Standing desk converters — the kind that sit on top of your existing desk and raise your monitor — cost anywhere from $100 to $500. I almost bought one. Then I looked at how they actually work: it is a platform that raises your screen to eye level. That is it. A platform. On risers.

I built one for $28. It took 90 minutes. Here is exactly how.

What You Need

• One wooden shelf board — 24 inches wide, 12 inches deep (IKEA sells these for $8, or any hardware store). This is your monitor platform.
• 4 furniture risers — the kind you put under bed legs. 5-inch or 6-inch height. $12-15 for a set.
• Wood glue or construction adhesive. $4.
• Non-slip shelf liner. $5 for a roll. You will use 12 inches of it.

No saw. No drill. No screws. The risers have a recessed cup on top — the shelf board sits directly in it. Gravity plus glue holds everything.

Assembly (10 Minutes)

1. Place the shelf board face-down on the floor.
2. Position one riser in each corner, about 2 inches in from each edge. Make sure they are square.
3. Apply wood glue to the bottom of each riser cup where the board will sit.
4. Press the board into place. Place a heavy book on top of each corner as a weight.
5. Let it cure for 24 hours. Do not rush this — glue that has not cured will give way.

Using It

Place the converter on your existing desk. Monitor and keyboard go on top. Your hands type at roughly chest height — slightly higher than ideal ergonomically, but fine for alternating 30-minute standing sessions. This is not an all-day solution. It is a way to break up sitting without spending $300.

I stand for about two hours of my workday using this. My lower back notices the difference. My wallet definitely does.