Best gaming desk 2023

We've chosen the best gaming desks after hours of playing, to help you find out which is the right option for you whether you're sitting or standing

Thermaltake's height adjustable L-shaped ToughDesk 500L holds a monitor and a gaming PC on top of it

Having the right gaming desk is the best way to complete your setup, giving you something something sturdy and stylish to rest the best gaming keyboard and best gaming mouse on. You can find desks that are as feature-packed or simple as you want, and with so many to choose from, we’ve picked out some of favorite options below.

When choosing the best gaming desk, there are several things to consider. Do you want a built-in system to help you manage cables, wireless charging for your phone, or even height adjustment – which helps to take extra care of your posture when paired with the best gaming chair? It’s not all about functionality, though. Some desks are stunning to look at, and have their very own RGB lights to match the same gamer aesthetic of all your other components.

Whether you’re looking for a cheap gaming desk that’s a step above your current model, a table with plenty of room to support the biggest and best gaming monitor setup, or maybe even an L-shaped desk to maximise your available workspace, we’ve got the right desk for you.

These are the best gaming desks to buy in 2023:

  • Secretlabs Magnus – our favorite overall
  • Eureka K55 – best affordable desk
  • Thermaltake level 20 RGB Battlestation – best RGB desk
  • Designa 31-inch – small gaming desk
  • Flexispot EC1 – cheap and height-adjustable
  • Ikea Fredee – great storage
  • Eureka L60 – L-shaped capacity
  • Flexispot Comhar EG8 – premium glass finish
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1. Secretlab Magnus

The best gaming desk overall is the Secretlab Magnus.

Cable management is the name of the game with the Secretlab Magnus, as the desk offers more options than you can shake a stick at. Firstly, it improves upon the usual tray at the rear by adding a hinge that lets you access your wires from the top of the table. Then, you can feed your leads using fastening straps, custom cable sheaths, and magnetic cable anchors to make both above and below your desk immaculate.

It’s not function over form, either, with a modern, all-metal construction. It sure makes the desk heavier than your usual, which is something to keep in mind if you need to lug it up the stairs, but there’s nothing quite like it once it’s assembled with the magnetic MAGRGB lighting strip and the leatherette MAGPAD. The latter might not replace the best mouse pad given it has a little more friction, but it’s far more comfortable to lean on than the usual tabletop digging into your arms and lets you support your favourite esports teams like Team Liquid and Cloud 9.

Secretlab Magnus Metal Desk Secretlab Magnus Metal Desk Secretlab Magnus Metal Desk Secretlab $499 / €449 View Network N earns commission from qualifying purchases via Secretlab and other programs

Secretlab Magnus
Desk width 150cm
Desk depth 70cm
Desk height Extendable: 73.5 – 75.5cm
Maximum weight 100kg
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2. Eureka K55

The best cheap gaming desk is the Eureka K55.

If you don’t want to break the bank when it comes to buying your own gaming desk, then the Eureka K55 is a great choice, packing a fair amount of features for the price. At 55-inches in length, there’s more than enough room to have a dual monitor setup. It also comes with a holder for a drink of your choice, a hook to rest your best gaming headset on, an extra large mouse mat, and a stand to proudly display your best PC controller.

When it comes to cable management, you can suspend your power strip using the holder at the back of the desk, hiding the sea of cables from your floor. There’s also a grommet on the desk for popping cables through. It’s not exactly adjustable height like other options on this list, but you can fiddle about with the desk’s feet, which have 1cm of give in them, helping to prevent wobble on uneven floors.

Eureka K55 Eureka K55 Eureka K55 Amazon $152 / £140 View Network N earns commission from qualifying purchases via Amazon Associates and other programs.

Eureka K55
Desk width 80cm
Desk depth 60cm
Desk height 75.2cm
Maximum weight 40kg

3. Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Battlestation

The best RGB gaming desk with seriously cool style.

The Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Battlestation is perhaps the most overkill gaming desk you can buy, but getting the best is always going to be an investment. Unlike a standing desk, which gives you no choice in the matter, you can adjust the height from 70cm (27.6-inches) off the ground to 110cm (43.3-inches), which is a blessing for your spine. It can also remember up to four different height settings, so you don’t constantly overshoot your preferred positions.

RGB lighting sits around the edge of the desk for a little personalisation, which can sync with any Thermaltake and even Razer products you own, thanks to integration with Chroma software. There’s also an included mouse pad that fills up the entire desk space. With a maximum load weight of 150kg and a sturdy aluminum frame, there’s no doubt this thing can withstand a triplet of the heaviest monitors.

Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Battlestation
Desk width 160.6cm
Desk depth 70.5cm
Desk height Adjustable: 70 – 110cm
Maximum weight 150kg
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4. Designa 31-inch

The best small gaming desk that suits small spaces.

Not everyone has the space for sprawling desks, which is where the Designa 31-inch comes in. It can fit into more cramped rooms at just 80cm in length, and despite its small size, it’s still got all the hallmarks of a great gaming desk. In fact, it’s very similar to the Eureka K55, our favourite budget desk, with a carbon-looking surface, an included headphone holder, and a games controller stand.

The X-shaped legs also help with desk stability, so your monitors should have minimal shaking as you hammer away on your keyboard. Cable management is no problem, too, thanks to two grommets and a power socket holder on the underside.

Designa 31″
Desk width 80cm
Desk depth 60cm
Desk height 74.5cm
Maximum weight 40kg
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5. Flexispot EC1

The best cheap adjustable gaming desk is the Flexispot EC1.

If you want a desk that lets you assume a standing position but don’t want to pay the premium of desks like the Thermaltake’s RGB offering, this height-adjustable desk from Flexispot is a great alternative. The electric operation allows the desk to rise up to 50cm, and the steel frame construction gives the desk a solid feel. It’s also easy to piece together.

With a 120cm length and 70kg weight rating, it’s solid enough to take a dual monitor setup. Plus, you can get the tabletop in a variety of colours, depending on your preference.

Flexispot EC1
Desk width 120cm
Desk depth 60cm
Desk height Adjustable: 71 – 121cm
Maximum weight 70kg
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6. Thermaltake ToughDesk 500l RGB Battlestation

The best big gaming desk for serious setups.

This high-end, L-shaped desk from Thermaltake is great if you’re looking to maximise space and don’t mind paying the premium – after all, it’s packed with features for the price. The main desk has a full surface RGB mouse pad, and the whole unit is adjustable by a whopping 70cm.

There’s an undertray to hide your jungle of cables from sight, and with a 150kg load rating, this desk should be able to support anything you throw at it, from a triple monitor setup, to your best gaming laptop, or proudly displaying your best gaming PC on the desk itself.

Thermaltake ToughDesk 500L RGB Battlestation
Desk width  160cm
Desk depth 160cm
Desk height Adjustable: 70 – 110cm
Maximum weight  150kg
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7. IKEA Fredde

The best Ikea desk for gaming is the Fredde.

Ikea might not be the first place you’d check for gaming furniture, but its new ROG-themed collection proves it’s serious about specialist setups. The Ikea Fredde gaming desk has a reasonable $299 / £150 price tag, especially considering the sturdiness and the number of features packed in.

There are cup holders on each side of the desk so you don’t have to worry about spilling your favourite drink over your expensive gaming gear, plus a headphone stand, shelves to display your best computer speakers, and an elevated monitor stand to help you get as comfy as possible.

Speaking of monitors, it’s a little smaller than some of the desks here, but you should still be able to fit a dual monitor setup into the space just fine. The frame might prove to be a pain with desk clamps, and there’s no cable management system underneath, but there are grommets to help feed your wires through. Ikea also has affordable add-on items like a cable management system and LED lights to complete your setup.

Ikea Fredde
Desk width 185cm
Desk depth 74cm
Desk height 146cm
Maximum weight Undisclosed
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8. Eureka L60

The best cheap L-shaped gaming desk is the Eureka L60.

L-shaped desks are the most space-efficient you can buy, keeping the length of the desk down while granting you enough room for all your gaming gear. Eureka’s L60 is a great option and it won’t drain your wallet, either.

There’s an extensive cable management system under the desk, so you should be able to get your setup looking as clutter-free as possible. It looks the part too, with its carbon fibre-esque desk print and included red mouse mat.

Eureka L60
Desk width 155cm
Desk depth 110cm
Desk height 76.2cm
Maximum weight 90kg
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9. Flexispot Comhar EG8

The best glass gaming desk is the Flexispot Comhar EG8.

If you’re looking for the high-end look of a glass desk, none does it better than the Flexispot Comhar EG8. It’s got an electrical height adjustment of up to 50cm, letting you vary your position between sitting and standing, and built-in USB ports so you can charge your phone and other accessories. The 120cm length makes it perfect for a more compact setup, too.

However, because of the glass construction, there’s a lower than usual 50kg weight rating, so you’ll probably only want a single monitor placed on the desk. Also, the glass means you won’t be able to clamp suspended hardware like monitors or the best gaming microphone without a reinforcement bracket to absorb some of the pressure.

Flexispot Comhar EG8
Desk width 120cm
Desk depth 60cm
Desk height Adjustable: 72 – 121cm
Maximum weight 50kg

How we chose the best gaming desks

We put this list together by drawing on decades of gaming experience, consider the strengths and weaknesses of different desk types and comparing them against the needs of different PC gamers.

What are the benefits of a gaming desk?

If you’ve already got an office desk, you might be wondering whether you need one of the best gaming desks instead. The answer is yes, and no. If you’re currently gaming on your dining table or sit on your sofa, then investing in a dedicated gaming desk will be worth having it so that you can create an ergonomic setup with all of your gaming hardware.

However, if you have a good office desk already, don’t really want to spend a lot more money, or it isn’t yours to replace, you might just be able to pimp it up with a decent mouse pad or some RGB strip lights.

What to look for in the best gaming desk

Material: The construction of the table top is an important consideration. If you’re going to be using monitor or microphone clamps, or may in the future, you’ll want a wood or metal – clamps and glass desks don’t mix.

Cable management: You definitely don’t want to miss cable management solutions such as nets, trays for power strips, or grommets, as they all help to keep your whole setup tidy – don’t worry, all the desks listed here have that convenience.

Size: We’ve listed the dimensions of all the desks in our guide, as it’s a very important factor for choosing the best gaming desk for you. There are a wide variety of sizes, so it’s best to consider the space you have and how many monitors and peripherals you want to stand on top of it.

Do I need a height-adjustable gaming desk?

If you spend extended hours at your PC, it might be worth stretching your budget for a height-adjustable gaming desk. A standing desk can help you avoid developing a bad posture, as it allows you to alternate between standing and sitting throughout the day. We know that being sedentary for too long is harmful to our health, so being able to move around and continue gaming can only be a good thing.

Thermaltake’s Level 20 RGB Battlestation has plenty of features that make the desk stand out, but with Flexispot on the scene, you don’t need to brave four figures for this level of customisability anymore – and you could just stick an RGB strip onto the back to get the same glow.

How much weight can a gaming desk hold?

Naturally, gaming setups are as heavy as they are elaborate, especially if you’re going for a triple monitor configuration. So, before investing in a new surface, it’s important to calculate exactly how much weight you need your desk to bear. Specialist gaming desks are usually designed to hold their ground when it comes to heavy equipment, with options like Thermaltake’s Battlestation boasting support for up to 150kg, and the Secretlab Magnus handling around 100kg.

And there you have it, our roundup of the best gaming desks you can buy. Of course, these aren’t the only playing surfaces to consider – check out Wargamer’s guide to the best gaming tables for board game fans and desk shufflers.