Standing Desk Height Calculator

The most ergonomic desk height is one where your elbows rest at roughly 90 degrees when your hands are on the keyboard. When standing, your desk surface should align with your elbow height (with shoes on). When sitting, your feet should rest flat on the floor and your forearms should be parallel to the desk surface. Use this calculator by entering your height and shoe thickness to get a personalized recommendation.

To convert centimeters to inches, divide the cm value by 2.54. For example, if the recommended standing desk height is 107 cm, that equals approximately 42 inches. You can also switch the unit toggle in this calculator to display results directly in inches.

For someone who is 5 ft 5 in (approximately 165 cm), the ideal standing desk height is roughly 100–104 cm (39–41 inches) with regular shoes. The sitting desk height would be around 67–69 cm (26–27 inches), and the chair seat should be set to about 42–44 cm (16–17 inches).

At 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), the recommended standing desk height is approximately 105–107 cm (41–42 inches) while wearing standard shoes. Your monitor should be positioned so the top of the screen is at or slightly below eye level, which is roughly 125–135 cm from the floor.

Yes — height-adjustable desks let you switch between sitting and standing throughout the day, which is far better for your health than staying in one position for extended periods. Research suggests alternating between sitting and standing every 30–60 minutes can reduce back pain, improve posture, and boost energy levels. They are especially valuable if you work long hours at a desk.

Neither sitting all day nor standing all day is ideal. The best approach is to alternate between the two positions. A common recommendation is to spend about 1–2 hours standing for every 1–2 hours seated, gradually increasing standing time as your body adapts. Using a height-adjustable desk makes this transition seamless.

Shoe thickness directly affects your standing elbow height, which in turn determines the correct desk surface height. Wearing shoes with even a 2–3 cm sole raises your elbow position by the same amount. Ignoring shoe height can lead to a desk that forces you to hunch your shoulders or bend your wrists uncomfortably while typing.

Standard desk height is typically around 73–76 cm (29–30 inches), which is ergonomically suited for people approximately 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall. Standard chair height is usually 45–50 cm (18–20 inches). These standards often don't suit shorter or taller individuals, which is why a personalized calculator is helpful for dialing in your exact setup.