The right desk means something a little different to everyone. Maybe it needs to be a certain size or have a specific look. Perhaps you have a particular shape in mind. The experts here at CNET have spent thousands of hours testing the features and logistical elements of many desks to determine longevity, stability, build ease and quality, while also considering their warranty, materials and more to make sure you get the best recommendations for your needs. We can also help you pick the perfect office chair or gaming chair to complete your setup.
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Why I like it:
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Pros
- Feels more expensive than it is
- Lots of room
- Handy USB charger
What I like:
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Pros
- Small and lightweight
- Easy to assemble
- Available in many styles
Cons
- A little lower than I like
Why I like it:
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Pros
- Classy look
- 3 memory settings
- Storage drawers
- Affordable for a standing desk
Cons
- Desktop quality could be a little better
What is the best desk?
Depending on your needs, I would say that two of them are really the best. The Magnus from SecretLab is a fantastic standing desk for those who want a sleek-looking, gamer-inspired desk, while the Branch standing desk is a more traditional workspace designed for your work office.
What we updated: April 2025
We added the Branch Desk Riser.
The best desk
Why I like it:
I have used a lot of desks throughout my career, but I can honestly say I've never used a desk quite like the Magnus Pro XL. It is at once the most industrial-looking table, while also giving off huge gamer energy. It has a five-setting standing system, and the motors are some of the quietest I've heard while testing. The motion is smooth, and even though the desk weighs quite a lot, it rises quickly and without hassle. I never thought of using a standing desk for gaming before, but it really helps to break up the hours of sitting.
If gaming is your job and you need a large desk to help you, I cannot recommend the Magnus Pro XL enough.
Who is it for:
When gaming, you tend to have a lot of extra cables and extra monitors so you need a few extra features. If you can manage the cost of getting the extras, I would recommend it. The cable management is already excellent with the built-in power supply unit, as well as the large trench down the back, but the optional magnetic conduit lets you hide all of your wiring. I especially liked the PC mount that connects your gaming tower to the leg, making it rise with the table so your cables don't get stretched as the desk moves.
Who shouldn't buy it:
Measuring 70 inches long and made almost exclusively of metal parts, this desk is not meant for one-person assembly. Putting this desk together with just one person took two hours. If you don't have a way for someone to help you, you may want to consider another desk. Aside from this, the cost of this desk is my only sticking point. Fully loaded, it will set you back $1,700, although you could reduce that with fewer optional extras.
Why I like it:
At first glance, the Branch standing desk looks pretty generic, but the level of craftsmanship is apparent on closer inspection. All the materials feel premium with a weight that comes only from good engineering. Putting it together was simple and only took about 30 minutes on my own, though I think having two people would reduce that significantly. It was also extremely well packaged -- something that Branch does with all its products -- so it was in top shape once I had it all together. The Branch desk can remember four separate heights and has a handy cable door at the back to keep your desk clear and tidy.
Who is it for:
Those looking to replace their desk in an office or who regularly work from home will find this a great business-like desk. It's tidy, professional and very easy to use. Even if you don't like the office look, the warmer woods and gray leg options can also give it a bit more personality. If you're furnishing an office, the Branch desk and Verve office chair from our best office chairs make a great combination.
Who shouldn't buy it:
While the desk is well built with quality materials and is a great fit for most people, if you're looking for more features on your desk outside of the raising ability or something more on the budget side, this may not be the pick for you. Also, while there are options to give the desk a bit more of a unique look, it does tend to lean more toward a business-looking desk, so if you want personality, there may be a better choice for you.
Pros
- Feels more expensive than it is
- Lots of room
- Handy USB charger
Why I like it:
I haven't had much luck finding desks that could be called executive. To be an executive desk requires a product to feel expensive and add some class to the room it is in. Most of the desks I've tested for this category have fallen behind that mark, with some missing parts or looking cheap despite the price tag, but not in the case of the Ark ES from Eureka. After the (admittedly very long) build, the desk looks amazing and is incredibly sturdy. It feels like a desk you keep for decades, rather than a few years.
Who is it for:
The appeal of a standing desk doesn't always match the need to give your home office that classy gravitas, but with the Ark ES you can have the best of both. The standing part of the desk works well, with sensors to stop the desk from going down too far, and it even has a nice pop-up USB hub for charging your phone and tablet if your work requires a lot of electronic devices.
Who shouldn't buy it:
As the Ark ES is a large desk, the assembly process was very long. So if you're looking for a simple and quick option and don't need a lot of desktop space, this is not it. There are also better choices for a more relaxed and personalized look.
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Pros
- Small and lightweight
- Easy to assemble
- Available in many styles
Cons
- A little lower than I like
What I like:
I am a huge fan of making and crafting. We have a Cricut Explore 3 set up at home and use it weekly. We also like to have enough space to move around, so using the Branch Daily Desk on casters is amazing, although they do cost an additional $59. During the day, it's pushed to the side of the office, with the Cricut at the back, and when we need it, we wheel it to the center of the room so we can use it from all angles.
Who is it for:
The Daily Desk is an incredibly versatile desk that only took minutes to build. We have the optional caster legs, which I recommend if you want to use it as a crafting table, as we did, or as a simple desk for your child's room. As I say, it's versatile, so it can be used for just about any job.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you prefer a taller desk, I'd say this one sits slightly lower than most I've tested.
Pros
- Classy look
- 3 memory settings
- Storage drawers
- Affordable for a standing desk
Cons
- Desktop quality could be a little better
Why I like it:
Most standing desks have a clinical look to them, like they're designed for a drab office rather than your home. Not so with the mid-century standing desk. Its design with a dark wood surface, black drawer fronts and antique gold handles gives an air of '50s sophistication. The standing desk portion works well too, with three programmable heights and a sturdy structure that feels secure even at full extension. I especially like the center drawer that can fit your wireless keyboard and mouse to hide them from view and keep the midcentury aesthetic.
Who is it for:
The Fezibo midcentury modern standing desk mixes the sophistication of the midcentury era with the technology of a sit-stand desk. It lets you keep your space tidy and your office looking sleek while taking care of your body, allowing it some movement throughout the day.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you aren't going to use the standing feature, this desk probably isn't worth the price tag. The ability to raise and lower it as needed with three memory settings makes this a very affordable desk for getting that function, but it won't be worth it if you don't think you'll use it.
Pros
- Perfect for a smaller space
- Easy to build
- Stand notifications
- Quality material
- Simple controls
Cons
- Doesn't work for multiple large monitors
Why I like it:
The Branch Duo is the company's latest line of standing desks and uses a very simple control mechanism to set heights. The display is simple and clean, and all the accessories ooze quality. Building it was simple, taking me less than 30 minutes, and the size is perfect for smaller spaces.
Who is it for:
The Branch Duo is big enough for a couple of smaller monitors or one big one, with plenty of room on the top for a laptop. So if you have a smaller setup, it will fit your equipment perfectly. I especially like the notifications you can set to remind you to stand or sit throughout the day. Standing desks are designed to help with your health, but they only work if you remember to do it, so if you're looking for that nudge but tend to forget on your own, this is designed to help you.
Who shouldn't buy it:
Some setups have multiple large monitors or need a lot of desktop space for other reasons. When you're looking to fill a room and have space for a bigger setup, you'll want to look at another desk.
Pros
- Rounded desktop edge
- Desktop space
- Mobility
- Easy to adjust
- Slim for simple storage
Cons
- A little too heavy to carry back and forth
- Stiff at first
What I like:
The Branch Desk Riser offers an easy way to give yourself a standing option without changing your entire desk and without the use of electricity or a tiring hand crank. There is plenty of space on the riser top and it comes with a comfortable, curved edge. While it's fairly light, it's also very sturdy and can be moved on and off the desk regularly.
Upon first use, the riser is a little stiff going up and down, but after a few short uses, it loosened up and was very easy to move back and forth. Using the side handle to move it is very intuitive and responsive -- as soon as you release the handle, you set the height. Plus, there's no assembly required.
Who is it for:
While some people love the idea of having a whole standing desk, for others, that may not be an option. This is something you can use if you aren't able to replace your desk at work but would like to be able to stand for part of your day or if the price of a standing desk feels too steep. While carrying this to and from work may be cumbersome as it is a little too heavy to be hauled around, it is great if you can store it somewhere in the office or nearby your desk and pull it out when you need it. The slim body makes storing it a breeze.
Who shouldn't buy it:
If you have large monitors, short cables or aren't working on a laptop, this probably won't fit what you need. There's not a lot of space on top to accommodate a whole desk setup.
Pros
- Retro style
- Multiple charging outputs including Qi wireless
- Delicate
Why I like it:
This light writing desk is a lot like many of the others I tested. Writing desks tend to be easy to assemble -- this one took 10 minutes -- and are compact in size. It can hold maybe one monitor and a laptop comfortably, but not much else. The best feature, though, is the set of outputs. The Fenlo desk has a standard power outlet, two USB-A ports and built-in wireless charging. It is much easier to manage cables for your laptop, tablet and phone when you can access them from the front.
Who is it for:
The beauty of the Fenlo is that it can be placed in almost any room and still look nice, for when you need to fit your desk into an established room. There are a lot of finishes to choose from, too, and each one comes with a lamp to illuminate your work.
Who shouldn't buy it:
The Fenlo is very light, so it does suffer slightly from wobbling, even when its legs are tight. This only happened when I loaded it to its maximum weight, so if you're using just a laptop, you should be fine. However, if you have more of a setup or are concerned about a bit of wobble, you will want a larger desk.
Not every desk we test makes it onto the best list. Some of them aren't even good enough to get a mention. Some are close to being good enough that we're willing to mention them here. These desks had something wrong that kept them off the top list, but are decent if you can overlook the specific issue.
- Everest Work Table: This used to be one of our top desks, however the company has since closed its doors and the desks are no longer available. Not all of the best desks are specifically designed as computer desks. This Work Table from Everest is a brilliant example. Not only is it lovely to look at -- the powder-coated legs and bamboo top look great together -- but it can work in more spaces than just an office. While technically not a standing desk, it can be adjusted from desk height to bar height, giving you a lot of variety in how you want to sit or stand at it. I like it to be slightly higher than a normal desk so I can use it to take stuff apart while still being seated comfortably. The assembly was easily done by just one person. The Work Table comes with some nice cable management as an added bonus.
- Homary Executive Desk: This desk from Homary looks fantastic when it is put together. The glossy white finish and antique gold accents give it the luxurious feel a $1,500 desk should have. All the individual parts have the weight you expect from an executive item, and once it's all put together, it looks absolutely stunning. The desk we received for testing had the wrong holes drilled for the hardware to build it, and it arrived damaged despite being strapped to a pallet. Homary did replace the broken part with no issues or complaints but could not fix the incorrectly drilled parts. This meant I had to go to Home Depot for new parts to fix it myself. Now, do I think this happens all of the time to all of Homary's products? No, otherwise it wouldn't still be in business. I couldn't test it properly if I had to buy the parts myself.
- Monoprice Steel Frame Computer Desk: Gaming desks can be extremely expensive, especially when you add extras. This desk from Monoprice is simple, cheap, stable and has some neat extras like a headphone hook, cable management tray and an off-desktop cup holder. Having your beverage off to the side of the desk is a great idea. If you knock it over, the contents are going on the floor, not on the expensive electronics on your desk. The work surface is grippy, with grommets in the rear to push through cables. I wish these were a little bigger, but they do the job as long as you don't have too many cables. A notch in the front lets you get closer to the work surface while maintaining good posture. At the price, the Monoprice is a decent entry-level gaming desk, although I did note that not all of the holes that should have been predrilled were (as is the case with several desks I've reviewed). When the manual tells you to screw something in a specific place, there should be predrilled holes to make that happen or you could end up splitting the wood.
| Desk | Type | Height/Height Range | Desktop Size | Weight Capacity | Storage Space | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SecretLab Magnus Pro XL | Electric | 25.6"-49.2" | 70" x 31.5" | 265 lbs | None | 5 years |
| Branch Standing Desk | Electric | 26"-52" | 48" x 30" or 60" x 30" | 275 lbs | None | 10 years |
| Everest Work Table | Manual | 32"-44.5" | 44" and 72" | 750 lbs | None | N/A |
| Eureka Ark ES | Electric | 29.5"-47.25" | 60" x 26.375" | 220 lbs | 2 door storage cabinet, 1 file cabinet | 1 year - electric modules; 5 years other |
| Fenlo Writing Desk | Writing | 28.1" | 39.4" x 22" | N/A | None | N/A |
| Branch Daily Desk with Casters | Stationary | 28.5" | 36" x 24" or 48" x 24" or 58" x 27" | 200 lbs | None | 10 years |
| Fezibo Midcentury Modern Electric Standing Desk | Electric | 28"-47.6" | 55.2" x 25.62" | 154 lbs | 3 drawers | 2 years - motor and electronics; 5 years - other |
| Branch Duo Standing Desk | Electric | 28"-47.5" | 36" x 24" or 48" x 24" or 58" x 27" | 275 lbs | None | 10 years |
| Branch Desk Riser | Desk Riser | 2.5"-15.8" | 30.7" x 24.3" | 26 lbs | None | 3 years |
| Homary Executive Desk | Stationary | 29.5" | 27.6" x 55.1" or 27.6" x 63" or 27.6" x 70.9" | 176.4 lbs | 3 drawers | 1 year limited |
| Monoprice Steel Frame Computer Desk | Stationary | 48" x 24" | 220 lbs | None | 1 year |
Testing desks is something of a subjective game. Much like office chairs, the tests are based on comfort, reliability and ease of setup rather than things you can test in electronics such as wattage and battery usage. I still tested each one rigorously and will continue to test them for longevity in the coming months.
I tested these desks by asking three people to try each one. Each of them used the desk for at least 16 hours and then gave me their impressions. The three people were 6 feet, 1 inch tall; 5 feet, 8 inches tall; and 5 feet, 4 inches tall respectively, to give me a good cross-section of average user height.
Setup time and package quality
Building desks can often be difficult and time-consuming. For each desk, I timed how long it took to unpack and assemble, and I noted whether the manual was easy to follow. I followed the instructions as closely as possible so that each build was performed as if I had never built one before. I also thoroughly checked the packaging, to make sure it wasn't damaged, and if it was secure enough to carry the desk it had in it. Any damage was noted, and images were sent to the manufacturers for review.
Structural integrity
Modern desks need to be able to hold a good amount of weight. If you're at a writing desk you might only have a small laptop, but if you're using a gaming desk, it likely has two monitors and a giant gaming PC as well. For each desk, I checked the maximum load specification, and I tried to match that with the materials we actually use on our desks.
I used:
- A heavy gaming PC tower
- Two 27-inch gaming monitors on a dual monitor arm
- A MacBook Pro
- Two different keyboards and assorted mice and trackpads
- My Oculus Quest 2
- My phone stand and USB hub
- A podcasting mic and headphones
Depending on the length and weight capacity of the desk, I mix and match these items, then check for any bowing of the top or inconsistencies in how the desk felt as I worked.
The wibble-wobbles
This is a bit of a throwback from when my dad used to make furniture. Anything my dad built would be critiqued by my mum, and if it didn't pass muster, she would say, "It's a bit wibbly-wobbly, isn't it, dear?" Once I've built each desk and loaded it for normal use, I would check it for the wibble-wobbles. This means rocking it from side to side and forward and backward to check that all the screws, bolts and fixtures kept everything rigid.
When looking into desks, there are a few things to consider. One of the most important is the space you will be putting the desk in, making sure it is a good size for the room and you have a good space in your home for it. You will also want to make sure the desktop size matches with how you plan to use the desk, as a small desk won't handle multiple monitors.
Whether it's a traditional desk or a standing desk, you'll always want to have your desk at the same height as your elbows, so the perfect height varies from person to person. This will make sure your desk is ergonomic and help you fix your posture.