How high should a standing desk be?

One of the hottest ergonomic questions right now is "How tall should a Standing Desk be?"

When it comes to the height of a standing desk work surface, ergonomics recommend a certain desk height based on a person's overall height, but everyone's height will vary. One person's humerus may be longer than another's, even if they are the same height. For this reason, the correct standing desk position varies from person to person.

The right height for a standing desk also depends on the type of work you'll be doing. Most height recommendations apply to typical office jobs, such as computer work. However, if you are involved in close-up work such as modeling, you will naturally need to adjust the optimal table height for better vision and control. For heavy work like carpentry, you'll want to adjust the optimal bench height down.

To more precisely accommodate the height of your standing desk, try these steps:

Wear comfortable shoes that you would wear when using your desk. If you're standing on an anti-fatigue mat, make sure it's in place when you measure.

Stand upright at your desk, extend your hands down, and bend your arms at your elbows so that they are at a 90-degree angle to the floor. Take the keyboard height into account by adjusting the desktop height to be slightly lower than your elbows.

After adjusting the desktop height, adjust the monitor height to prevent eye strain and neck strain. In most cases, it's best to place the monitor at the top of the screen just below eye level and tilt it up 10 degrees. If you wear glasses, move the monitor a little lower for best results.

Position the monitor so that the screen is at a comfortable arm length with your face to prevent neck and shoulder strain. The ideal distance is usually between 20 and 40 inches, depending on the monitor size.

Once you try it, check your comfort level! Comfort is your best guide, so if you find yourself uncomfortable at the end of the day, make adjustments.

If you use an Adjustable standing desk all day, finding the sweet spot makes a big difference. The goal is to maintain proper posture and prevent stress that can spread. An on-site ergonomic assessment can provide more targeted recommendations for fine-tuning your adjustments.