Bunnings

Sign in or sign up

No Bunnings account? Sign up
PowerPass customer?
Visit the dedicated trade website

Project list

Sign in to your account

A completed office desk with a leather swivel chair sitting in front of a blue painted wall on concrete floor

Overview

Building your own desk is a great way to create a functional and stylish piece of furniture that fits perfectly in your space. Whether you need a desk for working, studying, or crafting, this ‘how to’ guide will show you how to build a custom desk from scratch.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Steps

1Measure your space and choose the timber panel

Start by measuring the space where your desk will go. This will help you decide on the best size for your desk. Think about how you’ll be using it—whether it’s for a computer, writing, or crafting. This will also help you choose the right panel size and leg height. Once you’ve measured your space, choose a timber panel that suits your style.
A person in black boots and shorts is measuring the width of a beige wall with a measuring tape.

2Measure and mark the timber panel

Once you have your timber panel, it’s time to cut it to the desired length. Use a tape measure to mark the length of the desk on both sides of the panel. Measure and mark the offset of your circular saw blade.

A person is marking a measurement on a timber panel using a tape measure and a blue pencil.

3 Cut the timber panel to size

Place a straight edge or level along your mark and clamp it securely in place. Cut along the straight edge with your circular saw, ensuring you get a clean, straight cut and lightly sand the edges with sandpaper to remove any roughness.

A person is cutting a timber panel using a RYOBI circular saw guided by a yellow straight edge.

4 Add a cable duct

If you’d like to keep cables tidy, you can add a cable duct to your desk. Measure and mark the location for the cable duct - a good spot is around 60mm down from the middle of the back edge. The location of the duct is up to you, depending on your desk setup. Use a hole saw to drill the hole.

A person is using a Ryobi drill driver to install a cable duct onto a desk.

5Give the edges a sand

Once your panel is cut and the cable duct is drilled, sand all the edges to create a smooth finish using a sanding block. Use fine-grit sandpaper to remove any rough patches around the edges of the timber panel. Pay extra attention to the area where you drilled the cable duct to ensure there are no splinters or uneven edges.

A person is using a sanding block to smooth out rough patches along the edges of a timber panel.

6Finish the timber panel

Once the panel is cut and prepped, it’s time to finish it. You can either stain, varnish, or paint your desk depending on the look you want. For a natural finish, sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper and apply timber stain or varnish, following the manufacturer’s instructions. However, for a painted finish, apply a primer first, then follow up with a few coats of your chosen colour.

Allow the panel to dry fully before moving on to the next step.

A person is applying primer to a desk panel that has a cable duct for cables

7Attach the desk legs

Now that your panel is ready, it’s time to attach the legs. Choose desk legs that suit your style. Place the panel upside down on a drop sheet to protect the surface from scratches. For a desk that’s 1500mm long, four legs are typically enough. If your desk is longer than 1500mm, consider adding an extra leg in the centre for more support.

Position the legs at each corner, spacing them evenly from the edges. We recommend setting the legs about 70mm from each edge, but this can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Mark where each leg will be attached, ensuring they are evenly spaced.

Tip: For desks up to 1200mm long, a panel thickness of 19mm is usually fine. For longer desks, a thicker panel or additional legs is recommended for extra stability.
A person uses a combination square to evenly space the legs before attaching them to the timber panel

8 Predrill the holes

Pre drilling is essential to make attaching the legs easier and to prevent the timber from splitting. Use a drill with the correct-sized drill bit to pre-drill holes for the screws. Ensure that the screws you’re using are not too long—otherwise, they may go through the top of the desk. Double-check the alignment of the legs before drilling to ensure they’re evenly spaced and properly positioned.

A person is tightening a screw on one of the legs to the panel with a Ryobi drill driver.

9Check stability

Carefully flip the desk over and check for stability. If everything feels secure, you’re done and ready to start using your new desk.

A Bunnings team member is examining a desk placed in a room.

10Looking for more D.I.Y. projects for home?

Suggested products

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.