Desks for small spaces: three that fit, compared by footprint

How we chose these desks

We have not used these desks ourselves. The picks below are based on manufacturer and retailer specifications, independent reviews where they exist, and published workplace guidance on space and leg room. For each desk we focused on the numbers that decide whether it fits a small room: width, depth, height and what is underneath.

Before choosing, measure your space. Our guide to what size desk you need walks through it. The short version:

• Leave at least 36 inches behind the desk to sit down and get up, and 42 to 48 inches for everyday comfort, as office space planners at Office Furniture 2 Go recommend.
• Keep your screen at least 20 inches from your eyes, per OSHA's workstation guidance.
• Look for open leg room at least 20 inches wide under the desk, also per OSHA.

Quick comparison

Footprints come from the listings linked in our sources. Check the current listing before buying; manufacturers change specifications.

Best for a narrow alcove: SHW Mission 40-Inch Computer Desk

At 19 inches deep, this is the shallowest full desk on our list, which matters when a bed or a walkway sits behind you. In a room where you have 60 inches from wall to bed, a 19-inch desk leaves 41 inches behind it: close to the comfortable range planners recommend. A 24-inch desk in the same room would leave 36, the bare minimum.

The trade-off is height. Walmart's listing gives the height as 28 inches, an inch or two lower than many desks. That suits shorter people and lower chairs, but if your chair cannot go low enough, you may type with your hands above elbow height. Mayo Clinic's office ergonomics guide recommends hands at or slightly below the elbows. Check your chair's lowest seat height before ordering.

The 19-inch depth is fine for a laptop and workable for a 24-inch monitor, especially with a monitor arm that lets the screen sit back over the rear edge.

Best for sitting and standing: FlexiSpot EN1, 40 x 24 in

If you want to alternate between sitting and standing, a small electric desk avoids the stack of a converter on top of a fixed desk. The EN1 comes in a 40 x 24 inch size that fits the same alcove as a standard small desk, provided you have the depth.

Laptop Mag reviewed an EN1 (in a larger 48 x 30 inch top) and found it barely moved at any height, including full extension, and that the motor was quiet. The reviewer also noted the frame is heavy enough that a second person may be needed to flip it upright during assembly. Laptop Mag's review lists a height range of roughly 28 to 47.6 inches; check the current listing for the size you buy.

Because it is 24 inches deep, plan your floor space with care: you need 24 inches for the desk plus at least 36 behind it, so about 60 inches of floor depth.

A height-adjustable desk also needs an outlet within reach of the motor cable. Our guide to hiding desk cables without drilling covers safe routing.

Best when there is no floor space: Tangkula Fold-Down Wall Desk

A fold-down desk is the answer when the room has to be a bedroom or living room again at 6 p.m. When closed, it is a shallow cabinet on the wall; when open, it gives a work surface of about 30.5 x 22.5 inches according to the listing, with shelves inside the cabinet.

Two cautions. First, it has to be screwed into the wall, ideally into studs. In a rental, ask your landlord before drilling. Second, the listing rates the desktop at up to 44 pounds, and it is small. It suits a laptop, and possibly a laptop stand with a separate keyboard. A full-size monitor on its own stand is too much for it.

What to look for in any small desk

Depth before width

Most people shop by width because that is the number on the wall. In small rooms depth is usually the limit, because it eats into the space behind you. Compare desk depth plus 36 inches with your floor depth before anything else.

An open frame

Drawers, side panels and footbars all reduce leg room. OSHA's work-space guidance suggests at least 20 inches of width and 17 inches of depth at knee level under a work surface. A simple four-leg or T-leg frame usually beats a desk with a drawer unit when the desk is under 40 inches wide.

Height that matches your chair

Fixed desks sold for home use are usually 28 to 30 inches tall. If you are shorter or taller than average, a height-adjustable desk or a standing desk converter gives you more control than a chair alone.

Weight rating

If you plan to add a monitor arm, check the desktop material and thickness. Clamp-on arms concentrate weight at one edge, and particle board tops can flex. The Ergotron LX's clamp, for example, fits desktops 0.4 to 2.4 inches thick.

Delivery and assembly in a small home

Small desks still arrive in large, heavy boxes, and the room you are furnishing is usually the hardest place to assemble anything. A few things to plan for:

• Build it where it will stand. A finished desk often will not fit through a bedroom door or around a tight corner, especially an electric desk with its frame attached.
• Clear floor space. You need roughly the desk's footprint plus room to kneel on every side while you work. In a small room, move the chair and any loose furniture out first.
• Get a second pair of hands for heavy frames. Laptop Mag's reviewer finished the FlexiSpot EN1 in just under an hour but noted that flipping the assembled desk upright may need two people.
• Keep the packaging until it works. Check the frame is level and the desktop sits flat before you recycle the box, in case you need to return it.

Mistakes to avoid

Frequently asked questions

Is 40 inches wide enough for a desk? For a laptop, or a laptop in front of one monitor, yes. For two monitors side by side, you will usually want 55 inches or more.

Is 19 or 20 inches deep enough? For a laptop, yes. For a monitor, it can work if the screen sits at the back edge or on an arm, so it stays at least 20 inches from your eyes.

Should I buy a standing desk for a small room? Only if you have the floor depth: an electric desk is usually 24 inches deep or more. On a shallower desk, a compact converter is an alternative.

Which one should you choose?

Still planning the whole space? Our small home office checklist puts every step in order.