Where to place legs on a Birch desk?

Hi everyone,

I’m setting up my desk and could really use your advice on the best way to position the legs. Here’s what I’m working with:

Desk Top:
- Size: 200 cm long, 70 cm wide, and 2.7 cm thick.
- Material: Solid birch.

Planned Legs:
- Two square legs that span the full 70 cm width of the desk. I’ll attach a picture of the legs for reference.

Weight Distribution:
- Right side: A computer (~15 kg).
- Middle back: Three monitors on a stand (~10 kg).
- Center: Keyboard, mouse, and mouse pad.
- Front (in front of me): Joystick mounts + joysticks (~4 kg).

Do you think two legs are enough if I place them about 20-25 cm in from each end, or should I add more support?

If more support is needed, I’m considering either adding a central leg (positioned to stay out of the way) or installing a brace under the desk to help distribute the load.

Here is a diagram of the desk for even more context / informations :

Thanks so much for your help!

PS:
You can find here the link of the plate and the legs :
Plate : https://www.castorama.fr/plateau-en-bouleau-massif-80-x-200-cm-ep-27-mm/7640327560882_CAFR.prd
Legs : https://www.ecdgermany.de/fr/maison-vie/pieds-de-table-pied-de-table-set-de-2-u-design-70-x-72-cm-noir-en-acier-ml-design

Also, I found this steel plate on the web : https://www.gonser.ch/en/cross-brace-for-standing-desk-black/a-14269/
I was wondering, could that be a good solution ? Adding this plate under the desk and moving both legs to be at each side of this ? Or do you think this will not be enough ?

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JacobZ

Hi @_Lucas,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

A 2m wide desk is not too wide and you'll be fine with 2 legs if you set them in 250mm on each side.

You are already working with a fairly thick tabletop, meaning there is a lot of strength there, so the plate is likely not necessary. There's nothing stopping you from adding it and if you'd like peace of mind, then adding it would certainly be worthwhile.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

_Lucas

You sure it would be fine even knowing the high weights I'm gonna put on the desk ? I'm a bit afraid that the plate would break... Someone in my family told me the steel brace would not even be enough and a cleat would be better, so I'm a bit afraid, that's why I'm asking again... 😁

Also, adding the steel brace would also mean moving the legs a bit closer to the edge of the plate as the brace is 180cm long so I would have to move the legs at each side of it

JacobZ

Hi @_Lucas,

You're looking at just under 30kg consistently with a bit extra from things like a water bottle and maybe some books.

This is not a massive amount of weight. With your timber top being 27mm thick, it would be well supported assuming the legs are high quality.

Your desk would be fine without the steel plates, but you seem unsure, so it is worth adding them.

Assuming the legs are high quality, then you have nothing to worry about.

Jacob

_Lucas

Community Post:

Hey everyone,

I recently built this desk (picture attached to the post) using a 200x70x2.7 cm birch wood panel, and I absolutely love how it looks! However, I’m a bit unsure about the stability…

I added a central leg (not screwed in yet) to help support the desk since there’s quite a bit of weight on it:

Around 10 kg of monitors in the center
15 kg PC on the right side

I’m wondering if this central leg is really necessary or if there’s a better alternative to keep the desk sturdy without compromising aesthetics and ergonomics.

👉 Do you have any recommendations for reinforcing the desk differently? Or do you think I should just leave the central leg as is?

Thanks in advance for your advice and feedback! 😊

Lucas

_Lucas

Don't mind the cable management, I need to do it but my cables are too short so I bought new ones, waiting for the order to be delivered !

JacobZ

Hi @_Lucas,

Does it feel flimsy without the leg in the middle?

You could simply move the outside legs in by around 300mm each. This shouldn't hinder your ability to sit under the desk, but it will minimise the distance the benchtop has to span.

It would also mean your PC is sitting directly over the leg, so the heaviest thing is directly supported.

If you are still concerned, you can add C-channel to the underside of the timber top to help distribute and support some of the load.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

_Lucas

Hi Jacob,

Thanks for your advice! My side legs are already screwed in place, and for aesthetic reasons, I prefer to keep them positioned as they are. Moving them 300mm inward would drastically change the look of the desk, which I’d like to avoid. Also, my PC is already partially resting on the right leg!

I haven’t tried removing the central leg yet, and I’m a bit concerned about whether that would be risky given the length of the tabletop and the weight concentrated in the center. Do you think the desk could remain stable without it?

In this case, are C-channels the right solution? If so, how many would you recommend, and where should I ideally place them to properly support the desk?

I really appreciate your help!

Lucas

MitchellMc

Hi @_Lucas,

As per Jacob's original recommendations, in order to only have the two outer legs, you would have needed to move them in from the outside edge to reduce the span. Supporting the 27mm panel at the 2000mm mark could cause it to bow in the middle over time.

With the outer legs at the end of the panel, you should support the middle, either with the legs you currently have or you could potentially have the back of the panel against the wall and install small angle brackets onto the timber studs to support it. Alternatively, you could screw a horizontal length of timber into the studs, which will support the back edge of the panel.

C-channels will help stiffen the panel and likely allow it to span the 2000mm. They should be evenly spaced under the panel. At least two would be needed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

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