Plan Your Gaming Desk Before You Buy: Measurements, Standing Desks and Keyboard Trays
The measurements to take before buying a desk, how to size a desk for your monitors, and when a standing desk frame or keyboard tray makes sense.
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The measurements to take before buying a desk, how to size a desk for your monitors, and when a standing desk frame or keyboard tray makes sense.
Photo by Ssamm T / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
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Many desk purchases go wrong for the same reasons: a desk that’s too shallow for the monitor, too high for the chair, or too wide for the room. A few measurements before you buy prevent most of these problems.
Measurements to take
- Room space: the wall width and how far the desk can extend into the room while leaving space to pull out the chair.
- Your elbow height when seated: sit in your chair with your feet flat and arms relaxed. The desk surface, or keyboard, should be at about this height.
- Monitor width: add the widths of all your monitors, plus space for speakers.
- Viewing distance: for a 27-inch monitor, most people are comfortable with the screen around an arm’s length away. Deeper desks make that easier.
Desk depth matters most
A desk 60cm (24 inches) deep feels cramped with a large monitor on its stand. 70–80cm (28–32 inches) is more comfortable. If you can’t get a deeper desk, a monitor arm lets you push the screen back.
Standing desks
A sit-stand desk lets you set the exact height for sitting, which helps if a standard desk is too high for you, and lets you stand for part of the day. Look at:
- Dual motors: more stable and lift more weight. The FlexiSpot E7 Pro is a dual-motor frame.
- Weight capacity: include monitors, a PC (if it sits on the desk) and arms.
- Height range: check that its lowest height suits you when seated.
- Desk frames: a VIVO electric desk frame lets you use your own tabletop in the size you need.
Keyboard trays
If your desk is fixed and too high, an under desk keyboard tray lowers the keyboard and mouse to elbow height. Check that the tray is wide enough for your mouse movement at your sensitivity.
Cable planning
Plan where power comes from. A cable tray under the back of the desk holds the power strip, and on standing desks, leave enough slack in cables for the full height range.
Bottom line
Measure your elbow height, your monitors and your room first, then buy a desk that fits all three.
Our picks: Gaming desks & Gaming monitors
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ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ
Popular 1440p high-refresh monitor that rarely disappoints.
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Illustrative photos: Photo by Ssamm T / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0; Photo by Lennybird / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0; Photo by Luke Chesser / Wikimedia Commons / CC0; Photo by PantheraLeo1359531 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0; Photo by Terabass / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0