Cheaper and Easier Ikea-based Standing Desk
There are many Ikea hacks out there to make standing desks, of variable quality and simplicity. Here is what I consider to be one of the best, made for about $70. If you have an office with a number of employees, and don't want to blow your coffee budget on furniture, this is the best bargain out there. It uses a basic Ikea table, and then simple plumbing hardware from Home Depot. It is light, fast to set up, adjustable, and requires very little in the way of tools or skill.
Start with a basic Linnmon table top with Adils legs. We use the ones that are 59 inches long and 29.5 inches wide, in the Birch color. Legs are silver.
Now let's take it to the next level! We are going to raise this table by 12 inches to make it 41 inches, which is a pretty good height for a standing desk. Using this technique it is also very easy to adjust the height to 39, 42, or whatever works best for you.
Go to Home Depot (or your favorite hardware place), and purchase the items in the image below:
Four 2 foot lengths of 1.5 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe
Four 1.5 inch end-caps
Four 1 foot lengths of 1 inch PVC pipe (I actually got one section of 1 inch by 10 foot PVC pipe and had it cut there)
The 1.5 inch lengths are actually sold in 2 foot lengths at my local Home Depot, which makes this part easy. The 1 foot lengths of 1 inch pipe were not sold separately, so I bought a 10 foot section. I figure I can use this to adjust legs or convert more desks, or use it in my garden for irrigation!
How much does all of this cost? Why only $27.04
If you cannot have the 1-foot pieces cut in the store, you can use a PVC cutter tool to cut them yourself. This is much easier than using a hack saw. The tool costs about $6.50 at home depot, and is wonderful if you do PVC work.
Next turn your table upside down (this is easy as the table is very light). And slide the 1.5 inch pipe over each leg.
It should fit snugly, but with enough room to slide it down the pipe. Before you slide it all the way, drop in a 12 inch section of the one inch pipe. This is what determines the height of the standing desk. These four 1 inch sections are what the original Adils legs rest on. Then end caps cover the 1.5 inch pipe so that the open pipe does not dig into the carpet.
Do this on each leg. If it's too tight, don't worry, just get them on, and then turn the table over and use your weight to push them so that they are snug.
Here is the final product. I did not know what to do with the existing desk, so just put this over it, which fits surprisingly well.
If you want to adjust the desk height, just use your PVC cutter to create four more sections. Remove the legs and replace the 12 inch ones with the ones that best suit you.
I did not have the hardware to get the monitors off of the desk (major waste of space!). But here is a photo of the basic idea. Just get two short bracket rails and a shelf. Also from Home Depot.
There you go! $50 for the Ikea table, which works great by itself as a non-standing desk, then $27 more to stand it up.
Happy hacking!
There are many Ikea hacks out there to make standing desks, of variable quality and simplicity. Here is what I consider to be one of the best, made for about $70. If you have an office with a number of employees, and don't want to blow your coffee budget on furniture, this is the best bargain out there. It uses a basic Ikea table, and then simple plumbing hardware from Home Depot. It is light, fast to set up, adjustable, and requires very little in the way of tools or skill.
Start with a basic Linnmon table top with Adils legs. We use the ones that are 59 inches long and 29.5 inches wide, in the Birch color. Legs are silver.
Table Top: Linnmon $18
Legs: Adils 4x $4 each = $16
Just these items alone comprise a basic desk with lots of space to work with. If you don't need a standing desk, this is a great deal at about $35. It is 29 inches high.
Now let's take it to the next level! We are going to raise this table by 12 inches to make it 41 inches, which is a pretty good height for a standing desk. Using this technique it is also very easy to adjust the height to 39, 42, or whatever works best for you.
Go to Home Depot (or your favorite hardware place), and purchase the items in the image below:
Four 2 foot lengths of 1.5 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe
Four 1.5 inch end-caps
Four 1 foot lengths of 1 inch PVC pipe (I actually got one section of 1 inch by 10 foot PVC pipe and had it cut there)
The 1.5 inch lengths are actually sold in 2 foot lengths at my local Home Depot, which makes this part easy. The 1 foot lengths of 1 inch pipe were not sold separately, so I bought a 10 foot section. I figure I can use this to adjust legs or convert more desks, or use it in my garden for irrigation!
How much does all of this cost? Why only $27.04
If you cannot have the 1-foot pieces cut in the store, you can use a PVC cutter tool to cut them yourself. This is much easier than using a hack saw. The tool costs about $6.50 at home depot, and is wonderful if you do PVC work.
Next turn your table upside down (this is easy as the table is very light). And slide the 1.5 inch pipe over each leg.
It should fit snugly, but with enough room to slide it down the pipe. Before you slide it all the way, drop in a 12 inch section of the one inch pipe. This is what determines the height of the standing desk. These four 1 inch sections are what the original Adils legs rest on. Then end caps cover the 1.5 inch pipe so that the open pipe does not dig into the carpet.
Do this on each leg. If it's too tight, don't worry, just get them on, and then turn the table over and use your weight to push them so that they are snug.
Here is the final product. I did not know what to do with the existing desk, so just put this over it, which fits surprisingly well.
I did not have the hardware to get the monitors off of the desk (major waste of space!). But here is a photo of the basic idea. Just get two short bracket rails and a shelf. Also from Home Depot.
There you go! $50 for the Ikea table, which works great by itself as a non-standing desk, then $27 more to stand it up.
Happy hacking!
4 comments :
Hi Daniel,
Do you think this is sturdy enough for a classroom? It looks like it is, but thought I'd ask. Think of kids age 9-12 leaning on it...
Thanks,
Wendy
I just read your article and found it very helpful for those who are looking to build a standing desk. Well, if someone is looking to buy the best standing desk then I'd love to suggest this list of best standing desks where a buyer will find the right options about choosing a standing desk. You will have to trust my words that you will surely find the best one on this link.
@Wendy, I have kids that age! So, you will want to make sure it is anchored to something or at least against a wall. Just standing out on its own not against anything would be risky. Buy you could bolt two together along the long axis and that would be much more stable.
Mine are generally against a wall.
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