There are few setups that look better than a huge ultrawide monitor imposing over a desk. But a bigger monitor also increases the size of the desk you need.
Here is a guide on how big your desk should be to facilitate an ultrawide monitor.
A desk for an ultrawide monitor should be no smaller than 28 inches (71cm) in depth, 55 inches (152cm) in width, and 28 inches (71cm) in height.
With the above dimensions, you should just about be able to make do, without entirely running out of space.
While the table below gives an outline of the recommended dimensions.
| Monitor Size | Ideal Desk Depth | Ideal Desk Width | Ideal Desk Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 inch | 30+ inches | 60+ inches | 29 inches |
| 38 inch | 31+ inches | 65+ inches | 29 inches |
| 43 inch | 32+ inches | 70+ inches | 29 inches |
| 49 inch | 33+ inches | 75+ inches | 29 inches |
Or in Metric Units
| Monitor Size | Ideal Desk Depth | Ideal Desk Width | Ideal Desk Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 inch | 76+ cm | 152+ cm | 74cm |
| 38 inch | 79+ cm | 165+ cm | 74cm |
| 43 inch | 81+ cm | 178+ cm | 74cm |
| 49 inch | 84+ cm | 191+ cm | 74cm |
If you are having any trouble interpreting the dimensions above then here is a simple overview of desk measurements.
Why Ultrawide Monitors Need More Desk Space Than You Expect
With the additional size of an ultrawide compared to a regular monitor, you can expect it to also take up far more desk space.
The extra width of an ultrawide monitor is obviously encapsulated in the name. However, the additional depth a desk requires for an ultrawide monitor is often overlooked.
I recently came across displaywars.com, which is a neat tool that allows you to roughly compare the size of your current monitor with the monitor you intend on buying. It’s a great judge to see if you actually need to buy a new desk to facilitate your new monitor, or if you can make do with what you’ve got. As although the sizes I recommend are ideal, this may help you realize that an upgrade isn’t fully necessary.
The sizes given in this article are judged to best meet needs including surface area, shape, and ergonomics. And the + in the tables represents that bigger is almost always better when it comes to desks.
The size recommendations are made to allow you to create the ergonomic desk setup outlined by the Mayo Clinic here.
Best Desk Size For A 34 inch Monitor
The ideal desk for a 34 inch monitor is over 30 inches in depth, over 60 inches in width and is 28 to 30 inches in height. If you have a flat 34″ monitor, a depth of 28″ will suffice.
This is the smallest ultrawide monitor you can get and the desk recommendations are not dissimilar to those I give for setups using 2 ordinary monitors.
You can use your monitor effectively with a desk smaller than these recommendations, however, it will be more difficult and cramped. Or you will have to use some of the methods of maximizing your available space.
Ideal Desk Size For A 38 inch Monitor
Over 31 inches in depth, more than 65 inches in width, and 28 to 30 inches in height, are the recommended dimensions of a desk for a 38 inch monitor.
For any size monitor, any value of width or depth greater than the values given is just as good if not better.
The size you require depends also on what you intend to do at your desk. As I discuss in a different article about ideal desk depths, if you intend to just type, just write, or just game, the same you require is less than someone who wants to do more than one of these.
Should you wish to be able to study, using paper and your computer, you require space to fit both simultaneously. Something that would be impossible with a desk less than 31 inches in depth, when you have the bulky base that all ultrawide monitors come with.
Best Desk Size For A 43 inch Monitor
The ideal desk for a 34 inch monitor is over 32 inches in depth, over 70 inches in width, and is 28 to 30 inches in height.
For any monitor over 40 inches, the dimension of the desk really boils down to how much extra space you want.
So long as you can fit everything you want on your desk and your size of ultrawide monitor is not hanging over the edge, your desk is sufficiently wide. How much extra width and depth you chose above recommended depends on how much you intend to multitask.
Best Desk Size For A 49 inch Monitor
Over 33 inches in depth, more than 75 inches in width, and 28 to 30 inches in height, are the recommended dimensions of a desk for a 49 inch monitor.
Here is an example setup you could use for inspiration, it also gives a good perspective of how much space a monitor of this size takes up.
Easy Ways To Make Room For An Ultrawide Monitor
Wall Mounts / Monitor Arms
Wall mounts take the base of the monitor off your desk, as such they free up substantial amounts of space since ultrawide monitors generally have much larger bases than regular monitors.
Monitor Stand
A monitor stand also moves the depth-consuming base off your desk. While a stand doesn’t free up quite as much usable space as mounting your monitor, it can create a convenient storage area under the stand.
Keyboard Tray
While not ideal, if you are stuck with an insufficiently deep desk and can’t get your hands on a new desk, it can free up plenty of space.
Wireless Keyboard
When not needed a wireless keyboard can be moved to free up extra space. Space that is permanently taken up by a wired keyboard.
In Conclusion
You should now know how big a desk should be for an ultrawide monitor, in order for it to be part of an ergonomic and spacious setup.
A new desk may not always be necessary but remember to consider the space you will lose with an ultrawide monitor compared to a regular monitor.
If you have decided you need a new desk for your ultrawide monitor, here are some suggestions of desks I picked out specifically for ultrawide monitors.
