What Is The Ideal Height For Your Standing Desk?

Buying a standing desk in Australia is one thing but using it correctly by setting its height to meet your individual needs is another. To help you ensure your standing desk is at the right height when you’re standing, I’ve made the guide below to cover the various aspects and how-to steps.

What Is The Ideal Standing Desk Height?

Since everyone is unique, your correct standing desk height will be different from someone else’s. Essentially, the desktop of your standing desk should be elevated such that your elbows are bent at a 90 to 100-degree angle. Your wrists should naturally rest on the keyboard without any angle.

When this is achieved in a neutral standing position, the distance from the desktop to the floor is the ideal height for you. To make it easier, you can also use a standing desk height calculator to work out the ideal height.

My Steps To Help You Set An Ergonomic Height

Luckily, finding the proper standing desk height only takes three steps.

Step 1 — Stand near your desk

You can start by standing close to your adjustable-height desk. Using the digital controller, elevate the desktop until your wrists can rest on the desktop with ease. Of course, you should be standing in a natural and neutral position.

Step 2 — Obtain the right height

Adjust your standing desk gradually to the point where your elbows form a straight angle. Your wrists ought to be positioned in front of your keyboard with your elbows bent at a 90 to 100-degree angle. You have reached the ideal elevation when your forearms are parallel to your desktop. Make sure the keyboard and mouse are placed close enough so that you don’t have to stoop or arch your back to reach them.

Step 3 — Save the height

These days, the majority of electric standing desks have digital controllers that enable you to quickly preset up to four different heights. It’s never been simpler to program a desk digital controller, and you can switch between a seated and standing position with only the push of a button.

Controllers With The Ability To Save Heights Are Gold

Depending on your electric desk, electronic height adjustments may or may not be shown on a digital display. Those with a digital display will show real-time height (as measured from the floor). Once you know your ideal desk elevation, you can simply elevate or lower your standing desk to your desired height which is shown on the digital display. Most electronic controllers have memory settings where you can program the standing desk to save your ideal desktop height.

What About When You’re Sitting?

Where your desktop should be when you’re sitting follows the same approach as standing. Your elbow should be 90 to 100 degrees from the desktop whilst seated in an ergonomic chair, without your shoulder blades being pulled up to ensure proper seated posture.

If the desktop is too low, you may find your wrists and fingers situated too far from the keyboard and mouse. You can sit for longer lengths of time if you have appropriate lumbar support and your feet are level on the floor directly beneath you.

How High Should Your Monitor Be?

Just like the height of your standing desk, where your computer screen should be positioned depends entirely on you. To obtain the best ergonomic and comfort outcomes, I highly recommend that your eyes be gazing towards the top of the screen or slightly below. This allows your eyes to naturally drift towards the centre of the screen.

Take it from me, but monitor arms are an absolute must-have sit-stand desk accessory. Not only do they give you ample flexibility in helping to get the correct elevation of the monitor, but they also let you swivel and pivot them in more ways than one. If you don’t have one then a monitor stand will suffice.

According to recent studies, in order to prevent eye strain, you should position your head between 40 cm and 75 cm from the screen. And with most standing desks having a depth between 70cm to 80cm, you can easily achieve this without any issues.

Accessories That Help You Find The Proper Standing Desk Height

You can utilise a variety of accessories at your height-adjustable standing desk to help you achieve ideal ergonomics. The following items are some of my favourites.

Monitor arms are the standing desk attachment I heartily suggest. These common accessories feature numerous pivoting joints that make it simple to lift or lower your computer screens. Even your monitors’ orientation and suspension angle can be changed at will. In the absence of funds for arms, a simple monitor stand will do just well.

Dual monitors suspend your computer screens at any elevation and angle you choose (image by Ergox).

The majority of standing workstations have minimum height restrictions. Therefore, a decent ergonomic chair can be useful when determining your ideal standing desk height. How is this so? Well, you can change your seated elevation to make up for your desk. Just make sure the arms of the chair don’t get in the way of the desktop.

Nowadays, keyboard trays are less popular on adjustable standing desks, although installing one can be helpful because it lowers the keyboard’s height. These desks may benefit from the addition of a keyboard tray to assist you in placing your arms correctly and avoid forcing your wrists into an uncomfortable posture.

Why The Ideal Standing Desk Height Is Important

Work becomes more fun after you locate the appropriate standing desk height for both seated and standing postures. While the long-term advantages of using a standing desk are still up for debate, extensive study has been done on the potential benefits in the short term.

The first step to ensure perfect posture is to set your stand-up desk at the proper height. You might experience more energy and productivity throughout the day if you routinely use a standing desk in this way. Moreover, you will find that you can stand longer at your standing desk.

Height-adjustable desks are recognised to support and foster interpersonal interaction and collaboration in the workplace. During the workday, alternating between sitting and standing can help to avoid stagnation for most. Some folks may consequently enjoy increased productivity and even creativity but it depends on the person.

According to my own experience, this increases your awareness of your body’s physiology and suffering, which can only be seen a a good thing.

What Happens If Your Standing Desk Is Too High?

An excessively high standing desk can lead to poor posture, which can strain the neck, shoulders, and wrists and can cause accidents. Additionally, it makes the experience far less comfortable and enjoyable, which results in fatigue and lost productivity, when discomfort and strain divert attention from the activity.

The inability to reach the back of your height-adjustable desk, having to glance up at the monitor, and experiencing body pains and discomfort are classic indications that it is too high. Poor posture and switching between various pairs of shoes are the two main causes of the desk height being too high for single sit-stand desk users.