Are Gaming Desks Worth It? - Gaming Room Guru

When it comes to answering:

“Are gaming desks worth it?”

The short answer is: “it depends but generally, no”.

The long answer is something like: “if you want a gaming desk to add to the overall aesthetic of your gaming room, then they can definitely be worth it”.

Generally, a solid normal desk is better value for money and can still be customized how you want it to add to the overall set up.

For example, I use a White IKEA Trotten 180 x 60 cm Stand up and Sit down Desk that was around the $300 mark.

I have then added LED strips around the back and it supports my stacked ultrawide display of a 49″ Samsung and a 34″ on top of that.

If I was to get something along the lines of a gaming equivalent it would probably cost me another $200.

And what for?

Table of Contents

When a Gaming Desk Isn’t Worth It

Generally, I think you should firstly work out – what do you really need from a desk. That includes the following:

The overall dimensions – is it large enough to hold all your gaming gear.
The shape – some people prefer regular desks, other L shaped and so on.
Weight support – ensure that the desk you invest in can withstand and take all the weight that you intend to put on it.
Stand up and sit down – do you want to be able to stand up and still use your computer at certain points?

After you have got those down – you can start the search.

Explore some of the options and consider both ‘gaming desks’ as well as ‘normal desks’ looking purely on the specifications.

Here’s what you tend to find.

The aesthetics of the gaming desk might be a little different, it comes with creative decal and might have some storage accessories for your water bottle or a stand for your headphones to live on.

Other than, it is pretty much the same desk as the standard one.

Only it costs an extra $150-$200.

So it is then up to you – to consider whether that extra money for the creative decal or the extra storage accessories is worth it for you?

For me personally, no. I’d rather get the standard desk and then use some of that saving towards accessorising the desk myself. In my case adding the Elgato mini strip as well as an under desk storage basket.

When a Gaming Desk Is Worth It

That said, you will also find times.

Where the gaming desk and the standard desk aren’t actually that differently priced.

Maybe it is not another $150 but only $50.

And here you prefer the aesthetics of the gaming desk to go into a gaming room – more so than the standard desk will do.

In a case like this, this is where it can make a lot more sense to you personally to invest in that gaming desk rather than the standard one.

Plus, I think it is also a matter of what you ‘put into the desk’ as well – if you’re going to add a series of lighting accessories then you can really make the desk pop.

Gaming Desk Vs Standard Desk

As we have laid out above though, there is no ‘real‘ difference between that of a gaming desk and a standard desk.

The only real difference tends to be that the aesthetics of a gaming desk are more target towards gaming.

So as mentioned you can expect some fancy accessories for storage for example as well as an aesthetic design (with some decals and vinyls featured across the table) that speaks more so to a gaming type vibe.

Plus, to be clear there’s nothing wrong with putting a value on that itself – it is just up to you whether you think it is worth the extra difference in price.

Where as a standard desk tends to be quite minimal in nature (this is actually what I prefer personally – even in a gaming environment).

Build Your Own “Gaming” Desk

What is becoming quite popular at the moment is building your own desk where you can create it bespokely to your set up.

This is pretty intriguing actually – as you can in places – make it a more practical desk to your overall set up and make it more game friendly.

For instance, I have seen desks where users have the computer working within the desk itself – with a glass top over it – and you can see the RGB lighting within the desk itself.

Of course, that will take a lot of work but you can see the visual look there really is next level and of course will probably cost them more than a standard desk – but in cases like that you can see it is worth it.

However, the above I am talking about your typical gaming desks that you might come across.

So Are Gaming Desks Worth It?

They can be.

However, just make sure to do your research first.

Figure out what you actually need and want. Find the standard version of the desk that you think you would go for.

Then take a look at the gaming desk – somewhat equivalent.

Then simply work out the difference in price and then ask yourself – does the other desk have ‘enough’ about it that it is worth the difference?

Could you use that money to actually improve the standard desk more so to bring it to a similar level as the gaming one?

If you are struggling to make the case for the standard desk or the gaming desk that should help you decide on whether the gaming desk is worth it or not.

The #1 Gaming Desk I Have Been Tempted By

I’ve got to admit – I am pretty much an advocate for buying a standard desk that you like and then modding it up with different accessories and adding lighting to make it personal to you – and a style that you like.

However, there is one gaming desk that I think looks pretty epic – that I don’t think I’d be able to build any time soon.

And that’s the Eureka Ergonomic L Shaped gaming desk that basically has LED lights built within the desk itself – it is definitely worth checking out.

It’s more a case of showing you that there is some really high-quality desks out there with some clever designs – and if it speaks to you – I can totally see that being worth the money.

**Should You Ever Get Gaming Anything Then?**

You might take this to mean that when anything becomes ‘gaming’ then it just becomes expensive – that is actually not the case.

The above here is only an anecdotal point that I have seen when it comes to desk and gaming desks.

There are definitely some items that make way more sense to get the gaming equivalent such as when it comes to mice, keyboards, monitors and more.

Do your research and do let us know if you decide to go the gaming desk route – and if so I’d love to know what you have gone for – or instead you have gone the regular desk option?

Personally, I think you’re best getting a high quality and ‘value’ desk that suits all your needs – generally doesn’t come much better than Ikea here – and then you accessorise that with the inspiration you have got from your gaming desk research.

Which then helps the standard desk fit in more with your overall gaming set up.