One of the most overlooked but oh-so-important parts of any PC gaming setup is the desk (right behind your gaming chair!). The last thing anyone wants is for their expensive gaming PC or gaming monitor to go crashing to the ground because of a wobbly platform that happened to be on sale (or available in the house) when you were putting the rig together. A proper gaming desk will ensure that this never happens, and I've gathered the very best here to make choosing one for yourself a little easier.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Desks:
I've been reviewing desks in PC gaming set ups for years and have done the research to know the best picks for you. Whether you're looking for something compact and easy to fit into a bedroom, something affordable but reliable, or a desk that can sit and stand right along with you, these are my top five picks for every kind of gamer.
Additional contributions by Danielle Abraham
1. Secretlab Magnus Pro
Best Gaming Desk
Secretlab’s Magnus Pro gaming desk is a souped-up model of the Magnus, a gaming desk my colleague Nic Vargus considered "Amazing" when he reviewed it back in 2021. It continues the tradition being undeniably unique thanks to its use of a magnetic ecosystem in the design, making it simple to add extra accessories like desk toppers, RGB lighting, and cable management solutions. The Magnus Pro adds sit-to-stand functionality to its already impressive suite of features. It doesn't come cheap, but boy does it impress.
The Magnus Pro is made entirely from metal, enabling its magnetic magic tricks. There's an integrated cable management run hidden in the back and, if you're willing to spend a bit extra, you can add themed cable sleeves to add even more flair to your setup. Or if RGB is more your thing, Secretlab partnered with Nanoleaf to offer a specially designed RGB light strip add-on that's as alluring as it is easy to install. There's even an integrated power outlet that's able to deliver up to 10 amps of power to drive both the desk and a mighty gaming rig, should you add a power strip to the cable run.
At around $850, this desk has a price tag to match its feature set. For gaming, however, it's simply class-leading.
2. Cooler Master GD160
Best Budget Gaming Desk
It’s hard to find a gaming desk that is robust, large, and also affordable, but Cooler Master has managed that with the GD160. For about $400, this is a solid gaming desk that delivers a sturdy frame ready to hold up to 220.5lbs that remains stable even when you get overly excited during a game. That frame holds a massive desktop, which can easily house a multi-monitor setup.
The Cooler Master GD160 may not have as many frills as other desks on this list, like RGB lighting or standing functionality, but you do get a cable management tray to hide away pesky wires. The entire desktop surface is covered in a water-resistant mouse pad, ensuring your gaming mouse glides around with ease while also improving tracking precision. Though you can’t get this desk all the way up to standing, it does have some slight adjustability for sitting between three different heights from 28–31.1".
3. Thermaltake ToughDesk 500L RGB Battlestation
Best L-Shaped PC Gaming Desk
Built like a tank with a steel frame and a massive desktop area, the L-shaped ToughDesk 500L truly is a battle station. Its L shape gives an extra side desk to play around with, and the large surface area is no match for three motors to take the desk from sitting to standing with a button press. (The controller can store up to four height settings.)
An L-shaped gaming desk isn't very common, but it's a fantastic choice if you're gaming in the corner of a room. When I tried this desk, I realized right away how beneficial it could be. The extra side is perfect for a laptop or some extra shelving to store your peripherals. Or, if you'd rather get your gaming PC off the floor, you can position it out of the way on that side, allowing you to have a wide open desk space in front of you without dust bunnies cluttering up your PC fan.
Beyond its impressive surface area, the ToughDesk 500L is built with gamers in mind, including useful features like cable management to fun ones like built-in RGB lighting, which can sync with Razer Chroma and TT RGB Plus. One especially handy addition is its big mouse pad, covering the surface area of both the main and side desks. Just be prepared to shell out about $1,500.
4. Eureka Aero Pro
Best Multi-Level Gaming Desk
The Eureka Aero Pro is an absolute beast of a gaming desk with enough surface area for multiple gaming monitors, a beefy PC, and a bunch of accessories. Its unique winged shape makes it easier to grab things. Three shelves at the back of the main desk are adjustable and ready to house a few monitors or a couple of computer speakers for a more immersive gaming experience. Under the main desk is even a dedicated keyboard tray, allowing a 360-degree horizontal rotation and 15 degrees of tilt for better ergonomics when tapping away at keys.
While it was a bit of a pain to put together and the seams where the wings connect aren’t the most attractive, the desk is sturdy and comes in several sleek finishes perfect for a gaming setup or workstation. To keep a tidy gaming space, the desk comes with handy channels to help manage your cables, headphone and cup holders, and integrated slots to prop up a tablet or smartphone.
Want the flexibility of a sit-to-standing desk? Many of the best standing desks are aimed primarily at office work, but the Eureka Aero Pro features powerful dual electric motors to seamlessly transition from a regular old gaming desk to a standing desk. It has flexibility from 29.5–48", so just about anyone can benefit from that adjustability. Pay close attention to its 220lb weight limit though, especially when loading it up with a ton of tech.
5. FlexiSpot Comhar Electric Standing Desk
Best Compact Gaming Desk
When you’re tight on space, a smaller option like the FlexiSpot Comhar Electric is a great option. Its 48"x24" size can easily house a full gaming rig and even a second monitor if it's small enough. The desk is durable and stable with a steel frame and solid bamboo desktop that supports up to 110 pounds. It's not the most powerful sit-to-stand desk, but it can lift even the heaviest gaming rig without taxing its electric motor.
The Comhar doesn't look much like a gaming desk, it's true, but it's surprisingly feature-rich for its affordable price (I've seen it as low as $250 and is often on sale). In addition to looking extra classy with its contrasting desktop and steel frame, it features a built-in storage drawer (a rarity in standing desks), a USB hub for charging your devices, and cable management underneath to tidy up your wires.
I've used numerous Flexispot standing desks over the years and they always manage to impress for their cost. If you're looking for something that looks good and performs even better, the Comhar is definitely worth considering.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Gaming Desk
The best gaming desks must provide a stable and robust place to house your rig and a few great gaming accessories. From there, you have more flexibility in choosing the right desk for your setup.
The first thing to consider is shape and size. Whether you're looking for something small and compact that can fit into a dorm room or a spacious setup with multiple levels and storage space, options are available at different budgets. Knowing how much surface area you need can help narrow down your choice.
The next thing to plan for is what features you would prefer to have, which also includes appearance and materials. It's pretty common for gaming desks to have features like cupholders or built-in mouse pads. Others include RGB lighting or bright colors and edgy designs. Storage space and convenience features, like built-in USB ports for charging your devices are another value-add common to the best gaming desks.
Finally, consider the adjustments you'll need. Many gaming desks are non-adjustable but others offer the ability to raise or lower their height. So-called "standing desks" typically do this with powered motors at a higher cost, but others are adjustable with levers and locking legs.
Have a plan for your shopping because once that massive package is unboxed, you won't want to disassemble it and try to ship it back for something else.
Gaming Desk FAQ
Are standing desks worth it for gaming?
Standing desks have plenty of potential health benefits like improving your posture, relieving shoulder and back pain, promoting more movement to increase circulation – sitting too long puts you at risk for blood clots – and even helping with focus. But when you’re gaming, things get a little tricky.
Finding a sturdy standing desk to hold your PC setup is essential. Then you need to worry about positioning your peripherals for enjoyable gameplay and the prevention of accidents. That said, it’s not like we haven’t gamed standing up before – look at all those classic arcade cabinets. These days, most standing desks have powerful motors that’ll safely lift or lower your battle station with the push of a button.
A standing desk probably won’t improve your gameplay, but in my experience, being able to sit or stand at will is quite freeing. I'll admit, it's a feature I wasn't sure I would even use very often when I tried my first one. But having the option is great if you need to stretch your legs or change position in the middle of a long gaming session. Now I couldn't imagine not having the option.
What's the difference between a gaming desk and an office desk?
The differences are fairly subtle. Any office desk can be used as a gaming desk and vice versa, but there are some additional features that make a desk more suitable for gaming. For example, a standard office desk may have too low of a load capacity to be suitable for heavy gaming monitors or TVs. A lot of standard office desks won't always offer enough surface area for all of the peripherals associated with gaming as well. In this way, a good gaming desk is really just one that is able properly work for your gaming needs.
Where to Get the Best Gaming Desks in the UK
Unfortunately, not all of the desks available in the US can also be purchased in the UK, but there are still a few:
Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.