The ALEX Desk: Cheap, Stable, Yours
Two IKEA ALEX drawer units with a tabletop across them is one of the most popular DIY desks in NYC — it's cheap, it's solid, and it fits any width. The trick is assembling it so it doesn't wobble and the cables stay hidden.
Build the ALEX Units First
Assemble each ALEX drawer unit fully, drawers included, before you place the tabletop. A drawer unit built without the back panel installed racks and wobbles — install the back panel flush and pin every nail.
Level the Two Units
ALEX units have adjustable feet. Set both units in place, put a long level across them, and adjust the feet until the tops are coplanar. An uneven pair means the tabletop rocks.
Choose the Right Top
A 47-inch LAGAN or KARLBY countertop spans two ALEX units with a 12-inch overhang each side. Anything wider sags in the middle without a center support.
Secure the Top
The tabletop should sit on the ALEX units without sliding. Use anti-slip pads under the top, or — for a permanent desk — screw the top to the units from underneath (pre-drill to avoid splitting).
Route Cables Through the Back
ALEX units have a cord exit at the back. Mount a power strip to the underside of the tabletop, run the cord out the back of one ALEX, and thread device cables through the gap between the units. The front stays clean.
Add Casters (Optional)
Swapping the ALEX feet for casters turns the desk into a rolling one — great for cleaning, bad for typing stability. If you add casters, lock two of them so the desk doesn't skate.
Standing Height
Two ALEX units plus a 2-inch countertop lands at about 29 inches — sitting height. For a standing desk, add a desk riser on top, or use taller cabinet legs instead of the ALEX feet.
Book an ALEX desk build in NYC — leveled, cabled, and stable.
Ready to get your weekend back?
Need help building that new piece? Book a top-rated NYC furniture assembly pro today.