So, you decided to design your own standing desk. Buying a ready-made standing desk isn’t exactly cheap. While some alternatives like standing desk converters that put on an existing desk can cost less than $150, most standing desk products can go up to $200 and more. The full stand-alone desks cost between $400 and $1000. If you are on a tight budget, there are other DIY ways that will not cost too much without compromising the standing desk’s durability.
Why Build Your Own?
There are lots of reasons to take on a project by yourself, but most DIY’ers build their standing desks to reduce costs. Aside from the costs, some of them will opt to build their desk to add a sense of achievement of building on their own. You get to choose your own materials, colors and finish. You decide what it looks like and other features you want to add.
Things to Consider for a DIY standing desk
Before building your DIY standing desk, there are a few things to consider about standing desks, costs, ergonomics, and the capability in adjusting the height:
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Costs
Standing desks are getting more affordable, especially standing desk converters. If the cost of building a standing desk on your own exceeds the price of a manufactured one, it’s best to buy one already made.
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Ergonomics
Most standing desk companies have spent millions doing research and development into understanding ergonomics and making sure their products are comfortable and promote good posture. When your own standing desk, it sometimes overlooked.
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Height Adjustment
Adjusting from sitting to standing is an important factor when building your own standing desk. Most of the builders don’t consider putting an adjustable height mechanism. Going back and forth between sitting and standing options can have extra movement variability, especially for standing.
What is the ideal desk height?
When making a DIY standing desk, be familiar with proper workplace ergonomics. This means the height of the typing surface must be under the bend in your elbows.
There are times when DIY builders would ask questions to go about building their own standing desks. Here are some frequently asked questions:
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How can I turn my regular desk into a standing desk?
Try adding height under the feet of the desk or a platform on top of the desk. Test first the stability of the standing desk of both options before using it.
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Why should you build your own standing desk?
People with tight budgets choose to build their own in order to save money. Other perks of DIY methods are the ability to make the standing desk look personal and the experience of building one’s creation
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Is it cheaper to make your own standing desk?
Generally, it is cheaper to make your own standing desk or desk converter. But if the materials in building the standing desk cost more than the finished product, it’s advisable to buy the market item.
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How tall should a standing desk be?
For sitting and standing, the top of the desk should be slightly below the height of your elbow and the top portion of your screen must be at eye level.
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Are DIY standing desks ergonomic?
DIY standing desks can allow good ergonomics. It is recommended that the desk comfortably maintains good posture whether sitting or standing.
Here are some budget ideas for a DIY standing desk:
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The Dresser
The dresser wasn’t specifically designed to be a good standing desk, but it can work depending on the dresser’s height relative to the user’s height. The standing desk even added its own ergonomic height for typing and installed boards to raise the desk surface. It’s worth considering if on a tight budget and wants to stand while working.
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The IKEA Converter
The DIY solution coined the “IKEA Converter” is a very creative and simple idea. By adding a cheap IKEA side table with a shelf, an ergonomic two-level standing desk converter is created. The best thing is the ability to adjust the height of the shelf/keyboard tray to ideal height and posture. While this won’t allow sitting down properly, it does allow good ergonomics on a very tight budget.
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Buy the Frame and Source Your own Top
Instead of buying the whole standing desk, get the frame and create your own desk from scratch. The advantage here all the electric adjustment, memory settings, and stability are built in the frame. It also allows measuring the tabletop according to the area of the tabletop. It’s best if there an existing desktop surface or look for a second-hand tabletop.
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Tall Fixed Desk with Drafting Chair
By combining a drafting chair with a tall fixed-height desk, simply sit and stand whenever you feel like it. While getting on and off a drafting chair can be a challenge compared that a normal sitting height desk, this method doesn’t have many disadvantages compared to that of a fully adjustable standing desk or converter. It can even be at normal chair height which can be used with any normal desk surface in the home or office.
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Raise the Current Desk
Make the desk taller by adding something below the feet. The standing desk height should be 12” to 14” taller than the sitting desk height. Stacking up books or bricks under the legs can be a good way to try standing. This isn’t the most aesthetic-looking method but it does work.
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Create Your Own Desk (on a budget)
If you’re an expert woodworker or handy with tools you can design your own desk according to your own plans. Building this desk would require expertise and a full woodworking shop. If you have no idea designing one, there are always plans available on the internet.
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Build a Mobile Workstation
Mobile workstations are useful for anyone that spends a lot of time on their feet. The advantage here is its mobility. It can be taken anywhere and very portable. It doesn’t take up too much space and the plans building are available online.
Conclusion:
Creating your own DIY standing desk can be easy and can be designed according to your needs. There are always helpful tips on the internet to help in building a DIY standing desk. So why don’t give it a try?
