Best Desks For Programmers in 2023

• An ergonomic desk is vital for programmers because it promotes neck and back alignment and hamstring flexibility to spend long hours coding.
• Height adjustability, a flat smooth surface, sufficient space under the desk and a scalloped edge are some features of an ergonomic developer desk.
• An electric standing desk and L-shaped desks are the most popular and best desks for programmers in 2023.

How to choose the best desk for a programmer

What features should you be looking for when you're looking for a new home office desk to use in your development work? What is the best option?

Plenty of space

A great programmer desk should provide enough room for storage, a comfortable height adjustment system, and a cable management system. A well-designed desk will also include a place where you can hide cords and cables. But what if you need to find a desk that will fit into small spaces? There are plenty of options available that have narrow widths, but still give you enough space to get your work done.

Sit stand adjustability

The best desks for programmers need to offer a proper height adjustment system. The best standing desks use electric motors to raise and lower the desktop surface so you can go from a sitting position to a standing position with the push of a button.

The right kind of storage

Even though programmers spend an enormous amount of hours at their desk, they still need space for storage. Look for a desk that comes with drawers, cabinets, shelves, etc., so you can keep your workstation organized.

A way to manage cords and cables via grommets

Make sure that your new desk has a cable management system. Cables and wires can easily become tangled and cause frustration. Having a cable management system helps prevent this problem.

You may not think that you need a cable management system, but you probably do. Most modern computers come with multiple USB ports, Ethernet jacks, HDMI connections, and power outlets. All of these devices require cables, and they tend to tangle easily and quickly. Cable management systems help organize these cables and keep them out of sight.

A cable management system

A cable management system is different than a desk that is simply equipped with grommets. While you are searching for a coder desk, don't forget to look for a cable manager system. These days, many computer manufacturers include a cable management system with their desktops. However, if yours does not, you can purchase one separately.

The right kind of desktop surface

There are lots of options available when it comes to desktops. You'll find everything from traditional solid wood desktops to minimalist design modern glass surfaces. There are several factors to consider, including price, durability, ease of cleaning, and overall quality.

The right kind of desk top is important because it will affect what you can mount onto it using clamping device, if you're interested in having a built-in mouse pad, whether or not you want something that is stain resistant, or you are interested in having an exotic natural solid wood top.

A coder desk that is ergonomic

Last but by no means least, is that for programmers, it's vital that you get a desk that's ergonomic. An ergonomic workstation[1] ensures alignment which means putting the least amount of stress on your body. When your knees and hips are level, your wrists are straight, your hands at or beneath your elbows, and your computer screen is at your eye level, it means your body follows ergonomic alignment and you are in a comfortable position to do long hours of coding. Thus, an ergonomic workstation should have an ergonomic chair, a good light source, a keyboard tray, and a comfortable desk.

Why do you need an ergonomic desk for programming?

For the longest time, I didn't have an ergonomic desk myself and I was physically miserable at my desk. I'd have to get up, stretch, move around, take pain medication to deal with the aches, and more.

What this meant was that my mind was on things other than my work - and that killed my productivity and effectiveness. And as a developer you know how important it is to stay in the zone when you're cranking out work. If you break that focus, it can take you a long time to get back on track and you've lost that inspiration that you may have had when you were in the zone.

I just needed to be able to stand so I wouldn't be so uncomfortable, while not breaking my workflow. I'm very average height, so the distance the desk needs to travel from minimum height to maximum height really isn't all that much, so the best choice for me was something that could adjust to different heights, had a large surface area for my multiple monitor setup, something with a sturdy metal frame and was wide enough to hold everything I need.

As a programmer, your desk is the portal to your daily errands - every line of code you write, CSS you minify or any updates you execute, everything is done at your desk in front of your big screen monitor on your computer.

According to Statista, nearly 75% of developers spend 40 hours at their workstations in a week. Therefore, your computer desk should be ergonomic enough to handle the work capacity your field demands without affecting your health and productivity. It should be aligned with your posture to avoid neck and back crib. Because correct sitting posture has a positive impact on neck and back alignment and hamstring flexibility.

What features make a programmer's desk ergonomic?

An ergonomic developer desk should allow adequate height, depth, and work surface. It should have the following features:

• A flat smooth surface so that keyboard, monitor, and mouse does not compromise your posture and vision.
• Wide and sturdy enough to keep you organized with your entire setup leaving extra space for notes, peripherals, and other desk accessories.
• The angle between the forearm and upper arm must be between 90 - 110 degrees.[2]
• A suitable height ( 680-720 mm from the surface of the desk to the floor) so that your feet rest comfortably on the ground, a hip flexion angle is between 90-115 degrees, and a knee flexion angle is 90-120 degrees.[3]
• A sufficient space under the desk so you can comfortably stretch your legs and place a footrest for extra support.
• Height adjustable desk that can be raised (to at least 1100 mm) or lowered without any disruption to the placement of monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
• ​Scalloped desk(that has a shallow curve cut out at the center) to provide better work posture when using multiple screens. There is growing evidence that scalloped desks are the most ergonomic type of office desks because they provide better forearm support and more desktop space within acceptable reach zones.