When purchasing any object, you’ll want to ensure that it is safe for your intentions. The same principle applies to foldable desks. How much a table can hold is an important safety factor. So how much can folding desks hold? And what weight capacity do you need based on your activities? This article answers all those questions about folding desk weight capacity. And more! So, stay tuned!
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Folding desk weight capacity
Generally, folding desks have a weight capacity between 50 – 800 pounds. The average weight capacity of a foldable table is 270.5 pounds. Most office desks hold approximately 15 pounds of office equipment. Therefore, these desks should offer ample weight limits for a regular office or study environment. How high the weight capacity of a folding desk is will depend on the weight of the desk, if there are support beams, the overall desk design and the materials it is made from. Therefore, it’s difficult to gauge the weight limit without asking the manufacturer.
The weight capacity of a desk is an important factor to consider when choosing a foldable desk. A little-known fact is that the weight thresholds can affect your safety. Furthermore, they implicate not only your welfare, but also the durability and reliability of the desk. Included below are nifty weight capacity comparison tables with 20 popular folding desks. Read on to find out more – your safety relies on it!
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
What is weight capacity?
Weight capacity defines the maximum weight that an object can hold. Weight capacity, load capacity and weight limit are words that can be used interchangeably. The weight capacity of an object varies depending on factors including:
1. Robustness of material
2. Purpose of the object
3. Shape and structure of the item
For the purpose of this article, the below are used to categorize the sizes of foldable desks:
Small folding desk: < 40 inches wide
Medium folding desk: 40 – 60 inches
Large folding desk: > 60 inches
The below table shows a list of 20 popular folding desk weight capacities sorted based on lowest to highest weight capacity.
| Name of folding desk | Type of folding desk | Weight capacity of folding desk (lbs) |
| Bucklin Height Adjustable Standing Desk | Small height adjustable desk | 50 |
| Ecostyle Solid Bamboo Frame Folding Desk | Small height adjustable desk | 50 |
| GreenForest Folding Desk, 2-Tier | Small computer desk | 80 |
| Lindy Desk | Large computer desk | 80 |
| Origami Folding Computer Desk | Medium height adjustable desk | 100 |
| Delia Rectangular Oak Metal Desk | Small height adjustable desk | 110 |
| SOFSYS Modern Folding Desk | Small computer desk | 120 |
| Coavas Folding Computer Desk | Small computer desk | 200 |
| Allensville Height Adjustable Desk | Medium height adjustable desk | 200 |
| Allensville Height Adjustable Desk | Large computer desk | 200 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 31.5″ | Small computer desk | 220 |
| Need Small Computer Desk 31.5″ | Small computer desk | 220 |
| Katie Desk | Large computer desk | 250 |
| Alrick Desk | Large computer desk | 250 |
| Alrick Desk by Ebern Designs | Large computer desk | 250 |
| DlandHomeLarge Home Office Desk | Large computer desk | 300 |
| Delle Rectangular Oak Computer Desk | Medium height adjustable desk | 330 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 47″ | Medium computer desk | 800 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 55″ | Medium computer desk | 800 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 62″ | Large computer desk | 800 |
How much do small folding desks weigh?
The average weight capacity of a small folding desk is 131.25 pounds. They tend to range in weight capacities from 50 – 220 pounds.
The below table shows some popular small folding desk weight capacities sorted based on lowest to highest weight capacity
Also included are the dimensions so you can gauge the weight capacity in relation to the dimensions.
| Name of folding desk | Type of folding desk | Weight capacity of folding desk (lbs) | Depth (Inches) | Width (Inches) | Height (Inches) |
| Bucklin Height Adjustable Standing Desk | Small height adjustable desk | 50 | 18.9 | 31.5 | 36.8 |
| Ecostyle Solid Bamboo Frame Folding Desk | Small height adjustable desk | 50 | 22.1 | 31.9 | 29.5 |
| GreenForest Folding Desk, 2-Tier | Small computer desk | 80 | 32 | 32 | 32.7 |
| Delia Rectangular Oak Metal Desk | Small height adjustable desk | 110 | 19.7 | 39.3 | 29.5 |
| SOFSYS Modern Folding Desk | Small computer desk | 120 | 18.9 | 31.5 | 37.8 |
| Coavas Folding Computer Desk | Small computer desk | 200 | 19.7 | 39.4 | 28.3 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 31.5″ | Small computer desk | 220 | 15.7 | 31.5 | 29.9 |
| Need Small Computer Desk 31.5″ | Small computer desk | 220 | 15.7 | 31.5 | 30 |
Tip: You might find that a laptop desk could even meet your needs.
How much do medium sized folding desks weigh?
Medium sized folding table range in weight capacities from approximately 100 – 800 pounds. The average weight capacity of a medium folding desk is 446 pounds.
The below table shows a list of popular medium Folding desk weight capacities arranged based on the lightest to the heaviest.
| Name of folding desk | Type of folding desk | Weight capacity of folding desk (lbs) | Depth (Inches) | Width (Inches) | Height (Inches) |
| Origami Folding Computer Desk | Medium height adjustable desk | 100 | 23.6 | 47.4 | 29.9 |
| Allensville Height Adjustable Desk | Medium height adjustable desk | 200 | 23.62 | 47.01 | 29 |
| Delle Rectangular Oak Computer Desk | Medium height adjustable desk | 330 | 23.6 | 40 | 30 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 47″ | Medium computer desk | 800 | 23.6 | 47.2 | 29.5 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 55″ | Medium computer desk | 800 | 23.6 | 55.1 | 29.5 |
Related: Folding Desk Weight – 20 Popular Examples + Helpful FAQs!
How much do large folding desks weigh?
The average weight capacity of a large folding desk is 304.29 pounds. The weight capacities of large foldable desks tend to range from 80 – 800 pounds. Evidently, there is a large difference (720 pounds) between the weight limits that various large foldable tables have.
The below table shows a list of popular large Folding desk weight capacities sorted based on lowest to highest weight capacity
| Name of folding desk | Type of folding desk | Weight capacity of folding desk (lbs) | Depth (Inches) | Width (Inches) | Height (Inches) |
| Lindy Desk | Large computer desk | 80 | 23.6 | 63 | 29 |
| Allensville Height Adjustable Desk | Large computer desk | 200 | 23.62 | 62.99 | 28.98 |
| Katie Desk | Large computer desk | 250 | 23.6 | 62 | 29.5 |
| Alrick Desk | Large computer desk | 250 | 23.6 | 63 | 29.5 |
| Alrick Desk by Ebern Designs | Large computer desk | 250 | 23.6 | 64 | 29.5 |
| DlandHomeLarge Home Office Desk | Large computer desk | 300 | 23.6 | 62 | 29.5 |
| Need Computer Desk Office Desk 62″ | Large computer desk | 800 | 23.6 | 62 | 29.5 |
Tip: If you already own a desk, the assembly booklet should include the weight limit there.
What weight capacity desk do I need?
The average office desk supports around 15 pounds of equipment. This includes a laptop, monitor, keyboard and mouse. Add a buffer for safety, miscellaneous documents or items as well as a bit extra weight for the force of your body typing or resting on the folding desk.
When it’s all added up, a weight limit of 45 pounds will generally be sufficient for regular office duties.
Therefore, if you’re only performing tasks which involve light equipment, such as a laptop, then a desk with a low weight capacity will probably suffice.
However, if you’re someone who works on heavy processing equipment, uses the table for storing an array of books and documents, opting for a higher weight capacity is essential.
A good way to gauge how much weight your folding desk will need to hold is to:
- Calculate the weight of all the items held on the folding desk
- Add a few pounds if your body weight will be pressing on the desk
- Add a buffer of about 20% for safety and good measure
Once all these values are added up, you will have a good idea of how strong your foldable desk will need to be to carry them all.
This should be more than enough for the majority of heavier duty activities and equipment.
Tip: Best practice is to opt for a desk which offers about 20% more weight capacity than you need.
How to tell the weight capacity of a desk?
To get a true weight limit for a foldable desk, this will need to be provided by the manufacturer or salesperson.
To an extent, you can vaguely estimate the weight limit of a folding desk based on the desk size.
However, this is generally a poor measurement strategy as many factors feed into how much a folding desk can hold.
This is evident from the above tables. Mostly small folding desks demonstrate the lower weight capacities.
However, there are some medium and large folding desks which have a weight limit equivalent to the small foldable desks.
Tip: You should be able to find the folding desk weight capacity from the website or manufacturer.
What makes a desk strong?
The design of the desk will influence how strong it is. Features that make a folding desk strong include:
- The strength of materials used, e.g., hardwood materials are stronger than softwood
- The thickness of materials used, e.g., thicker desk legs
- The greater the number of desk legs included
- The even distribution of the desk legs
- If support beams, such as table aprons are built in
- If durable attachment methods are connecting the legs to the desk surface
Furthermore, taking care when moving the desk can maintain the integrity of the desk and thus the strength of it.
What happens if you exceed the weight limit of a desk?
Weight limits can affect your safety, interfere with the reliability and even the guarantee of the desk. As a worst-case scenario, it could even break the folding desk if excess weight is applied. This could ultimately result in serious injury.
Exceeding the weight limit of a desk elliptical may not result in any damage or wear and tear if the weight capacity is only marginally exceeded.
The weight capacity has a safety buffer built into the weight limit calculation to account for these types of situations.
If the weight capacity is exceeded significantly or repeatedly, it’s likely to lead to a poorer user experience as the desk will probably feel unstable or wobbly under you.
Plus, if the weight limit is exceeded frequently, the desk is liable to breaking faster.
Long story short, the weight limit is important so make sure you choose a folding desk with enough of a weight capacity for your needs.
Selecting a cheap folding table could mean that you end up forgoing weight limits, desk size and quality of the unit.
Related: How much weight can a standing desk converter hold?
Conclusion
The weight capacity of the foldable desk is a factor that everyone should consider. If you intend to store heavy items on the folding desk or you’re considering a small foldable desk, then the weight limit should be more carefully analyzed.
Folding desks come in a variety of weight capacities which means there should be a foldable table to suit practically all weight limit requirements.
Choosing a table with too low of a weight threshold could lead to it collapsing or even injuring someone.
Don’t put yourself or others in danger!
Always choose a folding desk with a higher weight capacity than you need.
Fortunately, following some of the simple guidelines and pointers listed in this article can help you to easily decide what folding desk weight capacity you need!
It could be the deciding factor between your dream table and a dud!
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? Did you choose your desk based on the weight capacity? Comment below to let me know!