Office Desk Size Guide

Finding the Right Desk Size

Choosing the correct desk size is crucial for both comfort and space efficiency. Too small, and your team will feel cramped; too large, and you will waste valuable floor space and budget.

Standard Desk Dimensions

Width: Office desks typically come in widths of 800mm, 1000mm, 1200mm, 1400mm, 1600mm, and 1800mm. For commercial offices, 1200mm is the minimum recommended width, with 1400mm and 1600mm being the most popular for everyday use.

Depth: Standard depths are 600mm, 700mm, and 800mm. The right depth depends on your monitor setup: 600mm works for laptop-only use, 700mm for single monitors, and 800mm for dual-monitor configurations.

Height: Fixed desks are typically 725-740mm high, designed around an average adult seated at a standard office chair. Height-adjustable desks range from approximately 640mm to 1300mm.

Size Recommendations by Role

General Office: 1200-1400mm x 700-800mm. Suitable for most administrative and office roles with a single monitor and keyboard.

IT and Development: 1400-1600mm x 800mm. Dual-monitor setups require the extra width and depth for comfortable screen positioning.

Executive: 1600-2000mm x 900-1000mm. Executive desks are larger to accommodate meetings across the desk and to create a sense of presence in private offices.

Home Office: 1000-1200mm x 500-600mm. Compact desks that fit residential spaces while still providing adequate workspace.

Call Centre: 1000-1200mm x 600-800mm. Call centre desks prioritise density, with narrower widths but adequate depth for screen and keyboard.

Space Planning Guidelines

When planning your office layout, allow 6-8 square metres per workstation including circulation space. Primary gangways should be at least 1200mm wide, with secondary routes at least 900mm. Ensure there is adequate space behind each desk for chair movement, typically 800-1000mm from the desk edge to any obstruction behind.

For bench desking configurations, typical row spacing is 1600mm centre-to-centre for back-to-back desks with 800mm depth, allowing adequate chair space between rows.