13 Best Wood for Desktop with Pros and Cons| Expert Advice

What’s the best wood for desktop? There are many different options when it comes to choosing wood for your desk, also as you’ll soon discover, each wood type has its own set of pros and cons depending on the kind of desk you want to make. 

By Wood for desktop, we mean a material used in desktop furniture. Many different varieties of wood can be used, which makes it challenging to decide which type would be best suited for your needs. 

Nothing beats a solid wood desk in my opinion. Wood desktops connect to my heart in ways that other materials cannot, from their beauty to their warmth, power, and craftsmanship.

Wood adds character to your office area and helps you work more effectively by offering a stable surface for writing, typing, or studying.

Wood isn’t the only option either; metal, plastic, and other materials are available as well. This expert advice will help you choose the best type of desktop material based on your needs and requirements.

People search for wood for computer desks for three reasons, according to my years of woodworking expertise. Namely;

• Computer desk for Office stuff – paperwork, browsing the internet, etc.
• Computer desk for Gaming
• Computer desk for studying/writing desk plus gaming

Best Wood for Desk Top

The following is a list of the 13 best kinds of wood for desktops that are currently on the market.

1. Maple

Maple has a light-colored wood grain that is very appealing, also it is a strong, durable hardwood that is often used in high-end furniture because of its resistance to water damage. Maple is also used in flooring because it resists wearing from heavy traffic.

2. Cherry

Cherry is a type of wood that is known to be quite durable. It is also not too expensive, so it’s a great choice if you want something that looks nice without spending too much money on it.

It might be worth noting that cherry is not the easiest type of wood to work with, so if you’re planning to make your own desk using this type of wood, you may want to consider buying it pre-cut in order to save time.

3. Mahogany

Mahogany is a type of hardwood that has a dark, reddish-brown color. It’s easy to work with, which makes it perfect for furniture making. It’s also durable, strong, and resistant to wear. The downside is that it can be expensive and difficult to find in stores.

4. Birch

Birch is one of the more common types of wood used in desktops. Birch is a white, tight-grained, fine-textured hardwood that has a straight grain pattern. 

Birch has been used to create desks because it is a strong wood that resists warping, and can be stained or painted to match any décor. The downside to birch is that it scratches easily, so it needs to be treated or covered with something like a tabletop protector.

5. Alder

Alder is a soft wood that is easy to work on. It does not need to be sealed or varnished, but it can be stained if desired. Alder is one of the most popular woods used in furniture because it is so durable, yet still attractive.

6. Walnut

Walnut is a hardwood that originates in Eastern North America. It is a light brown wood that has a low tendency to warp or shrink. Walnuts can be found in the form of veneer, plywood, or solid wood boards. 

Though it is not an expensive option, it may cost more than other types of wood due to its rarity. One thing to note about walnut is that there are two main types: black walnut and white walnut. Black walnuts have darker colors and grain while white walnuts have lighter colors and grain patterns.

7. Oak

Oak is a hardwood, which is a type of timber that comes from deciduous trees. 

It has a straight, coarse texture and it’s the most widely used wood in furniture making. The color varies from light to dark brown, with the sapwood being lighter in color than the heartwood. 

Oak is a very common wood in homes and businesses because of its beauty, strength, hardness, and durability.

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8. Pine

Pine is a soft, inexpensive wood that is easy to work on. It has a light, pleasant scent. Pine tends to be less expensive than many other kinds of wood, but it does not hold up as well over time and can be easily damaged by water spills or nail scratches. 

Pine is an excellent choice for children’s furniture because it is so durable, especially when varnished or finished with a sealant, but it may not be the best option if you have pets. 

9. Cedar

Cedar is a popular choice of desk wood because it smells good, looks nice, is affordable, and has a light color that doesn’t show dirt or stains. It’s also easy to work with when building a desk. The only downside to cedar is that it can be hard to find.

10. Rosewood

Rosewood is a rich, deep brown wood that’s great for desks. It’s durable, but not as hard as some other woods like oak or maple. Rosewood doesn’t need to be refinished often, so it can last a long time. 

A downside is that it scratches easily and needs to be waxed regularly to avoid getting water stains.

11. Ebony

Ebony is a richly colored hardwood that is prized for its deep dark hue. The color of ebony ranges from black to dark brown. Ebony boards have a uniform texture and are typically straight-grained, but sometimes they can be wavy or curly. 

This dense hardwood has a fine, smooth texture but it’s not easy to work with because it tends to split along the grain lines if cutting isn’t performed carefully.

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12. Bamboo

Bamboo is a very durable wood that can withstand environmental changes. It is also hypoallergenic, which makes it a good choice for those who are allergic to other woods. Bamboo requires little maintenance. It is best used in humid environments because it rots when exposed to dry air.

13. Teak

Teak is not only one of the best woods to use on a desktop, but it’s also one of the most durable. The high oil content in teak makes it resistant to decay, so even with continuous exposure to water or other liquids, your desk will stay intact for years. 

The teak can be sanded down when needed and is easy to maintain. If you want a desk that will last a lifetime, teak is an excellent choice.

Where to buy wood for desk

Wooddesignes is one of the best wood suppliers in the industry. They offer a wide variety of woods to choose from, which makes it easy to find your perfect desk. Plus, they have great customer service and will help you design the perfect piece for your office.

Litepanels is another great choice, especially if you need your desk to also double as a conference table. Their modern, simplistic designs look great in any office, so your employees will love using them daily. Plus, their affordable price tag makes investing in several pieces at once easier. 

However, some customers have complained that Litepanels customer service was not very helpful when it came time to assemble and install their furniture pieces.

Finally, if you’re a green design enthusiast, you may want to consider Thompson Brothers. Their desks are made out of 100% recycled wood and they look great,

However, they tend to be much pricier than other vendors. If your office is willing to spend more on furniture in general, Thompson Brothers is a great choice, if your budget is limited and you need something that won’t break your bank account you should look elsewhere.

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FAQ On Types of Wood For Desk

What kind of wood is hard enough for a desk?

Oak is the hardest of all types of wood, but it has a medium-grain texture, and it’s easy to find because it’s cheaper than other types of hardwood. 

Oak can be easily sanded and stained to produce different looks. You have to be careful when using oak because it’s prone to water damage if not treated properly.

What is a good thickness for a desktop?

19mm thick is the best thickness for a desktop, if the wood is up to this then it’s thick enough to provide a sturdy base, but not too heavy. 

It also provides enough space for wires so that your desk doesn’t look messy, however, if you’re looking for something more modern or are using a large desk, you might want to consider something thicker like 25mm.

 If you’re considering a thin wood like 10mm or 12mm, we recommend staining it rather than varnishing it so that the wood can be seen through the finish.

Do solid wood desks sag?

No, Wooden furniture never sags when you live with it for a long time. The oldest desks in the world are over 500 years old and are made from wood. 

These desks have stood the test of time and they have never sagged or needed repair. One can say that solid wood will always remain solid.

Is MDF good for a desk?

MDF is sturdy and denser than other particleboard options, so it’s a great option for building furniture, though this type of material is also quite susceptible to environmental fluctuations, which means drawers may not fit properly.

What is the perfect desk size?

The size of a desk varies from person to person. The width of your desk should at least be 30 inches because it provides enough space for two people to use it simultaneously.

A desk is a workstation that is often used by an office worker, student, or any other person who may need to do work on the computer. A desk is also a surface where one may eat food, read a book, or drink coffee.  

Be sure that you give plenty of room for those things as well. Consider the height. In order to sit comfortably in front of a desk, be sure to keep a space of about 20-25 inches from the top of your chair to the top of the desk.

Just use coasters and tablecloths, or at the very least mats to keep liquid off of your wooden table to keep it from being damaged.

How big of a desk do you need for 3 monitors?

You need a large surface at least 66 wide and 32 deep, this will allow you to have plenty of room for your monitors and any other items you have on your desk.

If that’s not an option, try to find a deep desk that’s only 18 or 24 deep so there’s more room on top of it.

How do I protect my wood table from cracking?

Protecting your wood table is easy if you follow a few simple rules. First, make sure to use a soft cloth to clean the surface of your table. 

Follow this routine to maintain the table: apply mineral oil to the table every 3 months, and never store anything heavy on top of the table to prevent it from cracking.

Does oiling wood prevent cracking?

The simplest way to prevent the wood from splitting and cracking is to boil linseed oil, let it cool, and apply a thin coat.  

Linseed oil has a tendency to darken the wood over time. One can also use boiled linseed oil mixed with equal parts of turpentine. 

If you don’t have the time or patience to try any of these techniques, then your best bet is to purchase an expensive hardwood desk made out of such woods as maple or cherry that are naturally resistant to cracking and splitting.

Is pine too soft for a desktop?

Most pine falls into the softwood category and may not be ideal for a desktop, however, furniture such as cabinets and shelves made out of pine is very popular.

Is butcher block good for a desk?

Using butcher block as a top for a thrift find or a well-used desk is a great option because it is durable, strong, and easy to care for. Butcher block desktops are prone to nicks from sharp objects like pens and pencils, as they aren’t sealed or coated.

Conclusion 

Just as each type of wood has its pros and cons, there is no single type of wood that is best suited to every person’s needs. 

The most important consideration when deciding which type of wood to use is personal preference, for those who have not yet settled on a type or are unsure which types are the best for them, researching the types of woods that are available may be a good way to start making a decision.

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