Most of us spend hours each working day at a desk, whether in an office, a home study or a corner of the living room. This site brings together independent, plain-language guides to choosing an office desk, setting up your workstation and working comfortably from home, with official sources on every page.
Explore the guides
- Choosing Desk types, sit-stand desks, sizes and materials.
- Set-up Step-by-step setup, monitors and laptops, chairs and sitting less.
- Home office Setup checklists, small spaces, tax deductions and buying rights.
The essentials at a glance
WorkSafe Victoria's workstation checklist says the desk surface should be just below elbow height when seated. Safe Work Australia's workstation infographic describes a chair that supports the lower back, feet on the floor or a footrest, forearms angled slightly down to the keyboard, eye level slightly below the top of the screen and the screen about an arm's length away, directly in front. WorkSafe Queensland suggests placing the keyboard about 10 to 15 cm from the front edge of the desk.
Sit-stand desks
Safe Work Australia says too much sitting or standing is bad for your health, and that workers shouldn't stay in one static posture for long periods. A sit-stand desk makes varying your posture easier. WorkSafe Victoria explains that AS/NZS 4442 recommends a height range of 620 to 1200 mm for the main worktop of a sit-to-stand workstation, and WorkSafe Queensland suggests aiming to change posture about every 30 minutes.
Working from home
WorkSafe Victoria's working from home checklist covers everything from chair adjustment to glare and wellbeing. The ATO says you can claim office furniture such as desks and chairs used for work, generally as depreciating assets, and the fixed rate for running expenses doesn't include furniture.
Buying well
Check height range, depth, leg room and stability before you buy. The ACCC explains your consumer guarantee rights to a repair, replacement or refund, and recommends anchoring furniture that can topple.
Choosing your first upgrade
If you're improving an existing setup, start with the change that fixes your biggest problem. For many people, that's an adjustable chair, a way to raise the screen, or a separate keyboard and mouse for a laptop. Next comes a footrest if your feet don't reach the floor, then better lighting. A new desk may not be needed at all if your current one is the right height and depth.
Desks for everyone
People come in all shapes and sizes, and so do workstations. Taller and shorter people should check desk and chair ranges carefully. People with disability or health conditions may need specific equipment or layouts; occupational therapists and physiotherapists can advise. Children and students need furniture that adjusts as they grow.
Five things worth knowing
- Set up in order: chair first, then desk, then keyboard and mouse, then screen.
- Desk surface just below seated elbow height. If the desk is fixed, raise the chair and use a footrest.
- Screen about an arm's length away, directly in front, with eye level slightly below the top.
- Vary your posture. Too much sitting or too much standing is bad for your health, says Safe Work Australia.
- Desks and chairs used for work may be tax deductible, but only the work-related portion. Check the ATO.
A desk is part of a system
A desk on its own can't make you comfortable. It works together with your chair, footrest, screen, keyboard, mouse, lighting and the way you work. The best desk in the world won't help if the chair is too low or the screen is on the far corner. That's why our guides cover the whole workstation, from choosing a desk to setting it up and building movement into your day.
Common mistakes to avoid
A few mistakes come up again and again. Buying a desk that's too shallow for a monitor forces the screen too close. Working all day on a laptop flat on the desk pulls the head forward. Choosing a sit-stand desk without checking its height range leaves taller and shorter people uncomfortable. Standing all day swaps one static posture for another. And forgetting to anchor tall shelving or hutches creates a toppling risk at home. Each of these is easy to avoid once you know what to look for.
About these guides
Office Desks is an independent information site about choosing and setting up office desks in Australia. We aren't a furniture retailer, manufacturer, ergonomist, government agency or tax adviser, and we don't sell furniture or review brands. Our guides are general information written in our own words, with official sources listed on every page. They're not health, legal or tax advice.
How we keep these guides current
We review each guide against its sources and show the date it was last checked. Workplace guidance and ATO rates are updated from time to time. If you notice something out of date, please tell us through our contact page, and we'll check and correct it.
About this site
Office Desks is a new, independent site with original content. We don't sell, review or rank furniture, and we never invent statistics, prices or test results. Read our editorial policy to learn how we work.
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