Almost everyone spends hours a day at their desk. Whether you are sitting down on your computer chair or yoga ball or standing up to stay moving, the height of your desk will play a huge role in how well you work. So, when your desk is too low, what can you do to raise a desk? How to make a desk taller might be easier than you think.
To raise your desk higher, you can purchase furniture raisers or extenders. You could also install a standing desktop or monitor stand, or take the old fashion root and stick some books or bricks underneath the legs.
No matter how tall you are (or aren’t) or why you want to raise the height of your desk, there is a whole slew of options out there for you.
Whether you want to purchase a product designed to adjust how tall your desk stands, or you want to change the setup around you to make you sit a little higher.
Here are 7 great ways to make your desk taller. They will help you become more comfortable and efficient while you work by increasing your desk’s height.
1. Purchase a Standing Desk
If you are looking for a way to make your desk taller because you want to stand up while working, then you should consider buying a standing desk where you aren’t required to ever take a seat.
This is a great option for those who work a job that requires you to sit in front of a computer for a long period of time. There are many options for standing desks, making them easy to find for anyone, no matter how tall they are. You can find loads of my standing desk recommendations here.
Depending on the brand you buy, standing desks can also be adjusted to size. You can raise desk height for a standing position and adjust it to a lower level when you need a little break.
Choose from different colors, styles, and designs. You might also be surprised by how strong these desks are and how affordable they can be.
You could also use standing desk converters, like the one above. They are easy to install right on top of the surface of your existing desk, and are easily adjusted. Most of them will still leave plenty of room for you to work from it if you choose to take a seat.
2. Utilize Furniture Risers
Furniture risers, sometimes referred to as furniture raisers, are fairly inexpensive and can also be a great way to increase desk height easily. These raisers are most commonly knowns to lift a bed up higher. However, they can also be used for anything from couches to the kitchen table and are excellent ways to make a desk taller by a few inches.
While they may not match the décor of your office as well as other options listed here, raisers are cheap and can get the job done in no time at all.
Desk risers will most commonly come in 1″, 2″, or 3″ options. A few brands go even higher, with risers lifting your desk up to 8″.
Because there are so many options on the market, you should be able to find desk risers to match your current desk design and color. Whether your computer desk is made from wood, metal, or anything else, there is a matching raiser somewhere out there for you.
Tip: Make sure you measure the width of your desk legs before purchasing raisers. Because these products are made to wrap around the bottom of the leg, you have to ensure it will fit.
3. Use Adjustable Furniture Levelers or Bun Feet
You can also raise the height of your desk quickly and easily with adjustable furniture levelers. Bun feet will do a similar jobin making a desk taller, but are usually wooden extensions and as such usually match wooden tables better.
Adjustable levelers can be found online or in most home goods or furniture stores and shouldn’t cost you more than $20. While bun feet usually cost between $20 to $30 for adjustable sets of 4.
You can also contact the retailer you purchased your desk from to see if they offer options specifically for your desk.
These extenders are, like they sound, extending metal pieces that attach to the table’s legs and will raise it when twisted.
The higher you want your furniture to stand, the more you turn the screw on the threaded socket of your bun feet or levelers.
When buying your leveler or bun foot to increase your desk height, check the weight limits on each label to ensure they can hold up your desk without any problems. Some desks are very heavy and may require specific bun feet that are designed to bore more weight.
While usually used to stop a desk wobbling, they can also be very handy if you want to raise your desk an inch or two. You can see how to set up furniture levelers in the video below.
4. Replace Desk Legs
A less obvious but possible way to increase desk height is by replacing the desk legs altogether. While buying new legs isn’t the most popular option for many, it is definitely doable and can make raising your desk a simple task.
If you are handy with power tools, you can choose to remove the legs altogether before attaching the new ones. However, you will need to drill holes once you have removed the old legs, so it’s not for everyone.
While some desks have legs that can be easily removed, we know there are many that can’t. Most table legs are designed into the furniture, making them a permanent fixture.
If you can’t remove the legs of your desk to replace them with new legs, you can always buy these items made to attach underneath the desk and not in the same location as the original legs.
Most of the replacement leg products online come in a durable metal material. This makes them strong enough to hold some of the heaviest furniture out there as well as versatile enough for almost any home or office décor.
5. Place Some Hard Cover Books Under Each Leg
Okay, this might not be the most professional way to make your desk taller, but it is cheap and efficient to increase desk height that has been used (successfully) for many years.
The important thing to remember when placing books underneath the legs of your desk is that each book has a similar thickness, ensuring the desk is even and sturdy.
A mistake many people tend to make when using this option to make table taller is using soft-covered books. Doing this can cause your desk’s legs to slip around and can even slide right off the book.
Softer books can also crush under pressure, and the heavier sides of the desk will tip lower than the lighter sides. (i.e., the side with the computer and monitor vs. papers and pencils.)
6. Use a Monitor Stand
Sometimes all you need is the monitor raised and not the entire desk. This is typically required for those who use their desk mostly for typing, and their monitor isn’t at eye level.
The best part about choosing this option is there are so many styles and designs available on the market today that can fit any budget.
You can purchase a basic stand that sits on top of your desk (similar to using a large phone book underneath your screen.), or you can get a lot more versatile and unique, such as an adjustable track stand, a wall stands, stylish wooden stands, dual monitor stands, and stands that have storage options underneath.
Each stand comes in different sizes and shapes, giving you options depending on how much higher you need to raise your monitor’s screen.
7. Pick up An Adjustable Office Chair
Maybe you don’t have to raise desk height at all. Maybe you just need a good computer chair that can easily adjust your height while sitting.
Most computer chairs these days have an adjustable base, allowing users to easily move up and down with the touch of a lever.
If you need to raise your desk because you are bending down in order to type or write, there may be an option to simply purchase a computer chair that can raise you up higher, aiding in this problem.
The selection of ergonomic chairs out there today is huge, with comfort levels, designs, and materials that will fit any style or taste.
What is the Best Desk Height For You?
The best height for your desk is going to be different depending on your size and what you most commonly use it for. The sizes of everyone’s limbs vary massively so it’s hard to produce an accurate optimal height for every height.
Your best option is to find out how far off your positioning is from an optimal ergonomic position. From there you can work out if adjusting your desk height is right for you. As well as discovering how much height adjustment you need to reach this position.
Why Are Ergonomics Important When Raising Your Desk?
Ergonomics is a study into ensuring a person is comfortable in their place of work, ensuring that they can work efficiently and effectively.
When you think of memory foam seating cushions on desk chairs or wrist gel pads on the desk, these are ergonomic items.
When you are uncomfortable, sore, or even in pain, you are less likely to perform your very best.
Ergonomics is a big factor when it comes to a desk’s height and how tall it should be compared to the height of a person. Whether you are straining to see your screen or hunched over for hours while writing a paper, you won’t be able to reach peak performance. That’s why you need to be able to adjust your desk height to obtain an ergonomic sitting position.
