DIY Kids School Desk – Quick, Easy, Inexpensive!

Video - August 18, 2020

Are your kids doing remote learning this year thanks to COVID? If so, you could probably use a DIY Kids School Desk to help provide them with a more school-like environment. Will that help? Probably not, but we have to try something! The desks are made with just 1/4 sheet of 1/2″ plywood and a single 2×4. Quick, easy, and inexpensive!

I show you how to make two versions: a Basic model held together with glue and screws and a special Joinery version that makes use of half-laps and notches for a slicker aesthetic. Both versions are laid out in our free plans which you can download now.

Free Plans

Stuff Used in the Video

If you’re in search of a simple chair design, we have one here: Kids Table & Chair Set

Discussion

Stephen Walker August 18, 2020 10:34 pm

Thanks Marc, will be building these for my two grandchildren while they are remote learning.

Reply
Brett August 19, 2020 5:46 am

Great video! What straight edge clamp did you use to cut down your plywood? I have tried this method but the clamp I have doesn’t work so well on the insulation as the clamp handle is too long and won’t lock as it hits the ground.

Reply
- John B August 20, 2020 10:52 am
  
  I have the Peachtree Woodworking straight edge clamp and it works well for that scenario.
  
  Reply
Troy Baker August 19, 2020 7:54 am

I always love your projects. I’ve got a couple of families I’m going to build these for. Thanks Mark!

Reply
Cliff August 21, 2020 6:07 am

DIY Kids School Desk Plan Metric V1 has the wrong link. It is going to the metric sketchup file not the PDF.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 21, 2020 7:39 am
  
  Hey Cliff. Thanks for the heads up. Fixed.
  
  Reply
Chris August 22, 2020 12:08 pm

Just made one of these for a friend and am working on another for my kid! Thanks for the plans!

I’m curious: what chairs are your kids using? Just had my daughter try this out and a standard dining room chair is too tall. We’re going to find one that fits her better.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 23, 2020 7:33 am
  
  The chairs are ones I built in a previous project. Link is above in the writeup.
  
  Reply
David Gunter August 23, 2020 8:55 am

I made two of these yesterday to give away to two local kids. I’m going to make more next weekend. Your video and your plans were perfect. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Julisa S Sullivan August 24, 2020 1:24 pm

What ages would you recommend these for? Any recommendations on adjustments for middle and high schoolers?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 25, 2020 8:05 am
  
  I haven’t thought about it that much honestly. My kids are 4 and 8 and you can see their relative posture at the desks. It’s a little high for Ava and just the right height for Mateo if he were sitting in a proper chair. Best to have your kids sit in a chair and take some measurements and lengthen or shorten the legs as needed.
  
  Reply
- Mike September 1, 2020 10:28 am
  
  Hi Julisa and Marc! Fun build brotha! If you don’t mind, I can answer this more technical? Age is so hard to come by as everyone is different with their heights. Best approach is measuring like so: Make sure with the chair used, the kiddo’s have flat feet and 90 degree’s at the ankles, knees and hips for stability and posture. Sitting up straight then, have them bend at their elbows 90 degrees. Table top surface should be lined up with their hands. Hope this helps!! Feel free to add this to the plans/video/etc Marc to help others build the right size. =)
  
  Reply
Alex September 2, 2020 7:00 am

Thanks for the inspiration! I just built one and adapted it to be a bit wider to fit a space for the computer and a space for writing. The intended user also utilizes a slant board for writing, so I built in that feature on one side. Thanks again! Here are some photos https://www.aperryproductions.com/p334166545

Reply
Niko Yasui September 10, 2020 8:38 pm

I am making 50 of these for a local elementary school to give away to families that are in need. Thanks for the design!

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mark rosen September 16, 2020 1:49 pm

Why is the 96″ not cut in 1/2 or 48″? The cut diagram indicates 48 1/8″

Reply
Eric Jankins October 2, 2020 6:13 am

If we make the desks a bit fancier but still a kids desk will that count?

Reply
Sam Traina October 2, 2020 10:07 am

Thanks for the plans Marc. My Rotary club is making about 100 of these for the community.

Reply
- Dave Wahl November 1, 2020 3:34 pm
  
  Sam, Our club may do the same. We are in Oakley in northern CA. Where are you from?
  
  Reply
niky amin October 6, 2020 5:40 am

great cause and plane
I’d live to build it but don’t have access to plywood easily so can make it with pine insted?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo October 9, 2020 10:59 am
  
  Sure!
  
  Reply
Jim Watson October 20, 2020 8:10 am

Wonderfully simple & needed project to help out our poor kids here in Albuquerque. Tired & bored of making exotic hardwood cutting boards as a retired senior woodworking project. Got friends and family happily involved, including donations for buying the wood. Excellent project plans! Gonna make some sawdust! THANKS

Reply
Claude Stewart October 28, 2020 11:23 am

I made a couple out of a 10ft. 2×12. Planed to one in. Made up my own design using your measurements. So it’s a little different but it can also be used as an end table when classes are back to normal. Thanks for the plans and fixing your RSS feed.

Reply
Ed Bouwmeester November 16, 2020 6:24 pm

Our Kiwanis Club assembled and finished 26 desks to be given away to Rochester (NY) City school kids recently.
One of our woodworker friends cut all the parts ahead of time and the members of the club handled the assembly, sanding, and finishing with water-based polyurethane (Valspar), all in one Saturday.
A local high school principal allowed us access to the school’s woodshop over the weekend, which made the entire process quick and easy.
We also varied the design somewhat by extending the legs so that the desk height is now at 30″, a typical height for middle school kids and older.
We also used 3/4″ (not 1/2″) cabinet grade birch plywood which adds strength and beauty to the entire design, now the desks should be useful for many years.
Thanks for sharing the plans and inspiring us to do something for others.

Ed Bouwmeester
[email protected]

Reply
Bud VanDyne December 4, 2020 8:24 am

Mark:

What length brads and the two types of wood screws, please? I recently retired and moved to The Villages, Fl. Being retired tends to be just a little boring with plenty of time on my hands. Now, with the Covid situation, I have more time! My plans are to make one and take to the schools outside the surrounding area. Hopefully, they will like this idea and research just how many should be made for virtual learning use, etc.

Reply
Jeff Klein December 23, 2020 11:56 am

We are making these desks as a community project here in Idaho. We are making 300 desks, maybe more. As a result, some of the desks need to be adjustable in case the 24″ height is too low for some students. Any suggestions on making this adjustable?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo December 24, 2020 11:44 am
  
  I haven’t really sat down to design something like that so my suggestion may sound vague. But if you break the legs into two parts, drill some holes and add some hardware, that should get you there.
  
  Reply
- Brent Morrelli January 1, 2021 2:23 am
  
  This is a great idea Mark. And Jeff that is an awesome thing to do for your community. I am a high school teacher and am going to try and do a couple of these to give out to some of my students. We actually just purchased a desk with a similar design for my 8 year old daughter. (I stumbled upon this video 3 days too late. lol) But the top of her desk is at 30 inches and is good for her and it’s even ok for me, so I am going to build my legs at a 30″ height. Hope this helps and good luck.
  
  Reply

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DIY Kids School Desk – Quick, Easy, Inexpensive!

Free Plans

Stuff Used in the Video

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