Standing Desk Height Calculator

How ergonomic desk height works

The right desk height puts your elbows at a 90 to 100 degree angle with your forearms parallel to the floor. Standing desks should match your standing elbow height; seated desks should match your seated elbow height with feet flat on the floor.

Formulas used

• Standing desk height: body height × 0.617 (places desktop at your standing elbow)
• Seated desk height: body height × 0.40 (matches seated elbow with chair at 0.27 × height)
• Monitor top: at or slightly below eye level (about 0.92 × body height when standing)
• Eye-to-screen: 20-30 inches for 24" screens, 28-36 inches for 27"+

Common ergonomic mistakes

• Monitor too low: Causes forward neck tilt and upper back strain. Use a monitor arm if your desk doesn't allow proper height.
• Keyboard too high: Forces shoulder shrug and wrist extension. Drop keyboard tray below desktop if needed.
• Standing too long: Standing 8 hours is as bad as sitting 8 hours. Aim for a 50/50 split with frequent posture changes.
• No anti-fatigue mat: Hard floor while standing causes joint pain within 2 hours.

Pair this calculator with our standing desk reviews and monitor arm guides for a complete ergonomic setup.