Looking to replace your old office desks or kit out a new workspace, and not sure where to start? This desk buying guide explains the main types of office desk, what they're made of and how to choose the perfect desk for your space.
Types of Office Desks
As the way we work and the technology we use have changed, so have the desks we rest that technology on. Here are the main styles and what each was designed for. You don't have to use them that way, but it helps to know why each design exists.
Straight Cantilever Desks
Everyone will know this style: it's the classic office desk, still as relevant today as it was 20 years ago. Its strong metal cantilever frame is fixed to the modesty panel at the back and to the desktop, so the desk is sturdy with little movement.
The legs are usually powder-coated steel, which is durable and scratch resistant. Pair the leg and top finishes to suit your style. A white frame with a white top, for example, makes a simple desk that blends into the background and lets the rest of the office take centre stage.
Our straight cantilever office desks are generally very cost effective, and many are available from stock.
Panel-End Desks
Panel-ended office desks are just as common in offices across the country. Instead of metal legs, they stand on MFC panels, in the same finish as the top or a contrasting one such as white.
The panels hide more of the space under the desk. That makes them ideal for customer-facing desks, such as in an estate agent's, where you'd rather keep bags and storage out of sight from the front and sides. These desks are also very cost effective and generally available from stock.
Goalpost Leg Desks
Goalpost leg desks are much the same as cantilever desks, but with a goalpost-style metal frame: two upright legs joined at the top by a metal crossbar. They're strong and durable, and available from stock in a range of leg colours and top finishes.
Corner Office Desks
Corner desks were first designed for the deep-backed monitors of days gone by. The L shape creates a deep section of desktop at the corner, where the monitor used to sit.
Those monitors are long gone, but the corner office desk lives on and is still available from stock in a range of finishes. Today it gives you more desk to spread out on and makes use of a corner that would otherwise be wasted.
Corner desks come left- or right-handed. That's the side the corner section is on as you sit at the desk.
You'll see corner desks sold under a few names:
- L-shaped desks have two straight runs meeting at a right angle, often with a squared corner.
- Crescent (or radial) desks have a curved inner edge at the corner, so you can sit in the curve and reach both sides. Our crescent desks come 1600 × 1200 mm or 1800 × 1200 mm, left- or right-handed, with a 25 mm top, cable ports in the frame and adjustable feet.
- Wave desks are straight desks with a gently curved front edge, a little deeper at one end. They give some of a corner desk's extra depth without needing a corner.
Measure the whole footprint, not just the width. A 1600 × 1200 mm crescent desk needs 1.6 m along one wall and 1.2 m along the other, plus room for the chair behind.
Bench Desks
Bench desks are a common sight in larger offices, but people are often unsure how to specify them. A bench desk uses one shared frame to support several desktops. Instead of two desks each with their own legs, a two-person bench desk has one frame holding up both tops.
Bench desks come into their own in long runs of 4, 6, 8 or more desks. With fewer legs along the run, people can slide along and use the full width of their desktop without knocking into a leg. Check where the legs sit on the model you choose, as frames vary.
If your team may grow, ask whether the frame takes add-on sections, so you can extend a run later rather than starting again.
The shared frame also makes cable management easier. There are large shared cable trays, and cables can run the full length of the desk or down to the floor through the intermediate legs.
Height Adjustable Desks
Height adjustable desks, sometimes called sit-stand desks, have a mechanism that raises the desktop from a little below standard desk height up to standing height, or anywhere in between.
Some are manual: you turn a crank handle, much like a car jack, to raise the top. The more popular choice is electric, with one, two or even three motors, usually hidden in the legs, that raise or lower the desk at the touch of a button.
A height adjustable desk is different from a fixed standing desk, which stays at standing height all the time. Fixed standing desks suit counters and quick tasks. For a full working day, most people are better off with a desk that lets them switch between sitting and standing. Adjustable desks usually cost more than fixed desks, because of the frame and motors.
Some electric desks also have a smart control panel. It can store your favourite heights so you can set the desk just as you like it, and some work from a phone app. Wondering whether standing is worth it? Read our guide: is a standing desk actually good for you?
Executive Desks
Executive desks are for when you want something a little special that makes a real impact. They tend to be larger, often with built-in or matching storage, and use more impressive materials, including glass, laminates and wood veneers.
There are no set rules for an executive desk. It comes down to personal choice and budget, and the sky really is the limit.
Home Office Desks
The name says it all. Home office desks are made for use at home. They're often more compact than traditional office desks, with built-in storage and a softer, more homely design.
Other Desks You May Come Across
A few more names turn up when you shop for desks, mostly for home offices and small rooms:
- Writing desks are simple, compact desks with a clear top, made for writing or a laptop rather than a full computer set-up.
- Computer desks are built around the kit: room for a monitor and keyboard, and often a cable port or a shelf for the computer.
- Secretary desks have storage above and a front that folds down to make the writing surface, then closes to hide your work.
- Fold-away wall-mounted desks fix to the wall and fold up flat when you're done, which frees the floor in a spare room or a multi-use space. Some wall-mounted desks are fixed shelves that stay down, so check which kind you're buying.
- Reception desks are their own category, with a raised counter for visitors. See our guide to the best reception desks.
Which Desk Shape Is Most Efficient?
The most efficient shape is the one that matches the work. As a rule of thumb:
| Shape | Best for |
|---|---|
| Straight | Most single desks and general work; easy to line up and rearrange |
| Corner, L-shaped or crescent | Two screens, or a computer area plus space for paperwork; using a corner |
| Bench | Teams working side by side in long runs |
| Round or oval | Group discussion, which is a meeting table rather than a desk |
Desktop Materials
MFC (melamine faced chipboard) is what most commercial office desks are made of. It's hard-wearing, durable and affordable. It also comes in a huge range of finishes and colours, from wood effects to flat colours, which makes MFC a great choice for most office projects.
Laminate is similar to MFC, but usually has an MDF or plywood core with a laminate surface. There's a range of laminates, such as Formica, and many are similar. Some tops use other surfaces with special properties. FORBO furniture linoleum, for example, has a soft-touch surface, which makes it ideal for meeting and boardroom tables.
Laminates are more expensive than MFC, so they're often not ideal for larger projects with a tight budget.
Wood veneer was once popular but is used a lot less these days. Laminates and melamine finishes have become so good that they're hard to tell apart from real wood. Real wood veneer is still popular on boardroom tables and executive desks, where the craftsmanship and quality of the finish add an extra layer of luxury.
It helps to know the difference between three things that can all look like wood. Solid wood is timber all the way through. Veneer is a thin layer of real wood on a board. Wood effect is a printed MFC or laminate finish.
Solid wood looks warm and can be refinished if it gets marked. It needs more care: wipe up spills, keep it away from radiators and follow the maker's advice for its finish. Solid wood desks usually cost more than veneer or MFC.
Metal is mostly used for frames and legs: powder-coated steel, sometimes aluminium. A sturdy steel frame is what keeps a desk steady under monitors and monitor arms, so check the frame as well as the top.
Glass tops look light and modern and suit small rooms, because you can see through them. They're easy to wipe clean but show fingerprints and dust, so expect to clean them often. Choose toughened (safety) glass, and check its thickness and the load it's rated for.
Wooden or Metal Office Desk?
Most office desks are both: a metal frame with a wood-effect, veneer or solid wood top. Choose the frame for strength and stability, and the top for looks and how much care you're happy to give it. If you want the look of wood with little upkeep, an MFC or laminate wood-effect top on a steel frame is the practical choice.
How to Choose an Office Desk
Choosing office desks starts with the room, then the people, then the work. Run through these checks before you buy.
- Measure the space. Note the length and width of the room, and where the doors, windows and radiators are. Note any low windowsills, sloping ceilings or radiators the desk must clear, and leave room for drawers and cupboard doors to open fully. A desk that's too big makes the room feel cramped; too small, and you'll run out of space to work. Leave room for chairs to move and for people to walk past. Our guide to how much space to leave between desks can help.
- Plan the layout. Count who needs a desk now, and who might next year. Single desks suit private offices and awkward rooms. Bench desks suit long runs in open-plan spaces. Our guide to office layouts has more ideas.
- Check what goes on the desk. Two monitors, a laptop dock or piles of paperwork all need room. If you sketch, draw or spread out documents, keep a clear area for that too. Check the desk's load rating if you'll add heavy kit, and whether the top and frame suit monitor arms. Many of our straight desks come in 600mm and 800mm depths. Read how deep an office desk should be before you choose, and look at our narrow desks if space is tight.
- Get the height right. The standard office desk height is around 73cm, which suits many people but not everyone. If several people share a desk, or you'd like to stand, a height adjustable desk is the simple answer. Our guide to the standard desk height shows how to find yours. Sit at the desk with your chair set up: your shoulders should be relaxed, your forearms roughly level with the desk and your wrists straight as you type. A keyboard tray or a wrist rest can help some set-ups. HSE's guide to good posture at a workstation shows what to aim for.
- Check the legroom. There should be enough clear space under the desk to sit close and move your legs, so check where pedestals, modesty panels and frame rails sit. HSE's workstation checklist covers this.
- Think about light. Place desks so screens sit side-on to windows rather than facing or backing onto them, which cuts glare and reflections. Blinds help where you can't move the desk. Natural light is pleasant to work by, so don't push desks into dark corners to avoid it.
- Plan your storage. Decide how many drawers you need for files and stationery. A desk pedestal tucks under most desks, or you can choose a desk with drawers built in. Files need deep drawers or a filing cabinet; stationery needs shallow drawers. Shelves and cupboards hold the rest. Open shelves keep things to hand, while doors and drawers keep the desk looking tidy.
- Think about cables and power. Cable trays and desk power modules keep wires tidy and off the floor, so nobody trips over them.
- Choose a finish. Pick a top and frame that suit the room and your other furniture, so the office looks like it was planned together. A modern look uses clean lines and white or light wood tops. Industrial pairs a wood-effect top with a black metal frame. Minimalist keeps to one or two finishes and hides cables and clutter. Traditional means darker wood or veneer and plenty of storage. Any of the desk types above can be finished in any of these styles.
How Do I Choose a Home Office Desk?
Measure the spot first, then choose a desk that fits it and the way you work. Home office desks are usually smaller and more homely than office desks, often with storage built in, so the room still feels like part of your home.
Commercial office desks are built for heavy daily use, often by different people, and come in more sizes and storage options. If you work from home every day, a commercial desk can be a sensible choice. Either way, leave room for a proper monitor and a good chair.
What's the Difference Between a Desk and a Table?
A desk is built for one person to work at. It usually has a modesty panel at the front, room for cables and often storage. A table is built for people to gather round, with legroom on every side.
That's why meeting and boardroom tables are a separate buy. If you're buying office tables for a meeting room, see our guide to choosing the right conference table.
Need a Hand Choosing?
Use the links above to browse each type of desk at Office Supermarket. If you're planning a bigger fit-out and want the right office desk solution, or you're not sure which desk suits your space, contact our friendly team for help.
