How Tall Should My Desk Be in Sitting and Standing?

Considering our general adult population, there is a wide range of heights. The average height for an American man is 5”9” and 5’4” for women. However, the average height of a standard desk has less of a range, which is 28 – 30” tall, which is for someone who is 5’10” to 6’2”. It is not designed with our general population in mind, considering most of the work we do at a desk today involves a computer, keyboard, and mouse. Not just a pen and paper. 

The height that a desk is at greatly affects our posture and positioning within our workspace. When considering desk height, it is most beneficial to consider your working height when using your keyboard and mouse. The reason for doing this is because your working height or keyboard and mouse height is lower than the height where you would be writing and drawing. 

When figuring out your desk height, I also recommend making sure your chair height is set correctly too. Feel free to read [this blog] for more details. 

 

3 Solutions to Figure Out Desk Height

Finding the correct desk height can be accomplished in many different ways. The first method is what is usually used during the time of an ergonomic assessment and is most likely the most efficient. 

 

1. Once your chair is at the correct height with your knees, hips, and elbows, all at 90-100 degrees, you can then scoot closer to your desk to figure out your desk height. While your arms are resting on your armrests, adjust the height of your keyboard and mouse so the height is 1-2 inches below your elbow height. If you are using a standard desk that does not adjust, you can add an adjustable height pull-out keyboard tray. If you have been thinking about getting a height-adjustable desk so you can stand throughout your day, keep this height in mind and check out the desk specs when shopping for a new desk. 
2. Another way to figure out your desk height is to calculate the height (which would be in inches). All items below would be in inches as well.
   • • • Measure your height while wearing the shoes you would wear at your desk. 
       • Divide the above height by 2.
       • Subtract 8.5 inches from the result of the previous step to find your minimum desk height. 
       • Subtract 6 inches from the result of the second step to find your maximum desk height.
     • Consider these measurements as a starting point. You may find that adjusting the height by 1-2 inches may be a bit comfier. Also, consider the height that your keyboard is adding. If you are using an ergonomic keyboard, chances are that you are adding more height to your workstation compared to a standard keyboard.
3. The final way to determine your desk height is to consider anthropometrics. Anthropometry is the science that defines physical measures of a person’s size, form, and functional capacities. When anthropometrics is involved, the following heights are recommended heights for people to consider when working at a desk. Since this is a general guideline, the actual height of your desk may be most comfortable at 1-2 higher or lower than what is documented below. Further research is needed to consider desk heights outside of the heights listed.

 

 

Height of Person	Seated Desk Height (Average)	Standing Desk Height (Average)
5’0” (female only)	21.2”	36.7”
5’1” (female only)	21.9”	37.3”
5’2” (female only)	22.8”	38.0”
5’3”	22.7”	38.5”
5’4”	23.3”	39.1”
5’5”	24.2”	39.8”
5’6”	24.8”	40.4”
5’7”	25.6”	41.2”
5’8”	26.7”	42.3”
5’9”	27.4”	42.8”
5’10”	28.2”	43.6”
5’11” (male only)	28.0”	43.9”
6’0” (male only)	28.7”	44.7”
6’1” (male only)	29.3”	45.2”
6’2” (male only)	30.0”	45.9”

 

 

All of us are built differently which is why the numbers listed are a guideline and only a guideline. These numbers are not certain. 

Being comfortable at your workstation can significantly impact your day in a positive way. If you have questions about your workstation or other ergonomic questions, please feel free to reach out to us. We are always happy to help!

 

Check out our YouTube video below for a visual representation of the blog!