FAQ
Ordering
How long does it take to make a reception desk?
Production usually takes 15–20 days. Some designs are in stock and can ship within 3–7 days.
Can I order a custom size or color?
Yes. Email ilo@receptiondesk.shop with the size you need. For an exact color, send the PANTONE code. Custom orders cannot be returned.
Can you add my logo?
Yes. Logos and lightboxes are custom work, so they cannot be returned.
Will the color match what I see on screen?
It will be close, but screens differ. If the exact shade matters, send us a PANTONE code before you order.
Shipping
Is shipping included in the price?
No. After you order, we email you a freight quote for your address. Production starts once you confirm it. If you do not accept the quote, we refund you in full. See Shipping & Delivery.
Do I have to pay import duties?
Yes. Import duties and taxes are paid by the buyer and are not included in the price or the freight quote. Our International Delivery Guides explain how duties work.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on the shipping method and where you are. We confirm the transit time together with the freight quote.
Does the desk arrive assembled?
Most desks ship fully assembled. A few designs ship in sections that are easy to put together, and we help you online.
After delivery
What if my desk arrives damaged?
Write the damage on the delivery receipt, take photos, and email us within 7 days. We file the insurance claim. See Freight Damage Claims.
There is a small mark on the finish. What can I do?
There is repair cream inside the drawer. Email us and we send a repair guide with photos or video.
Can I return a desk?
Standard desks can be returned if you tell us within 7 days of delivery and the desk is unused and in its original packaging. If the return is not because of a quality problem, the buyer pays shipping both ways. Custom desks cannot be returned. See Returns & Refunds.
What warranty do you offer?
1 year from delivery, covering defects in materials and workmanship. See Warranty.
Will a white desk turn yellow?
All white paint and film finishes slowly yellow with age. Keeping the desk out of direct sunlight and strong light slows it down.
Choosing a size
How tall is a reception desk?
A reception desk with a raised counter is usually 39 to 43 inches tall at the counter. Our desks come in three counter heights: 39.4″, 41.3″ and 43.3″ (100, 105 and 110 cm). The staff work surface behind the counter is lower, about 29 to 30 inches, so a normal office chair fits. Desk-height models without a raised counter are 31.5″ to 35.4″ tall (80 to 90 cm), which suits businesses where clients sit down at the desk.
How deep should a reception desk be?
Most of our desks are 23.6″ to 27.6″ deep (60 to 70 cm). That gives room for a monitor, a card terminal and paperwork on the staff side while the counter stays within easy reach of a standing client. Small desks are 19.7″ deep (50 cm) and fit a narrow entrance. The deepest models, the Diamond series, are 29.9″ (76 cm).
What size reception desk does a salon need?
A solo or two-chair salon is fine with a small desk 28″ to 47″ wide. A salon with several stylists usually needs 55″ to 79″ so two screens, a printer and retail display fit. Anything over 94″ is a two-person desk. Our small reception desks run 27.6″ to 47″ wide, salon reception desks 47″ to 94″, and two-person desks up to 177″ (450 cm).
How do I know if a desk will fit my space?
Tape the desk footprint on the floor using the width and depth on the product page, then walk around it. Leave at least 36″ between the desk and the wall behind it so a chair can roll back, and keep the counter clear of the door swing. If the standard sizes do not fit, we make custom widths.
Which way does an L shaped reception desk face?
On our L shaped reception desks, the short return is on the right-hand side when you are standing behind the desk facing the client. If your room needs the return on the left, tell us when you order and we build it mirrored.
What does ADA require for a reception desk?
In the United States, the ADA requires a section of the counter that is no higher than 36″ and at least 36″ wide, so a person in a wheelchair can use it. Our standard counters are 39″ to 43″ high, so an ADA section is a custom change. Email us the width you need and we build the lowered section into the desk.
Choosing a desk
What are your reception desks made of?
The body is E1 grade MDF with a melamine board interior and a sprayed lacquer or film finish. The counter tops and accents are metal. One model, the Rustic Wood Office Reception Desk, is solid wood. E1 is the European low-formaldehyde grade for MDF, which matters in a closed reception area where staff sit all day.
Does a lacquer finish hold up in a hair or nail salon?
Yes, if spills are wiped up. Lacquer and melamine surfaces do not soak up water, hair dye or polish remover. Wipe them off with a damp cloth as soon as you can. Leaving dye or acetone sitting on the surface for hours can mark the finish, and that counts as misuse under the warranty.
Do your desks have LED lights, and what voltage are they?
About half of our desks come with an LED strip built into the counter front or base. The strip runs on a low-voltage transformer that we supply. The strip is wired to its transformer in the factory, so there is nothing to connect on your side. Depending on your country you may need a plug adapter for the transformer, which is a standard item at any hardware store.
Do the desks come with lockable drawers?
Most of them do. The product page lists the storage for each model, usually one or two lockable drawers plus two to four cabinets.
Can I get the same desk in a different color?
Yes. Every model can be made in black, white, marble film or a wood finish, and we can match a specific color if you send us a PANTONE code. Custom colors cannot be returned, so check the product photos and ask for a sample photo of the finish first if you are unsure.
Price and custom orders
How much does a reception desk cost?
Our desks are $180 to $1,176 for the desk itself. Most single-person desks are $400 to $700, and two-person desks $1,000 to $1,200. Freight is quoted separately after you order, and import duties are paid by the buyer.
Why is your desk more expensive than a $200 desk on Amazon?
Three things. The $200 desks are flat-pack chipboard or thin MDF that you assemble yourself from a box of parts; ours are E1 MDF with a lacquer finish, built and finished in the factory and shipped as one piece. The counter, storage and LED are built into the body rather than bolted on. And you get a sized quote for freight and a 1-year warranty on the finished desk, not on a kit.
Can I order a custom size, color or logo?
Yes. Email ilo@receptiondesk.shop with the width, depth and height you need. For color, send a PANTONE code. For a logo, send the artwork file and we quote a lightbox or a cut-out logo on the counter front. Custom desks are made for one buyer and cannot be returned.
Should I buy a custom desk or a standard one?
Buy standard if one of the listed sizes fits your space within a few inches, because it ships sooner and can be returned. Go custom when the room forces a specific width, you need a mirrored L shape, an ADA section, or a brand color. Custom desks cannot be returned.
Can I see the desk before I buy?
Yes. Email us the model and we send photos and a video of the actual desk, not renders. If you want to check a finish, we film that finish on a finished desk in the factory.
Will the color match what I see on screen?
It will be close, but screens differ. If the exact shade matters, send us a PANTONE code before you order.
Ordering, shipping and delivery
How long does it take to make a reception desk?
Production usually takes 15 to 20 days. Some designs are in stock and ship within 3 to 7 days. If you need a desk by a certain date, email us before you order and we tell you what is possible.
Is shipping included in the price?
No. After you order, we email you a freight quote for your address, based on the desk size and the shipping method: sea, air or express. Production starts once you confirm the quote. If you do not accept it, we refund you in full. See Shipping & Delivery.
Do I have to pay import duties?
Yes. Import duties, taxes and any customs exam fee are paid by the buyer and are not included in the price or the freight quote. The amount depends on your country. Our International Delivery Guides explain how duties work.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on the shipping method and where you are. We confirm the transit time with the freight quote. Sea freight is the cheapest and slowest; air and express cost more and arrive in days. Golden Week in early October and Chinese New Year add time.
Does the desk arrive assembled?
Most desks ship fully assembled in one crate. A few designs ship in sections that are easy to put together, and we help you online if you need it.
How heavy is the desk, and can I move it later?
Yes, but plan for the weight. A 94″ (240 cm) desk weighs about 180 kg (400 lb), and smaller desks are lighter in proportion. Two or three people can move a desk within a room; getting it into the building is the part to plan, so ask us for the crated weight and dimensions before you order.
How do I open the crate?
Check the outside and note any damage on the delivery receipt before you open it. Then pull the nails around the sides of the crate, lift the panels away, and lift the desk out with two or three people rather than tipping it. Keep the packaging until you have checked the desk over.
Does the desk need to be fixed to the floor?
No. The desks are freestanding and stay put on their own weight, so there is nothing to drill into your floor.
After delivery
What if my desk arrives damaged?
Write the damage on the delivery receipt before signing, take photos of the receipt, the package and the damage, and email them to us within 7 days. Shipments are insured and we file the claim. See Freight Damage Claims.
There is a small mark on the finish. What can I do?
There is repair cream inside the drawer. Email us and we send a repair guide with photos or video.
Can I return a desk?
Standard desks can be returned if you tell us within 7 days of delivery and the desk is unused and in its original packaging. If the return is not because of a quality problem, the buyer pays shipping both ways. Custom desks cannot be returned. See Returns & Refunds.
What warranty do you offer?
1 year from delivery, covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal indoor use. See Warranty.
What if a part breaks?
Because the desk ships as one finished piece, nothing can be missing from the box. If a part breaks in use, email us your order number and a photo, and depending on the problem we send repair materials, a replacement part, or remake the affected section.
How do I clean the desk?
A lacquer or melamine finish needs almost no cleaning: a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth is enough. Do not use abrasive pads or bleach. Something that dries hard on the surface, like nail polish or permanent marker, may not come off, so wipe spills while they are wet.
Will a white desk turn yellow?
All white paint and film finishes slowly yellow with age. Keeping the desk out of direct sunlight and strong light slows it down. If part of a white top stays covered for a long time, the uncovered part yellows faster than the covered part.