Optimum desk height

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

Table of contents

• This is how high your desk should be
• How to adjust the height of your desk correctly
• The role of desk height for your health
• How to calculate your optimum desk height
• Conclusion: Correct sitting posture at the workplace is essential

This is how high your desk should be

There is, of course, no general desk height for the best ergonomics at the workplace and therefore no sample suggestion for how you should set up your office. The decisive factor is your height. Normal desks have a fixed height of around 72 centimetres, so the right desk height for most people is between 66 and 72 centimetres. For a body height between 172 and 186 centimetres, an office desk height of 76 centimetres is recommended. If you are unsure about the height of your desk, you can use this knowledge to plan ahead.

In addition to body size, the seat height should also be taken into account. The seat height at the table means the distance between the seat surface and the floor of the chair. Thus, there should be about 27 to 32 centimetres between the top edge of the table and the seat of the office chair. This way you can still cross your legs without bumping your knees against the table. In addition, make sure that chairs with armrests fit under the table if possible.

How to adjust the height of your desk correctly

For the greatest possible comfort at the workplace, you cannot avoid setting the height of the desk correctly. First check whether the desk is height-adjustable. If the table is not adjustable, you can adjust the height indirectly 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. The keyboard of your PC should be horizontal to your forearms. If your upper and lower arms are not at right angles, adjust the height of the chair. Your upper and lower legs should also be at a 90-degree angle. If the chair is too high, please use a footrest to ensure the correct sitting posture.

Another option is to adjust the height of the desk. First sit on the chair. Again, your upper and lower legs should be at about a 90-degree angle. Make sure that the seat is level with your knees. If this is not the case, adjust the seat height of the office chair accordingly. The back must always 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 desk top while letting your upper arms hang loosely. Your hands should be touching the keyboard of your PC. If there is no right angle on the inside of the elbow, please adjust the height.

The role of desk height for your health

Sitting for long periods of time is a strain on our bodies. If incorrect posture and lack of movement are added to this, tension and injuries to the spine and intervertebral discs are encouraged. You can relieve your body of many of these strains by adopting an ergonomic sitting position. This involves several factors, including the correct alignment of the chair, desk height and monitor. Adjust the chair first, then the height of the desk and finally the position of the screen. Also take into account your own stature. Therefore, as soon as you move to a workstation other than your own, it is important to check the office desk height again.

The damage you do by having the wrong desk height will not be visible immediately. They slowly creep into your everyday life in the form of chronic pain. In addition to the classic manifestation of back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory diseases, other physical illnesses, digestive diseases or even cardiovascular diseases can also 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 wondering desk how high, you can easily calculate the solution yourself. Either you use one of the numerous desk height calculators on the Internet or you follow the guidelines of the experts. Either way, your height is crucial. If you are between 145 and 158 centimetres tall, an office desk height of at least 66 and at most 70 centimetres is recommended. The seat height should not be more than 42 centimetres. For taller people, the guidelines are different. If you measure between 173 and 187 centimetres, you should orient yourself to a minimum desk height of 72 and a maximum desk height of 84 centimetres. The seat height should be between 46 and 50 centimetres.

Conclusion: Correct sitting posture at the workplace is essential

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