Buying the best gaming desk is often an overlooked part of building a setup. Although it literally holds your console and peripherals in place, it's rarely something that people invest heavily in.
When it comes to picking one up, you have to consider the height. You'll need to ensure your gaming chair slides under it with ease. Generally, regular seated desks have a height of 29 inches to 32 inches. To find the appropriate height, measure the height of your chair from the top of the armrests to the bottom of the wheels.
Meanwhile, the best standing desks vary a little more. They can be as low as 35 inches and go all the way up to 44 inches or more in some instances. If you can place your elbows at a 90-degree angle on the desk comfortably, then you've got the height right.
Next comes the width. Now, the right width will depend on how many monitors your setup has and the size of those monitors. For instance, if you have two of the best 43-inch monitors, your desk should at least be 90 inches to 100 inches in width or more.
Getting the depth right is also important, which is the distance between the front side and the backside of your desk. This is key because you want to have a comfortable distance (at least 20 to 28 inches) between your eyes and the monitor.
Finally, you'll need to consider the shape. Desks can be rectangular, L-shaped, and even curved, with L-shaped desks usually best for a multi-monitor setup, and can sometimes even be adjusted into a U or V formation as well.
There are some additional extras to consider too, like cable management, height adjustment, and if you want to stand at all. With these, and the aforementioned factors in mind, we've rounded up our top picks below. Let's get into it...
Best gaming desk
Secretlab Magnus
Best gaming desk
Secretlab is probably best known for its gaming chairs; however, the company has quite a collection of impressive desks for gaming as well.
This Secretlab Magnus, for instance, is its standard gaming desk, yet it packs a truckload of features. To begin with, you get a large 59-inch surface that can accommodate a relatively packed PC setup.
The surface itself is covered with a magnetic leatherette desk mat, which comes in a wide variety of themes to choose from. As a result, you can attach various magnetic cable management accessories to it, allowing you to keep your desk clear of clutter.
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Secretlab has also integrated lighting to improve the aesthetic. You can sync the RBG lights of the desk with the Nanoleaf app. Plus, with 123 individual LEDs, you can light up the dynamic lights as per your theme. And, the desk can also be integrated with your smart home system.
Finally, if you ever end up needing more space, Secretlab makes it possible to attach an L-shaped extension. In fact, you can add more accessories like cable anchors and sheaths from Secretlab if required.
So, if you’re looking for a sturdy metal desk with gamer-friendly features, then you can’t go wrong with this Secretlab Magnus desk.
Secretlab Magnus Pro
Best standing gaming desk
Looking to spend a little more? Then the Secretlab Magnus Pro is another great option to consider.
To start things off, Secretlab’s Magnus Pro is a sitting-and-standing desk, resulting in it being height adjustable from 25.6 inches to 49.2 inches, thus allowing you to stand whilst gaming.
Next, it has a fully integrated power supply column in the left leg, which allows for some well-organised cable management. All you have to do is plug all your cables into the column and you're free from clutter. You also get a full-size cable tray to hold and hide your wires away.
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Just like other Secretlab desks, it comes with a magnetic desk pad. This gives you a magnetic surface to which you can attach a number of Secretlab accessories.
In terms of lighting, you get RGB Nanoleaf-powered lights. All you have to do is snap on the Secretlab MAGRGB smart light strip on, then you have complete control using the Nanoleaf app.
Ultimately, this Pro bit of kit looks to be a great pick. If you want more room on your desk, though, then the Secretlab Magnus Pro XL, the largest one in this series, is also worth checking out.
Homall Gaming Desk
Best cheap gaming desk
Homall’s gaming desk may not have all the bells and whistles compared to our previous entries, but that doesn't mean it's not a great option to consider.
The Z-legged desk comes with a 44-inch surface, which should provide enough room to house one or two of your best gaming monitors. However, if you want more space, then there's a 55-inch or 64-inch variant as well.
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The surface of the desk is covered with carbon fibre, making it fairly resistant to scratches and spillages. Meanwhile, the base of the desk has adjustable leg pads to help make it stable.
Finally, the desk has been made to be 'gamer-friendly'. it has a cup holder on one side, and a headphone hook on the other. There’s a cord collector under the desk as well for better cable management.
So, if you’re looking for a gamer-friendly desk within a budget, then this Homall Gaming Desk might just fit your bill.
GreenForest L-Shaped desk
Best L-shaped gaming desk
L-shaped corner desks are a great option if you're limited by space in your room, but want to maximise the space you do have with as big a desk as possible.
GreenForest’s L-shaped desk measures a massive 58-inch in total thanks to its space-saving designs. What’s more, the desk is reversible and adjustable. For instance, you can have a U-shaped workspace or even two separate desks if the L-shape isn't working for you.
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With a desk of this shape, you can fit multiple monitors, keyboards, and mice on one desk. You also get a raised platform on the smaller desk for your peripherals. It even has a dedicated stand for your CPU - just below the corner piece.
All in all, we'd say this GreenForest desk is pretty tough to beat if it's an L-shaped bit of kit you're after. Once again, if you're after more size though, then there's a 64-inch option as well.
Cougar Mars Pro 150
Best RGB gaming desk
Cougar’s Mars Pro 150 RGB desk is an impressive bit of kit made only more impressive by its RGB light setup.
You get a strip of RGB lights on both sides, both of which are compatible with 5V connections of Asus Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, and ASRock Polychrome Sync for syncing lights throughout the system.
What makes this Cougar desk even better is that you get a control box and display extension attachment. The control box has quite a few ports, two USB 3.0 Type A, a USB 3.0 Type-C port, and audio jacks, for all your peripherals
Plus, you get a special monitor extension - you can connect Type C to a female HDMI for easy streaming or video recording. For this, the gaming desk includes an exclusive Type C to Type C cable as part of the package.
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In terms of its build, the desk has inward curves on both sides, with the intention of keeping gamers comfortable. Moreover, the surface is lined with carbon fibre to make it more resistant to scratches and accidental spills.
Furthermore, it comes with a steel frame, which lends itself to improved durability. You can adjust the height of the desk as well, with three levels to choose from - 750mm, 800mm, and 850mm.
Overall, this is a pretty spacious desk with RGB lights, so is definitely one to consider if you're all about the aesthetics of your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
While you're looking for the best gaming desks, you might encounter these questions...
What is the difference between a regular desk and a gaming desk?
A regular desk aims to cater to all kinds of PC users, so it comes with basic features like a slideable top or drawers and cabinets for storage.
Usually, desks are crafted from wood, which may not give the stability required to house a bulky gaming PC.
Meanwhile, a gaming desk is more 'gamer-friendly'.
These desks are built to house what are usually fairly heavy PCs as well as peripherals like multiple monitors. As a result, they typically come with metal legs for added stability.
You may also find a gaming desk comes with built-in cable management, height adjustment, RGB lights, and other features that can help tidy your setup and make it comfortable for you.
How much should I spend on a gaming desk?
Gaming desks can vary drastically in price, with some under $100, while others come with a price tag of $1000 and more. How do you choose how much to spend then?
Well, a top budget gaming desk can cost anywhere between $100 to $150. It may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the more expensive options, but a good one should certainly do its job well.
Mid-range options might cost you $150 to $500. Usually, the desks in this price range come with a bunch of additional features like cable management or extra mounts for a monitor, or you may just find they're made from more premium materials like carbon fibre.
High-end options usually cost more than $500. In this price bracket, you're more likely to find serious 'gamer' features, like RGB lights, built-in ports for cables, and much more.
Ultimately, though, the choice of how much to spend comes down to you and your available budget. Our main advice would be to only select something that you can afford, as there's always the option of upgrading further down the line.