A built-in desk is made for one person, so it can fit that person far better than anything off the shelf. These are the dimensions we start from when we design a home office, and how we adjust them.
01Desk height
Most desks are about 29 to 30 inches high. That suits many people, but not everyone. The real goal is a keyboard position where your elbows sit at roughly 90 degrees with your shoulders relaxed. Shorter users often do better with a desk around 27 to 28 inches high, or a keyboard tray below a standard desk. With a built-in, we can simply build the desk at your height.
02Desk depth
A depth of 24 inches works for a laptop and paperwork. With a full-size monitor, 27 to 30 inches lets the screen sit at a comfortable distance, roughly an arm's length away. In a narrow room, a shallow desk can work if the monitor goes on a wall-mounted arm.
03Knee and leg space
Leave a clear knee space at least 30 inches wide under the desk, and avoid drawers directly over your knees. A shallow pencil drawer is fine; a deep drawer at the center usually is not.
04Monitor and light
Set the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level. Windows work best to the side of the screen rather than behind or directly in front of it, which cuts glare. Under-shelf lighting above the desk gives even light across the work surface.
05If you want to stand
A sit-stand desk changes the design. The desk surface has to move freely, so it is built as a separate top on a lifting base, with the surrounding cabinetry set back to give it room. Typical electric bases travel from the mid-20s up to the mid-40s in inches, which covers sitting and standing for most adults.
06Storage at arm's reach
- Files and supplies within reach of the chair, in a drawer pedestal or a pull-out. - Shelves above the desk for books and binders, set high enough to clear your head when you stand. - A cable tray at the back of the desk and a grommet for chargers.
07Try it
Set your desk size and layout, including a sit-stand option, in the Home Office Worx designer, read the design guide, or book a free design visit.