Folding desks come in a variety of shapes and styles. So, before you waste precious time and money buying one, you should know what to look for and how to choose a folding desk. After all, you might as well buy one that will actually meet your needs and desires. With this article, you can buy the perfect foldable desk first time round and save yourself some headaches too! Let’s get started!
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How To Choose A Folding Desk?
When choosing a foldable desk, the primary considerations for most people are the size, price and foldable features of the desk. Folding desks are often used in areas where space is limited. Therefore, considering what surface area you need on the folding desk and the space available should be a priority. The budget you have available will also need to be considered. Folding desks start at around $18.86 but can cost as much as $937.99 or more. Choosing the cheapest folding desk is often a poor idea as you’ll see below. The next priority for choosing a folding desk is how easily it folds. Also, the area where the desk folds should be evaluated.
Once those factors are considered, the remaining items on the below list can also be used to narrow down the perfect folding desk for you:
- Size
- Price
- Foldability
- Durability
- Weight
- Weight Capacity
- Appearance
There are many factors to consider when choosing a foldable desk. Consequently, it can be easy to pick a folding desk that is unsuitable for your needs. Read on to get a deeper insight into the specifications that you should look for to ensure that you make a wise buying decision first time round!
A typical office desk measures 48-inches wide by 30-inches deep whereas a floating desk can measure around 22 inches wide by 20 inches deep. Source
Size
Foldable desks come in a variety of sizes from 24” – 62” and sometimes even larger.
As with any table, you’ll need to consider what size desk that you will need for your tasks. If it’s simply for working with a laptop and taking some notes, then a relatively small table should suffice.
You might find that a laptop desk could even meet your needs.
However, if you a foldable desk for dealing with large documents or drawings, or for activities that take up a sizeable amount of space, then opting for a larger surface area will be important.
Price
Folding desks have an average price range of between $18.86 – $937.99+. The price of a folding desk is usually dependent on the quality of the product, the materials utilized and the size of the folding desk.
Selecting a cheap folding table could mean that you end up forgoing durability, desk size and quality of the unit.
In addition to considering price, warranty, the brand name and product reviews should also be evaluated. These will help to gauge how reliable the folding table will be.
Foldability
When choosing a folding table, often called a murphy desk, you’ll probably have some preferences around how the folding of the desk should work. You’ll also want a desk that can fold with relative ease.
You shouldn’t have to be using considerable force to fold up and fold out the various components.
The area where the table folds should also be considered. Do you want it to fold in half so that it can be carried around the place?
Or do you merely want a folding extendable table or desk that allows you more or less surface area based on the activities that you’re doing?
In some Murphy desks, they are attached to a wall and so the fold is a couple of inches from the side that’s attached to the wall. This means that they can fold up or down to be neatly aligned with the wall.
Many people invest in a foldable extendable kitchen table to allow more people to sit at the table.
Durability
The sturdiness of the folding desk should be a concern for most people. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on a wobbly, flimsy piece of furniture that doesn’t last 6 months!
The durability of a folding desk can sometimes be linked to the price of a folding desk.
If the foldable table has a low price, then cheap materials are probably used to build it. These materials tend to be of poorer quality than ones used in mid-priced folding tables.
Furthermore, they are less likely to be capable of withstanding wear and tear. Plus, they are likely to have a lower weight limit too.
Weight
The weight of the foldable desk is a factor to consider if you intend to transport the unit on a regular basis. The weight of a foldable desk is primarily based on the type of materials employed.
Plastic tables are generally the lightest while steel and wooden foldable desks add more weight.
- Small foldable desks which are around 28 inches wide weigh a minimum of 20.30 pounds or more.
- A medium sized foldable desk around 43 inches wide weighs around 35.5 pounds or more.
- A large folding desk of 55 inches in width weighs approximately 40 pounds.
For an exact weight comparison, I extracted the weights of the same folding desk in various sizes that it comes in:
| Need Computer Desk Size (inches) | Weight (pounds) |
| 31.5 | 19.06 |
| 47 | 31.7 |
| 55 | 40 |
| 62 | 43.9 |
Tip: Plastic can weigh as much as 16% less than the same amount of steel material.
Weight Capacity
Weight capacity is the maximum amount of weight that an object can hold. This means that the total weight of all the objects placed on the foldable desk cannot exceed that weight limit.
So, how much weight can a folding table hold?
The weight capacity for folding desks starts at approximately 100 pounds. Some folding desks have a weight capacity as high as 800 pounds.
Some floating desks have a weight capacity as high as 220 pounds.
Recommended product: Lightweight Floating Shelf Set
Appearance
The materials used in manufacturing the folding desk will be a key influencer in the appearance and style of the folding desk.
For some people, this won’t be a concern, however, for the majority of people, you’ll probably want some furniture that complements or matches the existing design of the room.
The most popular type of folding desk is a wooden style folding desk.
Murphy desks are available in other styles too, including plastic and steel. Plus, you can also pick the color of the plastic and even paint wooden tables in any color that you like.
Conclusion
Folding desks come in a variety of styles, designs and budget brackets which means there should be a foldable table to suit practically everyone.
However, following some of the simple techniques and pointers listed in this article can be the deciding factor between your dream table and a dud!
Ultimately, it may cost you in the long run if you pick a cheap folding desk as you could end up having to get it fixed or waste valuable money buying a new foldable desk.
Moreover, if you require a desk with a large surface area or a very high weight capacity, you’re possibly better off going for a regular table.
While I don’t own a traditional foldable desk, I do own a folding laptop desk.
Click here to see why I love my laptop desk: Sit stand height adjustable desk – Newoer Ultra Large Adjustable Laptop Table Desk
Do you own a floating desk, Murphy desk or folding desk? Leave you feedback on them in the comments below!
