Will my desk fit?
Updated
A desk that looks fine in the store can leave no room to push the chair back — or block a doorway — once it is against your wall. Check it on your actual floor plan first: upload the plan, set the scale once, and place the desk at its real width and depth to see exactly what fits.
Add your desk at its true dimensions and drag it against the wall where you want it. Because it is drawn to the same scale as your plan, you can see the wall run it needs, whether a window or radiator gets in the way, and how much room is left to pull the chair out and walk behind it. A standard desk is about 120 cm wide and 60 cm deep; corner and L-shaped desks need two wall lengths measured. Try a few positions before you commit.
Common desk sizes
Desks are sold by their top, but they are used with a chair pulled out behind them. These are the sizes desks usually come in, and the depth of room each one needs before it is workable rather than just placed.
| Desk type | Typical size (W × D) | Room to leave behind it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact / laptop desk | 90–100 × 45–50 cm (35–39 × 18–20 in) | 75–90 cm (30–35 in) | Too shallow for a monitor — at 45 cm deep the screen sits closer than most people can focus comfortably |
| Standard writing desk | 120 × 60 cm (47 × 24 in) | 90–110 cm (36–43 in) | The size most rooms are planned around; check it clears the window sill, radiator or skirting along that wall |
| Large / executive desk | 160–180 × 80 cm (63–71 × 31 in) | 90–110 cm (36–43 in) | The depth eats the walkway behind it — and a rigid top this wide often will not turn a tight hallway corner on the way in |
| L-shaped corner desk | 150 × 150 cm overall, arms 60 cm deep (59 × 59 in) | 90–110 cm (36–43 in) behind the seated arm | Needs two clear wall runs meeting at a corner; a door that swings into either arm ends the layout |
| Standing / sit-stand desk | 120–160 × 70–80 cm (47–63 × 28–31 in) | 90–110 cm (36–43 in) | The frame's feet stick out past the top, and anything overhead — a shelf or a low sill — limits how high it can actually rise |
| Dual-monitor desk | 140–160 × 70–80 cm (55–63 × 28–31 in) | 90–110 cm (36–43 in) | Monitor-arm clamps need the back edge free, so the desk cannot sit flush against the wall |
The clearance column matters more than the top: a 120 cm desk in a 2 m wide room leaves plenty of wall but may leave no room to stand up. Place the desk at its own measured size in ToScale, then check what is left behind it.
Frequently asked questions
- How much space does a desk need behind it?
- Allow roughly 90–110 cm (36–43 in) from the desk edge to the wall or furniture behind, so the chair pulls out and you can stand up and step back comfortably.
- Will an L-shaped or corner desk fit my room?
- Measure both arms of the desk and place it against the two walls on your plan. ToScale draws each side at true size so you can see whether the corner works and what it blocks.
- What are standard desk dimensions?
- A typical writing desk is about 120 cm wide and 60 cm deep; compact desks start around 100 cm, and large executive or L-shaped desks can exceed 160 cm. Enter your exact size for an accurate check.
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