Enter your height to get a starting point for an ergonomic workstation: chair seat, sitting and standing desk height, keyboard level, monitor top and bottom, armrests and screen distance, in inches and centimeters.
Last updated:
Units
Desk setup
ft
in
cm
Optional: fixed desk check
in
Most fixed desks are 28 to 30 in. Leave blank to skip.
cm
Most fixed desks are 71 to 76 cm. Leave blank to skip.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Ergonomic Desk Height Calculator
Enter your height in feet and inches or centimeters.
Choose sitting, standing or both for a sit-stand desk.
Pick your main screen so the monitor height and viewing distance fit its size.
Tick shoes or bifocals if they apply, and optionally enter your current fixed desk height.
Set up your workstation with the numbers, then fine-tune by comfort: relaxed shoulders, elbows at about 90°, feet flat.
How the measurements are estimated
The calculator uses well-known ratios between body segments and standing height (stature) taken from anthropometric studies. They describe an average body, so two people of the same height can differ by a few centimeters; use the results as your starting point.
Measurement
Ratio used
For 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Lower-leg (popliteal) height → chair seat
0.25 × height
43.8 cm (17.2 in) + shoes
Seated elbow height above the seat
0.135 × height
23.6 cm (9.3 in)
Seated eye height above the seat
0.45 × height
78.8 cm (31.0 in)
Standing elbow height
0.63 × height
110.3 cm (43.4 in) + shoes
Standing eye height
0.936 × height
163.8 cm (64.5 in) + shoes
The desk surface is set 2.5 cm (1 in) below elbow height so that the home row of a normal keyboard ends up level with your elbows. With a very thin keyboard you can raise the desk slightly; with a keyboard tray, set the tray rather than the desk to this height.
Quick reference by height
Values with shoes, rounded. Sitting desk assumes the chair is set to the seat height shown.
Your height
Chair seat
Sitting desk
Standing desk
5 ft 0 in (152 cm)
16.0 in (40.6 cm)
23.1 in (58.7 cm)
37.8 in (96.0 cm)
5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
17.0 in (43.1 cm)
24.6 in (62.6 cm)
40.3 in (102.4 cm)
5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
18.0 in (45.7 cm)
26.2 in (66.5 cm)
42.8 in (108.8 cm)
6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
19.0 in (48.2 cm)
27.7 in (70.4 cm)
45.4 in (115.2 cm)
6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
20.0 in (50.8 cm)
29.3 in (74.3 cm)
47.9 in (121.6 cm)
Workstation checklist
Feet flat on the floor or a footrest, knees at about 90° with a small gap behind them.
Back supported by the chair's lumbar curve; sit back in the seat.
Elbows close to the body at 90 to 110°, shoulders relaxed, wrists straight and floating while you type.
Mouse at the same height as the keyboard and right next to it.
Screen straight ahead, top line at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away; put two monitors side by side with the main one centered.
Light from the side, not behind the screen, to cut glare.
Move: switch posture or take a short walk every 30 to 60 minutes, and look at something far away now and then to rest your eyes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the right desk height for my height?
For typing, the desk surface should put your keyboard at about elbow height with relaxed shoulders. With a correctly set chair that is roughly 26 to 27 inches (66 to 69 cm) for a 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) person when sitting, and about 43 inches (110 cm) when standing.
How high should my chair be?
Set the seat so your thighs are about level and your feet rest flat on the floor, which is close to your lower-leg (popliteal) height plus shoe height. For an average adult that is about a quarter of body height plus 1 inch for shoes.
How high should my monitor be?
The top line of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level, so you look slightly down at the middle of the screen (about 15 to 20 degrees). People with bifocal or progressive lenses usually need the screen lower, around 25 to 30 degrees below eye level.
How far away should my monitor be?
Ergonomic guidance such as OSHA's suggests 20 to 40 inches (50 to 100 cm), about an arm's length. Larger screens sit toward the far end; this calculator uses about 2.5 times the screen's visible height, kept inside that range.
What if my desk is a fixed height?
Most fixed desks are 28 to 30 inches (71 to 76 cm), which is too high for many people. Raise your chair until your elbows are at keyboard level, then add a footrest to make up the difference so your feet are supported.
How accurate are these measurements?
They are estimates from average body proportions, so treat them as a starting point. Leg and torso length vary between people of the same height; adjust a little at a time until your posture feels neutral and relaxed.
Should I sit or stand at work?
Neither all day. Many ergonomists recommend changing position regularly, for example switching between sitting and standing every 30 to 60 minutes and taking short movement breaks.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.