Desk Dimensions: Standard Desk Size and Height, With Real Models Measured
Short answer
A standard desk is 29 to 30 inches tall. Common sizes are 48, 60 or 72 inches wide by 24, 30 or 36 inches deep, and small desks start around 40 by 20 inches. Leave at least 30 inches behind the desk to pull out the chair, so a 24″-deep desk takes 54″ from the wall.
29–30″
standard height
48×24″
common size
30″
behind it for the chair
Contents
Standard desk size
Houzz gives the common freestanding desk sizes as 48, 60 and 72 inches wide and 24, 30 and 36 inches deep. Desks sold for small rooms run smaller: IKEA’s MICKE is 41⅜ by 19⅝ inches, and its KALLAX desk only 15⅜ inches deep.
| Size | Width | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Small desks | 40–44″ | 15–21″ |
| Common sizes | 48″ | 24″ |
| 60″ | 30″ | |
| 72″ | 36″ |
7 real desks, measured
These are the sizes IKEA lists for its desks, width by depth by height:
| Desk | Width × depth | Height | Clear under |
|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA KALLAX desk | 43¾×15⅜″ | 30⅜″ | 28⅜″ |
| IKEA MICKE | 41⅜×19⅝″ | 29½″ | – |
| IKEA BRYTNING | 43¼×20⅞″ | 29½″ | 25¼″ |
| IKEA MICKE, wide | 55⅞×19⅝″ | 29½″ | 24¾″ |
| IKEA LAGKAPTEN / ALEX | 47¼×23⅝″, 55⅛×23⅝″ | 28¾″ | – |
| IKEA TONSTAD | 55⅛×29½″ | 29½″ | 25¼″ |
| IKEA UTESPELARE (gaming) | 63×31½″ | 26¾–30¾″ | – |
Across the seven, the fixed heights run from 28¾ to 30⅜ inches, which matches the 29 to 30 inches Houzz calls standard.
Standard desk height
Houzz puts the standard desk height at 29 to 30 inches (74 to 76 cm), and most desks are built to it. What matters for comfort is the room under the top: OSHA’s guide to computer workstations says clearance for the legs under a desk "should generally be between 20-28 inches" high.
If your desk is the wrong height, OSHA’s fixes are simple: raise a low desk on stable risers, or, if it’s too high and can’t be lowered, raise the chair and add a footrest. A desk drawer can eat the thigh room; OSHA suggests removing a center drawer if it does. For a keyboard, Houzz says a tray set at 24 to 26 inches is more comfortable than the desktop.
How much room a desk needs
- Behind the desk: at least 30 inches to the wall or shelves behind you, so you can pull the chair out and stand up (Houzz).
- Two desks back to back across a room: 54 to 66 inches between them (Houzz).
- Monitor: at least 20 inches away, directly in front of you (OSHA). On a shallow desk, set it at the back edge.
- Under the desk: keep the knee space clear; OSHA warns against storing things there.
In a small bedroom the chair space usually overlaps a walkway or the side of the bed. The 10×10 bedroom layouts show where a desk fits next to a queen bed, and space between furniture for walking covers the path behind the chair.
Free tool
Check a desk against the spot you have: the furniture size finder lists typical sizes for 36 pieces and marks what fits a width and depth you enter.
Questions people ask
What is the standard desk height?
29 to 30 inches from the floor to the top of the desk (Houzz). The IKEA desks above run from 28¾ to 30⅜ inches.
What is the standard desk size?
Houzz gives the common sizes as 48, 60 and 72 inches wide and 24, 30 and 36 inches deep. Small desks start around 40 by 20 inches.
How deep should a desk be?
Houzz’s common depths are 24, 30 and 36 inches. A deeper top lets you set a monitor farther back: OSHA’s guide wants it at least 20 inches away.
How much space do you need behind a desk?
At least 30 inches between the desk and the wall or furniture behind you, to pull the chair out and get up (Houzz).
How much leg room should be under a desk?
OSHA’s guide gives 20 to 28 inches of clear height under the desktop for your legs. A drawer under the top cuts into it: the wide MICKE has 24¾ inches under its drawer.
What size desk fits a small bedroom?
A 40 to 44 inch desk, 20 inches or less deep, such as the IKEA MICKE (41⅜×19⅝″) or BRYTNING (43¼×20⅞″). Count 30 inches behind it for the chair.
Sources
- Key measurements to help you design the perfect home office (Houzz): desk height 29–30″; 48, 60, 72″ wide by 24, 30, 36″ deep; 30″ behind the desk; 54–66″ between facing desks; keyboard tray 24–26″
- Computer Workstations eTool: desks (OSHA): leg clearance 20–28″ high, monitor at least 20″ away, risers, footrest and center-drawer fixes
- Desks and computer desks (IKEA US): product pages for the MICKE, KALLAX, BRYTNING, LAGKAPTEN / ALEX, TONSTAD and UTESPELARE desks