The Best Adjustable Desk Legs to Sit, Stand or Level (2024)

VIVO ADJUSTABLE DESK LEGS

ELECTRIC POWERED, BUDGET FRIENDLY

Check Price

TOP PICK: VIVO ELECTRIC

Buy

IN THIS GUIDE:

› BEST ELECTRIC LEGS: vivo desk leg frame

› CORNER DESK: VIVO LEG KIT

› budget desk legs: qlly legs

› classroom style: traditional school desk

Adjustable desk legs range from simple legs with sliding extensions to sit and stand desk legs that move up and down with motorized legs. And while subtle, for power leg kits, the best solutions have dual motors for speed, memory controls, 200+ pound capacity, and a 3-year warranty for peace of mind.

From working at home and needing a more ergonomically correct workstation to building desks or tables that need a few inches of adjustment, various legs are available. After recently researching and upgrading to a motorized L-shaped standing desk with a custom wood top, the following are top choices on the market.

Page Contents

Types of Adjustable Desk Legs

Let’s start with the various types of legs you’ll find on the market:

Pin-style “fixed” position
Telescoping
Manual crank
Electric powered
Fold-away adjusting

However, if you’re considering building a desk, it’s well worth considering the powered desk that allows for sitting and standing. And while they are a few dollars more, you’ll find that they qualify for ergonomics that might pay for themselves by avoiding “desk injuries” caused by sitting.

Finally, you can also make your own adjustable legs for the avid woodworker.

Adjustable Desk Leg BUying Guide

From simple legs with minor adjustments to electric legs capable of lifting heavy desks, there are a variety of solutions on the market. In this guide, learn what works best for your height, weight, and adjustment speed needs.

1. Standard Style Leg

See on Amazon: QLLY Adjustable Desk Legs

The classic design of these adjustable legs allow for rapid adjustment of the desk height to level the desk on almost any surface

Overview

These legs are a popular choice for a classic, simple desk that only requires a little experience in woodworking. When assembling, screw to the underside of a wood desktop and level to the floor using the adjustable feet.

Key features:

Available in lengths from 4-30″
1″ adjustment range using the bottom foot
Large plate at the top for attaching to the desk
Most kits include screws

Desk Considerations

Due to their simple design and easy-to-attach plates, these leg styles can be attached to almost all desktops. However, be sure to attach it to solid wood using supplied screws. And, of course, for a desk, you may want to install a keyboard tray.

One final tip: use a self-centering drill bit to pre-drill the holes and ensure they are centered.

2. Classic School Room Desk Legs

See on Amazon: Classroom Style Adjustable Desk Legs

Overview

Want a height-adjustable desk but can’t afford a manual or powered desk (we’ll review those in a minute!)?

For a budget-friendly but adjustable leg, these legs will adjust over a broader range of motion for a standard-height desk.

Key features:

Adjustable from 22-30″
Heavy duty
Classic gray and chrome look

Desk Considerations

Like standard adjustable legs, you can choose just about any top.

3. Budget Friendly Manual Crank Adjustable Legs

See on Amazon: VIVO Manual Height Legs

For adjustable legs with sit or stand capability, but on a budget, this crank-style table will adjust to your sitting or standing height.

Overview

Want to add sit AND stand capability to your desk? If you are looking for legs that adjust over a wide enough range to allow the user to sit or stand, then there are a few options to let you build your desktop but use factory legs.

Key features:

Typically adjustable from 30-48.”
A crank is used to move both legs simultaneously (up or down)
Does not depend on power located near the desk

Desk Considerations

With a manual (or automated) desk you’ll be free to build just about any style of desktop you’d like. But a few things to keep in mind:

Make sure you buy the unit first, then build the top to make sure you have a sufficient width and length for the top. This can be tricky when you consider the spacing needed for the crank.
Weight of the top shouldn’t be an issue as the crank and desks are designed to accommodate thicker tops.
And, on the topic of thicker surfaces, a heavy appearing desk top would be preferred to offset the visual weight of these adjustable desk legs.

4. Electric Desk Leg Frame

See on Amazon: QLLY Adjustable Desk Legs

For the premium in height control you can buy just the legs and build your own desktop

Overview

For about $200 more, you can shift from standard desk legs and incorporate powered legs to motor your desk up and down.

Not sure about this buy? Considering 8-12 hours at a desk and the risks of sitting, it might be a cheap upgrade.

Key features:

Available for straight or L-shaped desks
Typically range from $200-400 for just the legs (add another $50-100 for a top)
Heavy duty
Raises and lowers a desk with a monitor(s) in place

Desk Considerations

Like the manual crank, the sky is the limit for the desktop. But remember a few things:

You will need power next to the desk
Watch out for windows or other fixtures that might impede the desk use
The top will need to be sturdy to avoid flexing or warping

5. Short Telescoping Adjustable Legs

See on Amazon: Telescoping Desk Legs

Designed for classroom activity tables, but suitable for shorter desks with it's range up to 25"

Overview

Are you building a desk for a child?

Want them to grow into the desk and be able to raise the height?

Then these desk legs offer a low initial height of just 17″ and will allow for shorter chairs.

Key features:

Adjustable from 17-25″
Heavy duty
Classic gray and chrome look

Desk Considerations

Like standard adjustable legs, you can choose just about any top.

6. Folding Telescopic Desk Legs

See on Amazon: Folding Telescopic Desk Legs

For fold-away wall desks this desk leg can be used to build a surface that folds against the wall.

Overview

This unique desk leg works great for space-limited desks that can only be down sometimes. And with a heavy-duty rating, it can support a thick desktop.

What else do you need to make this leg work? Other than the leg, all you’ll need is a folding hinge, a wood wall mount, and a desktop. Nothing else.

Key features:

Available in lengths from 20-50″ (fixed)
Leg can be shortened for storage using the click-release
Bottom foot can be adjusted up to 0.4″ to level the top
Heavy duty weight capacity up to 176 pounds

Desk Considerations

Not sure how to make a desk work with this adjustable leg? Well, consider these pointers, and you’ll find this is a straightforward desk to make:

Build a desktop that’s at least the width of the fully collapsed leg
Design a wall block of the same desk material that is the thickness of the mounted leg (do this with the leg collapsed and resting on the desktop)
Attach one desk end to folding hinges
Mount the leg at the center end of the desk
Attach to the wall using a 24-60″ level

Lastly, you can use the adjustable leg ends to level the desk after installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make adjustable desk legs?

To make this style of desk legs from wood, you must use a specialty leg leveler inserted at the base of the desk. Typically, these levelers will screw into the wood base and use an internal bolt to fine-tune the desk.

How tall should desk legs be?

Most desks are between 26-30″ to the top. However, desks can be customized to any height comfortable for the user, and some adjustable legs allow for a desk to go from 28″ up to a full standing size. To accommodate ergonomic keyboards, installing a keyboard tray UNDER a taller desk is also possible to achieve a comfortable height.

How deep should your desk be?

While most desks are a standard 24″ deep, there are no set dimensions. However, you’ll want to accommodate most keyboard trays having a minimum depth of 16″ and the need for monitors to be set far enough back that you’ll be able to use them comfortably.

Summary

Hopefully, this article helped guide you to the right adjustable desk legs for your woodworking projects.

While only sometimes the first temptation for a woodworker to buy a leg, it can sometimes be a fast and economical alternative to the cost of a wood leg.

About the Author
Latest Posts

Eric Trion( Woodworker )

Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.