Designing your dream computer desk? Curious about the best wood options? Explore our top picks and create a functional, stunning workspace to boost your productivity!
Nowadays, when it comes to desks, people are moving from the concept of “study/writing desk” to “computer desk” because people spend more time on computers than books.
Are you looking for wood to build a computer desk? Here are some of the 11 Best Wood for Computer desk.
- Oak
- Walnut
- Cherry
- Maple
- Birch
- Cedar
- Pinewood
- Elm
- Teak
- Rosewood
- Bamboo
According to my years of woodworking experience, there are 3 types of purposes people look for wood for computer desks. They are,
- Computer desk for Office stuff – paperwork, browsing internet, etc.
- Computer desk for Gaming
- Computer desk for studying/writing desk plus gaming
I’m going to cover up all the above categories and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each wood type above according to your purpose.
At the end of this article, you’ll be able to find out what’s the best wood you should go with your ultimate purpose.
1. Oak
Oak is known as one of the most popular hardwoods for computer desks. It has great strength and sturdy.
The durability and stability also high in oak wood. With proper maintenance, an oak computer table will last a lifetime.
Red oak and white oak are two common wood types available in the market. It has white to light brown in color. The growth rings of white oak add dramatic dark and light tones to the wood.
White oak has a rating of 1360 and red oak has 1260 for the Janka hardness test, which is pretty great value and can bear any load.
Both white oak wood and red oak wood have great strength and beautiful grain, which can use to make any kind of furniture.
The finishing properties of oakwood are excellent. With proper finishing, you can get whatever color you want. It can easily take screws, sawing, and nails which is useful doing DIY.
You easily can keep your monitor, ups, workstation, streaming mikes, and all other stuff with book loads without any issue, because oakwood has great strength with high loading capacity.
For the computer desk, I recommend only the heartwood of oakwood, because sapwood is not durable enough for the long run.
I have summarized the pros and cons of oakwood important for building computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| High durability | Moderately expensive |
| Sturdy | Heaviness – difficult to move |
| Beautiful natural grain with a yellow-brown appearance | Shrinkage and Cracks occur with poor maintenance |
| Easy to finish | The stain gets a bit darker over time |
| Easy to stain | |
| High density – high strength | |
| Long lifetime with proper maintenance | |
| Fire resistant | |
| Can finish with any color | |
| Wear resistance |
2. Walnut
Walnut is one of the most beautiful woods with creamy brown to chocolate brown grain and color design. It adds unique attractiveness to your computer desk.
The color of walnut will be much lighter over years. The gorgeous grain pattern adds a classic look to the wood.
Computer desks that are made of walnut add an aesthetic modern, rich view to your room with its unique dark, sleek grey, and rich tones.
In physical properties, walnut is a hardwood with great strength. But is more popular because of its significant decorative appearance with great performances.
With proper maintenance, you’ll be able to keep the walnut computer desk last long.
According to the Janka hardness test, walnut has a medium dese with a rating of 1010.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using walnut for computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| Beautiful grain with chocolate brown, grey tone | Very expensive |
| Straight and open grain pattern can hide minor wear | Medium in dense |
| Environmentally friendly | Dent with heavy use |
| Water-resistant | Installation is difficult especially if you’re a beginner |
| Mold resistant | Heaviness – difficult to move |
| High durability | It easily get damaged/ scratched. Need proper care to extend lifetime. |
| Dimensional stability is high | No moisture resistance of weather resistance |
| Shock resistant | The desk needs to be sealed once a year to keep the same color pattern. Otherwise, it’ll get lighter over time. |
3. Cherry
Cherry wood has a beautiful texture and white to reddish-brown color sapwood. Cherrywood computer desks are common in office environments.
Cherry is a type of wood that I love to work with because of its great workability. Finishing properties are great with excellent nailing, gluing, screwing, and polishing.
In the Janka hardness test, cherry has a comparatively low dese with a rating of 950.
Cherry is a type of wood that even a beginner can get used to it very easily.
If you’re going for a DIY computer desk, I highly recommend you go with cherrywood without any doubt. Cherry is a perfect wood for an office setup.
Here I save summarized pros and cons of using cherry wood for computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great finishing properties | Extremely expensive |
| Beautiful light brown to reddish-brown color will deepen with time | Not wear-resistant or scratch-resistant |
| A cheery computer desk can add a dramatic look to your office | |
| Tough wood | |
| Perfect for Office setups |
4. Maple
If you’re focusing more on cost, Maple is the best wood for a computer desk you should go with. It gives great qualities for the price. It is appealing good and durable as well.
Maple is known as a high-quality pretty strong wood.
It has creamy white color sapwood with a slight pink brownish tingle which makes the wood modern and attractive.
I recommend this wood for students and gamers because of its affordability and great physical qualities. Maple is perfect for studies and gaming stuff as well.
But maple is a bit difficult to work with because of lack of tools and proper caring is very much important for keeping the desk lifelong.
The Janka hardness value for maple is 1450, which is pretty much great for hardwood.
In my opinion, maple is a wood that can relax your mind because of its light creamy soft color tone.
Here I have given you the pros and cons of using maple for computer desk to make your decision.
| Pros | Cons |
| Not expensive | Not good for heavy use |
| Durable and Strong | Not weather resistant |
| Beautiful creamy color tone | Heavyweight |
| Sturdy | Easily damage from insects – sealing is a must |
| Straight grain with swirls and twists | No, wear or tear resistance |
| Moisture resistant | Difficult to stain |
Most of the disadvantages of maple can easily ignore by applying a good sealer because the overall qualities of maple are great.
5. Birch
If you’re more focusing on comparatively high stable wood for a computer desk, Birch is the wood you should go with.
Birch is high in density and has a highly stable surface.
Even though it is not the hardest wood, durability is good for a computer desk.
Straight strain with waves and pores adds a unique look with fine grain.
Birch is heavier than walnut and lighter in color.
I have to say, the aesthetic look of birch wood is very attractive for woodworkers. The stain and finish of the birchwood computer desk come in different colors and styles.
Birch is a strong wood, with knots-free and rot-resistant capability.
The Janka hardness value for birch is 1260, which is a good rating to build a computer desk.
Birch is one of the best modern-looking wood that I have ever seen.
If you love to have the classic look for a computer desk go for Oakwood but to get the modern look, Birch should be your first choice.
So, let’s discuss the pros and cons of birch to make a computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| Aesthetic grain with a modern look | No moisture resistance |
| Strong and durable | No weather resistance |
| Less expensive | Can damage from insects easily |
| Decay resistance – increase the lifetime of the desk | Warp and crack easily in dry conditions |
| Finishing is easy – polishing and staining | No wear or shear resistance |
| Easy to work with |
6. Cedar
To get an aromatic look on your computer desk, cedar is the wood that you should go with.
The texture of cedar is a unique pinkish-red color to dark color. It also has great finishing properties with great workability properties.
Even a beginner can get started with cedarwood in making a computer desk. The durability is high and light in weight because of being softwood.
Cedar is known as one of the most durable woods with decay and rot resistance. It is also resistant to moisture and weather as well.
Cedar is a porous wood that can absorb chemicals and oils which cause discoloration, So, I highly recommend you apply a sealer to keep the desk lifelong.
The Janka hardness value for the cedar is 320, a pretty low value because of being a softwood. But it doesn’t mean cedar isn’t strong enough.
Here I have given, pros and cons of using cedarwood for computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| Durable | Need to apply sealer once per year – proper maintenance is needed |
| Rot and Decay resistance | Easily can crack and scratch because of being a softwood |
| Moisture resistance | Low in dense |
| Weather resistance | |
| Resistant to insect attacks | |
| Does not warp easily | |
| Attractive strong color | |
| Workability | |
| Easy to finish and stain | |
| Not expensive | |
| Versatile wood with different grades, dimensions, and colors | |
| Need less maintenance |
7. Pine
Computer desks made of plywood have very lightweight and easy to move.
So, if you’re looking to build a computer desk for studying and writing along with gaming, pinewood is the wood for you.
It is light brown in color with high knots and a reddish-brown grain structure.
The advantage of building a computer desk with pine wood is, it is easy to paint and stain well. Pine is a durable wood with decay resistance.
The Janka hardness ratings for pine are 300-400, which cause it’s lightweight.
Pine has a unique even closed grain structure which adds beautiful texture to your computer desk with a modern look.
The workability of pinewood is also high because of its softness. But at the same time, you should be careful to handle the wood with care because it can easily prone to cracks, scratches, and dents.
Proper maintenance is a must for pinewood computer desks. Because of being a softwood, Finishing should do with extra attention.
If you can follow those guidelines, the pinewood computer desk will be perfect with no issues at all.
So, let’s discuss the pros and cons of pine for computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| Less expensive | Less durable – need proper maintenance |
| Workability | Low in dense |
| Beautiful light brown-yellowish appeal | Less versatility |
| Lightweight | No wear resistance |
| Easy to paint and stain to get your preferred color. | The excessive number of knots weaken the wood and computer desk. |
| High stiffness and strength | |
| Shock resistance | |
| Environmentally friendly | |
| Resistant to swelling and shrinking |
8. Elm
Elm is a good option if you’re looking for wood with rich dark colors. The dark light lines of elm add a unique look to the computer desk.
People who have unique tastes would go for elm because it is a strong wood with good tensile strength.
The bending and shaping flexibility of elmwood is so easy and very useful in budling computer desks with a curved shape.
The durability of elm is also high with great toughness and stress. It has the natural split resistant ability and can keep long enough even with comparatively less maintenance.
The Janka hardness ratings for elmwood is 830, which has good strength.
I have researched and identified the pros and cons of elmwood in computer desk making.
| Pros | Cons |
| High durability | Difficult to dry |
| Heartwood with grey and violent grain | Open to insect attacks |
| Clean clear and smooth texture | Can get out of shape easily because of high flexibility |
| Workability | Expensive |
9. Teak
Teak is a wood with great durability and strength, which is very useful as an office computer desk. But it can be a great selection for domestic computer desk because of its attractive golden yellow color.
The only problem is this golden color will start to fade under direct sunlight over time.
So, make sure not to keep your teak computer desk near a window.
To avoid that proper sealer is needed to apply before the finishing of the desk.
The Janka hardness rating for Teakwood is 1155, which resembles its great strength.
Teak is a very expensive wood. In my opinion, teak is well worth the price, because of its rich properties.
Here are some pros and cons of using teak for your computer desk.
| Pros | Cons |
| High strength and durability | Very expensive |
| Insect resistance | Hard to find |
| High dense | Woodworking tools can get blunted |
| Aesthetic look with golden yellow color and straight grain pattern | Proper maintenance is needed |
| Feels great to touch | Heavy wood |
| High In most of the qualities compared to other wood types | |
| Weather resistance | |
| Resistant to fungi attacks | |
| Resistant to most chemicals |
10. Rosewood
One of the rarest woods to find with a great number of qualities. Rosewood has a unique dark purple to dark brown color with black streaking which adds a modern look to your computer desk.
The Janka hardness rating for rosewood is 1220, which is pretty strong wood.
Rosewood has great flexibility like teak wood, which is important when curving the edges of a computer desk. It has good cold tolerance with bright scattered-looking colors.
Here I have listed down some pros and cons of rosewood in computer desking making.
| Pros | Cons |
| Resistant to corrode | Hard to find |
| Fine wood can keep the look for a long time | Expensive |
| Durable and high strength | Easily deform because of its flexibility |
| Smooth and lustrous appeal | Hard to carry |
| Fire resistance | Difficult to work |
| Heavy | |
| No finishing is needed | |
| Feel fabulous |
11. Bamboo
As we know bamboo has the most unique color and properties than other woods, it can and nice light blonde appeal to your computer desk without any painting.
There are some variations of colors like red-brown is also available on market. Bamboo is a durable and strong wood with its unique tissue structure.
The Janka hardness rating for bamboo is 1380, which displays how strong the wood is.
The environmental impact from bamboo is also very low and it can absorb tons of carbon dioxide as well.
The maintenance is also easy. You just need to vacuum to broom to remove small dust on top of the desk.
Bamboo has a natural water-resistant ability, which is significant compared to other wood types, especially for a task like making a desk.
You don’t need to worry about water splitting if the computer desk is made out of bamboo.
So, here are some pros and cons of using bamboo for computer desk making.
| Pros | Cons |
| Water resistance | Can damage from chemicals |
| Easy to maintain | Easily get dents and scratches |
| Durable and strong | Shrink and swell easily |
| Less expensive | Open to fungus and insect attacks |
| High dense | |
| Flexible and easy to shape | |
| Natural clean and smooth surface great for desktop | |
| Lightweight | |
| Fire-resistant with heat insulation |
That’s it, folks! Hope you learned everything you wanted to know about best wood for computer desk.
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Is The Best Material For a Computer Table?
- Oak
- Sheesham wood
- Walnut
- Cherry
- Maple
- Birch
- Cedar
- Pinewood
- Elm
- Teak
Oak, Americal maple, Walnut, Cherry and Birch are hard enough for a desk. They can hold weight and able to use for long time with proper maintenance.
Is MDF Good For Computer Desk?
MDF is good for computer desks since it is strong and dense. With proper finishing, you can use the MDF computer desk for so long.
After making the computer desk with MDF, make sure to finish it with a quality sealer like varnish, polyurethane or lacquer.
Finishing helps to use MDF computer desks for so long without getting damaged from moisture, cracks, and dents.
What is a Good Thickness For a Computer Desk?
The ideal thickness for a computer desk is 30mm to 40mm (1.5″). The length and the width can vary according to the components that you’re willing to keep on the computer desk.
Generally, a computer desk has a rectangular top 120cm (47.2″) long and 60cm (23.6″) wide.
What Kind of Plywood To Use For Desktop?
19mm (0.7″) thick plywood sheets are ideal to use for desktops. You need to select thick plywood to keep your computer to avoid wood from warping.
Plywoods are great to use as desktops. After making desktop with plywood, finish the desk properly with a quality finisher like varnish or polyurethane for the long run.
How To Choose The Best Wood For Computer Desk?
Select the best wood for the computer desk by considering the following factors,
- Quality of the wood
- The density of the wood
- Workability of the wood
- Color and wood grain
- Toughness
- Your budget
- The durability of the wood
Why Wood Is Good For Computer Table?
Woods are good for computer desks instead of plastic, steel, and other materials because woods are durable, sustainable, ways to maintain, aesthetically pleasing, resist heat and electricity, comfortable, absorb sound, and calm than other materials.
With proper woodworking techniques, you can make a beautiful computer desk which will last forever with no issues.
Did I cover all you wanted to know about The Best Wood for Computer Desk?
In this article, we took a look at the Top 11 best wood for computer desks that I have worked with and gained good results, in terms of strength, durability, and appeal.
Ultimately, I have to say all 11 wood types that I have reviewed have a great amount of strength to baring two, three monitors, workstation, keyboard, mouse, electronic items with your book load with ease with different great qualities.
The best woods for computer desks are Oak, Sheesham wood, Walnut, Cherry, Maple, Birch, Cedar, Pinewood, Elm, Teak, and Bamboo. Use sharp woodworking tools and fresh wood without any defects and finish with a quality sealer to use the computer desk for so long.
I have reviewed all the woods perfect for computer desk with their pros and cons.
Also, I have mentioned what type of purposes they fit perfectly according to their price factors as well.
Ultimately, I have answered all the possible factors that we should when selecting each wood to make the computer desk with FAQ.
I hope by reviewing each wood one by one, now you can get an idea or take the final decision of your personal best wood for computer desk without any issue.
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for, what a information!
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Thank you so much. Happy to help.
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