How to Raise a Desk That Is Too Low (Safe, Cheap Options)

To raise a desk that is too low, the simplest options are furniture risers (bed or desk risers) under each leg, replacement legs that are taller or adjustable, or a sturdy platform that lifts only your keyboard and screen. Before you raise anything, though, work out how much height you actually need. Sometimes the desk isn't really too low; the chair is too high, or only the monitor needs lifting. Measure first, then pick the least invasive fix.

Step 1: Confirm the desk is actually too low

A desk is too low for you if, when you sit with your feet flat and thighs roughly parallel to the floor:

Your thighs hit the underside of the desk or a drawer, or you can't cross your legs or shift position.
You have to hunch forward or drop your shoulders to reach the keyboard.
Your elbows sit well above the desk surface when your arms hang relaxed at your sides.

For typing, the goal is for your forearms to be roughly level with elbows around 90 degrees, and the keyboard just below or at elbow height.

How to measure the height you need

Adjust your chair so your feet are flat and your knees are about level with your hips.
Sit upright with your upper arms hanging relaxed and elbows bent to about 90 degrees.
Measure from the floor to the underside of your forearm at the elbow. That's roughly your ideal keyboard height.
Compare it with the height of your desk surface (or keyboard tray, if you use one).
Also check leg clearance: measure from the floor to the top of your thighs and add at least 2 inches (about 5 cm) for comfortable room.

The difference tells you how much to raise. Most people find they need somewhere between 1 and 4 inches. If you're tall, it can be more.

Step 2: Rule out a chair or monitor problem

Before raising the desk itself, check two things:

Is your chair too high? If you've raised the chair to fit a tall frame, your thighs may hit the desk. Lowering the chair slightly might solve it, as long as your feet stay flat and your knees don't rise above your hips.
Is it just the screen? If the desk height feels fine for typing but you're looking down at the monitor or laptop, you don't need a taller desk. You need a taller screen. Lift the monitor on books or a stand, or put the laptop on a riser with an external keyboard.

Many "my desk is too low" complaints are really "my screen is too low."

Step 3: Choose how to raise it

Here are the main options, from simplest to most involved.

Method	Typical lift	Cost	Best for	Watch out for
Furniture risers (bed/desk risers)	1 to 6 inches	Low	Four-legged desks and tables	Stability, leg shape must fit the cup
Wooden blocks or boards	Custom	Low	DIY fixes, square legs	Must be secured; can slip
Adjustable leveling feet	Under 1 inch	Low	Fine-tuning a small gap	Very small range
Replacement legs	Custom	Medium	Desks with screw-on legs	Must match mounting plate
Desk converter on top	Several inches or more	Medium to high	Adding standing option too	Surface space, keyboard height
New adjustable desk	Full range	High	Frequent use, multiple users	Price, assembly

Furniture risers

Risers are cups or blocks that sit under each leg. They're sold for beds and sofas but work for desks too.

Pick a height close to what you measured. Many sets come in a few fixed heights, and some stack or adjust.
Check the cup size against your desk leg. The leg should sit fully inside the recess, not balance on the edge.
Use all four (or however many legs the desk has). Never raise just one end.
Avoid tall risers on narrow desks. The higher you go, the more wobbly a lightweight desk becomes, especially when you type or lean on it.

DIY blocks

Solid wood blocks cut to size work well for square or rectangular legs. For safety:

Use solid wood, not particleboard, and cut all blocks to the same height.
Make each block wider than the leg on all sides.
Secure the leg to the block with a screw, bracket, or a recess drilled into the block so it can't slide off.
Add felt or rubber pads underneath to protect floors and reduce slipping.

Replacement legs

Many flat-pack desks use legs that screw into a mounting plate. Swapping to longer or adjustable legs gives a clean, stable result. Measure the thread size or plate pattern first, and check that the tabletop can handle the new leg's weight and leverage.

Desk converters

A converter sits on top of your existing desk and lifts the keyboard and monitor. It's a bigger change, but it also gives you the option to stand. If you're considering that, compare sit-stand desk converters and look for one whose lowest keyboard height works for sitting, not just standing.

Replacing the desk

If the desk is very low, wobbly, or you share it with people of different heights, an adjustable-height desk may be the better long-term answer. It's the most expensive route, so try the cheaper fixes first.

Step 4: Check stability and safety

Raising a desk changes how it handles weight. After any change:

Push on the corners and see how much it sways.
Type vigorously for a minute and watch the monitor. If it shakes, the desk isn't stable enough.
Check for tipping. Taller desks with heavy monitors are more top-heavy. Anchor to the wall if it feels uncertain, especially in homes with children or pets.
Recheck cable length. Power and monitor cables may no longer reach once the desk is higher.
Watch drawer fronts and keyboard trays. Raising the desk moves these too.

Free and low-cost fixes worth trying first

Lift the screen with books or a box instead of raising the whole desk.
Use a lap desk or sturdy board set across the desk only if it's stable and doesn't make the keyboard too high.
Lower your chair a little and add a footrest if your legs are the issue. A box or stack of books works as a footrest.
Remove a center drawer if it's what your thighs hit. Many drawers slide out or unscrew.
Try a thinner chair cushion. A thick seat pad can add an inch or more.

Common mistakes

Raising it too much. A desk that's too high is just as bad, because you'll type with shrugged shoulders. Aim for the height you measured, not a generous guess.
Stacking random objects like books or paint cans under the legs. They shift, compress, and can collapse.
Raising only one side, which tilts the surface and stresses the frame.
Ignoring the monitor. Once the desk is higher, re-check that the top of the screen is at or slightly below eye level.
Forgetting other users. If someone shorter shares the desk, a fixed raise may suit you and hurt them. A footrest for them, or adjustable legs, can bridge the gap.

After raising: dial in the rest of the setup

Once the desk is at the right height:

Set the chair so your feet are flat, knees around hip level, and lower back supported.
Place the keyboard close to you, at or just below elbow height.
Keep the mouse next to the keyboard.
Set the monitor about an arm's length away with the top at or slightly below eye level.

If you notice ongoing wrist, shoulder, or neck pain even with a well-adjusted setup, or any numbness or tingling in your hands, have it checked by a doctor or physiotherapist.

Bottom line

Measure the gap before you buy anything. For a small lift on a solid four-legged desk, risers or secured wooden blocks are cheap and effective. For a cleaner or larger change, replacement legs or a converter work well. And if your typing height is fine but you're looking down, raise the screen, not the desk.