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You can build a stand-up desk from a woodworking plan, but the right plan depends on where it will sit, how you want to join the parts, and your own standing elbow height. The three designs below are not interchangeable cut lists: one is a braced freestanding frame, one leans against and attaches to a wall, and one uses steam-bent wooden arcs.
Choose the structure before you buy lumber
Decide first whether the desk should stand on its own, use a wall for support, or make curved woodwork part of the project. That choice affects placement, joinery, tools, and the steps needed to install it.
| Plan | Structure and placement | Skill and joinery | Plan access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kreg framed standing desk | Freestanding rectangular frame with corner braces | Labeled easy; uses pocket-hole joinery | Online plan page and downloadable project-plan result |
| Ana White leaning desk | Leans against a wall and attaches to wall studs; includes a desktop and shelf | Labeled intermediate; includes pocket-hole assembly | Free plan with imperial and metric measurements |
| WOOD Store stand-up desk | Decorative design incorporating steam-bent arcs | Requires steam bending, a steam box, and bending forms | Downloadable plan for purchase |
Freestanding: Kreg’s braced frame
Choose this approach if you want a rectangular desk that does not depend on a wall for support. Kreg describes the build as easy and calls for a pocket-hole jig and common power and measuring tools. The plan directs you to square the base before attaching the corner braces.
Wall-leaning: Ana White’s shelf desk
This plan is designed to lean against a wall and be attached to wall studs. Locating and fastening to the studs is part of this particular build, not a general instruction for all standing desks. Its shelf-and-desktop layout also differs from Kreg’s open frame.
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Steam-bent: WOOD Store’s curved design
Pick this plan if learning steam bending is part of the project you want to take on. The instructions cover making a steam box and bending forms as well as forming the arcs. WOOD Store says its example is sized for someone 5 feet 11 inches tall and explains how to set the height for the builder.
Set the work-surface height for the person who will use it
Do not treat a plan’s finished height as a universal ergonomic fit. Woodcraft’s standing-desk guidance says, “Ideally, this should be at or just slightly below elbow height when you’re standing at the desk.” It also advises a fairly level monitor sightline and a typing posture with arms at a right angle. This is guidance attributed generally to ergonomic experts, not a formal standard.
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- Stand naturally in the shoes you expect to wear while working.
- Measure from the floor to your elbow with your upper arms relaxed by your sides and forearms level.
- Use that measurement as a starting point for the top surface, aiming at or just below elbow height.
- Check the planned monitor sightline and typing posture as well as the height. If the plan’s dimensions do not suit you, adjust the design before cutting.
Kreg’s example has a 40-inch-wide by 22-inch-deep top and a finished height of 35 3/4 inches when built with 35-inch legs. Its plan explicitly recommends adding or subtracting leg length for a taller or shorter user. WOOD Store likewise says its example’s height can be set for the user. Confirm the fit of both height and top size against your workspace and intended use rather than copying either example without adjustment.
Compare the example lumber and cut lists
The materials below belong to their respective plans; do not combine them into one shopping list. Lumber dimensions are nominal board sizes as written in the plans.
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Kreg example materials and cuts
Kreg’s materials list specifies:
- Four 2×2 boards, each 72 inches long
- Two 1×4 boards, each 72 inches long
- Two 1×6 boards, each 96 inches long
- Coarse-thread pocket-hole screws, flat-head wood screws, and wood glue
Its cut list calls for four 35-inch legs, 36-inch long rails and aprons, 18-inch short rails and aprons, four 40-inch top planks, and four corner braces. The plan includes a cut list, materials list, and build directions.
Ana White example materials
Ana White lists four 1×3 boards at 8 feet, one 1×8 board at 6 feet, and one 1×4 board at 3 feet. The cut list includes long angled legs along with pieces for the shelf and desktop. Use the plan’s own cut list to map each piece to the specified board; these quantities are not a substitute for Kreg’s list.
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Gather tools for the plan’s joinery and cuts
Tool needs vary with the design. Use the list for the plan you choose and follow its instructions rather than assuming every desk needs the same equipment.
Kreg plan tools
Kreg names a Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig 720, circular saw, clamps, drill, random-orbit sander, miter saw, square, and tape measure. A pocket-hole jig is relevant to this plan’s joinery; the other designs do not automatically require that specific jig.
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Ana White plan tools
Ana White’s list names safety glasses, hearing protection, a level, drill, circular saw, and miter saw. The level is useful in the installation described by this wall-attached design.
WOOD Store plan equipment
The steam-bent design requires equipment and forms for its bending process, including a steam box and bending forms. Review the plan’s full instructions before buying materials or starting; the source description does not provide a complete tool list here.
Quick Recap
Build and installation checks
- Confirm the plan and dimensions: Verify the current plan, its cut list, and any height or width changes before cutting. Kreg’s plan-page fetch was unavailable during the preparation of this article, so its listed dimensions and materials reflect indexed plan text; check the linked plan for the current version.
- Keep each design’s assembly sequence intact: For the Kreg frame, square the base before fastening the braces. For Ana White’s design, assemble the desktop and shelf as directed, then locate wall studs for the specified attachment.
- Use appropriate protective equipment: Ana White explicitly lists safety glasses and hearing protection. Follow the operating and safety instructions for your own saws, drill, and other tools.
- Do not infer a load rating: The plan sources do not provide a rated capacity, engineering certification, or tested maximum load. They therefore do not establish how much weight any finished desk can safely carry.
- Separate design claims from evidence: WOOD Store’s description refers generally to possible health benefits of standing, but provides no named study or quantitative evidence in the cited material. The plans are woodworking guidance, not evidence of health outcomes.
Plan links
- Kreg standing desk plan
- Ana White leaning standing desk plan
- WOOD Store stand-up desk woodworking plan
- Woodcraft standing-desk height guidance
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