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Using a hollow-core door as the top is what makes this fast to build: it's already flat, already finished on both faces, and already exactly as wide as most doors run (24"), so there's no panel glue-up, no edge-banding, and no sanding a tabletop smooth. The 2x2 leg frame underneath is just pocket-hole box construction, and the plywood center cubby gives both people a shared storage bay between their working areas.
The leg frame is really four separate leg assemblies joined by short 2x2 runs, which is worth understanding before you start: build the four corner units first, then the two frames that use them get connected to each other through the center storage bay. Getting the two center leg sets square to each other matters more than getting each individual leg set perfect, since that's the seam the door has to rest across evenly.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Hollow-core interior door, 24" x 80" | 1 each |
| Pine, 2x2, 8 ft | 8 each |
| Plywood or MDF panel, 3/4"24" x 48" — center storage cubby. | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2" | 1 box |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 3 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| LegsPine | 8 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 28 1/2" |
| Frame stretchersPine | 10 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 21" |
| Frame stretchers, shortPine | 6 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 18" |
| Frame stretchers, longPine | 6 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 28" |
| Center cubby panelsPlywood or MDF | 2 | 3/4" × 18" × 21" |
Buy 10 boards at 8 ft.
9 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Drill a 1-1/2" pocket hole on each end of every 2x2 except the legs themselves. Build four identical leg sets using glue and 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
On two of the four leg sets, add the shelf trim pieces that will support the center cubby panels.
Attach the two center leg sets together using the shelf trim pieces, forming the shared center storage bay between the two desk positions.
Measure and cut the plywood or MDF panels to size with a circular saw. Drill 3/4" pocket holes around all sides and attach inside the 2x2 openings with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.
Attach the two outer leg sets to the center storage assembly with additional 2x2 connectors, completing the full base frame.
Place the hollow-core door on top of the frame. Attach it from underneath with a handful of leftover 2-1/2" pocket hole screws — you only need a few, spaced around the frame's top edges.
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