Motorized: These cost a bit more, and offer a smoother and easier way to raise and lower your diy adjustable standing desk. The crank can also get worn out as time passes too, but if you aren’t using it treating it roughly dozens of times per day, it should live a long and useful life. The major drawback is that it takes a little longer to adjust, and it takes a little bit of effort. Crank-operated standing desks are more affordable and versatile.
There’s no risk of the electrical parts breaking because there aren’t any. It can save you some money, but is it worth it for what you’ll save? There are pros and cons to both options, but one or the other is a must for a DIY convertible standing desk.Ĭrank: You don’t need to plug it in or rely on electricity, so it frees up an outlet. The cranks work fine, and it takes 30 seconds or so to adjust. This brings us to our next question… Turn Crank or Motorized? But if you’re really going to be switching from sitting to standing at this one work space on a regular basis, it makes sense to choose a design that adjusts very easily. If you can have separate desks for sitting and standing, it saves you the hassle of having to adjust it all the time. You can also use your existing desk, but with a box or something else on top to add some height for the monitor, the keyboard, and the mouse. In that case, it’s just a normal desk but taller. Does it Need to be Adjustable?Īre you sure you need this desk to be adjustable? If you’re on a budget, and you really just want to try using a standing desk to see if you like it, you don’t need much more than a few milk crates and an old door to lay across them. If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, then you’ll want to think hard about the next question. Some folks opt to go the DIY route because they want to save money, whereas others like to build things themselves because they want something far superior to what’s available in stores and they want something much more customized, regardless of cost. There are other decisions to make along the way like which materials you want to use, if you’re going to use an existing plan or design your own, and so forth but let’s cover the basics first. Here are the main things to consider when you want to build your own sit stand desk. Step 1: Planning Your DIY Height Adjustable Desk So if you don't have easy access to tools, consider piecing together a pre-made frame and table top. Sanding is easy enough to do at home, but planing isn't. It should be noted that you either need access to a workshop with woodworking tools or will have to rent them, find a friend or family member, or pay a shop to make the cuts for you.
#STANDING DESK CONVERTER DIY HOW TO#
If you’re unfamiliar how to use the required tools for the options you choose, or how to do the various woodworking techniques discussed below, that is outside the scope of this guide but there are many helpful resources for learning basic woodworking out there, like our article on how to make a cutting board. Steps 2 and 3 are the building or assembly stages.By the end, you’ll have a really good understanding of which route will be best for you, and you’ll have a solid starting point for how to get it done. We’ve broken this project down into sections, and we’ll explore all of the options and decisions you’ll have to make along the way. If cost is a factor, it will cost more to build your own top for the desk using gorgeous, high-quality woods than to just pick up something cheap from Ikea or a hardware store, but the DIY option will look incredible. Do you want to start with the frame and choose your own top for the desk, or build it all from the ground up entirely? The trick to nailing this DIY project is determining how much of it you would like to do yourself. In most cases, the “Do-It-Yourself” aspect just comes down to making your own desktop, rather than building the entire base and mechanisms by hand. Getting a ready-to-go standing desk can cost a pretty penny, but you can build your own DIY adjustable standing desk instead. Some DIY standing desks are fixed in place and their height is non-adjustable, whereas others can convert from a regular sitting desk to a standing desk on the fly. Even adding in an hour or two of standing in an eight or ten hour workday can cause a noticeable improvement.
Whatever your reason for standing is, it can help with your blood flow, your focus, and offers an overall benefit to your health if for no other reason than it’s less time that you’ll spend sitting.
So, you’ve heard how unhealthy it can be to sit all day long, and you’re thinking about building a DIY adjustable standing desk? There are a few different ways to go about incorporating standing into your work routine.