A common question when trying to choose a desk or even build your own desk is: what is the average desk size? Getting a desk of the perfect size will give you the best functionality for your own needs.
A standard desk height is typically between 28-30 inches. Standard desk widths are typically 40-48 inches for small desks, 50-62 inches for medium desks, and 65-80 inches for large desks. Common desk depths include 20, 24, and 30 inches.
The Importance of Getting Desk Dimensions Right
If you work at your desk for way too long, like me, you will quickly realize if your desk size is either too small or too large. Here are some reasons you should really pay attention to getting a computer desk of the right size.
Productivity
Productivity and efficiency are highly dependent on having a desk of the appropriate dimensions for your needs.
If your desk is too small, you may have trouble fitting your multiple monitor setup on your desk which is a huge blow to productivity. You might not be able to multitask with a laptop, a notebook, and a textbook all out at the same time. Depending on what you use, this can break a productive desk setup.
We have a dedicated article on designing a productive workspace here.
Small desks will make you feel restricted and crammed which will no doubt will affect your productivity and efficiency, which is no good!
Too large and you might not be able to even access the items you need quickly. Areas of your desk might also just be collecting dust and wasting space that could be freed up for other reasons.
Comfort & Ergonomics
Most people don’t think about desk size affecting actual ergonomics.
First of all, desk height is very important to get right. You don’t want to be reaching upwards or slouching downwards to access your desktop. We go in-depth on finding the proper desk height here.
Not having enough desk width usually leads to a cluttered workspace. Dense clutter could lead to not having enough space to just move around your mouse or could leave your keyboard teetering over other items. Stuff like this can lead to weird posture and just sounds like an unhealthy workspace.
Your desk depth can also lead to poor ergonomics. Too deep of a desk and you might find your monitor is too far away for you to see everything. Bringing your monitor closer in that situation wastes all the space behind your monitor.
Too shallow of a desk depth and you might find that your keyboard is at the very edge of your desk, leaving no room for your wrists to rest. This can easily lead to very poor posture when working.
There are many more examples of how desk dimensions can really affect your experience, those were just a few. If you work for really long hours, all these issues could lead to a workspace you don’t enjoy whatsoever.
How To Choose The Best Desk Size
Let’s touch on what you should keep in mind so you can get the best desk size.
Here’s a reference image of my own desk which measures about 60 inches wide and 30 inches deep. You can clearly tell what fits and what I don’t have room for with these dimensions. You can get a detailed breakdown of what’s on my desk in my ALEX Desk Setup article.
Now let’s talk about how you can make a more informed decision on your own desk size.
Choosing The Ideal Desk Height
As we mentioned in the beginning, desk heights usually come in between 28 and 30 inches. This is not a huge range to work with for dialing in the perfect desk height.
I recommend finding your correct desk height using this calculator. Because most desk heights won’t be ideal, pay attention to the other desk dimensions and deal with desk height with one of the following options:
If Your Desk Is Too Short
If your desk is too short, you have options to make your desk taller. We have a dedicated article on how to make your desk taller.
These furniture risers are made of steel and have a fabric patch for surface protection. This provides a durable and stable base that can support over 5,000 lbs and elevate furniture up to 1.2 inches.
This includes using furniture risers, or adding height-adjustable feet, and so on. Tall folks should check out our guide specifically on how to find the best desks for tall people.
If Your Desk Is Too Tall
If you are in love with a desk that is on the tall side, you’re not alone. This is my situation at the moment.
If your desk is too tall, you must use a chair that is height adjustable and raises you to an ergonomic level with your desk. Here’s an image of what your torso should look like relative to your desk. Your chair needs to be able to lift so that your elbows are flat with your desk.
We’re not done yet. If your desk was too tall for you and you raised your chair to the proper height, your feet are likely, not flat on the floor. Letting your feet dangle could really affect your leg’s blood circulation.
To counter this, use a footrest so you can have your feet resting flat even though your chair is raised higher up.
This CushZone footrest provides a comfortable sitting position, it elevates your legs which can improve blood circulation in the legs. It features an adjustable height, high-quality foam, and a non-slip and machine-washable cover.
Consider A Standing Desk
If you can stretch your budget, investing in a standing desk not only lets you alternate between standing and sitting. It also lets you get the perfect desk height without any additional accessories!
This electrically height-adjustable standing desk offers a spacious and ergonomic workspace, smoother height adjustments, and solid construction. It's built for workers to stay active, healthy, and productive.
Make sure the desk height you calculated is actually available in the height range of the standing desk you choose to go with. Each standing desk has a minimum and maximum desk height dimension.
For example, the Flexispot desk linked above can be set to a height of anywhere between 28 and 48 inches! That’s a lot more height flexibility than a normal desk.
Choosing The Ideal Desk Width
As mentioned in the beginning, desks can be categorized into three different widths. The average desk size falls around the small to medium desk range.
- Small Desks: 40-48 inches
- Medium Desks: 50-62 inches
- Large Desks: 65-80 inches
I know there are gaps between these ranges, but these ranges end on what sizes are actually common in the market.
The ideal desk width depends on what you plan to have on your desk at the moment, and in the future. After all, we want our desk investment to last as long as possible.
If you are a dual monitor user and you eventually want to step up to a three-monitor setup, find a desk that will work for the larger setup. This helps you future-proof your desk size.
Consider everything you want to have on your desk before purchasing. Especially the items that need to sit side by side. This could include your monitors, a pair of speakers, plants, a smart display, a little pencil cup, etc.
Of course, also consider how much space you actually have available in your room. We have dedicated articles on specific desk size considerations:
Choosing The Best Desk Size For Dual Monitors.
Desks That Can Fit A Triple Monitor Setup.
Choosing The Ideal Desk Depth
Lastly, we have desk depth. The common desk depths on the market include 20″, 24″, and 30″ depths. I currently use a 30″ deep desk, here’s what it looks like:
You can tell I have plenty of depth to fit my monitor speakers and my peripherals. I also like how much room my arms and wrists get when I type.
Think about how much desk depth you need based on what you have on your desk that stacks in front of one another. For most people, this will include a monitor and your keyboard/mouse at the most basic level.
If you need to have more items stacked in between, you probably want to lean towards deeper desks.
Similar to desk width, another consideration is how much space you have in your room or office. If you’re in a tight space, check out our article on how much space you should have between a desk and a wall. This could be the driving factor in your desk depth.
Average Desk Dimensions
We also compiled a list of the most popular desks on the most popular desk marketplaces. Of course, this includes IKEA and Amazon.
Look at the table below to find the average width, depth, and height of some of the most mainstream desks out there. At the bottom, we have our summary that shows the following:
- Average Desk Width: ~48 inches (122 centimeters)
- Average Desk Depth: ~22 inches (56 centimeters)
- Average Desk Height: ~29 inches (74centimeters)
- Find out the average desk thickness here.
Before You Go
If you’re curious as to how heavy these desks can be, check out our article on how much desks weigh. This is helpful if you need to prepare to carry a certain desk up a flight of stairs.
Also, if you want an ergonomic take on what desk height should be, check out our in-depth article on the height of desks and what they actually should be depending on your height.
Regarding desk depth, we also have an article about how your monitor size can influence your desk depth. If you use your computer often, that might be worth a read.
