One-Person vs Two-Person Integrated Monitor Desks: Layout and Equipment Fit

A one-person integrated monitor desk works at 48–60" wide (122–152 cm); a two-person desk needs 72–96" (183–244 cm). Both should be 24–30" deep (61–76 cm). An integrated monitor, recessed under the desktop or folded into it, frees the 9–11" of depth a monitor stand would take, so the whole surface is left for work.

The rest of this guide covers what fits on each size, how to lay the desk out, and when an integrated monitor beats a monitor arm. For a deeper look at length alone, see how long a desk should be for 2 people.

One-person integrated monitor desks

For one person, a desk 48–60" wide and 24–30" deep fits a monitor, keyboard, mouse and some paperwork without crowding. Below 40" it works only for a laptop or one small screen.

How the width breaks down:

• 40–48" (102–122 cm): a laptop, or one integrated monitor up to 24" with a keyboard. Good for training rooms, libraries and reception desks where each person does one task.

• 48–60" (122–152 cm): the standard home or office size. Room for one larger screen, a document area and a lamp or phone.

• 55–63" (140–160 cm): two monitors side by side. Two 27" screens alone span 48–49".

Depth matters more than people expect. A monitor on its stand uses 9–11" of the desktop before the keyboard arrives, which is why 24" deep desks feel tight with a 27" screen. With a recessed or flip-up monitor there is no stand, so a 24" deep integrated desk leaves more usable surface than a 30" desk with a stand.

For one person, an integrated desk is usually set up like this:

• the monitor recessed under glass in the centre of the desk, or on a panel that folds out

• a keyboard drawer or tray below the surface, so the top stays clear for writing

• the computer in an enclosed CPU holder under the desk, away from the knees

• legroom of at least 21" wide; 24" is more comfortable

VersaDesk's Downview Computer Desk comes in 36" and 48" widths that suit one person, at 24" or 30" deep, with a recessed monitor up to 24", a keyboard drawer and an enclosed CPU holder. The Revolution Computer Table in 36" or 48" adds height adjustment from 24" to 36" for sitting or standing.

Two-person integrated monitor desks

Two people need 72–96" of width (183–244 cm), which gives each person 36–48". A shared desk is shorter than two single desks side by side, because the people share the gap between them.

What changes when two people share:

• Width per person. Plan 30–36" each at minimum, and 36–48" once each person has a monitor. Below 30" each, elbows touch.

• Legroom. Keep about 24" of open knee space per person, and no centre drawer. Put CPU holders and storage at the outer ends.

• Height. One fixed height rarely suits two people of different heights. A height-adjustable desk, or separate adjustable sides, solves this.

• Privacy. A thin centre divider helps when both people take calls. Recessed screens help too: they sit below eye level, so neither person looks at the other's screen.

• Power. Plan 2–3 outlets per person: 4–6 in total.

The three common layouts:

• Side by side: one 72–96" desk along a wall. Needs the least depth and suits home offices and couples.

• Face to face: two desks pushed together, 47–59" (120–150 cm) deep in total. Monitors on stands block the view of the other person. Recessed or flip-up monitors keep sightlines open, so face to face works well with integrated desks.

• Rows facing a trainer: two-person desks in rows, with 36" behind each row of chairs. Recessed screens let the trainer see every face.

For two people, VersaDesk's Downview Computer Desk comes in 60" and 72" widths. The Revolution Computer Table for 2 Persons holds two monitors up to 24" that rotate about 155° into the desk, and the enclosed version holds up to four monitors and two CPUs. Both come up to 72" × 30".

Layouts at a glance

A two-person desk is about 1.5× the width of a one-person desk, not double, because the two people share the space between them. The depth stays the same.

one-person vs two-person integrated monitor desk · plan view

In both layouts the screens sit under the desktop, so the surface stays clear. On the shared desk, the computers move to the outer ends to keep the centre open for knees.

Equipment fit: what fits on each desk width

Size the desk from the screens first, then check depth and the computer. A 24" monitor is about 21–22" wide, a 27" about 24", a 32" about 28" and a 34" ultrawide about 32".

Running three screens? See our triple monitor mount guide.

Depth and viewing distance

Keep screens 20–30" (50–76 cm) from your eyes; for a 27" monitor, 24–28" (60–70 cm) is comfortable. On stands, that usually means a 28–30" deep desk. A recessed monitor sits below the surface, where you look down at it through glass, and a flip-up monitor rotates out of the desk body, so neither takes desktop depth. The top of a raised screen should sit at or slightly below eye level.

Computers, keyboards and paper

• Computer towers: allow about 8" of width per tower. An enclosed CPU holder under the desk keeps it off the floor and out of the knee space; put one at each outer end of a two-person desk.

• Keyboards: a keyboard drawer or tray below the surface keeps the top free for writing. Set it at elbow height.

• Paper and writing: recessed monitor desks keep a flat glass-topped surface over the screen, so you can write or lay documents across the whole desk.

Recessed vs flip-up vs monitor arm: which suits one or two people?

All three get the monitor stand off the desktop. Which one fits depends on how many people share the desk and how big their screens are.

Rules of thumb:

1. Screens up to 24", and a clean or shared desk matters most: choose a recessed or flip-up integrated desk.

2. Two 27" screens or an ultrawide per person: use dual monitor arms on an 84–96" desk.

3. Two people facing each other or a trainer: integrated monitors, because they keep sightlines open.

For more on how each type works, see our guide to integrated monitor desks.

How to choose: a 6-step checklist

1. Count the users and their screens. One person with one 24" screen fits 40–48". Two people with one screen each need 72". Two screens each push it to 84–96".

2. Pick the monitor setup. Integrated (recessed or flip-up) for screens up to 24" and a clear desk; arms for larger or dual screens.

3. Choose the depth. 24" is enough with integrated monitors; 28–30" with monitors on stands or arms holding large screens.

4. Measure the room. Keep the desk 4–6" shorter than the wall, and leave 36" behind one chair or 36–48" behind two. Face-to-face pairs need 47–59" of total desk depth. If space is tight, see our small-space desk guide.

5. Decide on height. Fixed desks are 28–30" high. If users differ in height, or want to stand, choose height adjustment.

6. Plan the computer and power. An enclosed CPU holder for each tower, 2–3 outlets per person, and a cable tray so nothing hangs in the knee space.

Frequently asked questions

How wide should a desk be for one person?

48–60" (122–152 cm) for most people with one monitor. 40–48" works for a laptop or one integrated 24" screen; 55–63" fits two monitors.

How much desk space does each person need on a shared desk?

30–36" of width each at minimum, and 36–48" once each person has a monitor. That is why most two-person desks are 72" or longer.

What size desk do I need for 2 monitors?

For one person, 55–63" wide and 28–30" deep with the monitors on stands. Two 27" screens span 48–49" on their own. For two people with two monitors each, plan 84–96".

Can you fit two monitors on a 48 inch desk?

Two 24" monitors fit, at about 43–44". Two 27" monitors only just fit edge to edge, so a dual monitor arm that lets them overhang slightly is the practical choice.

Is a 40 inch desk big enough for two monitors?

Not for two 24" monitors on stands, which need about 44". It suits one monitor, or a laptop beside one screen.

Is a 55 inch desk big enough for two monitors?

Yes, for one person, with room for a lamp or speakers. It is too small for two people who each want a monitor.

How deep should a desk be for 2 monitors, and do integrated monitors change that?

With monitors on stands, 28–30" deep, because each stand uses 9–11" of the desktop. Recessed and flip-up integrated monitors take no desktop depth, so 24" deep works.

How do I hide a computer monitor on a desk?

Use a desk with a recessed monitor under glass, or one where the monitor rotates down into the desk body and locks away. Both leave a clean surface when the computer isn't in use.

How much space should be between two desks?

30–36" (76–91 cm) between separate desks, and 36–48" behind each chair.

The bottom line

One person needs 48–60" of desk; two people need 72–96". Integrated monitors don't change the width, which is set by the screens and the people, but they free the depth a stand would take and keep the surface clear. Choose recessed or flip-up for screens up to 24", shared desks and face-to-face layouts; choose arms for larger or dual screens.