish: $330

_{Dimensions: 55 x 47 x 30 x 23 inches inches | Shape: L-shape | Material: Manufactured wood, particleboard}

Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.

View On Crate & Barrel

What We Like

FSC-certified wood
Finished back
Mid-century modern design

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Limited storage space

We also like this curved number from Crate & Barrel. The oblong Courbe Desk is made of engineered wood with an oak veneer, all sourced from FSC-certified forests. With its sleek curves, it's a totally different statement than your average home office desk–and it looks fantastic as the centerpiece.

With slab-style legs and rounded sides, it nods to mid-century design without compromising its minimalist, versatile appeal. The 50-inch width is an ideal medium size for home offices, and the finished back means you can place it anywhere in the room. However, you'll want to note that with just one small drawer, there isn't a lot of storage space available within the desk itself.

Price at time of publish: $1,299

_{Dimensions: 66 x 28 x 30 inches | Shape: Oblong | Material: Engineered wood, oak veneer}

Courtesy of Castlery.

View On Castlery.com

What We Like

Versatile medium finish
Mid-century modern design
Built-in storage

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Partial to solid wood? You'll appreciate the Castlery Seb Desk. It's crafted from solid acacia lumber and finished with a medium-toned muted honey lacquer. Beyond the generously sized work surface, it has a built-in cubby and a spacious drawer underneath.

Featuring rounded corners and slightly flared legs, the Seb Desk has a tasteful mid-century modern vibe, with a bit of rustic flair. In addition to the steep price, we should note Castlery only accepts returns within 14 of receiving the desk.

Price at time of publish: $749

_{Dimensions: 51 x 23.5 x 29.5 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Solid acacia wood}

Courtesy of AllModern.

View On Wayfair View On Allmodern.com

What We Like

Strikingly simple
Two colors available
Arrives fully assembled

What We Don't Like

No storage

We're also big fans of AllModern's modish, transparent Embassy Desk. It's made of 100 percent acrylic, and since the slab-style legs and surface and legs are a single piece, it arrives fully assembled. If you're searching for a statement-making piece, this desk won't disappoint with its sleek, translucent appearance.

This desk is available in two sizes and colors, including classic clear acrylic or a black tinted hue. It doesn't have any built-in storage, but in the end, a drawer or shelf might take from its striking simplicity. And although the Embassy boasts a hyper-modern design, it'll pair effortlessly with industrial, mid-century, minimalist, and Scandinavian decor schemes alike.

Price at time of publish: $500

_{Dimensions: 43 x 22 x 30 inches, 50 x 27.5 x 29 inches | Shape: Rectangular | Material: Acrylic}

We Tested 22 Office Chairs in Our Des Moines Lab—Here Are 12 of the Best

Final Verdict

Overall, we like Pottery Barn's Pacific Desk with Drawers, a mid-sized, minimalist-modern workstation crafted from durable kiln-dried wood that arrives at your home fully assembled. But if you're on a budget, go with the OFM Essentials Collection 2-Drawer Office Desk. And if you're interested in an adjustable or standing model, the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Desk is your best bet.

Size

The first thing to consider when buying a desk is the size. You can find compact models like the West Elm Mid-Century Mini Desk that fit in nearly any space, as well as extra-large options, L-shaped designs like the East Urban Home Cuuba Libre Desk, and everything in between.

According to AbouZanat, the most important detail is to choose a "big enough worktop surface for everyday use." Height matters, too, so think about whether you need a standing desk or an adjustable model for more flexibility.

Material

The best desks for home offices are often made of wood or metal. Solid wood is ideal, as it's durable and long-lasting—extra points if it's kiln-dried like the Pottery Barn Pacific Desk. Powder-coated steel is exceptionally sturdy, too, as with the Herman Miller Mode Desk.

You'll also find sleek, modern acrylic options like the AllModern Embassy Desk. Acrylic is a surprisingly durable, fade-resistant, antimicrobial material that's conveniently easy to clean.

Storage

"Consider if you need drawers for storage," says interior designer Amy Forshew of Proximity Interiors. "We are seeing more and more desks with shallow pencil drawers or no drawers at all."

Standing desks like the Fully Jarvis Bamboo Desk may not have storage, but many models have drawers, shelves, or cubbies, like the Castlery Seb Desk. Even if you're not quite sure what you'll put in the drawers of cubbies yet, you might be glad to have the additional storage space down the road.

Think about cable organization too. "If you want your desk to float in the middle of the room and the desk is open underneath, you have to consider the computer cords running down the desk," says Forshew. "Alternatively, choose a desk with a finished back so you can hide the cords."

Ergonomics

Some of the best office desks are designed with ergonomics in mind. They might be curved in the front to encourage proper positioning when typing at a computer, while others may feature adjustable heights to limit the amount of time spent sitting down during your work day, as with the SHW Electric Adjustable Standing Desk.

FAQ

What is the best height for a desk?

28 to 30 inches is the ideal height for a sitting desk for most adults. People who are particularly short or tall may prefer an adjustable desk that they can customize for their use. An adjustable chair (with a footrest) is another great way to create a work environment that will keep you comfortable. For those who prefer a standing desk, look for one that you can adjust to be right at your elbow.
Where should you put your desk?

The ideal place for your desk is where you can focus on work, free of distractions. For some people, this means having a dedicated home office. Others can work in a shared space, such as a bedroom or living area in their home. Either way, consider how you work and what other people may want or need from you as you are trying to work.
How often should you clean and organize your desk?

It’s great to keep your desk clean and organized as you go, which is why having plenty of storage ranks so high on many people’s lists for a new home office desk. At a minimum, try to organize your desk weekly to keep your workflow efficient. Take time to deep clean and organize every month or two, preparing documents like tax records and any licensing or professional certifications records as needed. It’s important to find a system that works for you and stick to it.
Is a straight or curved desk better?

Depending on where the curves are, contoured desks can be more ergonomic than traditional rectangular models—like if there's a half-moon cut-out in the front to promote proper positioning while typing.
But other than that, it's mostly a matter of aesthetic preference. For instance, something with rounded corners may flaunt a mid-century modern vibe that breaks up the monotony of a streamlined home office space.
What size should a home office desk be?

"A home office desk should range between 48 x 24 inches to 60 x 30 inches," says Forshew. "These sizes allow you to spread out some papers with a laptop or monitor on your desk while not taking up too much space in the room." As AbouZanat notes, it should ultimately be large enough to accommodate your needs for everyday use.
Should a desk be high or low?

For most adults, 28 to 30 inches is the ideal sitting height. However, as Forshew points out, "Clients are growing more interested in counter-height desks and counter stools to provide a standing workspace." Some of the best computer desks offer the best of both worlds, with adjustable designs that can be lifted or lowered depending on whether you want to stand or sit.

Theresa Holland is a professional commerce writer specializing in home improvement and decor. She interviewed two experts for this story, interior designer Ahmad AbouZanat of Project AZ and interior designer Amy Forshew of Proximity Interiors. With their expertise in mind, she considered dozens of desks from various manufacturers, narrowing it down to durable, functional, versatile options with notable features. Theresa covers furniture, organizational products, and storage solutions at The Spruce.