Top 5 Desks for Video Editing

How I went looking For The Best video editing desks in 2021.

So as you may already know, I started searching for a new chair after the first lockdown went into effect in my part of the world and after many, many reviews, videos and reddit posts etc. I decided to pull the trigger and go for the SecretLab Titan chair.

Well now, with the second/third (lost count) lockdown underway I decided it’s time to invest in a proper, sturdy and well-made desk for all my video editing work and the occasional game of No Man’s Sky. It’s also a perfect moment to change my desk as the one I own right now, are actually two. One is a super cheap option from Ikea, which has the weight of a few pieces of paper and I don’t dare to put anything heavier than my mouse and notepad on it. And the second is actually a very nifty combination of a metal skeleton with adjustable 4 legs(a very old drawing table) and on top is actually a huge slab of extremely heavy wood (which once was an intricate ornament in one of the office buildings in my area, yes, it’s a piece of garbage, literally) but it served me very well for quite a few years.

If you work in the field of video editing, motion graphics (or any other profession with long hours in front of a computer screen) you’ll need more than just a good editing software. Comfort is key when you’re doing what you do. So except having a very good, safe and comfortable chair you will also need to find a well-matched desk. Comfortable, sturdy, practical.

There are many factors to consider when choosing such a desk. For example, how many tops you’ll need(will you use multiple monitors?), the capacity of the desk(how many accessories you will need), and the size of it. In addition, there are tons of other factors like how sturdy it is, the price, your budget, and many more.

Another thing you may want to consider is, do you want to have a standard sitting desk or maybe a standing desk, which is supposedly much better for people working long hours in front of the computer. Research on standing desks is still coming in but you can find a lot of material out there on how good or bad they may be. People with some pre-existing conditions should probably avoid standing desks, so do your research before buying one.
Or maybe you would prefer a mix of two, adjustable standing/sitting desk? There are many choices and it boils down to your preferences.

If you’re looking for a new, standard/sitting desk, here are some of the top 5 desks for video editing I would recommend. Read on to see the full roundup.

Best Desks for Video Editing

So, never edit videos on your bed again, instead, try out one of these.

#1. Bush Business Furniture Series C

This desk’s design is simple yet very practical. You could put two monitors on your desk and still have space for your keyboard and the other inputs that you’ll use. In other words, you can do anything on this desk. It’s great for studying, editing, gaming, and other interests you might have. 

Other products from the C series could be purchased and added to the desk in order to change the appearance or increase storage space. Meaning, you could configure the desk into an L or a U shape if you want to. There is even a model that includes standing/sitting option built-in, which could be useful for someone who wants to experiment with standing desks.

What I Like

• Solid and sturdy
• Durable
• 10-year warranty
• Various finish options

What I Don’t Like

• Somewhat expensive

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#2. SHW L-Shaped Wood Corner Desk

I think this is an amazing option for college students. Because it’s in an L-shape, it won’t take up too much space in a dorm room or a home office. Surprisingly, you can place 2 large computers or 4 laptops on the desk.

On top of being affordable, the desk could be assembled by anyone. There are hardly any screws included, instead, there are plastic pieces that slide together to attach. There is a complete manual included that will show you how to put the desk together step by step. The desk is quite lightweight so transporting it wouldn’t be a problem.

What I Like

• Easy to assemble
• Budget-friendly
• Compact size
• Practical

What I Don’t Like

• Plastic materials are a little flimsy

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#3. Vitesse Ergonomic Gaming Desk – 63 inch

This one was a bit of a surprise to me. An excellent value for money. And the reviews speak for themselves, this desk really is pretty great and very practical. Sturdy design, PVC table top and metal legs. It also includes full size mouse pad that covers the whole desk(if you want to use it of course). I actually enjoy the extras that it comes with, the cup is very helpful and protects me from spilling anything on my keyboard or mouse, the headphone holder is also super useful.

The 63 inch version should be enough even for people wanting to have 2 monitors with sound monitors, keyboard, mouse, and some extra accessory. The cable box on the back of the desk is also pretty useful, you can store the power brick of a laptop there or some other external accessories. In general I have not seen so many good reviews for any other desk on Amazon.

What I Like

• Top rated by many reviewers on Amazon, lot’s of happy users
• Great design
• Affordable price, especially with all the extras that it comes with
• USB dock with 4 ports, groomets, cable tray, cup holder and headphones holder

What I Don’t Like

• Not Prime eligible
• Needs some attention when assembling. Best to do it with another person helping out

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#4. IRONCK Computer Desk  

Assembling this desk is easy, you just have to make sure that you have the tops on the right side or else they won’t line up with the holes. You also need to resist the urge to apply pressure to the tops when putting the desk together, they could crack under the weight.

The desk has an industrial charm to it. If vintage and simple is what you’re looking for, then this is it. It’s very sturdy and will not collapse under your video editing gear. That’s because it has a 500 lbs load capacity, more than most other desks. The lower shelf beneath the desk surface is useful for many things, it would be ideal for hard drive backups and some other accessories.

What I Like

• Sturdy and heavy
• Easy to assemble
• Comes in different designs and finishes

What I Don’t Like

• No keyboard tray to match your arm’s length
• Expensive

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#5. Tribesigns Modern L-Shaped Desk  

Personally, I think this desk has the most aesthetically pleasing design. It’s in an L-shape but you could place it anywhere, not necessarily in a corner. It has a unique bevel angle design that makes this desk very appealing.

However, it doesn’t have any shelves. If you’re used to having shelves that may be a problem. That still doesn’t mean that you won’t have enough room for your equipment. On the contrary, this desk has a load capacity of 450 lbs and is long enough for several monitors and devices.

There is a possibility to buy additional attachments, like top shelf, cabinets, etc. all in the same color scheme as your main desk. It’s sturdy enough but not heavy.

What I Like

• Budget-friendly
• Easy to assemble
• Spacious
• Appealing design

What I Don’t Like

• No shelves but you can find additional choices to add to it

What to Consider When Buying a Desk for Video Editing

Here are some things you should look out for when making your choice.

Size

I can’t really tell you to buy a desk with a certain size because everybody has different preferences and probably a different spaces to accommodate one. A lot of people like big desks but you also have to have space for them, no point in buying a huge desk if you will not going to be able to squeeze it through the door. Apart from preferences, it depends on the size of your workstation and office.

The market is overflowing with traditional rectangular desks. However, other desk shapes have recently gained popularity.

U-shaped, L-shaped, and Hutch desks have all gained popularity over the years. There were several L-shaped desks mentioned in the reviews above that would be great in the corner of your office. The options are endless!

Space

Your gear needs to be laid out neatly for you to be able to work. If there isn’t adequate space for you and your gear, you most likely won’t be able to work on anything.

If your computer desk is your video editing station, then you need shelves and plenty of load capacity. Open shelves are great for storing bigger items like books and binders while smaller drawers fit all your tiny items. Keep your hard drives, USBs and CDs all in one place. You may also consider using some kind of wall organizer for all the additional stuff. But the few things you will have on your desk are your monitor or monitors, keyboard, mouse, additional accessories like drawing tablets, color grading panels, some space for one or two drives that you may be using and depending if you also do voice recordings, some space for all of the microphones, cables, stands, etc.
And a proper place for you hard drive backups, you can always try to squeeze them underneath the table but it’s always a hassle to get to it, clean it and take it out, so I would consider having it on a desk or if it’s NAS or RAID system to have an either custom-built additional “side-pocket” or to just put it in a rack or place you can keep them safe and sound, and connect your editing rig with a cable. You can find more on NAS systems here.

Assembly

Before you get to reap the benefits of the desk you bought, you must assemble it first. Well, you won’t always assemble them, sometimes they’re readily assembled. However, 9 times out of 10 you’re going to do it yourself.

If you’re going to be assembling the desk alone and you have no experience, go for something simple. The harder it is to assemble the more likely you’ll make a mistake that’ll end up damaging the desk, or even possibly your equipment on top of it.

Material

Wood(or actually wood mix) is the most common computer desk material. Their types vary and correspond to the desk’s price. For example, someone on a low budget might opt for a lightweight desk that just serves its purpose. These types of desks are most probably made out of inexpensive wood or wood pulp. The heavier the desk the sturdier it is and less probable that something will get knocked off or it breaking apart from to much weight. Then again, moving such a desk can be a bit of a hassle. And the price will be accordingly higher.

Professional, or users with a high budget, might choose a desk with an elegant finish and a glass top, for aesthetics. It all really depends on the purpose intended. Just know that the higher the wood quality, the higher the desk’s price.

Building A Custom Desk

Certainly much less popular decision, but if you like to do DIY projects around the house and have access to some power tools and some spare time, you could actually build your fully customized desk. Perfectly suited to your needs, space and budget. Yes, it will take much longer. Yes, there probably will be some mistakes made along the way but in the end you will have a unique piece of furniture/equipment that is exactly(or more or less) like you imagined. You can see and learn how to build your own desk for video editing from this article.

Standing Desk

There is, of course, another option, which is a standing desk, or even better adjustable standing/sitting desk, there are more expensive than the regular desks, since they usually include some kind of mechanical adjustments for the height.
Some of them are manual, with a crank or something similar and the fancy ones with an electronic system, in which you can even save your own presets and move your desk up and down just by pushing one button, so you can change from sitting to standing multiple times a day.

Could be a very good option for someone who tried one and liked it. But I would strongly advise to first try it out for a week or so to see if it’s something you really want.

The Final Verdict

One of the main differences between a standard computer desk and a desk for video editing is the equipment on top of it and maybe few more add-ons for the additional drives, monitors etc. It really depends on what you need and what you want in the end.

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I personally like the  Tribesigns Modern L-shaped Desk the most out of all the other choices. The ample space and capacity of the desk coupled with its chic design make it a great desk. Check it out and choose one of the several different colors and finishes available to spruce up your office.

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