The 11 Best Desks of 2024

Best Overall

Pottery Barn Mateo 56" Rustic Desk

$350 At Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn’s Mateo Rustic Desk is a desk that meets at the intersection of quality and excellent design, making it our clear winner for the best overall desk. A classically attractive design is a nice touch that can work in virtually any space, even a living room.

Made with solid pine and poplar veneer and featuring tongue-and-groove joinery, this contract grade desk is a durable and well made option that is designed to last. Stretchers between the legs further assist in stability and making sure this desk is here to stay. Simple yet timeless in design, this desk is available in salvaged black and salvaged grey.

In terms of style, a finished back means that this desk can be placed anywhere in a room, but just be aware that it only has one pull out drawer, so if you’re looking for a lot of storage, this won’t be the desk for you. On the plus side, white glove delivery is available for this option in certain area codes.

_{Dimensions: 56 x 26 x 30 inches | Weight: 55.5 pounds | Material: Pine, poplar veneer | Storage: One drawer}

Best Budget

Olixis Computer Desk

$27 At Amazon

At under $35, OLIXIS’ Computer Desk is an incredibly affordable option that comes with some seriously impressive sturdiness. While you might not expect such a budget-friendly desk to deliver longevity, this one features a steel frame for stability and lasting durability. We like that the assembly process is not difficult, too, making it easy to get up and running.

Available in black, white, nature, and rustic brown, there's something for everyone with this subdued option. Minimalist in nature, it has a thick faux wood particle board top with room for your essentials. While it has no dedicated storage built into the desk, it does have a side storage bag that is secured with hooks and can be used to hold things like books and files.

Do be aware that this desk is also available in five size options, ranging from 32 inches to 63 inches, albeit at extra cost for each size increase. You won’t necessarily use this desk if your goal is to have as much storage as possible. However, if you prefer a minimalist option, you’ll love how sleek and simple this affordable desk is.

_{Dimensions: 32 x 19.69 x 29.8 inches | Weight: | Material: Particle board, steel | Storage: Side storage bag}

Best Splurge

West Elm Quinn Desk

$720 At West Elm

Our pick for the best desk to splurge on is West Elm’s Quinn Desk. With a super elegant design and high-quality materials, it's a luxurious workspace that'll last you for years (and it looks great in any office). Available in haze and rubberwood color options, it features fluted textured drawers that draw positive attention and has tall, thin metal legs to complete the mid-century modern look. 

This desk earns its higher price point due to its quality materials as well. It features a combination of mahogany and engineered wood, and all of the wood that is used is kiln-dried to ensure added durability. All three of the drawers open on metal glides for a more user friendly experience, and West Elm also offers white glove delivery for this luxury option so you don’t have to assemble it. 

Do be aware that no matter how you choose to receive it, West Elm does not offer free shipping, which is a factor worth considering as it will add to the already higher price tag of this desk. It also has longer expected deliveries than other choices on our list, with expected arrival dates a few weeks in the future.

_{Dimensions: 52 x 24 x 30.2 inches | Weight: 82 pounds | Material: Mahogany, engineered wood | Storage: Three drawers}

Best Writing

AllModern Embassy Desk

$450 At Wayfair $360 At allmodern.com

For the person who needs to be able to sit and write or type for work, we like All Modern’s Embassy Writing Desk. Simple but very interesting in design, it’s a perfect choice for minimalist or modern spaces. It’s made from thick transparent glass, and it includes a super clean-lined waterfall silhouette that can be placed against a wall or really anywhere in a room. 

If clear glass isn’t your style, this desk is also available in a gray option, albeit at extra cost. We also appreciate that it’s available in two size options to be able to accommodate both larger and smaller spaces. The spacious top of this desk offers more than enough room to stretch your arms out to write. An added bonus is All Modern offers free three-day delivery on some of the size and color options, in addition to 30-day returns.

Of course, this desk is not suited for those who want built-in storage, and the design won’t be universal for all offices or living spaces. It does arrive assembled, though, which is a nice touch,

_{Dimensions: 29 x 50 x 27.5 inches, 30 x 43.29 x 21.69 inches | Weight: 55 pounds | Material: Glass | Storage: None}

Best L-Shaped

East Urban Home Cuuba Libre L-Shape Desk

$240 At Wayfair

Whether you just prefer the shape and accessibility or you’re looking to fit a desk into a corner of the room, East Urban’s Home Desk impressed us with its features as an L-shaped desk. With ample room for your everyday essentials both on the desktop and stored away, plus a variety of customization choices, you can really make this desk your own.

The L portion of this desk features two open shelves as well as a drawer and two doors for three methods of hidden storage as well. Importantly, Wayfair notes this can be assembled with the extension on either the left or the right side for added versatility. It also has a finished back if you’re not looking to go against a wall, and it’s available in four distinct color patterns (Riviera Oak White, Montana Oak, Sanremo Oak, and High Gloss White).

The only real drawback of this option is it isn't as durably made as other options on our list, since it uses manufactured wood. That being said, a two-year warranty should give you some solid confidence in its ability to last for a few years. Do be aware, though, that it will also require assembly. 

_{Dimensions: 29.92 x 55.12 x 46.85 inches | Weight: 111.33 pounds | Material: Manufactured wood | Storage: Two open shelves, one drawer, two doors}

Best with Drawers

Red Barrel Studio Norajane Desk

$220 At Wayfair

If your preferred method of workspace storage is drawers, we love Red Barrel Studio’s Norajane Desk. With a clean and minimalist design that also has echoes of farmhouse style, it can work just as well in an office as it can in a bedroom. It’s also available in both espresso and gray for some added design versatility. 

Two spacious drawers directly underneath the workstation feature elegant looking handles and smooth ball-bearing slides to enable you to easily access any supplies that you want on hand but not in the way when working. It also comes equipped with anti toppling devices to keep it from falling over.

We appreciate that this desk comes with free shipping, 30-day returns, and that it also comes with a finished back to make it more available to any space in the room you want to place it. Just be aware it will require assembly (which can be tedious), and it is built with particle board, which is less durable than true wood.

_{Dimensions: 30.12 x 55 x 23.63 inches | Weight: 73.26 pounds | Material: Manufactured wood | Storage: Two drawers}

Best For Corners

Bestar Ridgeley 65W L Shaped Desk with Storage

View On Bestar.com

An L-shaped desk can be a great way to maximize the space of a room and to make the desk not necessarily be the center of attention. In particular, we like Bestar’s Ridgeley desk because it takes the convenience of an L-shaped desk and elevates it. 

The desk can be configured with the L on the left or the right, depending on your space and preferences, and it comes with a lockable file drawer with ball bearing slides, that can hold up to 30 pounds of your important files. It also has a closed storage area, a box drawer, and two wire management grommets as well. This option also comes with wall attachment hardware to keep your space safe and to secure it into the corner. 

While this desk uses particle board, it is high-density and commercial grade, and it also features a melamine surface that's scratch-, stain-, and wear-resistant. We also love that the desk can hold up to 200 pounds of gear on its surface. It’s available in Charcoal Maple, Medium Gray Maple, Silver Maple/Pure White for three versatile looks, giving you functionality and durability simultaneously.

Do be aware, though, that Bestar recommends two people for assembly, which means it may be a bit involved, but we appreciate its two-year warranty. It's also a heavier option, weighing 166 pounds, which can make it sturdy but hard to move.

_{Dimensions: 65 x 66 x 29.7 inches | Weight: 166 pounds | Material: Particle board, melamine | Storage: Three drawers}

Best Standing

Branch Standing Desk

$739 At Amazon View On Branchfurniture.com $699 At West Elm

A standing desk can be a great way to combat the monotony of sitting all day to work, and it can also help to mitigate some of the negatives created by sitting too long. We're particularly drawn to Branch Duo’s Standing Desk for its sleek design, multiple top and leg options, and customizable nature, details that earned it the spot as our best standing desk.

This desk comes with a 20-inch adjustment range to accommodate a wide number of heights and preferences, meaning it ranges from 28 inches in height to 47.5 inches tall. It’s also available in two size options, either 36 or 48 inches in width, to accommodate different space demands (though the latter is more expensive). You can control the height via an OLED control panel with two presets and smart reminders. Plus, it has a 10-year warranty to keep you protected.

We also like the customizability of this option; while add-ons do cost more, you can get items like a desk drawer and a cable organizer. Plus, with five unique color options for the top and three for the legs, you can design a desk that'll suit your space well. Just be aware that the colors you see online can look quite a bit different than how the desk looks in person, inside your space.

_{Dimensions: 36 x 24 x 28-47.8 inches and 48 x 24 x 28-47.8 inches | Weight: 65 pounds | Material: Laminated MDF and powder coated steel | Storage: None (can purchase drawer for extra)} 

Best Minimalist

Ikea Micke Desk

$80 At Ikea

If you’re looking for a desk that has clean lines, a simple design, and fits effortlessly into a minimalist aesthetic, Ikea’s Micke fits the bill. This piece of office furniture can be as simple or as extensive as you'd like, thanks to its versatile nature. If you should decide you want to expand or alter this desk, Ikea has designed it to be compatible with other drawer units and desks of the MICKE series.

As it is, though, a finished back makes this minimalist option a viable option for anywhere in the room, and it features a cable compartment and outlets in the back. Two drawers feature stops to prevent them from being pulled out too far, and it’s available in both white and black/brown to accommodate different aesthetics. 

This is a more affordable option than other choices on the market, which is a plus, but do be aware it uses a lot of particle board, which is less durable than legitimate woods. Additionally, as is common with many pieces of Ikea furniture, you'll find the assembly instructions leave you wanting more detail, resulting in a tedious assembly. 

_{Dimensions: 55 ⅞ x 19 ⅝ x 29 ½ inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Particleboard, plastic, fiberboard, paper foil, steel | Storage: Two drawers}

Easiest Assembly

X-Chair Studio Desk

View On Xchair.com

A difficult and tedious assembly can turn getting a new desk from an exciting and fun experience into a frustrating endeavor. That’s why we were drawn to X-Chair’s Studio Desk, which has an assembly process that's so simple it requires no tools; all you have to do is screw the four legs into the desk (60 seconds of work is what the manufacturer says it will take), making it a total breeze to set up.

This desk goes beyond an easy assembly, though, with a stunning finish and some excellent customizability. You have the choice of seven distinct top colors as well as the choice of straight or angled legs. Those legs are also available in metal, bamboo, and tapered bamboo options and you have the option of black and white base colors. It has a light and modern design, making it easy to move and it also comes with a fabric cable manager. 

Available in three size options, this desk has a 200-pound weight limit and comes with free shipping. Just be aware that it is quite modern in design and may not make sense in every space.

_{Dimensions: 40 x 20 x 29.5 inches, 48 x 24 x 29.5 inches, 54 x 27 x 29.5 inches | Weight: 51.2, 67.1, 83.1 pounds | Material: Top not listed, legs are metal or bamboo | Storage: None}

Best For Gaming

MINOSYS Computer Desk

$50 At Amazon

This super affordable option from MINOSYS is the best gaming desk and is ideal for anyone looking to upgrade their gaming experience. It features two spacious adjustable shelves that can either be assembled on the right or the left of the desk, depending on your personal preference. The adjustability is ideal to be able to accommodate different objects like computer accessories or other smaller devices. 

Up top, a monitor stand to enhance the visibility of your screen, and it’s also sizable enough to accommodate two different monitors. If you prefer, it can be installed under the desk to keep the space up top more free. In terms of design, a stainless steel base and MDF up top bring its components together. It’s available in eight different color patterns and two different sizes of 39 and 47 inches in width to be able to accommodate different spacial demands as well. 

However, you'll want to be prepared for a wonky assembly process. The directions are somewhat unclear, which can lead to a longer process and more frustration. Once it's assembled, though, this desk holds up well for everyday use.

_{Dimensions: 39 x 17.8 x 29.5 inches, and 47 x 19.7 x 29.5 inches | Weight: 15 pounds | Material: MDF and stainless steel | Storage: Two adjustable shelves, monitor stand}