DIY Laptop Stand

For this simple DIY, you will need four pieces of 1” x 2” x 8’ knotty pine wood. You will also need a 10 ½” x 36” stair tread for the tabletop. Start by measuring and cutting the stair tread into two pieces, one 8-inch long and the other 16-inch long.

Make straight cuts to create these pieces and set them aside. The 1” x 2” x 8’ piece will be measured and cut as follows: four vertical legs of 9 ¼” and four horizontal leg supports at 7 ½”. You will also need to measure and cut the base into two pieces at 22 ½” and two at 9”. Lastly, you will need a ledge for the tabletop, measuring 16 inches.

Now that you have your cut pieces, you may want to sand off any areas with flared wood chips. Having a smooth surface will allow for even coating when staining. To achieve a two-toned effect similar to the example, stain your stair tread pieces and let them dry completely. Then paint all the 1” x 2” pieces the same colour. Let all pieces of wood dry fully before moving on to the next step.

Now it’s time to start the assembly process. First, create your base by taking the 1” x 2” x 9” ends and putting two pocket holes on each side. Using the pocket holes and wood screws, attach these ends to the two 1” x 2” x 22 ½” lumber.

Now that you have a base, you can start assembling the legs. Begin by cutting corners off of the 9 ¼” long four vertical legs so they can swing freely. Create pocket holes in the  1” x 2” x 7 ½” four horizontal leg supports and attach these to the vertical legs. Once done, place the built legs into the base and create a one-inch hole at the top of each leg for the carriage bolts.

You can now attach your tabletop to the base of the laptop stand. First flip the base over and align the tabletop with it. Using wood screws attach the 8” stair tread piece to the base. For the 16” stair tread use two 1 ½” hinges so that this piece can swing freely. Next, add the 1” x 2” x 16” ledge to the front of the tabletop.

For the stand that props up the tabletop, you will need a spare piece of 1” x 2” board which can be anywhere from 3”- 5” long. Make a 45 degree cut at the end of this piece for the stand. Prop your tabletop up and mark the spot where the cut piece meets the board. Use a hinge to attach the stand to the bottom of your tabletop. For the part that meets the frame, use a drill and chisel to cut out a small section, allowing the stand to wedge in. Finally, add a small piece of velcro or magnet to the stand piece so that it stays in place when not in use.

You are done!