You’ve got an adjustable desk, and now you’re wondering where to set it. Too high and your shoulders creep up around your ears. Too low and you’re hunching over like you’re reading a tiny sign. Getting it right takes about two minutes.
So what height should your standing desk be? Set it so your elbows rest at about 90 degrees with your forearms level, wrists straight and shoulders relaxed. For many adults, that’s roughly 40 to 46 inches standing and 25 to 30 inches sitting, but your own elbow height is what counts.
How to find your standing desk height
Put on the shoes you usually wear and stand up straight. Let your arms hang by your sides, then bend your elbows to 90 degrees so your forearms point straight ahead. Have a friend measure from the floor to your forearm, or mark it on the wall.
That number is the height of the surface your hands will rest on, so it’s where your keyboard should sit. If your desk is thick, remember to measure to the top of the surface rather than the frame. Once you’ve found it, save it in the desk’s memory preset if it has one.
Setting your sitting height
The same idea works when you sit. Adjust your chair first so your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees are at about 90 degrees. Then raise the desk until your forearms are level at your elbow height, and your shoulders stay relaxed.
If the desk ends up higher than your chair allows, raise the chair and use a footrest. Don’t shrug your shoulders to reach the keys. Our ergonomic home office setup guide and our explainer on lumbar support can help you fine-tune the chair side.
Where the keyboard and mouse should sit
Keep both at the same height, close to your body, so your upper arms hang naturally. Your wrists should stay in a neutral line, not bent up or down. Many people find a flat or slightly negative tilt works better than propping the keyboard up.
If your desk can’t go low enough for the keyboard, a pull-out tray can help. And a soft mat under your feet while standing eases pressure on your legs.
Monitor height and distance
Here’s a simple rule: the top of the screen should sit at or just below eye level, and about an arm’s length away. That keeps your neck neutral and your eyes relaxed. If you wear bifocals, you may need it a little lower.
- Laptop users: raise the laptop on a stand and use a separate keyboard, or you’ll end up with either neck or wrist strain.
- Dual monitors: line up the main screen straight ahead, and angle the second one slightly.
- Screen glare: tilt or move the screen away from windows.
A monitor arm makes it easy to adjust screen height every time you switch between sitting and standing. Check out our ultrawide monitor arm guide for ideas.
Fine-tuning with small adjustments
Don’t worry if your first setting isn’t perfect. Work for an hour, then notice where you feel strain. Sore wrists usually mean the keyboard is too high or too far away, and a stiff neck often points to a screen that’s off in height or angle. Change one thing at a time by an inch or so, and give yourself a day to see how it feels.
How long should you stand?
You don’t need to stand all day. Many people switch positions every 30 to 60 minutes, and that’s a good rhythm to start with. Standing too long can tire your legs and back as much as sitting too long, so mix it up and move around.
If you’ve got health concerns, talk to your doctor. This guide gives general information and can’t say what’s right for a medical condition.
Picking a desk that reaches the right heights
Before you buy, check the desk’s minimum and maximum height against your numbers. Tall users especially need a high maximum, and shorter ones need a low minimum. Our roundup of the best standing desks, electric 60 inch includes plenty of options, and you can compare it with our best electric standing desks 60 inch list. If you’d rather keep your current desk, the best desk converters for standing work can add the height range you need.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best standing desk height for someone 5’10”?
Many people at that height find around 41 to 44 inches comfortable when standing, but elbow height is a better guide than overall height. Measure yours to be sure.
Should my arms be at 90 degrees at a standing desk?
Roughly, yes. Elbows near 90 degrees with relaxed shoulders and straight wrists is the usual target. Slightly more open than 90 is fine too.
Should my monitor be at eye level?
The top edge should be about at eye level, or slightly below, so you don’t tilt your neck up. Adjust it each time you change position.
The bottom line on standing desk height
Measure your elbow height, set the keyboard to match, then raise the screen to eye level. Save your presets, and you’ll move between sitting and standing without thinking about it.