When buying a desk for a home office or study room, it's important to think about form, function, and style. Before you buy, we’ll walk you through the desk shopping basics, from types of desks, to desk dimensions, to how tall a desk should be.

Types of Desks
Desk Dimensions
Desk Shapes
Desk Storage and Other Features
Budget

Types of Desks

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You can find a desk in wood, glass, metal, and even marble in a wide variety of designs and styles. To find the right desk for your home, consider where you plan on placing the desk and what features you'll need. Here’s a quick look at the 11 of the most popular desk designs available.

Writing: Writing desks feature simple, clean legs and a flat top and typically have minimal storage options.

Executive: Often heavy and decorative, these desks are typically made of solid wood and feature a front panel that hides the legs of the person sitting behind them. They tend to have significant storage space.

Shell: Shell desks are made of flat panels around a large, hollow alcove that is good for leg room or chair storage.

Drafting Table: The tabletop on these otherwise simple desks can also be positioned at an angle. Drafting tables are optimal for visual artists.

Floating: This wall-mounted desk design can be folded into itself for efficient space usage.

Secretary: Classic in design, small yet hefty secretary desks have a smaller set of storage units on a desktop that often folds in to save space.

Leaning & Ladder: These minimal, contemporary desk designs lean against the wall and are equipped with a lot of shelf space.

Computer: Computer desks are simple desks that include additional features to accommodate computers, such as cable management systems or keyboard trays.

Gaming: Gaming desks are designed for playing video games and are similar to computer desks. Gaming desks often come with features like headphone holders or extra space for monitors to enhance the gaming experience.

Credenza: Credenza desks are characterized by their long silhouette and the variety of storage they offer. These desks typically have shelves, drawers, or cabinets as their base and can come with a hutch for added storage.

Armoire: These desks are built into an armoire and the desk portion slides out when the armoire doors are open. Armoire desks are great for adding an extra workspace to a guest room or bedroom.

Desk Dimensions

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The average desk is between 28” and 30” tall. To find out how tall a desk should be to best suit your height and improve your posture, divide your height by 2.5. Read our guide How to Choose the Best Desk Size for Your Workspace for more information on choosing the right desk size.

You can also choose a desk based on the width of its tabletop to either fit your room or your workspace needs.

Small: If you’re choosing a desk for a smaller space or a children’s study room, you might want to browse smaller desks that are under 40” wide. Though they have a smaller tabletop area than other options, they keep your room feeling open and spacious.

Medium: At between 40” and 60” in width, these are standard-sized desks that will suit almost any size and style of room.

Large: Large desks have a tabletop width of over 60” and are optimal for large spaces and busy tabletops. Large desks also tend to have more storage features like hutches, drawers, and cabinets than other sizes.

Tip!

Be sure to leave between 2’ and 3’ of free space behind your desk for your desk chair.

Desk Shapes

Another key consideration is desk shape. The shape of your desk can impact both the look and the functionality, so we've outlined five of the most common desk shapes.

Rectangular: Standard desks have rectangular tabletops and are well-suited to almost any room design.

L-Shaped: If you need a lot of tabletop space or you want to put a large desk in a corner, the L-shape is the desk shape for you.

Corner: If an L-shaped desk is too large for the corner where you want to put a desk, go with a compact triangular corner style that nestles snugly where two walls meet.

U-Shaped: These cove-shaped styles take up the most space but offer the most storage options. They’re excellent for a more professional setup.

Curved: With a curved shape, these desks feature rounded angles that can help prevent arm and wrist strain by expanding the surface area of the desk.

Oval: For a more organic look for your workspace, go with an oval-shaped desk.

Desk Storage and Other Features

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In addition to desk type and size, there are a few additional features that can upgrade your desk.

Drawers, Shelves & Cabinets: If you work with a lot of different files and other materials, look for a desk with a lot of storage space so you can stay organized.

Hutch: If you need a lot of storage space and your room can accommodate it, a hutch desk has vertical storage options and will fill up an emptier room.

Cable Management & Keyboard Tray: Worried about electronics cluttering up your space? Check out desks that come with built-in cable organization holes and a slide-out tray for keyboard storage.

Height-Adjustable: If you want to be able to adjust the height of your desk or if you prefer standing while you work, these desks can be adjusted to sitting or standing height. To learn more about standing desks, check out our guide The Best Standing Desks for Your Home Office.

Built-In Outlets/USB: Keep all of your devices plugged in with built-in outlets or USB ports. For easy access, these integrated outlets are often placed on the side of the desk or built into the top with a lid that keeps them concealed when not in use.

Tip!

If you have a rolling chair, you might want to try out a chair mat. These mats can reduce back stress from rolling, protect your floor from scuffs and spills, and reduce static electricity that can damage electrical equipment. Even if your floor is protected by a carpet, you may still want a chair mat – carpets make it difficult to roll your chair, increasing your chance of back pain from the strain of rolling. A chair mat will make it far easier to roll and subsequently reduces back pain.

Budget

Though some large, multi-piece, ornate executive desks can cost between $1,000 and $10,000, a more standard home desk typically costs between $150 and $700, with a wide variety of options on the lower side of that range. If you’re looking for a piece that won’t break the bank, there are certainly lower-cost options in the style you want.

Tip!

For more desk ideas, check out our 11 Home Desk Ideas to Create a Productive Working Space and How to Create the Ultimate Home Office guides.

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