Computer towers placed on top of a desk and up against an edge are pretty typical. Whether you do this to keep all your ports convenient or just stare at your custom rig, there is some inherent risk with this position.
It’s too easy to be a little zoned out or accidentally bump into a big old computer tower that’s sitting on your desk. This could send your precious PC flying toward the floor! A nightmare for anyone who cares about their PC!
If you are a bit of a clutz or this sounds like something that could happen to you, we’re going to give you a bunch of ways you can prevent your PC from tipping over.
Key Takeaways
Here are some of the main ways you can prevent your PC from tipping over:
- Move your desk against a wall so your PC has nowhere to fall
- Re-orient your PC so it tips towards your back wall instead of the desk edge.
- Place furniture or a desk-clamped fixture to keep your PC from tipping over
Let’s talk about all of these options in more detail!
Move Your Desk Against A Wall
This is a simple solution that involves a little rearranging of your room. Instead of having your PC able to fall off your desk’s edge, move your desk up against a side wall.
Moving your desk against a side wall means your computer can’t really fall anywhere anymore. It can tip towards the wall and then just come back to its original position.
This costs zero dollars which is why it’s at the top of our list.
Use Desk Clamp Pegboards As A Barrier
I recently saw a user on Reddit had one of these desk clampable peg boards on their desk. This is a great way to organize and even display your desk accessories.
This clamp-on magnetic pegboard attaches to your desk for easy instant organization and installs in seconds with no drilling needed. It includes built-in storage with hooks, a designer box, a hook for fat markers, a space for Post-it notes, a long shelf, and more pegboard holes for organizing.
When placed on the side of your desk with your tower PC, this can stop your PC from tipping over with a simple knock. It will also act as a very handy storage center for all your gear!
I talk about how awesome and useful pegboard organizers are here.
Add Furniture Next To Desk
If you have room for some additional furniture, this can also act as a barrier from your computer tipping over. This also comes with additional usage.
For example, if you have a ton of books and have been wanting to get a bookshelf, place it next to your desk! Placing it right next to your desk can keep your computer safe as well as help you store your books.
I followed this method back when my PC was on my desk.
I had my 3D printer enclosure right next to my desk. It was taller than my desk which meant my PC didn’t have a place to fall anymore. The worst-case scenario is that it tips against my 3D printer enclosure and falls back into place.
You can use anything here, it just has to be taller than your desk surface to keep your PC from falling onto the floor. A set of drawers, a bookshelf, a filing cabinet, etc.
Use Privacy Screen as a Barrier
We touched on the desk clamping pegboard as a barrier already. If you don’t like the look of that for some reason, consider a privacy screen barrier instead.
These acoustic panels reduce noise and enhance privacy while fostering safe separation. They have a clamp-on design, lightweight panels, aluminum hardware, and a sound absorbency rating of 0.85 NRC. They can be used with thumb tacks to hand photos and documents too!
These typically are used for privacy or acoustic dampening purposes in an office environment. However, they would work perfectly well for not allowing your PC to be tipped over. Here’s an example:
Rotate Your PC Sideways
Your PC only has a tendency to tip over in one direction. What if you rotated your PC so that direction was towards the back wall?
This can help display your PC’s internal components for the gamers out there, but it also can remove the risky direction of tipping.
It’s a simple solution that costs no money to try out. You can either display your computer or have it partially behind your monitor. Experiment with the possible PC orientations at your desk that would remove the possibility of it tipping over.
This can also increase the amount of desk space you have!
Purchase A Deeper Desk
This is a more expensive route but would suit those who are already on the market to potentially change up their desk.
A deeper desk means your PC can be placed further back toward the wall, away from you. When it’s further away from you, you are less likely to bump into it and risk its life.
I personally recommend a desk depth of around 30″ or more if you want your computer to be placed a significant distance away from you.
Move Your PC Underneath The Desk
Not everyone’s PC needs to be on top of their desk. If you have a beautiful gaming rig with a glass panel, you won’t like this recommendation.
Placing your PC under your desk can have a lot of advantages. We talk about all the advantages of placing your PC under your desk vs. on top of your desk here.
Basically, you remove the possibility of your PC falling over and you also gain a TON of desk space back. That’s why I moved my PC under my desk.
Now this does not mean putting your PC on the floor! The floor is where all the dirt and debris is, and your computer fans can suck it up and ruin your performance over time.
You can use a computer riser to lift it off of the floor, like the one below. This is the exact method I use to keep my computer underneath my desk without catching as much dust. Super cheap, and super effective.
This durable metal shelf raises devices by 3.9, 4.7, or 5.5 inches off your desk or floor. It has a maximum support weight of up to 44 lbs, features anti-skid rubber pads, and prevents overheating with vented holes.
If you want to be super secure, you can get an under-desk PC mount like the one below:
- Supports up to 22 lbs.
- Swivels for easy backside port access
- PC width range: 3.5 to 7.8 inches
- PC height range: 11.5 to 20.5 inches
- Does not support small form factor computers
- PC can interfere with standing desk frame
This way your computer is literally bolted to the desk. Any bumps or accidents won’t be able to knock it anywhere! We also have a dedicated article on how to hide your PC if that’s your ultimate goal.