Time

A few hours

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$251-500

Introduction

You don't need a ton of space or money to build the perfect desk for your home office. With just some precut pipe lengths and an off-the-shelf IKEA butcher-block countertop, you can build the perfect pipe desk for your space in a couple of hours. Follow the instructions ahead to upgrade your office.

Tools Required

  • Drill driver
  • Pipe wrench

Materials Required

  • 24-in. pipe (4)
  • 6-in. pipe (4)
  • 70 in. pipe (1)
  • 8-in. pipe (4)
  • Cap (4)
  • Floor flange (4)
  • IKEA Karlby countertop
  • No. 12 1-1/4-in. wood screw (16)
  • Tee fitting (6)

Project step-by-step (3)

Step 1

Build the Legs

  • Attach tee fittings to both ends of the 70-in. length of pipe; then add two 8-in. lengths of industrial pipe to both tees.

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 1 Desk 3 KseditFamily Handyman

Note: For each piece of industrial pipe you add, spray a small amount of lubricant onto the threaded end and tighten it in the fitting as much as possible. A pipe wrench and an assistant are very helpful in executing this step.

Step 2

Attach Tee Fittings

  • Attach tee fittings to all four of the 8-in. pipes. Orient the tees so the next pipe pieces can be installed under the assembly.
  • Screw a cap to one end of each 6-in. industrial pipe; then attach the capped industrial pipes to the tees.

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 5 Desk 6 KseditFamily Handyman

  • Add 24-in. industrial pipes to all four open tees, tightening each one as much as possible as you go.

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 7 KseditFamily Handyman

  • Then, add a flange to the top of each 24-in. industrial pipe.

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 8 Desk 9 KseditFamily Handyman

Step 3

Attach the Countertop

  • Unpack the countertop and lay it facedown on the floor.

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 10 KseditFamily Handyman

  • Flip the leg assembly upside down and place it on top of the countertop. The flanges should be resting on the underside of the countertop.
  • Measure the distance from each edge of the countertop to each flange, making sure that you center the leg assembly along the underside of the countertop.

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 11 KseditFamily Handyman

Fhm How To Build A Desk With Butcher Block And Pipes Family Handyman Desk 12 Desk 13 KseditFamily Handyman

  • Once the countertop is attached, flip the IKEA butcher block desk right-side up and you’re done.

Note: This homemade desk was built to be tall enough for bar stools and can seat several people. You could make a smaller version of this black pipe table by trimming the countertop and selecting shorter pipe lengths for the legs.