Best Desks of 2025: I've Spent Nearly 4,000 Hours Testing Desks. These Are the Ones You Want

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Why I like it:

I've used many desks throughout my career, but I can honestly say I've never used a desk quite like the Magnus Pro XL. It is the most industrial-looking table at once, while also giving off huge gamer energy. It has a five-setting standing system, and the motors are some of the quietest I've heard in my testing. The motion is smooth, and even though the desk weighs quite a lot, it rises quickly and without hassle. I never thought of using a standing desk for gaming before, but it helps to break up the hours of sitting.

Who is it for:

If gaming is your job and you need a large desk to help you, I cannot recommend the Magnus Pro XL enough. I think they're worth it if you can manage the cost of getting the extras. The cable management is already excellent with the built-in power supply unit, as well as the large trench down the back, but the optional magnetic conduit lets you hide all of your wiring sins. I especially liked the PC mount that connects your gaming tower to the leg, making it rise with the table, so your cables don't stretch as the desk moves.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Measuring 70 inches long and made almost exclusively of metal parts, this desk isn't meant for one-person assembly. It took nearly 2 hours to put it all together, but once it's finished, it's a work of art. If you don't have the space or the help, I'd consider a different desk. The cost of this desk is my only other sticking point. With all the extras, you're looking at a price tag of about $1,600. While you could reduce that with fewer optional extras, it is worth noting.

CNET Score Breakdown

Overall Rating 9.3 Material Quality 9.5 Motor Capability 9.5 Wibble Wobbles 9.5 Ease of Use 9.5 Ease of Construction 8.5 Value for Money 8

Why I like it:

At first glance, the Branch standing desk looks pretty generic, but the level of craftsmanship is apparent on closer inspection. All the materials feel premium with a weight that comes only from good engineering. Putting it together was simple and only took about 30 minutes on my own, though I think having two people would reduce that significantly. It was also extremely well packaged -- something that Branch does with all its products -- so it was in top shape once I had it all together. The Branch desk can remember four separate heights and has a handy cable door at the back to keep your desk clear and tidy.  

Who is it for:

Those looking to replace their desk in an office or who regularly work from home will find this a great business-like desk. It's tidy, professional and very easy to use. Even if you don't like the office look, the warmer woods and gray leg options can also give it a bit more personality. If you're furnishing an office, the Branch desk and Verve office chair from our best office chairs make a great combination.

Who shouldn't buy it:

While the desk is well built with quality materials and is a great fit for most people, if you're looking for more features on your desk outside of the raising ability or something more on the budget side, this may not be the pick for you. Also, while there are options to give the desk a bit more of a unique look, it does tend to lean more toward a business-looking desk, so if you want personality, there may be a better choice for you.

Why I like it

Not all of the best desks are specifically designed as computer desks. This Work Table from Everest is a brilliant example. Not only is it lovely to look at -- the powder-coated legs and bamboo top look great together -- but it can work in more spaces than just an office. While technically not a standing desk, it can be adjusted from desk height to bar height, giving you a lot of variety in how you want to sit or stand at it. I like it to be slightly higher than a normal desk so I can use it to take stuff apart while still being seated comfortably. The assembly was easily done by just one person. The Work Table comes with some nice cable management as an added bonus.

Who is it for:

My last home didn't have a space specifically for an office, so I had to use my desk as a homework space and kids' sensory play area, too. The 72-inch version of the Work Table gives you ample room to have a computer on one end and anything else on the other. If you're looking for a versatile option outside a dedicated office space that doubles as a desk, the Everest Work Table is a great pick.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Lifting the desktop is a two-person job, so if you want to be able to move things around, you'll want to keep this in mind. When you have a dedicated office space that you want more of a sophisticated and dedicated look for, this probably wouldn't be your choice.

Why I like it:

I haven't had much luck finding desks that could be called executive. To be an executive desk requires a product to feel expensive and add some class to the room it is in. Most of the desks I've tested for this category have fallen behind that mark, with some missing parts or looking cheap despite the price tag, but not in the case of the Ark ES from Eureka. After the (admittedly very long) build, the desk looks amazing and is incredibly sturdy. It feels like a desk you keep for decades, rather than a few years.

Who is it for:

The appeal of a standing desk doesn't always match the need to give your home office that classy gravitas, but with the Ark ES you can have the best of both. The standing part of the desk works well, with sensors to stop the desk from going down too far, and it even has a nice pop-up USB hub for charging your phone and tablet if your work requires a lot of electronic devices.

Who shouldn't buy it:

As the Ark ES is a large desk, the assembly process was very long. So if you're looking for a simple and quick option and don't need a lot of desktop space, this is not it. There are also better choices for a more relaxed and personalized look.

Why I like it:

This light writing desk is a lot like many of the others I tested. Writing desks tend to be easy to put together -- this one took 10 minutes -- and are small in stature. It can hold maybe one monitor and a laptop comfortably, but not much else. The best feature, though, is the set of outputs. The Fenlo desk has a standard power outlet, two USB-A ports and built-in wireless charging. It is much easier to manage cables for your laptop, tablet and phone when you can access them from the front.

Who is it for:

The beauty of the Fenlo is that it can be placed in almost any room and still look nice, for when you need to fit your desk into an established room. There are a lot of finishes to choose from too, and each one comes with a lamp to illuminate your work.

Who shouldn't buy it:
The Fenlo is very light, so it does suffer slightly from wobbling, even when its legs are tight. This only happened when I loaded it to its maximum weight, so if you're using just a laptop, you should be fine. However, if you have more of a setup or are concerned about a bit of wobble, you will want a larger desk.

What I like:

I am a huge fan of making and crafting. We have a Cricut Explore 3 set up at home and use it weekly. We also like to have enough space to move around, so using the Branch Daily Desk on casters is amazing, although they do cost an additional $59. During the day, it's pushed to the side of the office, with the Cricut at the back, and when we need it, we wheel it to the center of the room so we can use it from all angles.

Who is it for:

The Daily Desk is an incredibly versatile desk that only took minutes to build. We have the optional caster legs, which I recommend if you want to use it as a crafting table, as we did, or as a simple desk for your child's room. As I say, it's versatile, so it can be used for just about any job.

Who shouldn't buy it:

If you prefer a taller desk, I'd say this one sits slightly lower than most I've tested.

Why I like it:

Most standing desks have a clinical look to them, like they're designed for a drab office rather than your home. Not so with the mid-century standing desk. Its design with a dark wood surface, black drawer fronts and antique gold handles gives an air of '50s sophistication. The standing desk portion works well too, with three programmable heights and a sturdy structure that feels secure even at full extension. I especially like the center drawer that can fit your wireless keyboard and mouse to hide them from view and keep the midcentury aesthetic. 

Who is it for:

The Fezibo midcentury modern standing desk mixes the sophistication of the midcentury era with the technology of a sit-stand desk. It lets you keep your space tidy and your office looking sleek while taking care of your body, allowing it some movement throughout the day.

Who shouldn't buy it:

If you aren't going to use the standing feature, this desk probably isn't worth the price tag. The ability to raise and lower it as needed with three memory settings makes this a very affordable desk for getting that function, but it won't be worth it if you don't think you'll use it.

Why I like it:

The Branch Duo is the company's latest line of standing desks and uses a very simple control mechanism to set heights. The display is simple and clean, and all the accessories ooze quality. Building it was simple, taking me less than 30 minutes, and the size is perfect for smaller spaces.

Who is it for:

The Branch Duo is big enough for a couple of smaller monitors or one big one, with plenty of room on the top for a laptop. So if you have a smaller setup, it will fit your equipment perfectly. I especially like the notifications you can set to remind you to stand or sit throughout the day. Standing desks are designed to help with your health, but they only work if you remember to do it, so if you're looking for that nudge but tend to forget on your own, this is designed to help you.

Who shouldn't buy it:

Some setups have multiple large monitors or need a lot of desktop space for other reasons. When you're looking to fill a room and have space for a bigger setup, you'll want to look at another desk.

What I like:

The Branch Desk Riser is a standing desk converter that offers an easy way to give yourself a standing option without changing your entire desk and without the use of electricity or a tiring hand crank. There is plenty of space on the riser top and it comes with a comfortable, curved edge. While it's fairly light, it's also very sturdy and can be moved on and off the desk regularly.

Upon first use, the riser is a little stiff going up and down, but after a few short uses, it loosened up and was very easy to move back and forth. Using the side handle to move it is very intuitive and responsive - as soon as you release the handle, you set the height. Plus, there's no assembly required!

Who is it for:

While some people love the idea of having a whole standing desk, for others, that may not be an option. This is something you can use if you aren't able to replace your desk at work but would like to be able to stand for part of your day or if the price of a standing desk feels too steep. While carrying this to and from work may be cumbersome as it is a little too heavy to be hauled around, it is great if you can store it somewhere in the office or near your desk and pull it out when you need it. The slim body makes storing it a breeze.

Who shouldn't buy it:

If you have large monitors, short cables or aren't working on a laptop, this probably won't fit what you need. There's not a lot of space on top to accommodate a whole desk setup.