A ladder desk is an excellent solution if you need a workspace at home but don’t have a lot of space. In our amazing ladder desk ideas and picks guide, we will find out what the best ladder desk is to buy. We will look at the top seven ladder desks on the market, explore their pros and cons, and find out which one comes out on top.
If you want a quick overview of the top ladder desks that are available now, look at the table below.
At a Glance: 7 of the Best Ladder desks in 2021
| Ladder desk | Best for… | Dimensions | More Info |
| HOOBRO Ladder Computer Desk | Best overall ladder desk | 29.1 x 18.9 x 72.8 inches | Find out more |
| SpringSun 2-Tier Ladder Computer Desk with Storage Bookshelf | Best weight-bearing ladder desk | 28 x 18 x 57.5 inches | Find out more |
| Rolanstar Computer Desk with Shelves | Best traditional ladder desk | 31.5 x 19.7 x 72.4 inches | Find out more |
| Industrial Style Laptop Desk Solid Wood | Best industrial style ladder desk | 16 x 38 x 82 inches | Find out more |
| Nathan James Theo 2-Shelf Industrial Wall Mount Ladder | Best light-colored ladder desk | 20 x 30 x 73 inches | Find out more |
| OS Home and Office ladder bookcase with desk | Best rustic styled ladder desk | 19.75 x 33 x 71 inches | Find out more |
| Modern 4-Tier Ladder Bookcase | Best ladder desk with excess storage | 19.75 x 33 x 71 inches | Find out more |
What is a ladder desk?
A ladder desk is simply a type of open shelving shaped like a ladder with small desk space.
The great thing about having a ladder desk is that it uses vertical space rather than horizontal. If you don’t have a lot of room to put a desk in your living room, for example, a ladder desk offers a solid solution as you can utilize the height of the room rather than the width.
As more people are now working from home but don’t necessarily have a dedicated home office, a ladder desk allows you to set up your workstation anywhere in your home. Even though a ladder desk is seen as a modern piece of furniture, you can find various styles that would fit in with a more traditional design.
Things to consider before buying a Ladder Desk
Ladder desks provide a modern and quirky aesthetic to your home. However, before you dive right in and buy one, there are some things to consider first.
Size
The great thing about a ladder desk is that it doesn’t take up much vertical space, unlike a large bookcase. It is an ideal storage and desk solution for small rooms that would otherwise be cramped with a standard desk. However, you still need to think about the dimensions.
If you have particularly low ceilings, a ladder desk might be a tight fit vertically, and if you only have a small space to house it in, you still need to consider the width.
Also, check the actual dimensions of the shelves and desk space to make sure that they will fit your computer and anything else you need to work with. Ladder desks are a narrow solution and won’t replace a full-size desk, but you still need some room to maneuver.
Cost
Cost is another crucial factor to consider.
Ladder desks are generally relatively inexpensive, although pricier models do exist like all pieces of furniture. When it comes to any type of home decoration and improvement, you should always set a budget and stick to it as much as possible.
The cost of a ladder desk will depend on several factors such as:
- The overall dimensions and size of the ladder desk
- The material that the furniture is made from
- If the ladder desk has any unique or extra features
Style
We mentioned above that ladder desks can provide a modern twist to your home; however, they work well in any type of room design.
While most ladder desks are created with a contemporary edge, you can find more traditional models that would fit in with older aesthetics. Finding a ladder desk to suit your home is vital as you don’t want it to stick out unnecessary with your other home office furniture due to its style.
That being said, ladder desks can often provide a great focal point to a room and be the first thing people notice when they walk in.
Assembly
The final thing to consider before buying a ladder desk is how easy it is to assemble.
There will be some DIY work involved with getting a ladder desk setup; however, how much depends on the model you buy. Check the product descriptions first as some desks will involve more work. This isn’t a problem for some people if you are used to assembling furniture, but if you aren’t great at this, it would be better to opt for a model that doesn’t involve much assembly.
7 Best Ladder Desks
1. HOOBRO Ladder Computer Desk – Best Overall Ladder Desk
Our top pick for the best overall ladder desk is the HOOBRO Ladder Computer Desk We have chosen this ladder desk for several reasons.
The first is the rustic look that it offers, and this ladder desk will fit in with a traditional or contemporary design, so it is very versatile in its style. It is pretty compact like all ladder desks; however, it is one of the bigger desks on our list, and it has a 29.1 x 18.9-inch tabletop.
Another aspect we like about this desk is the easy assembly. There is some assembly required, but it is straightforward, and the instructions are clear. Although some people have found that putting a lot of weight on the shelves can cause them to bow, the metal frame should provide stability. We wouldn’t recommend putting a lot of items on the shelves, but they are relatively sturdy.
Overall this is an excellent ladder desk that can turn any room into a home office. It offers a versatile design, decent size desk space, is easy to assemble, and you can pick it up at a reasonable cost too.
Pros
- Will fit in with various room designs
- It has a good size tabletop
- Sturdy with a metal frame
- Easy assembly and reasonable cost
Cons
- You can’t put too much weight on the shelves
2. SpringSun 2-Tier Ladder Computer Desk with Storage Bookshelf – Best weight-bearing ladder desk
The springs 2-Tier Ladder Computer Desk with Storage Bookshelf is our choice if you want a ladder desk that can hold a decent amount of weight.
This ladder desk can accommodate up to 50 lbs on the desk and a further 15 lbs on the top shelf. It isn’t just the weight capacity that gets this desk onto our list; we like its simple design too. This ladder desk is available in two colors – burlywood and brown – and it would fit in with a modernly styled room.
With a tabletop of 28×18 inches, it can easily accommodate a laptop and provides a good-sized workspace. Assembly is easy and can be completed by one person without additional help.
A potential downside is that even though it can hold a decent amount of weight, there isn’t a ton of storage space compared to some other ladder desks.
Pros
- Can hold up to 50 lbs on the tabletop
- Good design that is available in two colors
- Easy assembly that can be completed by one person
Cons
- It doesn’t provide a ton of storage space
3. Rolanstar Computer Desk with Shelves – Best traditional ladder desk
If you have a traditional design in your home, the Rolanstar Computer Desk with Shelves is precisely what you need.
It offers a desk with a three-tier shelf, so there is good storage space with this ladder desk, and the 29.92 x 19.69 desk space is great. A sturdy metal frame adds a layer of durability to this piece of furniture, while the desk and shelves are made from engineered wood, making them easy to clean and maintain.
The assembly is straightforward with this ladder desk, and it should take less than half an hour to get it set up.
There aren’t many drawbacks with this ladder desk aside from the fact that it does sport quite a traditional design, so perhaps it might not work well in a contemporary styled room.
However, for the price, this is a fantastic traditional ladder desk for a small space.
Pros
- Ideal for a traditional styled home
- Easy assembly and available in two colors
- Offers good storage and desk space
Cons
- It might not work in a modernly styled room
4. Industrial Style Laptop Desk Solid Wood – best industrial styled ladder desk
Industrial home designs have become very popular, and the Industrial Style Laptop Desk Solid Wood is a great choice to fit in with your existing aesthetic.
The two-tier shelving is a nice addition to this ladder desk and provides ample storage space above the tabletop. This is also pretty durable and is available in both grey and red, giving you a couple of different options. One drawback to this industrial ladder desk is the cost. It is a bit more expensive than other ladder desks, and while the price isn’t ridiculous, you might want to look elsewhere if you are on a very tight budget.
Overall, we love the industrial design of this ladder desk, and it offers everything you need to become a trendy addition to your home furniture.
Pros
- Ultra-modern industrial design
- Durable and available in two colors
- Has two-tier shelving
Cons
- This ladder desk is quite expensive
5. Nathan James Theo 2-Shelf Industrial Wall Mount Ladder – Best light-colored ladder desk
If you want a light-colored ladder desk to integrate with the design of your home seamlessly, the Nathan James Theo 2-Shelf Industrial Wall Mount Ladder is our recommendation.
There are three options available with this furniture – rustic oak and white, nutmeg and matt black, and white and gold. The two bookshelves provide a decent amount of storage space beyond the tabletop, and it is an ideal desk to set up a small workstation at home.
Assembly is relatively straightforward, and you won’t need any special tools to get this ladder desk put together. There have been some comments around the durability of the desk and the finish peeling after a short time. However, this ladder desk is a lovely light-colored addition to your home and is very practical too.
Pros
- Would fit in well fit a light aesthetic
- Easy assembly
- It has two bookshelves and a workstation
Cons
- Some issues around durability
- It is quite an expensive ladder desk
6.OS Home and Office ladder bookcase with desk – Best rustic styled ladder desk
The OS Home and Office ladder bookcase with desk is a beautiful rustic-inspired ladder desk. Crafted from engineered wood, it also offers angled powder-coated steel uprights for durability. There is also a pull-out drawer which is a nice feature of this ladder desk.
The assembly can be quite tricky, and it is probably the hardest ladder desk to put together on our list. It will take a bit of time to get this product appropriately assembled, and it could be made easier by using different tools. Just something to be wary of as it will take time to get this ladder desk set up.
That aside, this is an excellent ladder desk that will fit in nicely with a rustic design. The large workstation, pull-out drawer, and overall sturdiness outweigh the issues around getting this product assembled.
Pros
- Beautiful rustic-inspired ladder desk
- It has a handy pull-out drawer
- Sturdy and well made
Cons
- Difficult assembly and will take some time
7. Modern 4-Tier Ladder Bookcase – Best ladder desk with excess storage
Lastly, we have the Modern 4-Tier Ladder Bookcase. This is the best option if you are craving excess storage with your ladder desk, as it features three shelves alongside a spacious desk area. One thing to note is that this piece of furniture will take up more room in your home, but it is well worth it if you need extra storage.
It offers quite a rustic but modern design, while the thick metal frame ensures stability. The instructions for assembly aren’t the most user-friendly, although it isn’t too difficult to get this ladder desk up and running, and we recommend building the shelves first.
If you have a bit more space to offer, this ladder desk is a great option and comes in three colors – black, walnut, and white.
Pros
- It offers a lot of storage space
- Modern design with three color options
Cons
- It Will take up more space than most ladder desks
FAQs
Question: Should I buy a ladder desk?
Answer: If you need a workspace at home and you don’t have a lot of space, a ladder desk is an ideal solution. They don’t take up a lot of widths but can provide a suitable place to work on your laptop while offering a quirky and modern aesthetic. Combined with a good desk chair, they can provide a comfortable place to work from home.
Question: What is the difference between a ladder desk and a leaning desk?
Answer: They are the same thing. A ladder desk and a leaning desk are the same types of furniture; the terms are just used interchangeably.
Question: Is a ladder desk expensive to buy?
Answer: Not really. Most ladder desks are relatively inexpensive compared to other pieces of furniture. While you can find expensive models, most ladder desks are very affordable.
Question: Do ladder desks have any downsides?
Answer: While a ladder desk is good if you need a small workspace and don’t have a lot of room in your home, there are some drawbacks. This includes sometimes being a bit unstable, and the lack of room to work in can be a downside for some people.
Question: What are ladder desks made from?
Answer: Ladder desks can be made from a variety of materials; however, most are manufactured from steel for the frame and wood for the shelves.
Question: Can I assemble a ladder desk myself?
Answer: Yes. Ladder desks don’t usually have a lot of assemblies involved but it does depend on the model you buy. Make sure that you have a look at the description of the ladder desk before you buy to find out how much assembly is involved.
Which is the Best Ladder Desk?
Our top pick for the best ladder desk on the market is the HOOBRO Ladder Computer Desk. There are several reasons why we have chosen this piece of furniture.
For one, it will fit in with various room designs from modern to contemporary styles, and the tabletop is an ideal size to house a laptop. We like the sturdiness of the frames (although be careful putting too much weight on the shelves), and assembly is pretty straightforward.
If you want to transform any space in your home to accommodate a small office setup without sacrificing a lot of room, we recommend you go for the HOOBRO Ladder Computer Desk.
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