How Much Should You Spend On A Desk?

There are so many different types of desk out there that it can be difficult to know which to buy. 

On top of that?

It’s nearly impossible to know how much you should spend on a desk.

They all cost different amounts because of their size and the material they’re built from.

Here, we breakdown three common types of desk: 

• Writing desk 
• Computer desk
• L-shape desk

How much do you care about your desk?

This may sound like a silly question.

But, it’s actually very important.

How much you care about your desk determines how much you’re willing to spend. 

A lot of coffee if drunk at a desk, will you care if you accidentally spill a few drops or leave mug rings on the surface? 

Are you willing to tidy all of your mess away to reveal the grain of the wood?

Consider these things and more before taking the plunge.

Solid Wood vs Engineered Wood

The price of your desk depends on the type of wood that comprises it.

You may think all wood is made equally. 

However, that’s not the case and you’re going to find out why…

Solid wood desks are durable, they’re slabs of real trees and can withstand a lot of wear and tear as long as they’re given the right treatment over the course of their life.

Engineered wood is a composite material which is made by forcing individual particles together and bonding them together.

It’s less durable than solid wood but it makes up for being more resilient against the usual environmental pressures you find in the home like temperature and moisture fluctuations. 

How Much Do Desks Cost?

The cost of your desk is dependent upon the type of material it’s made from.

Desks made from engineered wood are more likely to be produced through automated methods and the companies creating them can save on labour costs, reducing the price of sale. 

You can expect to buy these for around $100-$400.

Solid wood desks are more likely to be made by a craftsperson, more time and effort goes into creating these gorgeous desks.

You’re paying for the years of learning that got these carpenters to this point.

You can expect to buy solid wood desks from between $250-$1000.

How Much Are Writing Desks?

Writing desks are small desks that often only have one level of work surface.

They’re simple pieces of furniture and, as such, their price is lower than other types of desk.

If you search for a website that sells ‘fast furniture’, a store such as Walmart, you’ll find that their writing desks sell for approximately $50-$150.

How does that sound to you?

Pretty good if you don’t mind the build quality or you just want an affordable desk for a short time before you buy one that’s more of a permanent feature of your home office.

All Modern is the next tier up from Walmart in terms of quality, they sell their writing desks from around $270-$800.

A much larger variation but the chances of you finding a writing desk that you love are much more likely.

Less likely to break too.

Need help deciding whether you should buy a writing desk or a computer desk?

Know which style of desk is for you: writing desks vs computer desks.

How Much Are Computer Desks?

Computer desks are larger than writing desks and they often have multiple levels that can hold the desktop, keyboard, files and other stationary.

Why is this important?

Well, the bigger the desk, the bigger the cost.

Target is currently selling their desks from around $120-$400.

The average price is higher but the additional workspace is essential if you have a large computer.

Avoid falling into the trap of buying a writing desk for your computer, it’s probably going to be too small and you’ll have to spend more in the long run anyway.

How Much Are L-shape Desks?

Need the space but don’t want the height that normally comes with computer desks?

L-shape desks offer the best of both worlds, especially if you know how to create great feng shui with them.

Spread yourself across the whole desk and still have room for snacks.

What’s the price of an L-shaped desk then? 

Jump onto Wayfair for one and you can expect to pay around $120-$350, similar to the computer desks mentioned previously in this article.

To Conclude

You need to decide whether you want to show off your desk and what sort of material it’s going to be made from.

What sort of desk do you need to buy?

Do you write, use your laptop or a combination of both?

All of these will dictate how much you’ll spend but, as a general rule, you can expect to pay from around $100-$400 for an engineered wood desk and from $250-$1000 for a desk made from solid wood.