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15 Free DIY Standing Desk Plans You Can Make Today (with Pictures)

Plumber Pipe Standing Desk from Homemade-Modern

Plumber Pipe Standing Desk from Homemade-Modern

It’s no wonder that standing desks are all the rage right now. They have great benefits for everyone – not just people with back problems. Research studies have found strong evidence that working at a standing desk can decrease your risk for weight-gain, heart diseases, and high blood sugar.

That’s not all, though!

Standing desks can also improve your mood, increase your energy, and boost your productivity levels.

Convinced?

Try out one of these DIY plans and learn how to build a standing desk of your own.

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Top 15 Free DIY Standing Desk Plans

1. Wrap-around Standing Desk from ABeautifulMess.com

 

diy standing desk
Image Credit: A Beautiful Mess

Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Pine Board, Shelf Brackets, Screws
Tools Needed: Power Saw, Power Drill, Level, Sand Paper, Hand Sander, Polyurethane, Rag, Brush
Tips: You don’t have to use pine boards; you can substitute another kind of wood. Keep your wood on the lighter side though, so that the brackets can effectively hold it up.

This Wrap-around Standing Desk plan is easy to follow, with helpful anecdotes and tips throughout. A wrap-around desk is great because it keeps a room from feeling cluttered but still creates a large amount of desk space for getting things done.


2. Convertible Standing Desk from Instructables.com

diy convertible standing-sitting desk
Image Credit: Instructables

Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials: Wood, Brackets, Screws, T-Brace, Lock Pins, Drawer Slides, Cable, Pulleys
Tools Needed: Saw, Screwdriver, Level, Tape Measure, Pencil, Sandpaper, Paint
Tips: Some of the desk used parts from Ikea. If you are an advanced woodworker, feel free to substitute those parts for homemade concoctions!

This Convertible Standing Desk  is perfect for people who don’t want to commit to using a standing desk all the time. After all, standing for too long can be as bad for your health as sitting for too long. This desk plan’s design uses the same mechanics as an elevator!


3. Plumber Pipe Standing Desk from Homemade-Modern.com

diy standing desk
Image Credit: Homemade-Modern

Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Wooden Board, Mending Plates, Iron Pipe, Black Iron Couplings, Black Drywall Screws, Danish Oil
Tools Needed: Drill, Saw, Sander, Speed Square, Pencil, Rag, Clamps
Tips: If you are tall or short- don’t worry! They provide instructions on how to make 42”, 48’, and 30’ desk.

This Plumber Pipe Standing Desk plan is easy to build, requiring less than $185 in materials, and less than 3 hours of your time. With helpful photos, easy to read instructions, and a video, this is a great project for beginners. It also doesn’t require you to own that many tools!


4. Cheap and Easy Standing Desk from Joshuabermandesign.com

diy standing desk
Image Credit: Joshua Berman Design

Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Pine Boards, Braces, Screws
Tools Needed: Drills, Saw, Sander
Tips: If you are a total woodworking beginner and don’t have a saw, don’t worry. Home improvement stores often have an option to trim boards for you.

If you are looking for an affordable standing desk plan, then this Cheap and Easy Standing Desk plan is perfect for you! Through specific instructions, and helpful photos, learn how to make a standing desk for under $50.


5. Steel Pipe Standing Desk from Spacekat.me

diy steel pipe standing desk
Image Credit: Space Kat
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Sturdy Wooden Countertop, Wood Screws, Steel Pipes, T-Joints, Flanges, End Caps, Extensions, Paint, Primer, Wood Stain, Polyurethane, Pipe De-Greaser
Tools Needed: Drill, Paint Brush, Sandpaper, Gloves, Tarp
Tips: It’s up to you what wooden countertop you want to use. The writers of this blog said they used IKEA NUMERAR Oak kitchen countertop which was great quality and only $129.

This Steel Pipe Standing Desk is great for beginners because it uses an already cut piece of wood as the actual desk! The pipes are easy to assemble- most of the work is connecting them to the desk and then making the whole thing look aesthetically-pleasing.


6. Wood Standing Desk for Your Cubicle from Jeffgeerling.com

diy standing or stand up desk ideas
Image Credit: Jeff Geerling

Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Wood, Wood Stain, Polyurethane, Ponderosa Panels
Tools Needed: Circle Saw, Drill, Clamps, Sander
Tips: He provides some great tips on how to properly stain wood!

Looking to convert your cubicle desk into a standing desk? Try out this Wood Standing Desk for Your Cubicle Plan! It has great instructions, tips, and pictures, and is perfect for beginner to intermediate level woodworkers.


7. Large Standing Desk or Kiosk from Woodshopdiaries.com

diy standing desk or kiosk
Image Credit: Wood Shop Diaries

Skill Level: Advanced
Materials: Wood, Screws, Plywood, Edge Banding, Wood Glue
Tools Needed: Miter Saw, Circular Saw, Drill, Kreg Pocket Hole Jig, Nail Gun
Tips: This desk is huge but the size is easy to modify if you love the design, but don’t have room for something like this in your home or office.

A lot of standing desks only offer you a limited amount of space. That is not the case with this Large Standing Desk or Kiosk plan. With these plans, you’ll learn how to build a standing desk that’s big, and an even bigger project, but this desk is built to last. It was originally meant to be a kiosk but functions well as a desk.


8. Pipe Standing Desk Converter from Simplifiedbuilding.com

diy standing desk converter
Image Credit: Simplified Building

Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Klee Klamp Fittings, Pipe, Brackets, Rail Support Fittings, Velcro, Screws
Tools Needed: Screw Driver
Tips: A large part of this plan requires you to have a detachable computer monitor. If you don’t, this is not the plan for you.

Inspired by the piping desk plans I have mentioned but not ready to fully commit to a standing desk? Try this Pipe Standing Desk Converter plan! Place the small pipe desk on top of your normal desk to instantly have a standing desk.


9. Minimalistic Wooden Standing Desk from Hunker

Minimalistic Wooden Standing Desk from Hunker
Image Credit: Hunker
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials: Wooden Boards, Wooden Balusters, Wood Screws, Finishing Oil
Tools Needed: Pencil, Tape Measure, Carpenter’s Square, Circular Saw, Orbital Sander, Dusting Rag, Cordless Drill
Tips: Decide on the ideal height of your standing desk by customizing it to your height. It is best to measure the height at which your elbows naturally bend and make your standing desk that tall.

This fantastic Minimalistic Wooden Standing Desk tutorial is an excellent way of improving your skills as a DIYer as it doesn’t require many skills but may come as a challenge for beginners. It will fit into any space with its minimalistic style. This tutorial can be an excellent base for further customizing your standing desk and creating a design that suits your vision best.


10. DIY Standing Desk with Storage by Papernstitchblog.com

DIY Standing Desk with Storage by Papernstitchblog.com
Image Credit: Paper & Stitch
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Two Cabinets, Pine Board, Screws, Wall Straps (Optional)
Tools Needed: Drill
Tips: You can use either two new cabinets or recycle vintage cabinets to give them an entirely new purpose.

This DIY Standing Desk with Storage is one of the easiest DIY projects you’ll find. It requires the use of two new or upcycled cabinets, which you’ll turn into a beautiful standing work desk. Following this incredibly easy tutorial will entirely transform your home office or working area into a more cozy and inspirational space.


11. Adjustable Standing Desk by Familyhandyman.com

Adjustable Standing Desk by Familyhandyman.com
Image Credit: Family Handyman
Skill Level: Advanced
Materials: Pine Boards, Spruce boards, Dowels, Wood Glue, Brad Nails, Wood Screws
Tools Needed: Pencil, Tape Measure, Table Saw, Miter Saw, Drill, Mallet, Sandpaper, Air Compressor, Air Nailer
Tips: It is recommended to have extra lumber on hand so you don’t have to run back to the store in case you need more material.

This gorgeous Adjustable Standing Desk is a fantastic way to improve your home office and the comfort of working from home. Since there are many benefits to working while standing, this desk is adjustable and comfortable for all heights. The tutorial may be more advanced, requiring the use of many power tools, but with enough patience and a skilled hand, you will handle it easily.


12. Tiny Portable Standing Desk by Tinyshinyhome.com

Tiny Portable Standing Desk by Tinyshinyhome.com
Image Credit: Tiny Shiny Home
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Camera Tripod, Tabletop Board, Ball Head Mount, Tripod Mounting Bracket, Screws
Tools Needed: Drill
Tips: Experiment with different materials to create a standing desk that suits your needs specifically. You can modify this tutorial to create a larger or smaller workspace.

This Tiny Portable Standing Desk tutorial is an amazing tutorial for all those that are setting up their tiny office space. It offers a perfect use of materials and space, all while increasing productivity. It is ideal for those traveling due to work or taking their work on vacation.


13. DIY Standing Desk Hack from Upcyclethisdiythat.com

DIY Standing Desk Hack from Upcyclethisdiythat.com
Image Credit: Upcycle This, DIY That
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Plywood, Decorative Wallpaper, Upcycled Desk, Screws
Tools Needed: Pencil, Tape Measure, Drill, Sandpaper, Sharp Knife
Tips: Experiment with different techniques with the use of paint and wallpaper, to create your own one-of-a-kind standing desk design.

Knowing how to upcycle your old furniture is an amazing way to save money while making another functional piece of furniture. This DIY Standing Desk Hack is another tutorial that includes being creative and innovative and using vintage pieces of furniture you already have. This tutorial is incredibly easy to follow and is suitable for beginner DIYers.


14. Adjustable and Mobile Standing Desk by DIYCreators

Adjustable and Mobile Standing Desk by DIYCreators
Image Credit: DIY Creators
Skill Level: Advanced
Materials: Plywood, Wood Glue, Swivel Casters, Bolts, Round Knob, USB Outlet
Tools Needed: Table Saw, Miter Saw, Bandsaw, Router, Sander, Drill Press, Nail Gun, Drill, Countersink Bit, Clamp, Jigsaw
Tips: As this tutorial is entirely customizable, you can add more features to the wooden legs beside the USB outlet, such as more pockets for your work necessities.

This advanced Adjustable and Mobile Standing Desk tutorial suits crafters looking for a challenge. It requires carefully using power tools to cut all the pieces to the desired shape and connect them to a lovely standing desk.


15. Standing Desk with Shelving Unit by Strongtie.com

Standing Desk with Shelving Unit by Strongtie.com
Image Credit: Building Strong
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: Lumber, Plywood, Corner Connectors, Wood Screws
Tools Needed: Saw, Drill, Head Bit, Tape Measure, Chalk Line, Clamps, Bit Holder (Optional), Speed Square
Tips: This tutorial is perfect for beginners, so give yourself an additional challenge by adding more shelves or customizing the shape of the entire piece.

This Standing Desk With a Shelving Unit is an amazing way to add functionality and decor to your home office. It provides enough working space while offering extra room to store your work necessities and decoration such as plants, equipment, or family photos.

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Featured Image Credit: Homemade-Modern

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