DESKPAPERLESS

Cable Length Planner

Measure the run once, plan the cable right the first time — no more cables that are just a little too short, or three feet of slack pooling under the desk.

Desk width or distance to the wall/outlet.
Desk height, or the drop to a floor outlet.
Corners, grommet holes, or cable-tray turns along the route.
Extra length for strain relief and desk movement (default 15%).

Cable length needed

Routed length
160 cm
Total with slack + connectors
214 cm
Buy this standard length
300 cm

Measuring a cable run

Most desk cable runs aren’t a straight line — a power cord goes down the back leg of the desk, along the floor, and over to an outlet; a monitor cable goes through a grommet hole, along a cable tray, and up to the display. Adding the horizontal and vertical segments together gets you close to the real path length, without needing to physically thread a tape measure through the route.

Once you have that base length, the bend, slack, and connector allowances turn a bare-minimum measurement into a length you can actually route, plug in, and adjust later without buying a second, longer cable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why add slack on top of the measured run?

A cable cut to the exact measured distance ends up taut the moment you shift your monitor, roll your chair back, or a desk leg flexes. Fifteen percent extra length (the default here) gives enough slack for a drip loop and normal desk movement without leaving a tangle of excess cable on the floor.

What counts as a 'bend'?

Any point where the cable changes direction along a fixed path — a grommet hole in the desktop, a corner of a cable tray, a 90-degree turn behind a monitor arm. Each one eats a little extra length compared to a straight line, which is what the per-bend allowance accounts for.

Why is there a connector allowance at each end?

Cables need a little slack right at the plug so the connector can seat fully without pulling on the cord, and many bend radius requirements mean a completely straight approach into the port isn't realistic. Adding a fixed allowance at both ends keeps the final length from coming up just short.

Why round up to a 'standard' length instead of the exact number?

Cables are manufactured in a handful of common lengths, not custom-cut to the centimeter. Rounding up to the next commonly sold length (for example 150cm or 300cm) means you can actually buy what the calculator recommends instead of hunting for an oddly specific size.

Planning estimate only. Always measure your actual desk and route before buying — obstacles, wall thickness, and furniture layout vary.