If you’re just starting out in creating a home office and want to choose the right desk for your workspace, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first thing is that different people have different needs and preferences when it comes to working from home.
Some like a quiet space, some need natural light, others enjoy the company of others. The second thing is that desks come in all sizes, even the most compact ones.
The standardised dimensions for office desks are based on their primary function or usage rather than their size alone. This means that one desk can be used for multiple purposes depending on what work you do, where you work from and your personal preference when it comes to working at home.
Here’s everything you need to know about standard desk sizes as well as how they can help you with your office setup.
- Important things to consider
- Standard office desk height and width
- Student desk dimensions
- Console desk height and width
- Standing desk sizing
- Average corner desk size
- Typical twin desk size
OK, let’s get into more of the details of the standard size of office desk, and other considerations.
Important things to consider
When you’re just starting to furnish your home office, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what type of desk will best suit your needs. Besides your home office desk size, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind when choosing the right desk for you:
Office space
What space are you working with? A small nook in the hallway obviously has far more limitations on which desk to choose than a spare room or larger space. For smaller work spaces, a small, compact desk works well.
Look around and imagine where you will place the desk – against a wall, in the middle of the room or under a window – as well as what other furniture you may need (home office storage is always a must).
Desk use
What sort of work will you be doing on your desk, and what needs to be kept within reach? For example, a desk to hold your laptop and perhaps a laptop riser and additional monitor is very different to the desk space requirements of an architect with large format plans or a craftsperson creating objects.
Features
Each person has different needs and preferences when it comes to working at home. Are there any specific features you need to be considering? Is a sit stand desk what you want, or do you need a pull out keyboard drawer? Any features that are an absolute must should be noted before you start looking at desks.
Design
There are many design elements to consider as well. Will you want a light wood colour, or do you want a solid black desktop? What about the legs? Do you like solid sides, or four individual legs? Should they be metal or wood?
You may want to look through this website or other sites such as Pinterest, and find images of desk designs that you like the look of, and will work with other furniture or design elements in the same room.
Budget
This is a big one of course. If you are looking for a $100 desk, maybe look at second hand office furniture, or bargain places, whereas if you are willing to spend $1,500, you may want a custom built desk or look into the designer homewares stores.
There’s no right and wrong here – it is what you can comfortably afford and feel ok in spending.
Standard office desk height and width
There are standardised dimensions for desks that help make setting up an efficient workspace easier.
The standard office desk sizes are based on their primary function or usage rather than their size alone. This means that one desk can be used for multiple purposes depending on what work you do, where you work from and your personal preference when it comes to working at home.
These standards have been set by workplace ergonomics experts and are based on how long people spend sitting down during the day as well as how many hours they spend standing instead of sitting down.
These standards allow for more efficient use of space, making it easier to set up a space with fewer obstacles without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics.
The standard office desk height and width is 48 inches and 30 inches, respectively.
75-80cm (30-32 inches)
75.2cm H x 145cm W x 40cm D
This size is the most common because it fits multiple uses. This size also allows for maximum versatility as you can use the desk to sit or stand at a comfortable height. If you’re not satisfied with the size of your desks, you can always add on more space or have them made custom to fit your needs.
If your primary function or usage is writing, then the best option would be a 60-inch wide desk since that will allow you to place both hands on the keyboard while standing up. If it’s just typing and working with spreadsheets, then a 48-inch wide desk will suffice.
And if you need a lot of space for projects and other work, then go with a larger desk in either vertical or horizontal orientation.
Student desk dimensions
A standard student desk, also known as a small office desk, is a very compact desk. This small office desk size allows for students to move around easily without having to worry about taking up too much space.
The standard student study desk also has a writing area at the top and sometimes they incorporate an open shelf below, which provides plenty of room for all the items needed for school.
Standard student desk (Source)
The example student desk in the image above comes in three widths, 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm. The other dimensions are the same across all three models, being 600mm deep x 720mm high.
The downside of this size is that it might be too small for some people when they start working from home full time. The main thing to remember is that more desks are available in different sizes than in any other type of office furniture. There really isn’t a standard office desk size for everyone.
Console desk height and width
A console desk tends to be a lot less deep, and not as wide as a full size office desk. This is fantastic, because console desks can be used in tight fitting spaces that even student desks can’t fit.
Typical console desk (Source)
When I am saying small spaces, we’re talking hallways or creating an office within a cupboard in your bedroom, for example.
A typical console desk size is
Standing desk sizing
Standing desks have a wide variety of heights of course, as well as widths. A standard desk can have a height of 31.5 inches or up to 36 inches depending on the use.
Lengthwise widths also vary, but most desks are around 58 inches wide and 79 inches long.
Average corner desk size
When you’re looking for a corner desk, the most important dimension to consider is the depth. This is because desks used in corners are often smaller than those that stand on their own.
Desk corners typically have a depth of 24 inches. If you want to use your desk on both sides of your room, a depth of 36 inches is recommended.
Another important consideration when choosing a corner desk is the height. The standard height for corner desks is 34 inches while standing up and 31 inches when sitting down.
Standard corner desk (Source)
The dimensions of the above L shaped corner desk in the photograph, is 75cm high x 160cm wide x 160cm deep.
These corner home office desks fit well in corners of course, however in larger spaces, you can have one side of the desk stick out away from a wall, if required.
So you should really consider where you will place your desk so that it fits in with the rest of your office space and doesn’t take up too much room and be in the way from typical human traffic movement.
Typical twin desk size
If you have a large home office space and are sharing it with someone else, then a twin desk may be the perfect size for you. These desks are typically fairly uncommon in one piece, however you can also just purchase two matching desks and place them side by side.
If you want to buy two desks to accommodate more people, this is a great choice. You’ll find they are in the 75-80cm height range, and typically 2-3 metres wide.
Conclusion
So, you were looking for a new desk, and you wanted to know the ideal office desk size. Now you’ve found there really isn’t a single office desk standard size, and there are many different options available to you.
The size of your desk is important to consider when buying a new one. Not only does it affect how much room you have to work with, but it will also determine the size of your computer workspace and other office furniture.
The size of an office desk can also affect the overall efficiency of your office space. With that in mind, look for one that works for you in the space you have, and within your budget.
A good home office desk is an investment which should hopefully last you many years. I trust that this guide into standard office desk sizes has helped you.