Upgrading a PC setup, whether for gaming, work, or school, can be a pretty involved process. From choosing the right components for the PC to picking out peripherals like keyboards and mice, there’s a lot to consider. For those who are making sweeping changes to their PC setups, the first step may actually be to choose a new desk.
Desks come in all shapes and sizes, but only some designs will work as the main PC desk for a gaming room. What's the smallest gaming desk you can get away with? Can a gaming desk be too large? The fact of the matter is that figuring out the right desk size for your gaming room is easier said than done thanks to the wide range of choices.
After all, there are multiple standard desk sizes and many of them won’t work for your specific space. Once you’re familiar with the different sizes available though, choosing the right sized desk is a simple matter of balancing available space with the necessary gaming PC accessories.
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What Are Gaming Desk Dimensions?
Most manufacturers will provide the dimensions for the length, depth, and height of their desks. Imagine a desk placed against a wall. The length refers to how far down the wall the desk extends. The depth refers to the distance between the front of the desk and the wall. The height is the distance from the base of the desk legs to the top of the desk.
Sometimes manufacturers will also use the word width to describe either length or depth. Unfortunately, the use of width isn’t very standardized, so although it’s only synonymous with the word depth, it’s important to double-check the product images and reviews to get a crystal clear picture of how big the desk is. In general, length will be the biggest number, and height will most often be between 27 and 30 inches. Keep this in mind if you run into any desks marked with width dimensions, as most desks are between 21 and 31 inches deep, so separating the length from the width will be a bit easier – as long as it isn’t a compact desk.
The Main Gaming Desk Sizes
Depending on where a player games, their desk size choices may be fairly limited. Students in a single room or sharing a dorm won’t want the same sized desk as someone in a full house, and someone in a full house with children may not want the same kind of desk as someone with their own office. Typically, users can narrow their options by searching for one of three desk sizes:
Compact — Compact desks are pretty small and essentially only leave room for a monitor and keyboard. Occasionally there are other extras like a drawer or a PC tower shelf, but these options are fairly limited. Compact desks are typically under 25 inches in depth and under 30 inches in length. Compact desks are perfect for small or shared spaces.
Armocity 2024 Gaming Desk
The Armocity upgrade L-shaped gaming desk is a great budget-friendly piece with durability, convenience, and ample space. Its reversible design allows users to change the short and long sides depending on the room layout and preference. It is also designed with a sturdy metal frame plus a long monitor stand that allows gamers to elevate the screen and minimize neck strain. Other notable features include enclosed shelves, a spacious desktop, and side pockets for keeping the smaller accessories.
- Ideal for small or shared rooms
- Often comes with extras to maximize surface space
- Usually made with cheaper materials
Standard — Standard-sized desks are what most people imagine when they think of a desk. These are typically 47 inches long and 24 inches deep, although there are plenty of 36-inch and 50-inch-long desks with depths as low as 22 inches or as high as 30 inches. These desks leave room for basic PC accessories, like headsets, controllers, and a place to keep a drink nearby. Most spaces can accommodate standard-sized desks.
Tangkula Computer Desk with Hutch
This large desktop offers a spacious area for working, studying, or gaming. Equipped with two storage layers, users can put their necessities conveniently within arm’s reach, while maximizing the utilization of space and staying organized. Built with a powder-coated iron pipe that’s resistant to wear and tear, plus high-quality wood, this PC workstation is durable and sturdy enough to serve users for years to come.
- Plenty of room for both PCs and accessories
- Can still be very affordable
- Can be cramped with two monitors
Executive or Extra-Large — Prior to the rise of furniture designed for gamers, large desks were called executive desks, regardless of what kind of boss sat behind them. That term continues to be a holdover, although “XL” is becoming more popular for gaming-focused furniture designs. Most XL gaming desks are huge and require a whole room. The length of an XL gaming desk typically won’t dip below 48 inches, going all the way up to 96 inches. The depth is likewise impressive, ranging between 30 and 40 inches, although very long desks may keep the width below 30 inches to better protect it during shipping.
SEDETA L Shaped Reversible Computer Desk
The SEDETA L-shaped desk has everything gamers need and then some. The spacious desk can hold three monitors, two storage shelves, and a CPU stand. This stylish desk can be converted into a long, straight desk or maintain its standard L shape, making it ideal for a wide variety of spaces. The desk also comes with a power outlet, LED lights, a keyboard tray, a headphone hook, a storage bag, a top hutch, and even a pegboard.
- Tons of space for everything
- Versatile enough for gaming and work
- Literally too big for most standard rooms
How Much Space Do You Need for a Gaming Setup?
So, now that we know which type of desk size will fit each space, we should, of course, discuss what works well for PC gaming. A comfortable gaming desk should have room for both a monitor and a keyboard, which combined typically require at least 20 inches of depth. This is why most desks do not offer less than 22 inches of depth. Those who like to rest their arms on their desk or keep lots of accessories and decorations close to their PC may need more than 2 inches of extra space, but many gamers will be perfectly fine with the minimum space required for their PC.
The minimum length a player will need is likewise determined by the keyboard and mouse, which typically need 22 inches of space to sit side-by-side comfortably. While users with limited space can work with a desk that’s only 22 inches long, most people will want a desk that’s at least 24 inches wide, an industry standard size that’s easy to find on a budget.
Desk heights are fairly standard, so there won’t be much to choose from in this aspect. In general, it’s recommended to have at least 6 inches of space between a desk and a user’s lap. Since most adult chairs are around 22 inches in height, the most common desk height is 28 inches.
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Different Desk Shapes
There are two main desk shapes: rectangular and L-shaped. However, within these two are many different options that play with the shape quite a bit to maximize or minimize a desk’s real estate.
Rectangular desks are ideal for small and medium options. Smaller rectangle desks often make the most of their size by adding things such as headset hangers, monitor shelves, and keyboard trays to layer peripherals efficiently. Some rectangular desks are actually curved to fit better in corners or alongside pieces of furniture such as tables and other desks.
L-shaped desks are typically either very compact or absolutely massive. Having a big desk is great for gamers with multiple monitors or those who also work at their PC for part of the day, but who wants a gigantic rectangle in their room? L-shaped desks take up much less space in a room without giving up surface area. They also provide a division line within a room, a feature much appreciated by both professionals and parents. Plus, due to their increased size, many L-shaped desks come with lots of extra storage in the form of overhead hutches and locking drawers. Even small L-shaped desks usually offer much more storage than their more basic counterparts.
Of course, there are lots of variations between each type of desk, and it’s not impossible to find a minimalist L-shaped desk or rectangular desk with tons of storage. L-shaped desks tend to be more expensive than rectangular ones, even if they have fewer features.
Gamers with more than one monitor will, more often than not, be better off with a large rectangular desk or an L-shaped desk, depending on how much space they have available and how much storage they want. Gamers with just one monitor will be better off sticking to the most compact and durable desk they can find, unless they have lots of accessories or also use their PC for work.
Are Standing Desks Good for Gamers?
Some people see standing desks as revolutionary, while others detest the idea of having to stand while on the computer. While standing for at least a few hours per day can heavily offset the negatives of being on a computer all day, in general, standing desks aren’t ideal for gaming. Imagine this: it’s 9 pm, and you have just had a long day. Do you really want to stand while you unwind with your favorite game? Sure, some people will enjoy combining some slight physical activity with their game night, but most will probably not want a gaming desk that forces them to stand. Enter sit-to-stand desks, which are an awesome middle ground for players who like to stand some of the time, but want the freedom to just sit down whenever they get tired.
Height-adjustable desks tended to be pretty small when they were first released, but now there are a variety of sizes to choose from. Additionally, standing desks are built with either electric or manual height adjustment, meaning there is a wide range of price points available. Standing desks can be a boon to gamers, but you’ll want to make sure that they are made with sturdy metal frames to prevent wobbling. Alternatively, there are plenty of sit-to-stand desktops that can be added later to allow you to stand and game. Users who have lots of room in their space may even want to consider a separate, smaller standing desk, especially if they game or work on a laptop.
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Gaming Desk Prices
Budget is always going to be a factor when shopping for anything, and gaming desks are no different. Some common sense can help determine what type of desk a gamer can afford, but certain features may not be obviously more expensive than others. In general, you should expect to pay anywhere from $60 to upwards of $800 for a good gaming desk, though most are available in the $100-300 range. There are a few key differences between expensive and cheap gaming desks that can help you narrow the options before you even start browsing though.
More expensive gaming desks:
- Are larger
- Are L-shaped
- Use electricity for RGB lighting or height-adjustment
- Use high-quality materials like steel and glass
- Have lots of drawers and shelves
- Can be customized before purchasing
More affordable gaming desks:
- Are smaller
- Don’t have shelves or drawers
- Use recycled materials or low-quality metal
- Have limited weight capacities
- Are easy to assemble
- Don’t have many color options
The Ideal Gaming Desk Size
So, what is the best desk size for gamers? While each individual will have their own thoughts about which desk to choose, most users will want a desk that’s about 24 inches deep, 48 inches long, and 28 inches tall. Desks this size come in every shape, with all kinds of different add-ons, including sit-to-stand adjustability, and they’re typically available for less than $300, making them the best choice for most gamers in need of a desk.
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