What height should a reception desk be?

A reception desk has two distinct surface heights: a staff work surface at 29"–30" for the seated employee, and a transaction counter at 42" for standing visitors. ADA compliance requires a lowered transaction section at no more than 36" high — at least 36" wide — for wheelchair access. If your space serves the public, the 36" ADA section is legally required, not optional. At OfficeFurniture2go.com, we configure reception desks daily and always confirm both heights are present before an order ships — call us at 1-800-460-0858 if you need guidance on your specific layout.