Our website offers wood desk tops with thicknesses ranging from 18mm to 40mm; all of which can be ordered online with our calculator tool. (We can work with thinner and thicker wood, just get in touch and we can put a quote together for you.)
This post will talk through the 3 most popular thicknesses: 18mm, ~22-24mm and ~32mm; some tips for over 40mm tops, and finally a few frequently asked questions.
If you would like to learn more about different wood types, these posts could be useful:
- How to choose the right solid wood for your desk
- Pros & cons of using solid pine for desk tops
- Pros & cons of using ply wood for desk tops
18mm solid wood
18mm oak and pine is a staple thickness for making furniture, i.e. cabinets, book cases, media units. Working with very thick furniture panels is not cost effective and the thickness is concealed for most edges. In terms of strength, joining many smaller pieces of thinner wood together makes more very sturdy furniture. How about for desk tops?
18mm thick wood is perfect for smaller desk tops when the project has a limited budget. These tops are thin and sleek, and are perfect for minimalist setups or spaces where you want the desk to have a lighter visual impact. 18mm solid wood starts to need extra support around 1100mm x 700mm. That said, if the frame does offer good support, and the load is not considerable, 18mm thick oak or pine is still very strong, and much stronger than MDF. It would have no trouble supporting a monitor arm, the main concern is if the desk top is quite large, or without edge to edge desk frame support, 18mm oak might show signs of bowing over time.
Caution: A standard thickness for many MDF desk tops is 20mm. Some wood screws that come with the desk frame might be provided on this assumption. Measure the length of the wood screw before screwing into the top, ensuring it is smaller than the desk frame + desk top.
~22-24mm solid wood
Our best selling top thickness. Coffee tables and media unites are often topped with 22-24mm thick wood, to give a weightier contrast and better look. The extra few millimetres give a substantial feel.
This thickness of solid wood is good for height adjustable desk frames because the weight of the top needs factoring into the load the desk motors can handle. Every calculator product page has an estimated weight next to the price, your desk frame should give a maximum load, i.e. 160kg.
~22-24mm thick solid wood should not bow up to around 1.8m of unsupported length, making it a great option for Karlby & Alex style desks.
Tip: Many desk frame weight capacity figures include an MDF top, which you will be removing and so can add that onto the weight limit.
~32mm solid wood
If you are looking for that chunky, solid feel then ~32mm is a great choice. Beyond ~25mm the top thickness starts to become more about the aesthetic than any strength benefit, although a 32mm pine/oak top should not bow up to around 2.8m of unsupported length, so can be a consideration for very large Karlby & Alex set ups.
Thick tops give you additional options when it comes to edge profile, i.e. a large chamfer, bullnose, shark nose, or something custom.
Note: Longer lengths can be tricky to source, so we may get in touch with an extended lead time.
Over 40mm solid wood
Depending on the length, we can source thicker solid wood from our suppliers.
Thicker boards however come at a premium and so another option suitable for some desks (especially wall mounted) is to create a lip on the front, giving the impression of extra thickness, as shown in the photo.
We can add lips to desk tops of all sizes and thicknesses, just purchase a shelf and mention in the extras when adding the top to basket that you would like it affixing to the top as a lip.
Another option is use solid wood legs, legs are fitted with an underskirt, which can give the top a thicker aesthethetic.
FAQs
Will Xmm be strong enough for camera clamps and monitor mounts?
Yes. 18mm and up should support a monitor arm or camera clamp. Oak/walnut will be better than pine at not indenting with the pressure, as they are much harder woods, but all will hold the weight just fine.
Will Xmm bow/need additional support?
- 18mm oak top should not bow up to around 1m of unsupported length
- ~22-24mm oak top should not bow up to around 1.8m of unsupported length
- ~32mm oak top should not bow up to around 2.8m of unsupported length
Buy your custom thickness desk top today
If you are sure about the size you want for your desk top, now is the right time to place an order for your solid oak, pine or walnut desk top. View our full range of compatible tops here.
Why Solid Wood Tops?
Custom size? Same price.
Desk top prices are worked out using a going market rate formula. There are no extra charges for non-regular sizes. Calculate your price and order in minutes.
FAQs
Learn more about our service, the quality of our partners sustainably sourced wood, how desk tops are priced, delivery timescales and more. Read our articles or FAQs.
Flexible delivery options
Our trusted partners are located around the country. Allow us to arrange delivery, pick up from the workshop yourself, or book your own courier.
Money back promise
Order requests have no cost or obligation. If you do decide to confirm, you are protected if there is a problem with the size, design, quality or wood. Order with confidence.
