Last updated: July 2026
For most adults, the ideal standing desk height is your elbow height while standing — roughly 62% of your total height. A person who is 5'10" (70 in) should set a standing desk to about 43.5 inches (110 cm), a sitting desk to about 28.5 inches, and a chair seat to about 18 inches. Enter your exact height in the calculator above for your four key numbers, then use the diagram and chart below to fine-tune.
Standing Desk Height by Your Height (Quick Chart)
This chart gives you a fast starting point for every common height. All numbers are the recommended surface height measured from the floor, shown in inches and centimeters. Enter your exact height in the calculator above for your precise figures.
| Your height | Standing desk | Sitting desk | Chair seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'2" (62 in) | 38.5" / 98 cm | 25.5" / 65 cm | 16" / 41 cm |
| 5'4" (64 in) | 39.5" / 100 cm | 26" / 67 cm | 16.5" / 42 cm |
| 5'6" (66 in) | 41" / 104 cm | 27" / 69 cm | 17" / 44 cm |
| 5'8" (68 in) | 42" / 107 cm | 28" / 71 cm | 17.5" / 45 cm |
| 5'10" (70 in) | 43.5" / 110 cm | 28.5" / 73 cm | 18" / 46 cm |
| 6'0" (72 in) | 44.5" / 113 cm | 29.5" / 75 cm | 18.5" / 48 cm |
| 6'2" (74 in) | 46" / 117 cm | 30.5" / 77 cm | 19" / 49 cm |
| 6'4" (76 in) | 47" / 119 cm | 31" / 79 cm | 20" / 50 cm |
Notice the standing surface climbs about an inch for every two inches of height. Standard fixed desks are built at roughly 29 inches, which suits a seated user around 5'10". If you are shorter, raise your chair and add a footrest; if you are taller, an adjustable or standing desk is usually the only way to reach a comfortable height.
What Each Number Means
Standing desk height is measured from the floor to the top of the desk surface. Set it to your standing elbow height so your forearms rest parallel to the floor with your elbows bent about 90 degrees. If your wrists bend up or your shoulders hunch, the desk is too high; if you lean down, it is too low.
Sitting desk height is the surface height for seated work, again matched to your seated elbow height. Most people pair this with an adjustable chair rather than changing the desk.
Chair seat height is the floor-to-seat measurement that lets you sit with feet flat and knees at about 90 degrees. If your feet dangle, lower the seat or add a footrest.
Monitor top height is where the top edge of your screen should sit — at or just below eye level — so your neck stays neutral. The calculator shows your standing eye level; when seated, lower the monitor so its top meets your seated eye line (usually about 6–8 inches lower than standing).
Common Standing Desk Setup Mistakes
- Desk too high. The most common error. If your shoulders creep up toward your ears, drop the surface an inch at a time until your shoulders relax.
- Monitor too low. A laptop flat on the desk forces you to look down. Raise the screen on a stand or arm so its top is at eye level, and use an external keyboard.
- Standing all day. The goal is to alternate. Aim to switch between sitting and standing every 30–60 minutes rather than standing for hours.
- No anti-fatigue mat. A cushioned mat makes standing far more comfortable and encourages you to keep doing it.
Once your desk height is dialed in, the next thing that affects comfort is how far your monitor sits from your eyes and how much desk depth that needs. See our full home office desk & setup size guide for the complete picture, and standard desk dimensions for how wide and deep a desk you actually need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Set a standing desk to your elbow height while standing, which is about 62% of your total height. For a 5'10" person that is roughly 43.5 inches (110 cm); for 6'0" it is about 44.5 inches (113 cm); for 5'6" about 41 inches (104 cm). Your forearms should rest parallel to the floor with elbows bent near 90 degrees. Enter your exact height in the calculator above for your precise number.
Standard fixed desks are built at about 29 to 30 inches (74–76 cm). That height suits a seated user around 5'10" tall. Shorter users usually need to raise their chair and add a footrest, while taller users are more comfortable with a height-adjustable or standing desk.
Position the top of your screen at or just below eye level so you look slightly downward at the center of the display and keep your neck neutral. If you use a laptop, raise it on a stand or arm and add an external keyboard, because a laptop flat on the desk sits far too low for comfortable posture.
Standing all day is not better than sitting all day — both keep you in one position too long. The benefit comes from alternating. A good routine is to switch between sitting and standing every 30 to 60 minutes, use an anti-fatigue mat while standing, and take short walking breaks.
Stand upright in your normal shoes with your arms relaxed and elbows bent to 90 degrees. Measure the distance from the floor to the underside of your forearm — that is your ideal standing desk height. Do the same while seated in your work chair to find your sitting desk height. The calculator above estimates both from your height if you cannot measure directly.
Note: These figures are ergonomic starting points based on average body proportions. Everyone is built a little differently, so treat the results as a guide and fine-tune by feel — your setup is right when your shoulders are relaxed, wrists are straight, and you are looking slightly down at your screen.