Home Office Setup Checklist for India: What to Buy and What to Skip

Working from home sounds simple until you've spent a week on a dining chair with a laptop on your knees. A good home office doesn't need to be expensive or fancy, but a few well-chosen items make a big difference to comfort, speed and focus.

This checklist walks through the essentials, the useful extras and the things you can skip, with links to our detailed guides for each item.

The short answer

• Essentials: a reliable computer, a decent screen setup, a comfortable keyboard and mouse, a stable internet connection, and a chair and desk at the right height.
• Useful extras: a second monitor, a backup drive, a printer if you print regularly, and a surge protector or UPS for a desktop.
• Skip for now: a high-end everything. Spend where you feel it every day and save elsewhere.

Step 1: Start with how you work

Your setup depends on your work. Ask yourself:

• Do you work all day at a desk, or a few days a week?
• Do you need to move around, or stay in one place?
• Do you print or scan regularly, or only occasionally?
• Do you handle video calls and large files, or mostly documents and email?

A freelancer who is on video calls all day needs a different setup from someone doing occasional work from home.

Step 2: The computer

• Laptop: best if you move between home and office, or between rooms.
• Desktop: better value for a fixed desk, easier to upgrade and repair.
• All-in-one: tidy and compact, but harder to upgrade.

Our guide to desktop vs all-in-one vs laptop helps you choose, and our guide to choosing a laptop under ₹50,000 shows the specs to look for.

The specs that matter: a recent processor (Core i3/i5 or Ryzen 3/5), 8GB RAM at minimum, and an SSD, not a hard drive.

Browse our laptops, desktop PCs and all-in-one PCs.

Step 3: The screen

A second monitor is one of the cheapest productivity upgrades. If you work on a laptop, an external monitor also lets you sit more comfortably, with the screen at the right height.

• A 22 to 24-inch Full HD IPS monitor suits most work.
• Match the monitor to your computer's ports.

Our guide to choosing a monitor for office work explains size, resolution and panel type. Browse our monitors.

Step 4: Keyboard and mouse

If you type or click all day, comfort matters. A separate keyboard and mouse is especially useful with a laptop, because you can raise the screen and keep your hands in a comfortable position.

• Choose wired for zero setup and no batteries, or wireless for a tidy desk.
• Choose a full-size keyboard with a number pad if you work with numbers.

See our guide to choosing a keyboard and mouse combo and browse our keyboard and mouse combos.

Step 5: Storage and backup

• A fast internal SSD makes your computer feel quicker. Our guide to SSD vs HDD explains why.
• A pen drive is useful for quick transfers. See our pen drives.
• A backup drive protects your work if your computer fails. Keep at least two copies of anything important, on separate devices.
• Memory cards are for cameras and phones. Our guide to SD card speed classes can help.

Browse our SSDs and memory cards.

Step 6: Printer and scanner

Many people don't need a printer at all. But if you print or scan regularly, one at home saves time and trips.

• Print only: a simple laser or ink tank printer.
• Print, scan and copy: a multifunction printer.
• Colour or heavy use: an ink tank printer.

Our guides to multifunction printers for small offices, printer running cost and laser vs inkjet vs ink tank will help you choose. Browse our printers.

Step 7: Paper and stationery

Keep this simple. A small starter kit is enough:

• A ream of A4 paper, and more if you print often. See our photocopy paper guide.
• A stapler and pins, a punching machine if you file, and a cutter and scissors.
• Notebooks, pens and sticky notes.

Our office stationery checklist has a full list. Browse our stationery.

Step 8: Power and internet

• Desktop users: use a UPS or surge protector to protect against power cuts and surges. Laptops have a built-in battery, but a surge protector still helps.
• Internet: place your router in a central spot, away from thick walls and metal objects. For important video calls, a wired connection is steadier than Wi-Fi if you can manage it.
• Backup plan: keep your phone's hotspot ready in case your connection drops.

Step 9: Comfort and ergonomics

Good posture matters more than any gadget. These are widely recommended starting points:

• Chair: adjust the height so your feet rest flat on the floor, with your back supported.
• Desk height: your elbows should be at about 90 degrees when typing, with wrists straight.
• Monitor: place it directly in front of you, about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level. If you use a laptop, raise it on a stand or books, and use a separate keyboard.
• Lighting: avoid glare on the screen, and don't sit with a bright window directly behind you.
• Breaks: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds (the 20-20-20 rule), and stand up and stretch regularly.

If you feel pain, tingling or numbness, speak to a health professional instead of relying on equipment alone.

Step 10: Tidy cables and desk layout

• Keep frequently used items within easy reach.
• Bundle cables with ties or clips, so you don't trip over them or pull a plug.
• Leave space around the computer for airflow.
• Keep drinks away from keyboards and cables.

Step 11: Security basics

• Use strong, different passwords and a password manager if you can.
• Keep your computer and apps updated.
• Back up regularly.
• Lock your screen when you step away.
• Be careful with public Wi-Fi and unknown links.

Where to spend and where to save

Mistakes to avoid

1. Working from a sofa or bed for long hours.
2. Using a laptop on its own with the screen too low and the keyboard too high.
3. Buying a computer with a hard drive or 4GB of RAM to save money.
4. Skipping backups.
5. Ignoring power protection for a desktop.
6. Buying a printer you rarely use, when a print shop would do.
7. Overspending on extras before getting the basics right.

Three ways to build your setup

Start with the first, and add items as you find you need them.

One-page checklist

☐ Computer (SSD, 8GB+ RAM)
☐ Monitor
☐ Keyboard and mouse
☐ Chair and desk at the right height
☐ Stable internet, with a hotspot as a backup
☐ Surge protector or UPS
☐ Backup drive and pen drive
☐ Printer or multifunction (if you need one)
☐ Paper and a small stationery kit
☐ Cable ties and a tidy layout
☐ Updates, strong passwords and backups

Buying for a team or several people?

If your company is setting up home offices for staff, you can combine computers, monitors, keyboards, printers and stationery in one quote. See our guide to buying office supplies in bulk, or send your requirement on our Bulk Orders and B2B enquiry page.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to set up a home office?
At minimum, a computer, a screen setup you can sit comfortably at, a keyboard and mouse, a chair and desk at the right height, and a reliable internet connection.

Do I need a second monitor?
Not necessarily, but it's one of the best-value upgrades if you work with several windows at once.

Do I need a printer at home?
Only if you print or scan regularly. Otherwise, a print shop or your phone's scanning app may be enough.

How should I set up my monitor?
Directly in front of you, about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level.

How much should I spend?
Start with the basics and add items as you need them. Spend more on what you use all day, such as your chair, screen and keyboard.

Are the products on WERY genuine?
Yes. WERY sells 100% genuine products with official brand warranty.