Gaming desks with room for the screens and the cables

A gaming desk needs more depth than a home office desk, a frame that does not shake when you move the mouse quickly, and somewhere for the cables to go. Width depends on how many screens you run. The guide below gives the measurements that matter before you order.

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Buying guide

How to choose a desk for gaming

Desks sold for gaming often lead with lights and carbon effect tops. The parts that decide comfort are plainer, namely the size of the top, the rigidity of the frame, the height and the way cables are handled. A well made plain desk will usually serve you better than a styled one with a thin frame. Before comparing models, measure the wall, the route to the room and the height of your chair. Those three numbers rule out most of the wrong desks straight away.

Width for one, two or three screens

Add 20 to 30 cm if a PC tower sits on the desk rather than on the floor. Speakers either side of a single screen also need their own room, around 15 cm each.

Depth is the measurement people forget

A 27 inch monitor is easiest on the eyes at 60 to 75 cm away, and you still need space in front for the keyboard and a low sensitivity mouse sweep. That points to a top of 70 to 80 cm deep. At 60 cm, a common office depth, the screen ends up too close unless you fit a monitor arm and push it back to the rear edge. For an ultrawide, 80 cm is the sensible minimum.

Height and the case for adjustable desks

Most fixed desks sit between 72 and 75 cm, which suits a wide range of adults when the chair is set so that the forearms rest level on the top. If you are under about 165 cm or over about 190 cm, or you share the desk, a height adjustable frame is worth considering. Electric sit stand desks also let you stand between matches, which many people find easier on the back over a long evening. Check the lowest height as well as the highest, since some frames do not go low enough for shorter users.

Stability and load

Wobble is the most common complaint about cheap desks. Look for a steel frame with a crossbar or a wide T or C leg, a top at least 18 mm thick, and levelling feet for uneven floors. The stated load should cover everything you plan to put on it with margin, since two monitors on an arm, a PC, speakers and your forearms leaning on the edge add up quickly. If you clamp a monitor arm, check the thickness the clamp accepts and that the top is solid enough at the back edge.

Cable management

A gaming desk carries more cables than almost any other piece of furniture. A tray or mesh basket under the rear edge holds the extension lead and power bricks. Grommets let the screen cables drop straight through. Velcro ties and a cable spine down one leg finish the job. Leave a little slack where a monitor arm moves, and keep power and audio cables apart where you can to reduce hum.

Corner and L shaped desks

An L shaped gaming desk uses a corner that would otherwise be wasted and gives a natural split between play and work, with screens on one arm and a laptop or paperwork on the other. Measure both walls and check which side the return goes, since many are reversible during assembly but some are not. Avoid placing the main screen right in the corner, where it sits furthest from you and is hard to light evenly.

Storage around the desk

Drawers built into a desk reduce leg room and are rarely deep enough for anything useful. A separate unit, a pedestal on castors or a narrow shelf beside the desk does the job better and can move when the setup changes. Wall shelves above the screen hold games and controllers but should sit high enough to clear a monitor arm at full extension. A hook under the desk edge for the headset frees space on the top.

Assembly and delivery

Large desks arrive flat packed and heavy, often 30 kg or more for a wide top on a steel frame. Two people make assembly safer and quicker, and an electric screwdriver set to a low torque avoids stripping holes in chipboard. Check the box dimensions against your stairs and doorways before ordering, especially for a top floor flat, and keep the packaging until you have checked every part.

Surfaces, colour and the room around it

A matt top in oak veneer, laminate or black hides fingerprints and reflects less light into the screen than gloss. A full size desk mat protects the surface and gives the mouse a consistent glide. If the desk lives in a bedroom or living room, pick a finish that matches other wood or metal in the space, so the gaming corner reads as part of the room. Our first desks for gaming are arriving and will carry full measurements on each page, with delivery free across the UK.

At a glance

Setup	Minimum width	Comfortable width
One monitor or a TV with a console	100 cm	120 cm
Two 24 or 27 inch monitors	140 cm	160 cm
Ultrawide plus a second screen	150 cm	180 cm
Three monitors	180 cm	200 cm or a corner desk

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a gaming desk and an office desk?

A desk for gaming is usually deeper and wider to hold larger screens and more kit, with extra cable management. A deep, rigid office desk can do the same job without the styling.

What size desk do I need for two monitors?

Allow at least 140 cm of width and 70 cm of depth for two 24 or 27 inch screens, more if speakers or a PC tower sit on top.

Are standing desks worth it for gaming?

They help if you play for long sessions or share the desk with someone of a different height. Check the lowest setting and the stability at full height before buying.

What height should a desk be for gaming?

Most adults are comfortable at 72 to 75 cm with the chair set so the forearms rest level on the top and the feet stay flat.