What is the Standing Desk Height Calculator?
This tool estimates the ideal height for a standing desk and monitor based on your body height. Setting your desk to roughly elbow height and your monitor top at eye level helps maintain a neutral posture, reducing neck, shoulder, and wrist strain during long working hours.
How to use it
Choose centimeters or inches, enter your standing height, and the calculator returns the recommended desk surface height (where your forearms rest, about elbow level) and the height for the top of your monitor (about eye level). Adjust your desk and monitor mount to these targets, then fine-tune by comfort.
The formula explained
The desk surface height is estimated as about 60% of your standing height, which approximates elbow height when arms hang relaxed. The top of your monitor should sit near eye level, estimated at about 86% of your standing height. These ratios are general ergonomic rules of thumb and can be tuned to your build and footwear.
$$\begin{gathered} \text{Desk} = 0.60 \times \text{Height (cm)} \\[0.6em] \text{Monitor} = 0.86 \times \text{Height (cm)} \end{gathered}$$
Worked example
For someone 180 cm tall: desk height ≈ \(180 \times 0.6 = 108\) cm, and monitor top ≈ \(180 \times 0.86 = 154.8\) cm. A 70-inch tall person gets a desk at 42 inches and a monitor top at 60.2 inches.
FAQ
Should my elbows be exactly at desk level? Aim for elbows bent at about 90°. The desk height should let your forearms rest level or slightly downward.
Where exactly on the monitor is "eye level"? The top third of the screen should align with your eyes, so the top edge sits at or just above eye level.
Do shoes change the numbers? Yes. Measure or estimate your height in the footwear you wear while standing at the desk.
