Desk Height Calculator
There is no single correct desk height — it depends on your body. Enter your height for a standing-desk starting point and the seated setup rule, both built on keeping your elbows at 90°.
Example: with Your height (feet) 5 · Plus inches 8 → Standing desk height (guideline): 40.8 in (about 104 cm).
Computed by the calculator below using its default values. Change any input to see your own numbers.
🪑 Upgrade to an adjustable standing desk
Check it outStandard desk height vs the height you actually need
Most fixed desks are built 28–30 inches tall (71–76 cm) — a one-size standard that fits taller bodies best. The real ergonomic rule is about your arms, not the furniture: with shoulders relaxed, your elbows should bend about 90° and your forearms should sit level with the work surface. At a fixed seated desk you create that geometry with the chair — raise it until your forearms are level with the desktop, and add a footrest if your feet no longer sit flat.
For standing desks, the widely used guideline is about 0.6 × your height: roughly 40.8 in for someone 5 ft 8 in, 42 in at 5 ft 10 in, and 43.2 in at 6 ft. Treat it as the center of a range, not a spec — an inch either way is normal, and your usual shoes change the number. Set the desk, check your elbows, then adjust.
How it’s calculated
Standing desk height ≈ body height (in) × 0.6 — a common ergonomic guideline that approximates standing elbow height for typical proportions — shown with a ±1 inch comfort range rather than a single figure. Seated guidance uses the standard 28–30 inch fixed-desk height with the chair adjusted so elbows bend 90° and forearms stay level. Centimeters convert at 1 in = 2.54 cm.
Results update as you type and are estimates, not professional advice — verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
Common mistakes
- Treating any formula as exact — arm and torso proportions differ, so fine-tune around the range until your elbows sit at 90°.
- Setting desk height for your eyes instead of your elbows — screen position is a separate adjustment (top of the monitor at or just below eye level).
- Measuring barefoot but working in shoes — an inch of sole shifts the whole setup.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard desk height?
Fixed desks typically run 28–30 inches (71–76 cm). That suits taller users as-is; shorter people should raise the chair until elbows bend 90° and support their feet with a footrest.
What height should my standing desk be?
The common guideline is 0.6 × your height: about 40.8 in at 5 ft 8 in, 42 in at 5 ft 10 in, and 43.2 in at 6 ft. Fine-tune within an inch or so until your elbows rest at 90° with shoulders relaxed.
What is the ergonomic rule for desk height?
Elbows at roughly 90°, forearms level with the work surface, shoulders relaxed, wrists straight. The rule is the same seated or standing — you adjust the chair or the desk until you hit it.
Is a 30-inch desk too tall?
Often, if you sit at it unadjusted — 30 in matches taller bodies. With a fixed desk, raise the chair so your forearms sit level with the desktop, then add a footrest if your feet dangle.