It is the second week of July and last financial year's paperwork has nowhere to go. The lever-arch files stand on the floor, the in-tray has moved onto the printer, and the only clear patch of desk is under the keyboard. There is no floor left for another cabinet, but there is a metre of bare wall above the desk. A desk hutch puts shelves in that gap.
This guide covers hutch types, matching one to your desk, and height, reach and monitor room, using stated sizes from the hutches and organisers range.
What a desk hutch is, and when it earns its place
A desk hutch is a shelving unit that stands on the back of a desktop. Two end panels carry a top and shelves, and the space underneath stays open for a monitor and keyboard.
For a new set-up, buy a matched pair. The Rapid Worker Desk with Hutch (from $470) supplies a straight desk and hutch together in Beech/Ironstone, in four sizes from 1200mm x 600mm to 1800mm x 900mm. The desk is 730mm high with a 25mm thick top, cable entry holes and a 5 year warranty.
If the desk is already in place, buy the hutch alone. The Rapid Worker Hutch (from $262) has adjustable shelves with space for a monitor underneath, in 1200mm, 1500mm or 1800mm widths. It is 315mm deep and 1070mm high, in Beech, Oak or White.
A hutch has costs: it closes in the back of the desk, blocks any window behind it and puts weight on the desktop.
Open shelves, pigeon holes or doors: hutch types compared
Open shelves are the standard. Everything is visible and within reach, and adjustable shelves let you set a tall gap for binders and a short one for trays. The trade-off is that an untidy shelf is on show.
Pigeon holes divide the space into small compartments for sorting by person, job or form. The Athens Pigeon Hole Hutch ($648) is 1800mm wide, 370mm deep and 1080mm high, with fixed shelves, in four colours. As pictured, the pigeon holes sit in two rows beneath a closed upper section.
Doors hide clutter on desks that clients see, but they need clear space to swing open. For anything confidential, a lock matters more, and that usually means lockable drawers under the desk.
| Type | Example | W x D x H (mm) | Watch for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open, adjustable shelves | Rapid Worker Hutch | 1200/1500/1800 x 315 x 1070 | Three widths only | from $262 |
| Open, adjustable shelves | Athens Hutch | 900 to 1800 x 325 x 1080 | No Adelaide delivery | from $270 |
| Open, adjustable shelves | Virginia Walnut Premier | 1500/1800 x 325 x 1080 | Two widths only | from $333 |
| Pigeon holes | Athens Pigeon Hole Hutch | 1800 x 370 x 1080 | Fixed shelves, one width | $648 |
| Desk and hutch set | Rapid Worker Desk with Hutch | Desk top 1200 x 600 to 1800 x 900 | One finish | from $470 |
| Corner set | Rapid Worker Corner Workstation | Desk 1500 x 1500 or 1800 x 1800 | Needs a free corner | from $690 |
| Clamp-on shelf | Clamp Mount Shelf | 600 x 270 x 475 | A single shelf | from $128 |
Match the hutch to the desk: width, range and finish
Hutches are made as part of a furniture range, to sit on that range's desks and credenzas. Check width first. A hutch as wide as the desk lines its end panels up with the ends of the top. A narrower one leaves open desk at one end, and a wider one does not fit.
The usual widths are 1200mm, 1500mm and 1800mm. The Athens Hutch (from $270) adds 900mm and 1350mm, each 325mm deep and 1080mm high, with adjustable shelves and five colours. The 900mm size suits a compact desk, or one end of a long one.
Finish is the second check. The Rapid Worker Hutch comes in Beech, Oak or White, while the Athens Hutch includes two-tone finishes such as Beech/Charcoal, so buy from the desk's own range to match.
For a manager's office, the Virginia Walnut Premier Overhead Hutch (from $333) is built from 25mm melamine boards with adjustable shelves, in 1500mm or 1800mm widths. Its page says it can be fitted on a desk, credenza or corner workstation. On a credenza behind the desk, it leaves the desktop clear.
Height, reach and room for monitors
The hutches in this guide stand 1070mm or 1080mm high. On a 730mm desk, that puts the top about 1.8 metres above the floor. Keep daily items on the lowest shelf and plan to stand for the top one.
Depth matters too. A 315mm deep hutch on a 600mm deep desk leaves 285mm of open top in front of the shelves, and a 750mm deep desk leaves 435mm. Anything too tall to sit under the shelves has to live in that strip.
The lowest shelf limits your screen height, so measure the monitor on its stand first. A monitor arm clamps at the back edge of the desk, which is where the hutch stands. Check that the clamp has a clear spot and the arm can swing without hitting a shelf. Arms and risers are in the desk accessories range.
Paper is heavy, and none of the hutches here states a shelf load rating. Treat them as storage for binders, trays and stationery, with the heaviest items lowest.
If a full hutch is more than you need, the Clamp Mount Shelf (from $128) adds one 25mm shelf, 600mm wide and 270mm deep. It measures 475mm high above the desk top and includes four chrome wire dividers for folders, in Oak or White.
Corner desks, reception counters and mail sorting
On an L-shaped desk, the screen usually sits near the corner, so the hutch belongs on one wing, against a wall. The Rapid Worker Corner Workstation with Hutch (from $690) supplies both as a Beech/Ironstone set, in 1500mm x 1500mm or 1800mm x 1800mm. The wings are 600mm deep and go left or right, and the hutch is 1070mm high and 315mm deep. A lockable mobile pedestal is optional. More shapes are in the office desks range.
At reception, a hutch on the front desk would hide the receptionist, so put it behind them. The Athens Pigeon Hole Hutch is listed as suitable on top of credenzas, where it keeps mail and forms sorted by person.
Home offices, anchoring and delivery in Australia
Many Australian home offices are a spare bedroom or a corner of the living area, where floor space is tight and wall height is free. A hutch suits that, with one condition. The Rapid Worker Hutch page says the unit is designed for commercial office use and must be anchored to the wall if used at home. Our guide to setting up a home office in a small space covers the desk and chair underneath.
Delivery cities differ by range. The Rapid Worker and Clamp Mount Shelf pages list Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, while the Athens and Virginia Walnut pages list the first four and exclude South Australia. Deliveries go to the ground-floor entrance and goods arrive flat-packed, so plan how an 1800mm wide top will get up the stairs or into the lift.
Desk hutch — frequently asked questions
What is a desk hutch?
A desk hutch is a shelving unit that sits on the back of a desk and adds storage above the work surface. Most have open shelves with space underneath for a monitor.
Can you put a hutch on any desk?
A hutch fits best on a desk from its own range, because widths and finishes are made to match. It is a poor match for a height adjustable desk, because its weight rides up and down with the top.
How tall is a desk hutch?
The hutches in this guide are 1070mm or 1080mm high. On a 730mm desk, the top sits about 1.8 metres above the floor.
Will a monitor fit under a desk hutch?
Yes, if the hutch is designed with a monitor space, as the Rapid Worker Hutch is. Measure your screen on its stand, and check a monitor arm has room to clamp.
Shop the range
Browse every width and finish in hutches and organisers, or start with a desk from the office desks range.
- Rapid Worker Desk with Hutch (from $470): a new straight desk and matching hutch together
- Rapid Worker Hutch (from $262): adjustable shelves over a monitor space, in three widths
- Athens Pigeon Hole Hutch ($648): reception and admin desks that sort mail and forms daily
- Athens Hutch (from $270): compact desks and credenzas, in five widths from 900mm
- Virginia Walnut Premier Overhead Hutch (from $333): a manager's office with a walnut desk or credenza
- Clamp Mount Shelf (from $128): one 600mm row of folders without a full hutch
- Rapid Worker Corner Workstation with Hutch (from $690): an L-shaped desk and hutch in one matching set
Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
