Best dorm room desks
Aside from your bed, your desk is the piece of furniture that likely gets the most use in your dorm room. Instead of setting up a rickety card table and calling it a day, you should carefully choose a desk that works for the square footage, your individual needs and personal preferences.
Dorm desks don’t have to cost a fortune, either. There is a solid number of affordable desks on the market. That said, you don’t want to go too cheap, either. The desk should be sturdy. After all, it’ll probably endure a lot of rough treatment.
So, how can you find the best dorm desk for you?
Best dorm desk features
Buying a desk for your dorm room is different in certain ways than picking out a desk for other spaces.
Small dorm desks
Dorm rooms are typically smaller than a home office and many come with a roommate. These two factors shrink the amount of square footage at your disposal, making size the top priority. It’s important to choose a desk that strikes the perfect balance between a compact size and an adequate amount of work surface and storage space.
Desks that are roughly 40 inches in length tend to be a good fit for dorm rooms. If you need more work and storage space, an L-shaped desk may be the solution. This design gives you work space at each end of the L and tucks nicely into a corner to conserve living space.
Folding desks give you the option to free up square footage when the desk isn’t in use. Make sure you pick a folding desk that’s easy to set up and break down. The last thing you want is to struggle every time you need to do one or the other.
Durable dorm desks
Longevity is another top consideration. Dorm room furniture tends to take a beating, especially if you move to a different room between school years, semesters or quarters. Finding a well-made, sturdy dorm desk is imperative for this reason. Look for desks that are constructed of materials like powder-coated metals and reinforced with brackets.
Affordable dorm desks
Most students have a limited budget to spend on dorm furniture, and furniture in a dorm room is subject to a lot of wear and tear. These are two reasons why you should be conservative with the amount of money you spend on a dorm desk. Luckily, there are plenty of high-quality dorm desks out there for less than $100, so you can find a reliable piece of furniture that won’t break the bank.
The best dorm desk
FURINNO Efficient Computer Desk: available at Amazon
While this desk is compact, the three side shelves offer ample storage space. One of the shelves is elevated, creating the perfect angle for a printer or other office equipment. The simple design is functional, allowing you to easily multi-task as you study and work on assignments. Furrino focuses on designing ideal furniture for small spaces like dorm rooms in its home and garden collection. This desk is no exception, coming in at 39.6 inches wide,15.5 inches deep and 33.6 inches high. It’s also well-made, constructed of medium-density composite wood that’s one of the most stable in the category.
Coavas Folding Desk: available at Amazon
The 39.4-inch length of this desk gives you enough surface space to work, while the compact size won’t crowd your dorm room. Plus, you can fold the desk when not in use to free up more square footage. Setting the desk up when you’re ready to work again only takes about eight seconds. The engineered wood is waterproof and the alloy steel frame is sturdy.
FURINNO Econ Computer Desk: available at Amazon
You’ll be set for assignments with this perfectly compact desk. It features a three-tier shelf design consisting of a high-level, mid-level and low-level shelf. This configuration creates extra storage space. A keyboard tray with metal slides allows you to access your keyboard when you need it and tuck it away when you don’t. A non-woven bin provides closed storage.
CubiCubi Computer Desk: available at Amazon
This desk may be compact, but it doesn’t compromise on durability. The double-iron strut design and metal frame ensure it’ll hold up to daily wear and tear. Adjustable leg pads create an even, stable work surface. You can assemble the desk in about 10 minutes, making it a convenient choice if you move dorm rooms in between school years, semesters or quarters.
DESINO Gaming Desk and Workstation: available at Amazon
Consider this desk if you need something that doubles as a gaming center and workstation. Features like a monitor stand riser, headphone hook and cup holder enhance the desk’s functionality and comfort for gamers. Diagonal braces and struts provide stability that can withstand intense gaming sessions. This desk performs equally well as a workstation when you need to study.
Need Computer Desk: available at Amazon
This desk is available in several different sizes, allowing you to choose the best size for your dorm room. Choose from 31.5 inches all the way up to 63 inches. The desk is constructed of thick environmental E1-standard particle wood, is anti-scratch, waterproof and has a matte surface finish.
SHW L-Shaped Gaming Desk: available at Amazon
L-shaped desks are one of the best designs for conserving space. Plus, they give you two distinct work and/or play areas and more surface space overall than small rectangular desks. The steel frame of this desk is coated in a powder finish for longevity. It’s easy to find a comfortable position with the foot rest bar, making hours of play or work more pleasant.
JOISCOPE Two-Tier Industrial Desk: available at Amazon
You’ll get two levels of shelves in addition to a workspace with this industrial-style desk. It’s constructed of premium steel and chipboard to last a long time. Assembly of this simple-yet-highly-functional desk is easy.
Coleshome Computer Desk: available at Amazon
The quality of this dorm-sized desk is recognizable immediately. Heavy-duty powder-coated steel, thick metal frames and extra metal brackets shore up the frame against daily use. The desk is anti-scratch and waterproof, providing an additional layer of protection. You can also choose from eight different shades of wood.
Furinno Simplistic A-Frame Computer Desk: available at Amazon
Featuring an attached desk hutch and an A-frame design, this desk is a streamlined addition to any dorm room. The raised top shelf keeps your study equipment off the main work surface and a long shelf running across the bottom gives you a generous amount of storage space. Place your monitor or printer on the top shelf with confidence; this shelf was designed to hold a monitor.
Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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