There are several good reasons you might need a stand-up computer desk:

• You may have lower back problems and wish to move frequently from standing to sitting on a tall stool and back again.
• You may want to stand with several people in front the computer.
• You might want to get your main desk back, computer free, and have your computer on a small side desk.
• You may need to often walk up to your computer for very short work sessions many times a day.
• You may want yourself on one side of the desk and your customer on the other with the computer as out of the way as possible.

We have plans for seven versions of the standing desk:

1. Podium Add-on to an Existing Desk -- Cheap and easy to build from one sheet of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), this version is a series of boxes that sit on an existing desk for table and can be used to check to see if a stand-up desk is really for you.
2. MDF Version -- Cheap and easy to build from one sheet of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), this version can be used to check to see if a stand-up desk is really for you.
3. Flat Screen Version -- This desk is small and compact with clean lines. It has a simple adjustable monitor well.
4. CRT Monitor Version -- This design is a rather deep desk and more massive. It features a adjustable monitor well and trim.
5. Bauhaus Style -- This design is a real show piece. It features an extremely modern look, contrasting hardwoods, and hidden cables.
6. Laptop Style -- This design is lower and deeper than the others. It is also metric.
7. Armoire Style -- This design has hinged doors. It hides your computer equipment.

We are currently developing additional stand-up desk plans for:

1. Art Deco Style
2. Mission Style

We also adjust our plans to suit your needs. If you are interested in other styles, please e-mail me.

Physical Considerations

People with pain in the lower back from prolonged computer use, often find some relief by changing positions about every 20 minutes. Ideally you would move from sitting in a chair, to sitting on a tall stool, to standing, and then repeating the process. Any stand-up desk allows easily movement between two of these positions.

People with pain in the upper back or neck tend to have other problems often related to keyboard and monitor height. These are best addressed in ways other than a stand-up desk.

We have designed a special desk that moved between the three positions: chair, stool, standing. This Raising Computer Desk proved expensive and difficult to build due to the complexity of the electric drive. Fortunately, two of the three positions, stool and standing, can be obtained with a sampler and much less expensive stand-up desk. You can also retain your existing desk for seated paper and phone work, thus covering the sitting position too.

If you are considering a special desk to relieve lower back pain, first consult your physical therapist or doctor. Then build a Stand-up Desk from MDF (about $50.00 for Materials) and buy a tall stool (about $50.00). Combine this stand-up desk with a conventional desk or work table to provide a sitting work area for non computer work. Use this inexpensive set up to determine the desk height that give you the best relief. Then consider building a better desk.

An exercise, Air Typing is given on our Web Site to help you determine the height you need for the keyboard shelf, the monitor, and the angle for the monitor. You may wish to make the legs of your standing desk a little long and then cut them off to your best height. (I cut mine off three times already and it is still too short.)

Building a Standing Desk

All six versions have separate construction notes that you can download directly from the Web with the above links. You can request the free drawing sets with this little form . Look for "6 Stand-up Desks" in the list.

The five hardwood versions of our stand-up desks have an estimated useful lifetime of 75 years. The MDF version has an estimated lifetime of 5 years.

Conclusion

Thanks again for using a Woodware Designs computer furniture plans. We very much want to know how you are getting along with your project and would be happy to answer any questions by email.

If you send us a picture of your finished desk, we would be happy to put it on our web page. We need pictures of desks with real people standing beside them.