Anna K. Cottrell
I've had to be resourceful with my space so I invested in a new lift-top coffee table. Rather than just being a table — you guessed it — it lifts up so that you can sit on your sofa and eat or work on a laptop without getting a sore neck. And because the tabletop lifts, you'll have extra storage space to work with and hide your clutter.
As well as being kindly sized for your average first-time buyer, renter, and student, the coffee tables I handpicked below don't just lift to reveal storage. Some of them offer savvy trays, drawers, and shelving to keep your magazines, coffee table books, laptop, and houseplants looking good.
So, you can remove that new desk or dining table from your shopping basket and instead use your new coffee table to do it all. From glass coffee tables to marble designs, we've found plenty of picks that you'll find hard to say no to.
14 lift-top coffee tables for multifunctional living
Price: $179.99
Made from: Manufactured wood
Size (in): H17.4 x L39.4x D19.7
Style: Mid-century modern
A dark and characterful mid-century modern-inspired design, the Grossi lift-top coffee table has a neat storage shelf on the side, giving the whole piece a neat and compact appearance. It's the ultimate storage coffee table to buy if you work from home, like I do. Plus it offers an understated amount of space both hidden and for your coffee table decor purposes. It's designed so it doesn't look like a lift-top coffee table, and it's nice and affordable. Win-win.
Price: $679.99
Made from: Glass, stainless steel
Size (in): H15.75 x W47.25 x D23.5
Style: Modern/Scandi
Sharing your makeshift workspace with someone, or just want to use part of your lift-top for decorative purposes? This dual lift-top design is genius. Even the storage space underneath is split in two, making organizing easy. I know it's an investment piece, but I had to include it because of its sheer versatility, and because it's so nice. It sits on a gold frame and it comes with stools that you can either use for sitting or for popping your feet atop. Neat, tidy, and stylish.
Price: $169.99
Made from: MDF
Size (in): H19.2 x L41 x D19.5
Style: Classic
Every once in a while, a furniture piece comes along that's the perfect combination of sturdy quality, good design, and the ideal price. This coffee table is one such piece — it's crafted from waterproof melamine veneered MDF, and the Shaker design makes it the perfect addition to a classic living room or dining area. I love how it offers two cubby holes underneath for books or a candle, too.
Price: $89.99
Made from: MDF
Size (in): H20 x D24 x W48
Style: Rustic
This scored high on my list for a number of reasons, one being that it features a stalwart veneer for waterproofing and general strength. Add to this protective rubber corners to prevent chips and snagging, and a heavy-duty metal frame and you have one hardwearing coffee table. Functionality aside, it's also a guaranteed way to flex your interior design tastes, offering rustic appeal aplenty with a reclaimed industrial aesthetic.
Price: $84.99
Made from: MDF, steel and fabric
Size (in): H19 x D20 x W42
Style: Contemporary
When you're short on cash but won't skimp on quality, this quirky piece has your back. With a multi-use design and a reclaimed timber look, it'll be a living room centerpiece that provides lots of room for your gadgets thanks to a sizeable below-desk tray. As for extras, it also comes with fabric baskets, ideal for hiding away blankets, electronics, and anything else you need close by for a cozy day inside. In terms of its work-from-home credentials, I rate it highly for a morning of email blasting and Zoom calls.
Price: $154.99
Made from: Solid manufactured wood
Size (in): H17 x D11 x W39
Style: Minimalist
I'm very into the glossy veneer and understated aesthetic at play here. Not only does the walnut coloring match with almost any decor, but it also imbues an apartment or rental with warmth and homeliness. Headphones, snacks, and everything else will find ample space in its tray. The stain resistance comes in handy all year round — whether it's leftover rings from your third coffee of the day or an accidental wine spill.
Price: $103.99
Made from: Manufactured wood
Size (in): H19 x D20 x W42
Style: Contemporary
Consider this the design-led furnishing sure to showcase your taste. Finished in a rich, light brown that spotlights the wood grain, this comes with a large below-top tray and an added mesh shelf for easy access items. I also want to note that the wooden surface is also well-prepped for high-traffic homes thanks to scratch and stain resistance — something every roommate-shared apartment needs. Plus, it's trendy but minimal all at once.
Price: $98.99
Made from: Engineered and solid wood
Size (in): H18 x D16 x W43
Style: Mid-century modern
Say what you like, but tortoise-shell effect coffee tables are never going out of style — and it's the same for this timeless number. Granted, it's a little larger than some other options, but still very much works in dinkier homes. And it performs like a champion. Yes, the gas struts (rather than traditional compression springs) mean that the top lifts open in one smooth movement, rather than suddenly jilting. Oh, and the storage is next to none, with five individual spots to keep your favorite reads and newspapers. Did I mention that it's water- and scratch-resistant, too? Dreamy.
Price: $74.99
Made from: Particleboard
Size (in): H16 x D20 x W39
Style: Scandinavian
Complementing airy and bright spaces, this striking piece combines pine coloring and marble-effect detail to great success. It's a breeze to use and takes one easy lifting motion to operate. Alongside its open-display shelf and spacious storage tray, functions are upgraded with a wipe-clean surface, scratch resistance, and durable veneer. If, like me, you prefer to keep things pared back, this sleek number does just the trick.
Price: $155.99
Made from: Manufactured wood
Size (in): H16 x D20 x W39
Style: Classic
This vintage-style design provides an aged charm that instantly adds character to your space. I can imagine this looking the part in a cozy home — the type where Sundays are exclusively for chilling. Practically speaking, this stands firm under pressure, making wobbles and rickety legs a worry no more. Again, its scratch- and stain-resistant surface offers added protection for traffic-prone homes typical among renters. Storage-wise, you can't go wrong with a deep shelf and impressively roomy under-top tray.
Price: $101.99
Made from: Particleboard and steel
Size (in): H18 x D18 x W39
Style: Contemporary
A more relaxed style, this brings to mind slick, urban loft living, ideal for today's creative workers and students. Thanks to its neutral, woodgrain hue and extending desktop, it feels both fresh and functional. Plus, the storage more than delivers on size, despite being pretty simple in features. I'm seeing this piece in my living room, doubling up as a chill-out station and the digital nomad's office par excellence.
Price: $219.99
Made from: MDF
Size (in): H18.07 x W37.01 x D17.01
Style: Industrial
A sleek and modern piece that will fit right into any neutrally decorated living room, this coffee table offers the additional benefit of an open bottom shelf to make styling your coffee table easy. I also really love its sturdy metal frame that adds an industrial touch to the design. Its shelf is perfect for folded throws or extra coffee table books.
Price: $497.59
Made from: Mango wood
Size (in): H25 x W48 x D24
Design: Mid-century
A gorgeous piece of designer furniture and a functional desk in one, this mid-century modern-style coffee table is the perfect investment for the design-conscious. Made from solid mango wood and sporting trendy hairpin legs, it's the perfect lift-top solution that doesn't sacrifice style. Your guests would never know that it lifts up to be your desk by day — or your dining table by night. So clever, and the ultimate apartment coffee table IMO.
Price: $89.99
Made from: Particleboard and fibreboard
Size (in): H24H x D20 x W39W
Style: Classic
Serving up English country house allure, this covers all your storage needs with a neat space under the lift top, a bottom shelf for your books, and an even subtler spot for records, games, and other home entertainment essentials behind the metal-mesh door. As for stability, you can count on this piece to keep your coffee and home-working staples on a sturdy base.
How we chose
While we haven't personally tested all the tables listed, we chose these entries carefully. We compared materials, size, and price when considering the value for money. We considered the functionality and storage space for each table.
We also evaluated reviews left by real shoppers and only included tables with a four-star rating or higher.
Things to consider when choosing a lift-top coffee table
Lift-top coffee tables are a popular option for people with no separate study or home office, as they allow you to sit up straight in front of a screen without needing to get a separate item of furniture.
What you'll need to think about is what your posture will be like when you're sitting in front of this table with the lift top up. We recommend always sitting down on your chair or couch and measuring the height you'd like your screen to be at, although if you get it a bit wrong, you can remedy the situation by getting a laptop stand with adjustable heights.
The other thing to consider is the overall size. A lift-top table won't solve your problems if the table is so large that it swallows up most of the space in your living room.
Next, consider the style. Some lift-top coffee tables are styled like traditional home office desks, which may clash with your living room style. Others imitate farmhouse dining tables or mid-century pieces, which may be more forgiving if you're not planning to put yours in a designated study/working area.
If you are planning on putting a heavy monitor on top of your table, you'll need to find out how much weight the lift-top mechanism will take. This will be available in the item specs.
Can you use a lift-top coffee table as a desk?
Absolutely. Part of the beauty of the lift-top iteration is that, unlike its standard counterpart, it features an extendable tabletop, so you won't need to hunch over the coffee table while tapping away on your keyboard. What I would say, though, is to ensure yours is sturdy enough to withstand consistent use — particularly if you plan on working from home a lot.
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