Best places to buy desks in 2023

A truly great desk will last you many decades, so researching one thoroughly is worth it. Desks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from traditional secretary designs to sleek contemporary pieces that are suitable for smaller homes. Depending on your line of work, you may wish to invest in a writing desk, a drafting desk, or a piece with plenty of extra storage if you work with tools or work with reference materials. Or perhaps you would like to try working standing up to improve your posture? You'll need to look into a height-adjustable desk.

Whatever your home office desk ideas are, you can spend more time thinking about the layout and quality of your desk if you shop with one of the retailers that have the best selection and most convenient shopping experience. The best places to buy a desk on our list have it all: the choice, the quality, and the effortless interface that saves you time and effort. 

1. Amazon

Known for: Furniture, homeware, home decor, consumer goods

Available at: Amazon

If you need a desk shipped fast, then Amazon is still your best bet. With thousands of options at your fingertips and fast, free shipping on most desks, you can have a home office set up within hours. The selection of L-shaped desks is especially impressive, which makes Amazon our number-one destination for realizing small home office ideas. With regular promotions such as Prime Day, you can get a very good desk at a substantial discount, too. 

2. Wayfair

Known for: Furniture, home decor, appliances, outdoor

Available at: Wayfair

Wayfair easily has the most varied selection of desks online, with over 100,000 options to choose from on the retailer's website. Don't worry, though, about having to trawl through all of them to find what you need. You can filter your search by desk type, color, size, shape, and, of course, price. We like that Wayfair stocks more unusual desk types. For our money, it's one of the best places to buy a traditional writing or secretary desk, or a drafting table if you are an artist or craftsman. 

3. West Elm

Known for: Mid-century-style furniture, home decor

Available at: West Elm 

West Elm's Mid-century-style furniture is legendary, and if your favorite desk design is the classic warm wood writing desks from the 1970s, then West Elm is the best place to get one that has had a contemporary update. Moreover, the company makes desks with clever built-in storage that lean against the wall. You can buy an entire storage unit with a desk built in if you like. The Mid-Century Smart Wall Desk is one of our favorite designs from West Elm. It will look good in any room, even in a bedroom. 

4. Pottery Barn

Known for: Furniture, home decor, accessories, outdoor

Available at: Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn is known for the high quality of its furniture. The desks boast fine attention to detail, solid wood construction, and attractive finishes that will blend in with any decor. The Toulouse Desk is our favorite thanks to its timeless design and gray finish that's right on trend. 

5. Joss & Main

Known for: Furniture, home decor, outdoor, lighting

Available at: Joss & Main

If you're after a contemporary-looking desk (that will still look great as part of a more traditional room decor), you'll have a great time browsing through Joss & Main's desk section. The carefully curated selection of desks places an emphasis on timeless versatility with a trendy edge. Think minimalist shapes and modern finishes (we especially like the painted options). Most of the desks have pull-out drawers, which is always a great feature for a home office that needs more storage.

6. Fully

Known for: Ergonomic and adjustable office furniture 

Available at: Fully

Prefer working standing up? You need to check out Fully. The company is famous for its award-winning Jarvis adjustable standing desk, which has a pretty organic shape and is made from sustainably grown bamboo. The desk frame comes with a warranty of 15 years, which is reassuring if you are looking for a durable option. There are other options, too, all of them adjustable in height to help you protect your posture while working.  

7. IKEA

Known for: Home decor, furniture

Available at: IKEA

Nothing beats IKEA for no-nonsense furniture pieces that are effortlessly designed and built to last. The furniture giant knows a thing or two about making a durable, comfortable desk (just don't expect it to be hand-carved from mahogany). Flatpack at its best. We especially like the Lagkapten, an adjustable desk with two storage benches on either side of its tripod base. This a genius design for artists or anyone who likes their workspace to be clutter-free. And if you can find an IKEA store nearby, you'll be able to try it out for yourself before buying. 

8. Crate & Barrel

Known for: Home decor, furniture, lighting, outdoor

Available at: Crate & Barrel

One of the best places to buy a desk if you haven't yet settled on any particular design. Crate & Barrel makes premium solid wood desks, with a range of attractive solid wood veneer finishes (the walnut is our favorite). There are contemporary designs as well as more traditional ones, with enough variety to cater to most people's needs and preferences. Expect these desks to last you decades, which makes the premium pricing well worth it.