One of the key factors for working effectively is having a comfortable workspace that suits your needs. With many people working from home nowadays, this has become even more vital. Of course, not everybody has the space to dedicate an entire room to creating their ideal at-home office. Which is why you might want to consider opting for a folding desk to give you a little more flexibility.
The difficulty lies in finding a folding desk that's right for your home and your needs. In this buying guide, we're here to help you make an informed choice, whether you're after a free-standing or wall mounted desk. That way, you should be better equipped to browse our ranking of the top 10 best in the UK available on Amazon and eBay.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the key considerations to keep in mind when choosing a folding desk. In this guide, we’ll be mainly looking at functional characteristics, such as materials and dimensions, leaving the aesthetics for you to decide upon when comparing desks online.
When it comes to the different types of folding desks, they can generally be split into two, easy to distinguish categories - wall-mounted, or free-standing. Each of these has its own pros and cons, so let's take a look at both individually.
Even though we’re looking at a product that by its very nature is designed to save space, you can take streamlining your workspace one step further by purchasing a wall-mounted folding table. When choosing the right one for your home, you can either pick a desk that uses a leg to prop itself up, or one that is stabilised via wall brackets.
Both of these save on floor space and are easier to pack away than a free standing desk. The only issue is you're going to need to attach them to a wall, and unless you own the property, you may want to check with the landlord before proceeding. Also, these desks are generally smaller, so you’ll have a limited workspace.
This style is essentially a classic work desk that can be folded down and packed away, a bit like a giant K’nex. They’re often larger and more likely to come with storage, and can sometimes be adjusted to different heights, allowing you to personalise your desk.
The primary setback is that these will require a little more fiddling about with when it comes to putting your desk away. You’ll also need somewhere to store it when not in use, slightly negating the amount of space you'll save.
When it comes to folding desks, they'll usually be made from MDF and alloy metals. This is because both materials are lightweight, yet sturdy, which is essential when holding valuable objects like laptops. Not only this, but they’re available in a range of different finishes, making it easier to find one to match your home decor.
If you’re willing to spend a little more cash, then there are a few options that utilise natural woods. These will be similarly sturdy, but with a more solid and luxurious feel. The downside is that they’ll be a lot heavier and more difficult to fold away.
Finding the perfect dimensions will depend on how much space you have available and how tall you are. We’re pretty confident that you already know how to use a tape measure to figure out whether your chosen table will be suitable for your home. However, we can advise you on selecting the ideal desk height.
Choosing the correct desk height is important to help improve your posture and reduce the risk of ergonomic injuries. Most desks measure somewhere between 50 – 77 cm. To find one that's appropriate for you, divide your height in cm by 2.5. If you can’t find a table at that precise elevation, you could always look for an adjustable one instead.
If your home office has no room for additional storage, finding a desk that comes with built-in drawers, or a second shelf to store objects you may need while working, may be an important factor for you to cinsider.
Surprisingly, you'll be able to find additional storage in both free-standing and wall-mounted desks, although the amount is entirely dependent on the size and dimensions of the table. So it’s worth thinking about what you use in your daily working life as to whether or not this could benefit you.
Now it's time to introduce our ranking of the top 10 best folding desks in the UK. All of our favourites have been selected for their high-quality and unique features, so read on to find the ideal one for your at home workspace!
£86.99
Type | Free-standing |
---|---|
Material | Wood - unspecified |
Dimensions | 80 x 40 x 47 cm |
Adjustable | Yes |
Storage | Yes |
£28.99
Type | Free-standing |
---|---|
Material | MDF, metal alloy |
Dimensions | 60 x 42 x 28 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | Yes |
£46.95
Type | Wall-mounted |
---|---|
Material | MDF, metal bracket |
Dimensions | 80 x 45 x 60 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | No |
£19.99
Type | Free-standing |
---|---|
Material | Birch, metal |
Dimensions | 68 – 88 x 60 x 40 cm |
Adjustable | Yes |
Storage | No |
FWT20-W
£49.95
Type | Wall-mounted |
---|---|
Material | MDF |
Dimensions | 50 x 75 x 76 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | No |
£40.00
Type | Free-standing |
---|---|
Material | MDF |
Dimensions | 84 x 86 x 62 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | No |
£132.25
Type | Wall-mounted |
---|---|
Material | Rubberwood |
Dimensions | 80 x 35 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | No |
£56.99
Type | Free-standing |
---|---|
Material | MDF, metal |
Dimensions | 85 x 50.5 x 97 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | Yes |
£102.90
Type | Wall-mounted |
---|---|
Material | MDF |
Dimensions | 77 x 77 x 74 |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | Yes |
£71.99
Type | Free-standing |
---|---|
Material | MDF, metal |
Dimensions | 100 x 50 x 72 cm |
Adjustable | No |
Storage | No |
Image | 1 ![]() Coavas | 2 ![]() [En.Casa] | 3 ![]() Beliwin | 4 ![]() Xinglei | 5 ![]() Argos Home | 6 ![]() SoBuy | 7 ![]() Simpa | 8 ![]() Costway | 9 ![]() Elekin | 10 ![]() Insputer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Folding Computer Desk | Folding Wall-Mounted Office Desk | Folding Computer Desk | Floating Multifunctional Folding Table | Compact Folding Wooden Office Desk | Wall-Mounted Drop Leaf Table | Height Adjustable Mobile Table | Wall-Mounted Drop Leaf Table | Laptop Bed Tray Table | Folding Laptop Table |
Features | Simple, Sophisticated and Stylish | Solving All Your Storage and Workspace Needs | A Modern and Minimal Fold Away Computer Desk | A Desk to Fit Every Space | A Compact and Clean Design That's Easy to Store Away | A Wall-Mounted Chalk Board That Folds Out Into a Desk | If You Want Plenty of Height Variation, Look No Further | A Versatile Desk With Multiple Folding Options | Ease Yourself Into the Working Day From the Comfort of Your Bed | A Large, Solid Desk That's Assembly- Free |
Price | £71.99 | £102.90 | £56.99 | £132.25 | £40.00 | £49.95 | £19.99 | £46.95 | £28.99 | £86.99 |
Type | Free-standing | Wall-mounted | Free-standing | Wall-mounted | Free-standing | Wall-mounted | Free-standing | Wall-mounted | Free-standing | Free-standing |
Material | MDF, metal | MDF | MDF, metal | Rubberwood | MDF | MDF | Birch, metal | MDF, metal bracket | MDF, metal alloy | Wood - unspecified |
Dimensions | 100 x 50 x 72 cm | 77 x 77 x 74 | 85 x 50.5 x 97 cm | 80 x 35 cm | 84 x 86 x 62 cm | 50 x 75 x 76 cm | 68 – 88 x 60 x 40 cm | 80 x 45 x 60 cm | 60 x 42 x 28 cm | 80 x 40 x 47 cm |
Adjustable | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Storage | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
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As freeing as it can be to not have to go into the office, our homes are rife with distractions. Whether you work from home full-time, or just now and then, it's important to have an appropriate set-up to help you concentrate and stay focused. Below are some more ideas to help you set up a comfortable workspace to help you smash your productivity goals!
Whether you're looking to build the perfect home office, or just doing your best and working with the space you have, we hope that you've found our buying guide and recommendations useful. Here's to having a more comfortable and productive working environment!
Author: Lewis Clark
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