Optimal Desk Height

The correct desk height has more influence on our working day than you might think. If you spend the whole day in the office, you should ask yourself early enough, how high should the desk be? Because this way, unpleasant side effects such as back pain, fatigue, and lack of motivation can be easily prevented. This, in turn, increases productivity and generally has a positive effect on the atmosphere in the office.

Table of contents

• How high your table needs to be
• How to adjust your desk height correctly
• The role of desk height for your health
• How to calculate your optimal desk height
• Conclusion: Correct sitting posture at the workplace is essential

How high your desk needs to be

There is no general table height for the best ergonomics at the workplace and therefore no sample suggestion on how you should furnish your office. Your height is crucial. Normal tables have a fixed height of around 72 centimeters, so the correct height of the desk for most people settles between 66 and 72 centimeters. For people between 172 and 186 centimeters tall, an office desk height of 76 centimeters is recommended. If you are unsure about the desk height, you can plan ahead based on this knowledge.

In addition to body height, sitting height must also be considered. The sitting height at the table refers to the distance between the seat surface and the floor of the chair. There should be about 27 to 32 centimeters between the top edge of the table and the seat surface of the office chair. This way, you can still cross your legs without bumping your knees against the table. Additionally, for chairs with armrests, make sure they can fit under the table if possible.

How to adjust your desk height correctly

For the greatest possible well-being at the workplace, you cannot avoid adjusting the height of the table correctly. First, check whether it is height-adjustable at all. If it is a non-adjustable table, you can indirectly achieve the height by adjusting the height of the office chair. To do this, sit on the chair and let your upper arms hang loosely. Rest your arms on the armrests or on the tabletop. Your PC keyboard should be horizontal to your forearms. If your upper and forearms do not form a right angle, please adjust the chair height. Your upper and lower legs should also form a 90-degree angle. If the chair is too high, please use a footrest to ensure the correct sitting posture.

Another option arises if the desk height of the desk can be adjusted. First, sit on the chair. Here, too, your upper and lower legs should form an angle of approximately 90 degrees. Make sure that the seat surface is at knee height. If this is not the case, adjust the seat height of the office chair accordingly. Your back must remain against the backrest during this process. In the next step, adjust the height of the desk. To do this, rest your forearms on the tabletop while letting your upper arms hang loosely. Your hands should touch the keyboard of your PC. If there is no right angle on the inside of your elbow, please adjust the height.

The role of desk height for your health

Sitting for extended periods is a strain on our bodies. If poor posture and lack of movement are added, tension and injuries to the spine and intervertebral discs are encouraged. Many of these strains can be alleviated by adopting an ergonomic sitting position. This includes various factors, including the correct alignment of the chair, desk height, and screen. First, adjust the chair, then the height of the desk, and finally the position of the screen. Also, consider your own physique. As soon as you move to a different workstation than your own, it is therefore important to recheck the office desk height.

The damage you cause by the wrong table height will not be immediately visible. It slowly creeps into your everyday life in the form of chronic pain. In addition to the classic manifestation of back pain, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory diseases, other physical diseases, digestive diseases, or even cardiovascular diseases can occur. These are important reasons to pay more attention to your health at work.

How to calculate your optimal desk height

So if you're asking yourself how high a desk should be, you can easily calculate the answer yourself. You can either use one of the many desk height calculators on the internet or you can follow the guidelines of experts. Either way, your height is central. If you are between 145 and 158 centimeters tall, an office desk height of at least 66 and a maximum of 70 centimeters is recommended. The seat height should not exceed 42 centimeters. For taller people, the guidelines are different. If you measure between 173 and 187 centimeters, aim for a minimum desk height of 72 and a maximum desk height of 84 centimeters. The seat height should be between 46 and 50 centimeters.

Conclusion: Correct sitting posture at the workplace is essential

To prevent serious health problems, a correct sitting posture at the workplace is essential. This requires more than expensive office furniture. The most important factors are the table height and the office chair height. You should always sit upright with your back against the backrest, while both your upper and lower legs and your upper and lower arms form a right angle. If this is not the case, either the desk height or the seat height must be corrected.