My back started hurting around month three of working from home. I looked up standing desks and the prices made my back hurt even more. Five hundred dollars? Eight hundred? For a desk that goes up and down? I decided to build something myself for under sixty bucks, and it worked better than I expected.

You do not need a motorized sit-stand desk with memory presets. You need a stable surface at the right height. Here are three ways to get one without spending a fortune.

The IKEA hack

Buy a LINNMON table top ($9 for the small one, $30 for the large) and four OLA adjustable legs ($15 each). Total: under $90. The legs adjust from 24 to 42 inches. Set them to standing height. For sitting, use a tall drafting chair or a bar stool instead of lowering the desk. One desk, two postures, zero motors.

I used the small tabletop and it fits my laptop, a monitor, and a coffee mug. That is all I need.

The stack-it solution (zero dollars)

If you already have a desk you like, just raise your equipment on top of it. A sturdy cardboard box, a stack of books, or a plastic storage bin turned upside down becomes a monitor riser. Put your laptop on a shoebox. Is it elegant? No. Does your back stop hurting? Yes. You can test whether standing works for you before spending any money at all.

The ironing board discovery

A friend of mine uses an ironing board as a standing desk. It is height-adjustable, lightweight, and folds away when not in use. She paid $12 at a thrift store. She has been using it for eight months. It is the hack I wish I had thought of first.

The anti-fatigue mat matters

Whatever standing surface you use, put something soft under your feet. A yoga mat folded in half works. A kitchen anti-fatigue mat is $20. Standing on a hard floor for hours is what makes your knees and lower back complain — not the standing itself.