How Deep Should a Desk Be?

how deep should a desk be

Going back to works after a pause might be overwhelming. Several weeks of vacations or months of quarantine are relaxing. You are free to sleep, do yoga, listen to music, and come upon premium tracks at any time of the day and night. Are you working at home? Don’t forget about your posture and overall comfort. How deep should a desk be? Let’s discuss your office ergonomics today. Spending up to 8-10 hours a day in front of your computer is not a piece of cake. You are to keep your body (spine especially) healthy. Selecting a new desk, don’t forget to measure its dimensions. It’s one of the basic things to consider.

How Do Dimensions Work?

There are times when working hard is challenging. Lengthy sabbatical or quarantine could make you chilling. Summer heat makes you dream about swimming or sunbathing. Los Angeles county reopens its beaches now. Unfortunately, some restrictions remain in force. How to stay productive these days?

You would need to build a comfortable home office. Space, lighting, and ambient temperature matter. Selecting a comfortable office chair, along with the best writing desk, is crucial. Don’t forget to consider:

  1. Ergonomics.
  2. Desk type and shape.
  3. It’s quality and materials.
  4. Construction.
  5. Style.
  6. Functionality.

See interesting information about best writing desk!
How much space do you need between a desk and a wall? Nowadays, we have to apply a 6-feet rule. It helps us create a virus-safe working environment. If you work at home, it’s not necessary. Do you live in a small condo apartment? It’s possible to place your desk against a wall. You can customize interior design in your study room, making it stylish. Placing two desks at opposite walls, keep not less than 54-66 inches between them.

What is the Standard Size of a Desk?

Prolonged sitting at a desk may cause discomfort. Poor posture can strain your neck and spinal discs. It increases the risk of injuries, back pain and headaches. Don’t forget to stretch your body regularly. Do it every 45-50 minutes of work. Move your body or do some simple exercises.

Office ergonomics includes proper chair height, tools spacing and good posture. Desk vs table is a bit smaller. It looks like a workstation for one person. So, select it according to your needs and preferences.

Table Type Typical Dimensions, W x D x H, in.
Kids 36 x 24 x 22
Student 43 x 30 x 30
Writing 58 x 30 x 22
Computer 60 x 30 x 26
Executive 60 x 30 x 30

Size of your desk depends on its type and purpose of use. Your age, occupation, and position matters. Classroom design standards are strict. For example, in NY state, every student should have at least 17-22 sq. ft. of space per person. Commonly, best desks for students are simple and compact. They fit small spaces and suits tough budgets. Most importantly, these perfect pieces of furniture are modern and stylish. Besides, several spacious shelves and drawers make them functional and comfortable.

See interesting information about best students desk!

What is the Normal Height of a Desk?

There is no standard desk. Each piece of furniture is an individual: corner, glass, wooden, rectangular, U-shaped, and L-shaped office workshops. For example, a typical desk height is 29-30 inches. It’s a kind of ideal height for a 6-feet tall person.

How tall is the average person sitting down? The National Center for Health Statistics measures it. According to the organization, most Americans are a bit shorter. Are you selecting a desk that fits your body type? You might need to calculate its ideal size. Or use the chart below as a reference.

Your Height, in. Seat Height, in. Desk Height, in.
60 14.0 22.5
63 15.0 23.5
66 16.0 25.0
69 17.0 26.0
72 18.0 27.0

It means that 99% of people may have poor posture. They sit not completely comfortably at their writing or computing desks. Fortunately, modern office chairs are adjustable by height. They come with lumbar supports, armrests and wheels that ensure mobility.

Can you adjust your desk height? Adjustable sit-stand desks are available nowadays. But if you work for 8-10 hours a day, you might find this option tiring and not stable enough. How do you determine the correct height of a desk? If you prefer traditional pieces of furniture, make your workstation comfortable. Select the item that fits you. Otherwise, kill it, altering your seat height.

What Does the Depth of a Desk Mean?

You can store a lot of accessories on your desk surface. It’s necessary to place your:

  • keyboards;
  • monitor;
  • mouth;
  • smartphone and other objects;
  • your elbows.

Correct sitting posture is very important. Armrests should be at the desk height. Both your arms and your knees are to be at 90-degree angles. Your monitor has to be in front of you. Keeping it a bit tilted, with a top at your eye level is beneficial.

How deep should a computer desk be? Common depth is about 30 inches. This distance is enough to place your monitor and keyboard. The screen might be at arm’s length away from your face. It enables comfortable images and text viewing. 20 inches is a minimal reference distance from your eyes and the monitor.

Size of the monitor also matters. How deep should a gaming desk be? Something like a triple monitor gaming setup lets you remain at a distance. It helps you avoid eye strain and other health issues. So, large desks that are 65” or even 72 inches deep exist.

Working at a small monitor or laptop, you might focus on reading. So, you approach closer to the laptop screen. But don’t forget to keep your shoulders relaxed. With proper lumbar support, your spine is to remain in line (straight).

What is the minimum depth for a standing desk?

There is no universal standard for the minimum desk depth of a standing desk, but here are some general guidelines:

  1. For proper ergonomics, aim for at least 24″ depth. This allows space for items like a monitor, keyboard, paperwork, etc.
  2. 30-36″ depth is ideal for using a computer monitor comfortably along with writing space.
  3. For desks used mainly for writing, reading or limited computer use, you may be able to get by with 20-23″ minimum.
  4. Consider the depth of your devices – will you use dual monitors that require more room? Laptops usually need less depth.
  5. If using a keyboard tray, make sure the desk is deep enough to accommodate the tray sliding in and out.
  6. Those with larger builds may want to opt for depths on the higher side of 24-36″ for more elbow room.
  7. If concerned about space, look for corner desk designs that can maximize depth in a smaller footprint.

The key is having enough work surface depth for your typical desk activities. Prioritize at least 24″ for versatility, or go larger if you anticipate needing more usable horizontal space.

Is 60cm deep enough for a desk?

When it comes to desk depth, 60cm (approximately 23.5 inches) is generally considered the absolute minimum for a functional workspace. Here are a few factors to consider when evaluating if 60cm will be deep enough for your needs:

  1. Best depth for a desk – is of 60-75cm (23.5-30 inches) is usually recommended as the ergonomic range for using a computer keyboard and mouse comfortably. 60cm leaves little extra room but can work.
  2. Those doing tasks beyond computer work like writing, arts/crafts, machine operation, etc. may want more depth for optimal workspace. 60cm may feel cramped.
  3. If using large monitors or equipment, 60cm is quite limiting. You’ll have to position items very precisely to fit. Dual monitors may not be possible.
  4. People with broad builds may feel confined by a 60cm deep surface. More elbow room is preferable.
  5. For a primary desk, bigger tends to be better for versatility. But 60cm can work well for secondary spaces like print stations.

While a 60cm desk is certainly usable, optimal comfort and workspace usually starts at 75cm/30 inches of depth and up. Evaluate how you intend to use the specific desk to decide if 60cm will suffice. More depth provides flexibility.

Final Words

Now you know, how to write out dimensions of your desk. It should fit your body type. Your working comfort and ergonomics are essential. Monitor size and your current activity also matter. Playing games might be stellar and relaxing. Writing some articles or messages, you keep composed, concentrated on your work. Keep your necessary items like printed materials, books or your smartphone at hand. Minimize reaching. Don’t ignore your comfort and ergonomics. This way, you keep healthy and boost your productivity.

John J. Winter

Hello and welcome to my glass desk blog! My name is John. I live and work in LA. As an interior designer, I would like to give you some simple pieces of advice. I hope they help you to select the best desk and maintain it properly, without any efforts.

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