This post shares how to build your own desk.
Occasionally I’ll use PT Money to present some of the do-it-yourself projects I’ve done around my house. While this isn’t directly related to the main theme of the site, hopefully it will provide some motivation to try your own money-saving project.
If I can do it, you can! Check out Build Your Own Desk Part 1 and Build Your Own Desk Part 2, which I posted last Summer. This is my final post about the desk project. But since it’s been a while, I’ll try and sum the whole project up here.
Why Build Your Own Desk?
The best reasons to tackle this project for me were:
- Not blowing my money on an expensive desk – I understand that $2,000 can buy you a nice heirloom. But I don’t need to buy one because my parents plan to give me theirs one day. A desk to me is strictly for utility. It just has to look half-way decent and fit my needs. When I started this project we were saving for the down payment on our house, so we needed all the extra cash we could get.
- Getting the exact desk I wanted – Buy making it myself, I could tweak the plans for my height (I like leg room), make it as big or little as I needed, and paint it whatever color I wanted.
- Getting Up from the TV and Doing Something New – I really liked getting out in the garage on the weekends and working on this desk. It freed me from my normal routine and got me moving. I’ll admit though, at times it felt like I’d never finish it, but it’s so rewarding to build something from scratch like this.
The Plans for the Desk
I found these FREE plans on Popular Mechanics after a pretty simple Google image search for “desk plans” and “home office desk plans”. I wasn’t about to pay money for plans when most can be found for free on the Internet.
(from Popular Mechanics)
Tools I Needed to Build the Desk
I started out trying to make this desk on the super cheap. My plan was to use Lowes for all the rough cuts of the lumber (which they do for free), my friend’s table saw for the detailed cuts, a cheap miter box for the angled trim cuts, and hand sand the whole project.
While I was able to do those things for a while, there came a point when I needed to step up to some real tools to get the project done right. For one, the plans call for a biscuit joiner. Check out How to Build Your Own Desk Part 2 to see more on the joiner.
I also stepped up to my own table saw, power drill, and power sander, all of which I’ve used for other projects since. Here’s a list of the tools I ended up using on the project (with cost, if purchased).
- 2 Strap Clamps (for holding the boxes together once joined and glued) $28.06
- Miter Box (used until I bought the table saw) $13.51
- Biscuit Joiner $97.41
- Table Saw $113.50
- Power Drill $29.99
- Power Sander $29.99
- Hammer (for trim nails)
- Iron (for the veneer tape)
That’s about $140.00 total for tools I had to have just for this project, and another $175.00 for tools that I can use again. One note: I did not purchase the router to make my own top edging like the plans suggest. I just bought the pre-cut edging, which worked fine.
(my desk in various stages of completion)
Cost of the Materials (based on receipts)
Top and Cabinets
- 1st Batch of Plywood (Birch) and Trim (Pre-Finished Pine Cove) $105.25
- 2nd Batch of Plywood (Birch), Trim (Pre-Cut Poplar), and Wood Glue $69.51
- Bicuits $7.50
- Base Trim (Pine) $32.00
Drawers and Hardware
- Plywood (Pine) $40.00
- Drawer Sliders $62.30
- Hanging File Frames $9.55
- Bronze Pulls $25.65
Paint and Primer (birch needs several coats) $35.00 (approx.)
Nails and Screws $10.00
That’s roughly $400.00 total in materials. You could do it cheaper by using lower grade plywood (I used the best that Lowe’s offered) and cheaper sliders (again, I went big here).
Modifications to the Plans
I thought it’d be worth noting that I decided to go without a few things for the desk. I didn’t install the pencil drawer. I’ve found that I don’t use those and I always hit them with my knees. Also, I didn’t finish the privacy back to the deskbecause (1) I wanted to be able to keep the desk in three pieces for easy moving and (2) I was going to use it against a wall (no privacy needed). Although, you’ll see in the pic that I do have a piece of unpainted plywood there, which is just to hide the wires.
(My Home Office Desk)
Final Thoughts on the Finished Project
I spent roughly $700.00 (of which $175.00 is for tools that I now use all the time) on the desk. And I’d estimate that it took about 80 hours to complete, with Mrs. PT throwing in another 10-15 of her own helping paint. While it was a tough build and took a while (4 Months on/off), I’m super proud of this desk. I use it everyday and I’m so glad it turned out decent. It has everything I like in a desk (sturdy build, leg room, lots of space on top, and deep file cabinets). Who knows, it may end up being our own heirloom.
Update: Reader Mark just finished his desk and sent a picture. He said, “I started January of this year and after 9 months and a new baby I finally completed the desk.”
Well, congrats on both fronts, Mark! The desk looks great!
If you end up taking this project on for yourself and have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me at ptmoneyblog [at] gmail.com.
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{ 11 comments }
Wow! That looks pretty good. MY only question is whether you could have done it cheaper by simply spending the money on a sale in a furniture store?
I once build a 20W stereo amp (19″ rack and all) and that cost me as much as it would have if I had bought a new one except that the store bought one would not come with the pride of DIY.
I definitely could have done it cheaper. You can find nice used desks for less than $500 I suppose. Then, like you say, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the project (experience). So you could say I paid for the experience.
Don’t know about you but when I want something my first inclination is to deny myself. Then, after some time, if I still want it, I turn to the internet (or other resource) for a cheaper way to either make it or buy it.
where did you buy the Hanging File Frames?
I seem to remember it being an office supply store, like Staple. Here’s a link.
Wow, that is a beautiful desk. I don’t think I have a place for all those tools in my apartment but making your own desk is a really neat idea. I bet it was fun.
Thanks, Mike.
Looks nice!
I need a new desk since I’m still using the conference table my FIL gave me. I had an estimate to have a custom solution for my office, including a nice closet setup. Cost was over $5000.
Looks like it’s time to hone up on my wood working skills.
Thanks for you comment, Chris. Best of luck to you. Let me know if you have any questions.
Any reason you painted instead of staining?
@Al – I painted b/c it was birch and I’ve heard birch doesn’t take to stain as well. I didn’t really research it too much but I heard there might be pre-treatment involved and I passed on the staining. Good luck if you decide to do it.
That looks awesome.
While I’m not sure I could ever make something that nice, I have hopes that I manage to make my own book shelf this winter…I’m hoping to borrow tools from brothers, though.
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