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What Height Should My Desk Be And Why Does It Matter?

Why Desk Height is Important

We spend up to 67 days per year sat behind a desk, yet few of us give any thought to how our desks are set-up. In fact, many of us have no idea that there is an ergonomically correct height our desks and office chairs should be set to.

The average desk sits at a height of 73cm. Perfect if you’re 6 feet tall, but less than ideal if you’re not the “average man” the office world is designed for. Perhaps most concerning about this is the fact that the average Briton isn’t 6 feet tall but stands 3 inches shorter than that at 5 feet 9 inches. That means that most likely the desk you’re sitting at, reading this blog, is set up incorrectly.

Not only can a poor desk set up cause short term discomfort as your arms struggle to reach the keyboard or your knees constantly bump off the underside, but studies have concluded that sitting in these positions can lead to chronic back pain.

Click here for the best standing desk for users who are taller/shorter than average

The Correct Height For your Desk

So now you’re asking what height your desk should actually be set to.  The answer is very simple:

(Your height in inches) + 1 = Your perfect desk height in cm

If we take the 73cm desk set for someone at 6 feet tall, all we need to do is add or subtract 1cm for every inch over or below 6 feet you are. That is to say that at a towering 6 feet 6 inches, Dave Bautista would be most comfortable at a desk 79cm high, while fellow avenger Tom Holland should be surfing (or crawling) the web from a desk just 67cm high.

Height also impacts the correct set up of a height adjustable desk. Ideally, a height adjustable desk should be set to elbow height, so that when in use the forearm and upper arm are perpendicular with the elbow bent at a 90-degree angle. For someone at 6 feet tall, the perfect height for a standing desk will be around 109cm, though there will be some variation as everyone’s body proportions are different. The important thing is to find a set up that is comfortable for you.

 

Your Height (Feet and Inches) Your Height (cm) Seated Desk Height (Inches) Seated Desk Height (cm) Standing Desk Height (Inches) Standing Desk Height (cm)
5 152.5 22 63* 31 79
5’ 1" 155 23.5 63* 32 81.5
5’ 2” 157.5 24 63* 33 84
5’ 3” 160 24.5 64 34 86.5
5’ 4” 162.5 25 65 35 89
5’ 5” 165 25.5 66 36 91.5
5’ 6” 167.5 26 67 37 94
5’ 7” 170 >26.5 68 38 96.5
5’ 8” 172.5 27 69 39 99
5’ 9” 175 27.5 70 40 101.5
5’ 10” 177.5 28 71 41 104
5’ 11” 180 28.5 72 42 106.5
6’ 182.5 29 73 43 109
6’ 1” 185 29 74 44 111.5
6’ 2” 187.5 29.5 75 45 114
6’ 3” 190 30 76 46 117
6’ 4” 192.5 30.5 77 47 119
6’ 5” 195 31 78 48 122
6’ 6” 197.5 31 79 49 124.5

 *Lowest available setting

 

How Ergo Desks Can Help

Ergo Desks’ height adjustable desks, such as the Liberty Electric Desk, can be set between 71cm and 119cm, while the Atlas Electric Desk has a wider range of 64cm to 130cm providing plenty of range to find your perfect setting.

Sure, many self-assembly desks may offer the option to set a height during construction, but only height adjustable desks offer the flexibility to change this height setting at the push of a button. This makes our desks ideal for home offices that are used by more than one user.

That’s not to mention to range of benefits that come from being able to quickly change to a standing position. Check out our previous blog on Height Adjustable Desk and Its Benefits

Feel free to contact us via phone on 020 8064 0064 or at info@ergodesks.co.uk if you have any questions. Our team of dedicated height adjustable desk experts are more than happy to assist you with any queries or decisions regarding your height adjustable desk.

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