The Best Height For An Office Desk

Calculating The Best Height For An Office Desk 

The best height for your office desk will depend upon many factors. Of course, these might include your height, your chair, the tasks you want to do, and any equipment you will use. One rule of thumb is to maintain the angle between your forearm and upper arm to be between 70 and 130 degrees. There's a big difference between these two angles, so it's important to consider a person's individual comfort and the job they will focus on.

How To Figure The Ideal Height For An Office Desk 

You might be surprised to learn that standard office desks are generally 28 to 30 inches tall. These are actually designed to fit people from 5'8" to 5'10". This might be a fairly average height for men but quite tall for women. People who are much taller or shorter may need to make some changes to enjoy a comfortable work surface.

Of course, the surface height may also depend upon the chair. Some workers use perches or saddle seats, so they need higher work surfaces. Most ergonomic experts will tell people that they should choose their chair before they decide upon their desk. With that in mind, lots of people say that they would rather have their surface slightly higher for handwriting. Alternatively, a lower surface might work better for using a keyboard.

Some desks actually have a lower shelf for a keyboard or laptop, and that might help. Also, people who use a keyboard but aren't expert typists may prefer to have the keyboard letters and number in view. People who perform tasks that require more force may prefer to have a desk before their elbow height. On the other hand, people who need to focus upon fine motor tasks usually like to have a higher surface to bring their work closer to their eyes without bending over.

What To Do When Work Surfaces Don't Work 

Most employees don't have the luxury of picking out their own desks. Low desks could be raised on blocks or other flat surfaces. Alternatively, problems with taller desks might be solved with a taller chair or an extra cushion. These suggestions aren't always possible though. Ideally, workers will get chairs and desks that were designed for a person of their size and the kind of the work that they do. This sort of investment typically pays for itself in greater productivity and satisfaction.

Of course, many workers don't have the luxury of doing one kind of work all day. In this case, adjustable chairs and desks with flexible surfaces may be a better investment.