Credenzas & Buffets

Almost none in terms of form — both are low, wide storage and display units. "Credenza" is the office furniture term; "buffet" is the dining room term for the same basic shape. The same piece can serve as a behind-desk credenza at work and a dining room buffet at home. For your office, grab a credenza for behind-desk storage plus a secondary work surface. For a break room or hospitality area, either term applies and you will not go wrong ordering under one name or the other. Browse [credenzas and buffets](https://www.findofficefurniture.com/credenzas-buffets) to see available styles.

Most run 48 to 72 inches wide, 18 to 22 inches deep, and 28 to 34 inches tall. That counter-height top makes a strong printer stand, a secondary landing zone, or a serve surface in a break room. Measure your available wall length before you order, and confirm the depth will not block traffic flow through the room. A credenza that crowds a walkway becomes a daily annoyance instead of the asset you paid for, so get the tape measure out and check twice before you commit to a size.

You will typically find a mix of sliding or hinged doors, drawers, and adjustable shelves. Some models lean into drawer storage; others are mostly cabinet doors with open shelves inside. For office use, look for a model with at least one file drawer or a deep cabinet section for document storage. For a break-room buffet, doors and shelves for supplies do the job well. Match the storage type to how you actually plan to use the piece, not just how it looks in a catalog photo.

Executive office credenzas offer wood veneer in walnut, cherry, or mahogany for a rich look. Mid-range options come in laminate across dozens of wood tones and solid colors. Contemporary styles use painted finishes or metal-frame legs with laminate tops. For office use, match the credenza finish to your desk series so the room reads as one cohesive purchase. For a break-room buffet, your finish choice is more flexible — pick what coordinates with the room's existing pieces and call it done.

Yes, and that is one of its primary jobs in an office. The top at 28 to 34 inches sits at a comfortable height for a printer landing zone or a secondary monitor. Most credenza tops handle 50 pounds or more of evenly distributed load, so a standard laser printer is no problem at all. If you are planning to put heavier equipment up there, check the product page for the specific top load rating first — do not just assume it will hold whatever you set on it.

Many office credenzas include a lock on the doors or drawers as a standard feature. For a buffet in a break-room setting, locking is less common but still available on some models if you check closely. If securing documents or valuables in your credenza matters for your setup, look specifically for models that list a lock as included — not every option does, and assuming one comes standard is a mistake you do not want to make after delivery day has already passed.

Same-series is your smart play — buying a credenza from the same product collection as your desk guarantees the finish family lines up. If you are mixing pieces from different lines, bring a sample or check the manufacturer's color names carefully, since "espresso" can vary noticeably between brands. Height matching counts too: aim for a credenza top within 1 to 2 inches of your desk surface height for a coordinated look that reads intentional rather than mismatched when clients walk in.

Moderate — plan on 1 to 2 hours. The case involves attaching side panels, the back board, shelf hardware, door hinges, and drawer slides. Nothing here is especially tricky, but you are working with a lot of fasteners. Bring a second person to help hold panels in alignment during assembly, since this speeds things up considerably. All hardware ships included, and a Phillips driver plus an Allen key will handle the majority of the fasteners you encounter along the way.

You get our Free Lifetime Warranty unless specifically noted, covering the case, drawer slides, door hinges, and shelf hardware. Commercial-grade credenzas are built for years of daily office use, and the warranty reflects that durability rather than a marketing afterthought tacked on at the end. Residential furniture pieces in this category typically carry much shorter coverage windows, so buying here means you are locking in protection that matches how hard this piece will actually work for you day after day for years to come.

Credenza tops at 28 to 34 inches fall within the ADA accessible reach range for most seated users. Lower drawers and shelves inside the cabinet sit within the forward-reach range of 15 to 48 inches. Items you store on top above 48 inches sit outside the accessible reach zone for wheelchair users, so keep frequently accessed items at or below that line. Position the credenza with 36 inches of clear aisle space on the approach side to keep the setup ADA-compliant for anyone working near it.