How tall should your desk be? When it comes to ergonomically correct desks, the ideal height depends on factors such as:
- Height of the person using the desk
- Equipment the person needs to use on the desk
- Types of tasks the person needs to perform
- Position of the user (sitting or standing) while working
As these parameters differ from person to person, using a desk with an adjustable height may help. Although there may be slight variations, the approximate ergonomically correct height for a desk, seated and standing, for different height ranges is given below.
| Desk type | User height (in cm) | Desk height (in cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Seated desk | 152 to 156 | 64 |
| 157 to 161 | 66 | |
| 162 to 166 | 68 | |
| 166 to 170 | 70 | |
| 170 to 175 | 73 | |
| 176 to 180 | 75 | |
| 181 to 185 | 76 | |
| 186 to 190 | 77 | |
| 191 to 195 | 78 | |
| 196 to 200 | 79 | |
| Standing desk | ||
| 152 to 156 | 91 | |
| 157 to 161 | 95 | |
| 162 to 166 | 100 | |
| 166 to 170 | 103 | |
| 170 to 175 | 105 | |
| 176 to 180 | 108 | |
| 181 to 185 | 110 | |
| 186 to 190 | 114 | |
| 191 to 195 | 119 | |
| 196 to 200 | 125 |
As the above measurements are approximations, you may need to get the desk tailored to you or consider buying an adjustable desk and adjust it accordingly.
How to tell if your desk height is ergonomically correct
You can determine whether the height of your desk is ergonomically correct by observing the following while sitting and standing.
- While sitting: A desk with ergonomically correct height while you work sitting on the chair will allow you to:
- Keep your shoulders relaxed.
- Keep your elbows at a 90 degree angle with your torso.
- Keep your feet resting flat on the floor.
- Keep your wrists in line with your forearms.
- Keep your knees bent at 90 degrees.
- Keep the monitor at eye level.
- While standing: A desk with ergonomically correct height while you work standing will allow you to:
- Keep your shoulders back and relaxed.
- Keep your elbows close to your body with the keyboard at about the hip level.
- Keep your hands at the level of your elbows or slightly lower while you work on the keyboard (a separate keyboard tray may help).
- Keep the wrist at 170 degrees with the hands no less than 170 degrees to the forearms.
- Keep the monitor at eye level.
- Keep the ears in line with the shoulders.
- Keep your feet flat on the ground or with one foot resting on the footrest (the height of which must be about 10% of your height).
Why does your desk height matter?
Making sure you have an ergonomically correct desk can help you work comfortably and avoid the risk of injury, and having the right equipment can improve your efficiency while maximizing your comfort as you work.
If your desk height is wrong, it can lead to fatigue, eye strain, back pain, muscle strains, wrist pain, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal problems and injuries, all of which can negatively affect your health and productivity in the long run.
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