The Best Desk Accessories That Are Actually Worth Buying

The desk accessories market is full of things that look useful in a product photo and sit unused after the first week. The real list of accessories that improve daily function is shorter than most people expect.

A Leather Desk Pad

A quality leather desk pad does three things: protects the desk surface, provides a consistent surface for writing, and makes the desk look finished rather than bare. It’s one of the few desk accessories that earns its place every day without requiring any active use.

MOOG Leather Desk Set, 9 Pieces — Desk Organizers collection.

A Monitor Riser or Arm

Monitor height is one of the primary drivers of neck strain. A riser that puts the top of the screen at eye level costs almost nothing and eliminates a real, cumulative physical problem. This is the highest-return desk accessory available.

A Document Tray

Papers on the desk surface is the most common source of visible desk clutter. A single in/out tray gives documents a designated place and keeps the work surface clear. A leather or wood tray specifically — not a plastic one — does this while adding to the overall look of the desk rather than subtracting from it.

What Not to Buy

Desk organizers with more compartments than you have things to put in them. Cable management clips that don’t actually stay in place. Anything with a built-in screen or display that duplicates what your phone or monitor already does. The best desk is the one with the fewest objects on it that aren’t actively in use. Browse desk accessories that earn their place.