9 Best Student Home Desks Of 2023

Students need a good desk in their room, whether they live at home or in their dorm room. PropertyNest found these top desks so that budding scholars can be as productive and focused as possible. Learn which desk is right for small spaces, shared rooms, or computers, and more.
student desk

As the landscape of education continues to evolve, the importance of creating a productive and inspiring workspace for students has never been more apparent. With the growing prevalence of remote and hybrid learning, a well-designed home desk has become essential to a student's academic success.

Gone are the days when a simple table and chair would suffice; today's student home desks must be thoughtfully crafted to foster creativity, focus, and organization.

This comprehensive guide will explore the various elements that contribute to a practical student home desk, from ergonomics and technology integration to personalized aesthetics and storage solutions. By the end of this article, you will have the tools and insights necessary to design an optimal workspace that not only enhances academic performance but also nurtures the growth and development of young minds.

The Best Desks for Students

  • SHW Electric Adjustable Desk: Best Adjustable Height Desk
  • Crosley Furniture Palmetto Desk: Best Classic Desk
  • CubiCubi L-Shaped Gaming Desk: Best Desk for Aspiring Programmers & Designers
  • USB Folding Wall Desk: Best Foldable Desk for Small Rooms
  • West Elm x PBT Mid-Century Smart Wall Desk: Best Space Saver Desk With Storage
  • Lark Manor Salinas Computer Desk With Hutch: Best Study & Computer Desk
  • Hadulcet Mobile Standing Desk: Best Ergonomic Standing Desk for Students
  • Highland Double Wall Desk: Best Double Desk for Students Who Share a Room
  • Branch Office Desk: Best Desk for Adult Students

SHW Electric Adjustable Desk: Best Adjustable Height Desk

81B8C-K81dL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

SHW is a brand that people trust, and rightfully so.

They offer sleek, economical solutions for just about every part of home life. This particular standing desk is a great little number for people who have kids that are still growing.

Why? Because it’s height-adjustable so it grows with them.

This desk comes with all the bells and whistles when it comes to your study sessions. Electronic height adjustment, a nice wood finish, a stable frame, and a nice array of color options make this a great choice.

Pros and Cons of SHW Electric Height Adjustable Desk

Pros
  • Can handle up to 110 lbs in weight
  • Easy electronic adjustment
  • Comes with cord organizers
Cons
  • Maybe a bit small for some
  • Pricey

Crosley Furniture Palmetto Desk: Best Classic Desk

Hunterstown+Desk.jpeg

This beautiful desk is a solid choice when it comes to a choice for your budding scholar's bedroom.

The desk offers a generous amount of storage, featuring five drawers and one enclosed shelf space.

Its neat and compact size makes it perfect for any sized room--from a young child's to an adult student's bedroom.'

The Palmetto Desk by Crosley Furniture is going to cost more than the average student desk but it's a great investment that will be used for years to come.

Customers note that the desk is easy to assemble, and the materials are weighty and feel like quality wood. The downside is that the door is not truly ventilating as one might think with the slat feature.

Pros and Cons of Crosley Furniture Palmetto Desk

Pros
  • Classic look that fits any style
  • Comes in two different finishes
  • Ample storage
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Some customers complained of strong fumes

CubiCubi L-Shaped Gaming Desk: Best Desk for Aspiring Programmers & Designers

714C-6qR72S._AC_SL1500_.jpg

This desk is called the CubiCubi Gaming Desk but it doesn't have to be just for gaming.

The L-shape configuration means that plenty of space, not just for books but multiple computers, monitors, and hardware.

It's an ideal setup for a tween or teen who has an active interest in pursuing programming, digital design, even electronic music, and of course, gaming.

Incredibly affordable, it's a desk that could work for anyone who needs space for their work.

It's also a great configuration for someone who has a lot of Zoom meetings to attend.

Pros and Cons of the CubiCubi L-Shaped Gaming Desk

Pros
  • Very affordable
  • Comes in different color choices
  • Very spacious
Cons
  • Minimal storage
  • Might not fit all rooms.

USB Folding Wall Desk: Best Study Desk For Tiny Rooms

Screen Shot 2021-08-25 at 10.24.34 PM.png

This desk is perfect for a tiny bedroom or a cramped dorm room. Students need good desk space to do homework and study.

The ideal desk space is not only able to accommodate books, a laptop, and/or a tablet but also hold extra items for easy access like pens or pencils.

This industrial wall desk can accommodate all of these things plus has USB charging stations for your student's devices right at the top of the desk and even has a cup holder.

The desk has all kinds of cubby holes and even grooves to hold up tablets or hold open books for quick viewing.

At the end of the day, the desk easily folds down to make more space in the room.

Pros and Cons of USB Folding Wall Desk

Pros
  • Folds down to save even more space
  • Includes additional storage, plus slot for holding tablets.
  • USB charging stations
Cons
  • Must be plugged into a wall to utilize USB stations.

West Elm x PBT Mid-Century Smart Wall Desk: Best Space Saver Desk With Storage

Screen Shot 2021-08-25 at 10.44.30 PM.png

Dorms will not allow students to drill into walls. That’s why it makes sense to look for dorm room-friendly furniture that just works well.

Naturally, the Mid-Century Smart Wall Desk works perfectly for anyone who just needs the perfect study space without separately installing wall shelves.

There are other ladder-style desks, but this one designed by West Elm for Pottery Barn Teen not only incorporates shelves with sliding doors but also includes a hidden charging station, a bulletin board, and LED lights.

The gorgeous wood finish and mid-century modern design mean easy incorporation into anyone's room.

It is pricier than other desks, but you get many features and high-quality construction.

The bonus is that the wood is sustainably sourced and Greenguard Gold certified, meaning low emission of any fumes, plus tested for over 10,000 different harmful chemicals.

Pros and Cons of West Elm PB Teen Mid Century Smart Wall Desk

Pros
  • Good storage
  • Environmentally-friendly
  • Includes lights, charging station, and bulletin board
  • Beautiful clean design
Cons
  • Pricey

Salinas Computer Desk With Hutch by Lark Manor: Best Study & Computer Desk

Brayden-Studio-Salinas-computer-Desk

If you're looking for a complete desk set for your budding scholar, then the Salinas Computer Desk is the whole package.

It includes a Hutch and even a cabinet for your hard drive.

The Salinas Desk is ideal because of the extra storage space in the hutch and the larger size that makes it easy to use a desktop computer. The desk even includes a keyboard tray.

If your budding scholar needs extra storage, this line includes extra cabinets, desks, and shelves you can purchase in addition.

Overall, the Salinas is a great choice for kid who has a little extra space in their bedroom.

Choose from seven different finishes.

Pros and Cons of Salinas Computer Desk With Hutch and Office Chair

Pros
  • Lots of space and storage
  • Configured to accommodate a desktop computer.
  • Comes with hutch and office chair
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Difficult for some to assemble.

Hadulcet Mobile Standing Desk: Best Ergonomic Standing Desk for Students

71GOarCthWL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

Did you know that sitting down for long periods of time has been linked to serious health conditions?

It’s true. That’s why standing desks are starting to get recommended by doctors for kids who live a sedentary lifestyle.

This standing desk is affordable, adjustable, and gets the job done.

When your kid’s not using it as a desk, you can also use it as a nice shelf or wheel it to the basement. It’s kind of perfect, in its own way.

Pros and Cons of Hadulcet Mobile Standing Desk

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Multi-functional and multi-configurational
  • Ergonomic
  • Easy assembly
Cons
  • Utilitarian and not stylish
  • Components must be raised/lowered manually

Highland Double Wall Desk: Best Double Desk for Students Who Share a Room

highland-double-wall-desk-narrow-bookcase-set-o.jpeg

While more parents are opting to have only one child than before, the majority of families in America still have more than one child, the average being about 2 children per household.

Kids sharing a room is the most economical choice. So, most parents need at least two desks per bedroom.

The Highland Double Wall Desk and Bookcase Set is a great option. Spanning just 83" means it can fit against a wall of most bedrooms, even a tiny one.

The desks match, and the bookcase completes the set by tying the two together with shared storage. It also helps create personal space for each student.

This desk set also comes Greenguard Gold certified, ensuring your young students are not exposed to harmful chemicals.

Pros and Cons of Highland Double Wall Desk and Narrow Bookcase Set

Pros
  • Two matching desks with bookcase/drawer separator
  • Good storage
  • Each student has personal space
  • Small footprint
  • Environmentally-Friendly
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Might not fit all room configurations

Branch Office Desk: Best Desk for Adult Students

052e06f2eebd36d04a46d066a6be62d3_1000x1000.jpeg

The Office Desk by Branch is just a simple classic work desk made for home and business offices.

Its simple, clean design and dimensions allow the user plenty of workspace, plus surface area to place laptops, books, folders, bags, or even a desktop or monitor.

A narrow lid opens up for easy wire and plugs management.

Branch's desks are made with contract-grade materials meaning they are going to be extra durable and impact and stain-resistant.

Buying a product from Branch means you're buying quality.

Once you've finished your graduate studies, your home workspace is already set up for your new career!

This classic office desk is a great choice for even an older child or college student and will last well into their adult years.

Pros and Cons of Branch Office Desk

Pros
  • Made with extra durable materials
  • Feet are height adjustable
  • Hidden wire/plug management
Cons
  • Pricier than some kids' desks
  • No storage

Methodology

How We Chose Our Top Desks

Desks are one of those types of furniture that you can’t ignore. Quality matters here! Trying to figure out what your desk needs to have can be hard. Here were our critique points:

Durability

You want to have a desk that won’t crumble within a matter of months. Desks take a lot of abuse. A good surface that’s easy to write on is a must.

Style

Style may seem superficial but is a critical factor when most people shop for furniture in their homes. At times, function may trump design and style. However, we generally favored desks that were able to marry both function and design.

Ergonomics

While not all the desks listed are designed to be ergonomic, some of the selected desks are exactly for that purpose as needs based on users can differ considerably.

Price

Pricing varied considerably with the selected desks but fell generally within an affordable price range. Our goal was not to list desks that were tens of thousands of dollars. However, we were also wary of desks that were far too cheap as this is usually indicative of quality.

Use

The truth is that not all desks will work with all people. You will have desks that are better for large rooms, better for small rooms, and more. Since every kind of desk will have its own uses, we are going to have to try to pair the desk to the best possible use.

Customer Reviews

It’s important to choose a desk that has good reviews, as this is based on real user experience. Otherwise, you’re going to end up feeling fleeced when you actually buy the desk.

How Should You Choose A Study Desk?

As a writer, I know how important a good desk can be.

A good desk can be a huge boon to your lifestyle, especially when you spend most of your life at the desk. We suggest that you do the following.

Figure Out the Desk Measurements

The smallest desks are going to be around 31 inches wide.

The largest ones can easily to 60 inches.

You need to make sure that the desk will be able to fit in your area without too much of a hassle.

Consider the Age of Your Student

Desks for kids who are very young are going to feel cramped for older teens.

If your kiddo just entered high school, it’s safe to say that the desk will need to be meant more for an adult.

If you’re a grad student that wants a nice desk, well, I’ll leave you to it.

Determine Your Aesthetic

A beautiful desk can encourage students to study. You want your kid to want to sit at the desk.

So, choose a look that suits your kid and that your kid likes. Otherwise, they’ll hate it.

Choose the Type of Desk Needed

Now that you know the general stats you want your study desk to have, you are going to have to figure out what type you want.

There are several styles of desk you can choose from.

You can get a standing desk, an L-shaped gaming desk, an artist desk, a writing desk, or an ergonomic desk.

Generally speaking, standing desks and ergonomic desks tend to be the healthier options.

Meanwhile writing desks, artist desks, and gaming decks are more use-oriented.

We made some suggestions as to the type in our top picks, just to make it easy for you.

Should You Let Your Kid Pick Their Student Desk?

Honestly, it’s usually a smart idea.

Kids tend to have ideas of what they want to see as far as their rooms go.

This is also true when it comes to furniture. Having a kid who’s happy with their desk means they will be more likely to want to study.

Why Are Standing Desks So Expensive?

Standing desks are expensive because they are seen as a niche item.

However, this is starting to change since more manufacturers are starting to enter the standing desk market.

You may be able to get one for as little as $150 in some cases.

How Much Should You Budget for a Desk?

A typical desk should cost between $200 to $2,000.

Student desks, on the other hand, tend to range from $50 to $1,000.

How Long Should a Desk Last?

It depends on the workmanship.

However, most desks should be able to last for at least 10 years before they truly need replacement.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
About the author

Ossiana Tepfenhart is a writer for PropertyNest and writes on all things New York City real estate.