The 7 Best Teacher Desks Overall

By David Unwin •  Updated: 06/29/23 •  Classroom Resources

We’ve previously covered out favorite standing desks for your home office as a teacher, but this is clearly not a practical option for the work environment of a teachers office. We also ranked and reviewed our top desks for students looking to study. But what about desks for the office?

We know that most schools use the same desks in both the classroom and the teachers office for the past 20 years. But if it’s in the budget to throw out the old and replace those 1980’s teachers desks with something new and modern this is what we suggest.

Fortess series – A big, spacious workstation

This is a big, stainless steel desk. It has a large surface area, drawer that can be locked and two side drawers for documents. It’s the perfect desk for in the classroom.

The Fortress Series teacher’s desks are perfect for offices and classrooms in educational settings. They are made of solid steel and can withstand daily use. The tops are also durable and safe, with T-Mold edges and a high-performance laminate surface resistant to scratches, stains, and water damage.

The mobile desks have several features, including 3/4 modesty panels, locking center drawers, and box/file pedestals with full-extension ball-bearing slides. The full-width integrated drawer pulls, and central lock system that locks all drawers add to its functionality. The desk also has a reinforced, double-frame inner structure, which makes it solid and durable for long-term use.

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Single pedestal steel desk – Your basic, quality work desk

This desk has a tough square edge laminated top which won’t scratch or stain. The steel frame is powder coated and has 1″ square tubular legs, which are chrome-plated. You can store hanging file folders in the full-extension locking file drawer with telescoping ball-bearing slides.

The box drawer with dividers moves on steel roller suspensions. A lock secures all drawers, while the aluminum handles make it easy to open them. The desk has a three-quarter height modesty panel that offers privacy. You can even adjust the leveling glides if the floors at your school are uneven.

This desk is an ideal option for any professional or home office. It’s a timeless design, and sturdy construction will offer you years of reliable service. It’s you’re basic, run of the mill but reliable teacher desk.

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Pedestal country desk – Practical size

This is the type of desk you would expect to see in a government building or a teachers office. It’s nothing fancy, just your standard L-shaped desk that’s designed for rigorous use.

The desk is solid steel that can withstand rough usage and performs well. It has an oak laminate surface resistant to scratches, stains, and water. The center grommet makes it easy to manage cords and keep things organized. The desk has a reinforced, double-frame inner structure that remains sturdy over many years.

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Alera mobile workstation – Portable choice

This is functionally a desk with wheels which make it easier to take it where you need it. It is designed to fit in tight spaces and can pass through standard doorways to be moved from one room to the next. The desk features a full-width, slide-out keyboard tray and a commercial-grade laminate worksurface and side panels that are resistant to water, scratches, and dents.

It also has a charcoal accent line under the worksurface for added style and protective edge banding to help prevent damage from bumps. The build quality is good, but it’s not made out of premium material. This is actually a good thing as it makes this desk lightweight and easy to maneuver.

This desk has two grommets (those holes on the top and back) that can be used for managing cables and wires. It also has an interior shelf that can be used for storage and keeping wires while relocating. Last, like most desk is has a back modesty panel. Additionally, there are four casters for mobility purposes, two of which are equipped with locks to help keep the desk in place.

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Valencia series desk – Great for a computer workstation

We don’t see this being an single teachers desk, instead it’s a great design choice if you’re looking to setup a dedicated, shared computer workstation in the teachers office. Complete with a desktop computer, printer, laminator etc.

The work surface and side panels are made of commercial-grade laminate resistant to water, scratches, and stains. The work surface also has a charcoal accent line that adds style. A protective edge banding is included to prevent damage from bumps, and there are two grommets for managing cables and wires. A full-length modesty panel is also included for added privacy.

The desk has a contemporary, minimalist design will enhance any office space. It comes with all the necessary hardware and easy-to-follow instructions for assembly. This modern desk is perfect for both home offices and commercial settings. Its sleek look and sturdy construction will provide years of reliable service. Get the ideal workspace solution with this stylish and functional laminate computer.

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Amazon Basics – Rectangular Gaming Computer Desk

This desk is designed for gamer as it has a bunch of spaces for things like a tablet, webcam, large monitor (32 inch max) and so forth. But we found it to be an acceptable option for the office computer station if you’re looking for an alternative to the large Valencia desk.

This desk is made out of carbon fiber and pretty easy to assemble, though it will take a bit of time to put it together. Overall, it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a cheap computer desk with a lot of shelfs.

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Sauder Edge Water – An excellent library desk

This is a beautifully designed desk that’s perfect for a home office or school library. While not our top choice for strictly a teacher desk, if you’re in need of something for the school library or your home office then consider this. This desk is that good, we had to add it to our list, allbit at the end.

Make your home office look more elegant with this computer desk. With ample space for all your office essentials, including your laptop, papers, and coffee mug. You can slide the keyboard and mouse shelf out by flipping down the molding. It also has a storage area behind the door to hold your vertical CPU tower and two drawers that operate smoothly on metal runners.

Overall, this desk is of good quality, and its color is deep and rich. It’s also much easier to assemble when compared to the Amazon Basics desk. However, this desk is surprisingly heavy, so you may need help with moving it.

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Best desks for teachers – Conclusion

So that’s it for our breakdown on the best teacher desks for school. We hope you found this guide helpful as we covered a few different options at varying price points for different use cases. Desks are one of those purchase decisions you need to take time with as you’ll be using these desks for years to come.

David Unwin

I've taught as an ESL teacher in Thailand for 5+ years at all levels of education, from elementary to University. I was also one of the first 1000 VIPKID teachers. Here I create content on teaching abroad, online and helpful tips for the classroom. Learn more.

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