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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Must-have desk items that deserve a promotion.
It also has cooling fans so your comp doesn't get too hot to handle. Plus, it has over 2,000 positive reviews!!
Promising review: "Absolutely love this. I use it every day, all day. It's great for working on your bed, the couch, as a standing desk (on top of a table) — whatever you think of, it works for. I don't use a mouse so the stand on the side is excellent for my phone. It's slippery (i.e., great for a mouse) so I put a piece of plastic wrap around it and that's perfect for adding a little friction and keeping my phone in place. As per other reviews, the pieces of plastic included to keep your mouse in place are too loose, but there are small rubbery stickers included that would work great under them to keep them in place. The fan is quiet and functional, keeping my laptop cool when it starts to overheat — which is a lot less often now that I work with this stand all the time (usually with the fan off). It also comes with a cheat sheet for popular angles and set-ups for the stand and that was awesome for getting the hang of it. Overall, amazing purchase. So happy with it and it and helps with working from home." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in two colors).
They've got over 3,000 positive reviews!
Promising review: "I needed this on my desk to keep my phone charger cord in place. My previous solution was to place a paperclip on the cord and position that between the two desk pieces. This works great for keeping my cord in place. A coworker was in town visiting my office and saw this, and said it was exactly what she needs too. I plan to use the others at home to help clean up the mess of cords behind the wall where my TV hangs. The open part (where the cord goes in) is bigger than I anticipated, so it can hold more than one cord. However, the lightning end of an iPhone cord stays in it, and the top part where you put the cords in is soft yet springy, so it's easy to get cords in and out. It's also probably smaller in diameter than a quarter, so I have it on top of my desk just out of the way of my mouse pad, and it never gets in the way." —B-Dawg's Dad
Get a set of six from Amazon for $6.97.
Gunk sticks to the putty and won't come back out, so you can just squish it into a new shape and use it over and over again. Note that this doesn't kill germs, so you should still be using a disinfectant wipe for that!
Promising review: "This stuff is magic. If you have a keyboard, a work phone, plastic fruit, tops of candles, silk plants and flowers, a cell phone, car shelves and cup holders...I’m sure there are many, many other uses but these are the things I use it on and it works like magic!!!!" —janna
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $16.99.
They're both made from memory foam and have removable, washable covers. The seat cushion has over 8,000 (!!!) positive reviews, while the back cushion has over 1,500.
Promising review: "I have several issues with my back, two herniated disks, scoliosis, and a twisted hip — it's a mess in there. On top of everything I injured my tailbone last summer. The coccyx cushion has been a lifesaver to alleviate sitting pain after the injury and I am pretty happy with the quality of the brand's products and customer service, so I jumped on it when I saw they also make a lumbar pillow. Best decision ever. I am now using my memory foam seat cushion with the lumbar pillow, and they perfectly complete each other and transformed my old office chair into the kind of premium orthopedic chair that'd be sold in ergonomic furniture stores. The lumbar pillow supports my posture and the seat cushion relieves sitting pain. I don't think I can ever go back to sitting long hours without these two. Planning on getting a second set for my dad as a Father's Day gift." —Mario
Get the seat cushion for $29.95 (available in two colors) and the back cushion for $27.95, both from Amazon.
This bestselling wonder is by Free Period Press, a queer- and woman-owned business that makes adorable stickers and paper goods! It's also made from recycled paper to help you achieve your resolution of living a lil' more sustainably. There's even an activity at the beginning to help you brainstorm habits to track, and each month starts with a themed page (for example, "sleep," "gratitude," and "finances") with some words of wisdom and a suggested habit to try.
Promising review: "I wanted to reduce stress and nail down some habits, and I've always done better when I can see progress tangibly. I'd been eyeing this calendar for some time, but was unsure if it was worth the money. I decided to go for it. SO glad I did. It has some 'homework' pages at the beginning to help you focus in on your goals, but mostly it's the cleanness and ready-to-go nature of the monthly calendar pages that have worked for me. It's helped me be more disciplined AND narrow my focus so I'm not worrying about doing everything under the sun each day. I liked it so much that I bought a second one for a friend. Another friend saw me using it and also made a purchase. I'm really happy I made the leap." —Flight of Stars
Get it from Amazon for $18.
Promising review: "I’ve tried finding scissors that stay sharp and cut nicely for ages. I have so many different pairs and brands, and none of them compare to these. They’re sharp, they’ve stayed sharp, and cutting straight lines is pretty much effortless (which is usually not an easy thing since I have a tremor). They fit really comfortably in my hand. I love them! My mom had a pair when I was growing up that she was — and still is, she’s had them for about 35 years — incredibly protective of, we knew not to ever use them, and I never understood why until I got my own pair. I’ve spent a lot more on scissors that don’t come close to these. They’re a great price for a great pair of quality scissors." —sophiehehe
Get them from Amazon for $8.97+ (available two sizes).
It's got places to record day-to-day spending, income, regular monthly payments, and totals at the end of the month.
Promising review: "This is a good size to fit in my work purse. It seems very durable and comes with extra pages for Christmas spending. The sections for receipts are also a great addition. I love, love, love it. It's done wonders for my finances. Now I'm able to see where my money goes each month. I'm able to track my spending each day and have a total for the month. I'd recommend this book to anyone. I'll definitely be buying another as soon as I finish this one." —Kimmy
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
Promising review: "Like typing on a cloud. This was the best purchase by far. I have been working from home since March and needed something to help with my aching wrists. This product has the comfort level I was looking for. It is definitely ergonomically correct and feels like my wrists are being massaged while I work." —Mz. Dean
Get it from Amazon for $14.76+ (available in three colors).
He protecc, he attac, but most importantly, he lets your wrist do a relax.
Promising review: "I was having trouble with my wrist while typing. I bought this to see if it would help. It helped right away — my wrist pain was gone and it is so comfortable! Highly recommend, good quality, cute and comfortable to use." —Shelly Johnson
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 10 designs).
Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on Redi-Tag dividers.
Promising review: "These sticky notes are excellent. They come in a booklet, with a clear cover over and a card-like paper with a blue mandala pattern at the back, which is really neat and beautiful. The colors are quite bright and look exactly as the picture shows. The tabs are neat and noticeable at any angle. I think every student or teacher in high school or college should own these, and many businesspeople should too. They're extremely useful for taking notes, lesson/project/essay/test/other planning, and getting important information down on a note that won't get lost in your planner or notebook. I'll keep these in my book bag and carry them with me to school, and I'll definitely repurchase as soon as I come close to running out." —malik
Get a pack of 60 from Amazon for $3.49.
It's really versatile and can easily double as a folding table for all sorts of other purposes, too! Reviewers say they've used it for everything from a craft table to a vanity.
Promising review: "I love this desk! It is just the right size, sturdy, and extremely easy to assemble. The assembly pretty much consisted of taking it out of its box, opening up the frame/legs of the table (they are already screwed together and ready to go), and snapping the tabletop into the frame. Done! It is lightweight and portable and looks perfect as an office corner in my bedroom." —Richard Lawson
Get it from Amazon for $58.88+ (available in five colors).
Promising review: "My home office needed a major upgrade, as my PC was 10 years old and my mouse and keyboard were just as old. I bought an AIO computer and wireless keyboard, so a wireless mouse was a must have. I had a bad experience with a wireless mouse before at work and I had refused to use one since. This mouse, on the other hand, has been perfect and very responsive. I have fairly large hands compared to my wife who has more petite hands, but we both love this mouse as it’s a perfect size for both of us. I was very happy with this mouse and I bought an additional one for my laptop." —Dave33
Get it from Office Depot for $17.99.
Once scanned, the Rocketbook app will automatically send your notes to preselected apps or email. You can mark each page with one of several special symbols that the app will read and send the notes on that page to the location you've matched with that symbol. It comes with a pen but also works with any Pilot Frixion writing utensils.
Promising review: "EXCEPTIONAL! This will change your life! This product amazed me and exceeded my expectations. It works exceptionally and as described. The Rocketbook app is so simple and easy to use. The scanning is perfect — it captures the colors, exposes the page with the right lighting, and crops and adjusts the page properly. Each scan takes less than a second, and you can combine multiple pages into one scan and upload them as one document. This is brilliant and I'm so glad I purchased it for school. I have seven classes, and so I assigned each symbol in the notebook to my respective Google Drive folders. The Frixion highlighters and pens erase easily with the included erasers on the pens and effortlessly with a damp microfiber cloth (I provided the link to a very compact microfiber cloth that I use, I'd highly recommend it). Anyway, the product is great, and definitely worth the money." —Amazon Customer
Get the notebook, pen, and a microfiber cloth from Amazon for $27.44+ (available in two sizes and nine colors and prints).
This Black woman-owned Etsy shop also stocks other adorable office supplies illustrated with badass Black women!
Promising review: "OMG!!!! I am in love. These folders are GORGEOUS. Excellent quality and detailed graphics. I will definitely be a repeat customer!" —Hope Williams
Get a set of three from CopperandBrassPaper on Etsy for $15.
It's got monthly, weekly, and daily sections that each have plenty of space to write down goals and plans at the beginning and wins and ways to improve at the end. There are also spaces for extra notes, places to write daily affirmations, what you're looking forward to, and what exercise you're planning to get each day.
Promising review: "I'm a huge fan of planners. I love to stay organized but I have a hard time remaining positive in my environment. I found this and ordered it RIGHT AWAY! Taking time to write about what you're grateful/excited for changes your whole life. This is my word to anyone considering this book. If you are depressed (like I was), apathetic (like I was), and just not living to your potential, BUY THIS BOOK! The first day I used it, I made more sales that day than in the whole prior month. I was SUPER motivated. I kept looking at it to not only take care of my tasks but to continuously see that positivity. I could go ON AND ON about this planner. This is the best thing you can do for your mental and physical health that is drug-free and works immediately!" —Amazon Customer
Promising review: "I needed a chair that was comfortable for me since I have classes online only now. This chair allows me to sit and pay attention in class for four hours straight! I am currently a physical therapy assistant student so I am aware of keeping a good posture while sitting and this chair does it all! I don’t feel forced to go into the perfect posture nor do I feel uncomfortable. " —Laura
Get it from Wayfair for $212.99 (originally $310.61; available in nine colors).
It's from TheFinePrintPaperie, a Black woman-owned Etsy shop with all kinds of cute pens and other desk accessories, too! Also check out more great Black womxn-owned Etsy shops.
Promising review: "Love it! It was just what I needed for my planner." —K.L. Burns
Get it from TheFinePrintPaperie on Etsy for $3.89.
It's got four cups (two tall, one medium, and one small), a phone stand, and a sticky note tray.
Promising review: "I bought this for my son’s desk now that he is going to be doing online school all year. We both really like how he can put the cubbies in the arrangement that works best for him. The product looks and feels well made. His favorite part is the cellphone holder. His desk is much tidier, and that’s my favorite part!" —Bryan Topscher
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in three colors).
I tend to think of pencil sharpeners as the kind of objects that are necessary but always a pain in the butt — great half the time and crappy the other. And even if one does the job, it doesn't seem like the kind of thing people would get super EXCITED about. So I'm super impressed to see that this one has over 1,200 five-star reviews!
Get the required AA batteries here.
Promising review: "This is a great little pencil sharpener! I really love it! I like how compact it is, and I love that there's no cord so it's easy to move to any room. This sharpener has some kick to it! It sharpens fast and with a perfect point every time. I liked it so much I bought another one! I've only had this for less than a month, but it's had some considerable use already. It sharpens colored pencils like a dream. I sincerely hope this lasts a very long time. —Shopper22
Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
Promising review: "These are great highlighters. They are smooth, have a great color, and most importantly you can see through the tip to see what you're highlighting. This allows you to keep a straighter line as well as stop at the desired point. Give them a try; I think they're better than a standard highlighter." —JK
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.29.
Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on these file folders.
Promising review: "I'm a college student with a lot of papers to carry. I was looking for something cute and easy to carry that fits manila folders and keeps smaller folders from getting crinkly. This DID IT. I can't express how much I love this — I got a second one that's coming very soon! I can throw loose leaf papers, folders, or even books or small notebooks in this, and nothing gets crinkled or bent. I get a lot of compliments on it as well!" —Alexa Viz
Get it in a solid color for $9.58 (available in 10 colors) or floral print for $8.58 (available in four colors), both from Amazon.
Each folder can hold up to 25 sheets and the whole thing can be collapsed and secured with the attached cord for easy transport. It even comes with blank stickers for labeling the tabs. Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on this organizer.
Promising review: "I've used one of these for several years, and when it got damaged, I ran right out to replace it. It's bright and easy to use. We use it as a way to communicate with our staff. Each person has their folder, and I have a place to put items I need to know they received. I have three of these for three different purposes. What I love best about this product is that when I'm in a hurry and on my way to a meeting, this file system has my back. I hang one by the door of my office so I can grab the file I need. It's colorful and has helped me color-code my projects as well. Now, I've begun to think of my needs in terms of colors and I can find them quickly and easily. The calendar pocket in the front is also helpful. I have another one of these for family hung by the back door of the mudroom at home." —Shelly Sidhu
Get it from Amazon for $10.30+ (available in three colors).
It comes in sizes (14 and 15.6 inches), but one reviewer said the 15.6-inch size actually fit their 16-inch Macbook!
Promising review: "I adore this bag. For the price, it's a no-brainer. My laptop is actually a 14-inch and I got the 15.6-inch so I have some extra room. There is plenty of space in the extra pockets for accessories. I just have my charger, stylus case, and screen cleaner, but there's still plenty of space for more. Obviously since it's not a hard shell case, this bag isn't going to protect your laptop from a major accident, so if that's a concern you have you should get something else. It seems very sturdy and well made; all the handles, buttons, clips, and whatnot all appear to be really well-constructed. I love this bag. The only problem is it looks nicer than my purse, so now I have to buy a new purse." —Mandy B.
Get it from Amazon for $33.98+ (available in four designs and two sizes).
Promising review: "I bought this pencil case during my senior year of high school and I've been using it until now (I'm almost done with my first semester at college!). I was looking for a pencil case that was sturdy (high quality) and organized (with different compartments for different things). If you are a student, I would highly recommend this product. I was pleasantly surprised that my graphing calculator fit in this pencil case. I personally have not had any issues with the zipper or anything for that matter. It's a little big and can take up some space in your backpack, but it's worth it. Honestly, it's sitting on my desk right now and it looks great (almost as good as it did when it first arrived)." —luda nesterchuk
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in eight colors).
One side is antimicrobial-treated and packed with enough cleaner for hundreds of uses and is refillable, while the other is an antibacterial-treated polishing cloth that can be adjusted and washed so it stays fresh.
Promising review: "This product works very well!! I've used it on my phone, tablet, and computer screens. It's very simple to use — just wipe in on and wipe it off. The polishing cloth is adjustable so you always have a clean area on the cloth. The cleaning solution seems to last for a good long time, as long as you remember to put the cap back on as soon as you are done. Great idea! I'm going to order one for my mother." —J Miller
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.