Desks are an easy part of your gaming setup to overlook, but having a proper platform for your gaming PC, console, gaming monitor, and other peripherals can make a big difference. Most of us will start out using whatever surface is available, but making the jump to a specially chosen gaming desk can provide some key advantages.
The most important is a tabletop that is big enough and strong enough to accommodate whatever you want to put on it, but there are also more specialized features such as motorized sit/stand functionality, cable storage and organization, power management, and mounting points for accessories. Of course, there are aesthetic considerations in play too, whether you prefer a warm and inviting space with natural materials or something a bit more modern, stark, and streamlined. There's plenty to consider, so I've rounded up six of the best gaming desks we've tested to get you started.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Desks:
I've been reviewing gaming desks for years, with four desks currently crammed into my home office in the name of research, so I feel confident about these recommendations. Whether you're looking for something compact and affordable, a fancier electric sit/stand option, or a premium option with some extra gaming-specific features, you'll find at least one suitable option among these contenders.
Additional contributions by Chris Coke and Danielle Abraham
1. Secretlab Magnus Evo
Best Gaming Desk
The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a cheaper variant of the Magnus Pro, ditching the unique cable management run in favor of a simpler design that sees metal used along the back and on the front corners of the desk, allowing magnetic accessories like headphone hangers or cable tidies to be quickly and firmly attached. The desk otherwise incorporates the rest of the features that made the Magnus Pro excellent, including electric sit/stand functionality with controls sleekly integrated into the desk surface, an integrated power point, an included monitor mount, and a capacious cable storage cavity underneath the desktop.
The Magnus Evo is still compatible with a good range of accessories, including an assembly that lets you attach your entire PC to one of the legs, obviating the need to use extra-long cables for a desktop PC that sits on the floor but is used with a sit/stand desk at maximum extension. This attachment feels a little shaky with wide and heavy PCs, but it's still a neat trick.
Given that the Magnus Evo delivers the best features of the Magnus Pro while costing significantly less, it's our new No. 1 pick overall – though the Magnus Pro is still worth considering and can be found below.
2. FlexiSpot Comhar Electric Standing Desk
Best Budget Gaming Desk
When you’re tight on space and constrained on budget, a smaller and more affordable option like the FlexiSpot Comhar Electric is great to have. Its 48x24-inch size can easily house a full gaming rig and even a second (smaller-ish) monitor. The desk is durable and stable with a steel frame and solid bamboo desktop that supports up to 110lbs. 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, but it's surprisingly feature-rich for its affordable price (I've seen it as low as $230 and it is often on sale). In addition to looking 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, even given that their instructions are sometimes less well written than their competitors. If you're looking for something that looks good and performs even better, the Comhar is definitely worth considering.
3. Secretlab Magnus Pro
Best Premium Gaming Desk
The Secretlab Magnus Pro is the "full-fat" version of the Magnus series, with an entirely metal surface that allows magnetic accessories to be used throughout, plus a cable channel towards the back that is excellent for routing cables without looking cluttered. It also offers electric sit/stand functionality, an increasingly common feature amongst premium gaming desks that might help your long-term health by reducing the amount of time you spend sitting down.
Like other Magnus desks, the Pro comes with an accessory ecosytem that allows you to add on RGB lighting, accessory mounts and even a full PC rest. There are also some dedicated cable management widgets which help tame any remaining wires. The Pro does come at a premium versus the Evo, but for those with a larger budget, it's well worth mulling the upgrade.
4. Corsair Elevate:6
Best Gaming Desk for Streamers
The Corsair Platform:6 is a uniquely specialist desk ideal for content creators and streamers, thanks to its surfeit of rail mount points for lights, cameras, monitors, Stream Decks, and other accessories. There are three variants available: the base model is a fixed-height desk, the Elevate adds electric sit/stand motors for height adjustability, and the Creator Edition tacks on a peg board that sits at the rear of the desk. All three models are premium propositions, with the base model just under $1,000, the Elevate model at $1,400, and the Creator Edition costing $1,900.
You do at least get plenty for the money, including a robust underslung cable storage solution that's among the biggest I've seen, a small cable cubby built into the surface of the desk, powerful sit/stand motors that can lift up to 330lbs, and a 72x30-inch span that can be further augmented with one or two 12-inch side extensions. (However, these extension pieces aren't compatible with the peg board on the Creator Edition and can be added separately to other models.)
The most critical element though is the rail system, with one bar across the top of the desk and one on each side, where you can mount various accessories using T-nuts. You get various mount accessories in the box, plus a dual monitor mount. These all work well, though I ended up removing the top rail so that I could use more traditional friction mounts and separate monitor arms instead.
If you make full use of the rail system and have plenty of accessories to mount, the Platform:6 is a dream option. However, something like the Secretlab Magnus Evo or Magnus Pro offer a bit more flexibility when it comes to choosing accessories and mounting methods.
5. Thermaltake ToughDesk 500L RGB Battlestation
Best L-Shaped 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 the desk's three motors that 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.
6. 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 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.
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.
Size and shape
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, obviously, help narrow down your choice.
Desk features
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, while more premium offerings include modular systems for mounting streaming accessories, peripherals, or even your entire PC. Storage space and convenience features, like built-in USB ports or even full power points for charging your devices, are another value-add common to the best gaming desks.
Height adjustment
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, gaming desks are more likely to include cable management solutions, powerful electric motors capable of holding heavy PCs and monitors, or modular systems to easily mount monitors, headphones cameras, lights or other accessories. Aesthetically, gaming desks are also available in colour schemes to match popular gaming PC cases, and may include RGB lighting. Ultimately though, the line here is a blurry one, and it's best to focus on a desk that meets your requirements regardless of how it's described.
Will is deputy tech editor for IGN, specialising in PC hardware, sim racing and display tech. He has been publishing about games and technology since 2001 (age 12). Will was formerly Deputy Editor at Digital Foundry. He is currently playing Battlefield 6.
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