A reception desk is the first piece of furniture a visitor sees when entering an office. Buying one is therefore rarely a matter of personal taste — it comes down to three measurable things: counter size, materials that survive daily use, and the layout of the staff work area behind it.
As an office furniture factory in Foshan with a 10,000 m² ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified facility, BG Office Furniture builds reception desks for offices, hotels, banks, clinics and showrooms, including OEM/ODM projects. This guide summarises the standard sizes, configurations, materials and factory pricing logic we use when quoting.
Standard Reception Desk Sizes
Counter height
750 mm is the standard working height — the right choice when receptionists work seated and interact directly with visitors. 1000–1100 mm is a front counter height for standing staff, or when the company wants to screen the work area behind the desk. Many projects combine both: a 750 mm work surface on the staff side and a raised front around 1100 mm for transactions and logo panels.
Width and depth
A single-operator front desk works well at 1200–1600 mm wide and 600–700 mm deep. Two-operator desks are usually 2000–2400 mm, while reception desks with a back work area need 800–1000 mm total depth so monitors, phones and printers stay comfortable.
Visitor-side counter
The surface where visitors sign in or leave a business card should sit at 1000–1050 mm — comfortable standing height, not too high for filling in a form.
Configurations: Straight, L, U or Desktop + Cabinet Sets
- Straight front desk. The simplest and most economical layout; suits narrow lobbies or branch offices with one receptionist.
- L-shape. Adds a side return for transactions or a computer, and suits lobbies built around a corner.
- U-shape. Encloses the staff area on three sides so documents and screens stay hidden from visitors — the preferred layout for banks and institutions.
- Desk + cabinet sets. A front desk combined with a filing cabinet and a matching coffee table, so the waiting area looks coordinated.
Browse the BG reception desk collection to see each configuration with colours and specifications.
Materials and Finishes for a Front Desk
- Melamine MDF panels — the standard economical choice: scratch resistant and easy to clean, ideal for most offices and branches.
- HPL or thick laminate — more impact resistant on counters that are used for writing and attaching documents.
- Acrylic or glass counters — a premium look for hotel and head-office lobbies, usually combined with wood panels below.
- Logo panels — the main branding element, built in raised acrylic or brass with rear LED lighting and mounted on the visitor-facing side.
BG construction uses moisture-resistant MDF with a powder-coated steel frame, so desks stay stable in tropical climates — the same construction as our filing cabinets and executive desks.
What Drives the Factory Price
- Total length and configuration. A 1200 mm single desk and a three-sided U-shape use very different panel quantities.
- Counter height. A dual-height build (750 mm + 1100 mm) needs more panels and framing than a single counter.
- Custom logo and lighting. Bespoke logo panels and rear LED add unit cost and production time.
- Finish. The four to six standard wood finishes add nothing to the price; special finishes (full acrylic, veneer, RAL colours) add material cost.
- Quantity. Standard MOQ is 5 pcs per model, and unit price falls on project orders and repeat shipments.
For comparison, standard desk dimensions are summarised in our office desk size guide and in the procurement and tender guide.
Designing the Reception Area
- Plan cabling first. Screens, computers, telephones and logo lighting all need concealed routes; in-panel cable management keeps wires out of the visitor’s view.
- Keep the work area out of sight. Raise the visitor side or add a screen so staff documents and monitors stay private.
- Respect accessibility. Leave a 900 mm access side for wheelchair users and keep part of the counter comfortable for standing visitors.
- Choose eye-friendly colours. Light oak and neutral finishes make lobbies feel brighter and hide marks longer.
- Match the surrounding furniture. A front desk that matches the cabinets and staff desks signals a planned office rather than separate purchases.
Reception Desk FAQ
How long does a custom reception desk take to produce?
Catalogue models take 25–35 working days after colour and size confirmation. For custom designs (U-shape, logo panel, LED lighting) add about 7–10 days; sea freight to Jakarta takes 7–10 days.
Can we order a single unit for a market test?
Standard MOQ is 5 pcs per model, but we are flexible for first orders — including shipping a sample within 7–10 working days so materials and finish can be verified before mass production.
Is there a special import tariff for Indonesia?
Yes. BG products enter at a 0% tariff under the ACFTA scheme with Form E — see our Form E guide.
How are container requirements calculated?
Send your unit list and sizes; our team estimates CBM per set and proposes consolidating several series into one 40HQ. See the mixed container guide.
Conclusion
The right reception desk comes down to three decisions: counter height that matches how your staff work, a configuration that follows the shape of the lobby, and materials that survive daily use. Start with dimensions — 1200–2400 mm wide, 600–1000 mm deep, counters at 750 mm and/or 1100 mm — then match materials and logo panels to your budget.
See our reception desk collection, or send your lobby dimensions and logo requirements through the contact page or WhatsApp for a FOB/CIF quotation with container volume estimates within 2 working hours.