Most desks are built for one height, about 29 to 30 inches, and most of us are not the same height. If your desk feels too high, your shoulders creep up and your wrists bend. If it feels too low, you slump. The right desk height depends on your height, and it is easy to work out.
This guide gives you a simple calculator, a chart for heights from 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 4 in, and practical fixes for the very common case where your desk is the wrong height and there is no room for a different one. The numbers are estimates from average body proportions, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for how you feel.
Quick answer
A rough starting point for a sitting desk is about 39 percent of your height, so a person who is 5 ft 6 in (66 in) does well with a desk about 25.7 inches high, and a person who is 6 ft (72 in) with about 28 inches. For a standing desk the starting point is about 63 percent of your height. Most fixed desks are 29 to 30 inches, which is higher than this estimate for most people, and the gap is usually closed with the chair height and a footrest. These are planning estimates, not a rule for everyone: OSHA notes that no single posture or arrangement fits every person.
Desk height calculator
What desk height suits you?
Enter your height. If you already own a desk, also enter its height (measure from the floor to the desk top) to see whether you need a footrest. Leave it empty if you do not have one yet.
Estimates from average body proportions. Your legs and arms may differ. Not medical advice.
Desk height chart by your height
The chart uses the same estimate as the calculator. The range gives one inch either side of the estimate, because bodies vary.
| Your height | Sitting desk height | Standing desk height |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) | 21.6 to 23.6 in | 35.5 to 37.5 in |
| 5 ft 0 in (152 cm) | 22.4 to 24.4 in | 36.8 to 38.8 in |
| 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | 23.2 to 25.2 in | 38.1 to 40.1 in |
| 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | 24.0 to 26.0 in | 39.3 to 41.3 in |
| 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | 24.7 to 26.7 in | 40.6 to 42.6 in |
| 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | 25.5 to 27.5 in | 41.8 to 43.8 in |
| 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | 26.3 to 28.3 in | 43.1 to 45.1 in |
| 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | 27.1 to 29.1 in | 44.4 to 46.4 in |
| 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | 27.9 to 29.9 in | 45.6 to 47.6 in |
| 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | 28.6 to 30.6 in | 46.9 to 48.9 in |
How the estimate works
The goal is simple: when you sit with your feet flat on the floor and your upper arms relaxed at your sides, your elbows should stay close to your body and bend at roughly 90 to 120 degrees, with your forearms level with your keyboard. That height depends on two body measurements added together:
- Lower leg length, from the floor to the back of your knee. This sets how high the seat can be while your feet stay flat. It is about 25 percent of your height.
- Elbow height above the seat. This is about 14 percent of your height.
Add them together and you get about 39 percent of your height, which is the sitting height for the desk surface. For standing, your elbow height above the floor is about 63 percent of your height. These percentages are our planning estimates from average body proportions, not a published standard, and individual legs and arms vary, so use the result as a starting point and adjust until your shoulders are relaxed and your wrists are straight.
For the general principles behind this (elbow angle, supported feet, using a footrest when the desk height cannot be changed), see the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidance on good working positions and desks. OSHA does not publish the percentages above.
If you are short: 5 ft 2 in and under
A fixed 29 to 30 inch desk is high for you. For someone who is 5 ft 0 in (60 in), the estimate is about 23.4 inches for sitting. To use a 30 inch desk comfortably you would need to raise the seat so much that your feet would no longer reach the floor, so most people end up perched with dangling feet, or with shoulders raised.
- Add a footrest so your feet stay flat while the chair is high enough for the desk. Use the calculator above to find the height you need.
- Choose a desk with adjustable legs or a lower desk. Many compact desks are 28 to 29 inches, which helps. See our compact desk guide.
- Pick a chair with a low minimum seat height and a seat depth you can adjust. See our small-space chair guide and check the chair's height range.
- Use a keyboard tray if it fits, so the keyboard sits lower than the desk top.
If you are tall: 6 ft 2 in and over
A standard desk is close to right for you when sitting, but leg room can be tight and a fixed desk is far too low for standing work. Someone who is 6 ft 4 in (76 in) has an estimate of about 29.6 inches sitting and about 47.9 inches standing.
- Check leg room. A taller person needs more clearance under the desk. Measure the space with our chair fit checker.
- Raise the desk with sturdy risers or bed-riser blocks if it is too low, and check that the desk stays stable.
- If you use a standing desk, make sure its maximum height reaches your standing estimate, not only the sitting one.
Fixes when your desk is the wrong height
In a small room you usually cannot swap the desk. These fixes work with what you have:
- Desk too high: raise the chair and add a footrest, lower the keyboard on a tray, or trim or replace the legs if the desk is a plain table.
- Desk too low: use furniture risers under the legs, or lift the laptop with a stand and add a separate keyboard.
- Screen height: the top of the screen should sit about at eye level. Use a monitor stand or a stack of books, and keep it about an arm's length away.
- Wrists: keep them straight. If they bend up or down to reach the keyboard, the height is still off.
- Take breaks. Even a well set-up desk does not replace changing position often.
Choosing a desk for a small room? Start with the size guide and the bedroom layouts, then compare options in the desk roundup.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard desk height?
Most standard desks are 29 to 30 inches tall. By our estimate that is right for someone about 6 ft 4 in tall, so most people close the gap with a raised chair and a footrest, and it is often clearly too high for shorter people.
What height should my desk be if I am 5 ft 5 in?
Our estimate for 5 ft 5 in (65 in) is about 25.4 inches, with a comfortable range of about 24.4 to 26.4 inches. On a standard 30 inch desk you will likely want a footrest.
What height should a standing desk be?
Set it so your elbows bend at roughly 90 to 120 degrees with your hands on the keyboard. That is about 63 percent of your height, so about 44 inches for someone who is 5 ft 10 in (70 in).
Is a desk too high bad for you?
A desk that is too high can raise the shoulders and bend the wrists, which many people find tiring. Adjusting the chair, adding a footrest or using a keyboard tray usually helps. If you have ongoing pain, speak to a health professional.
How do I measure the right desk height?
Sit with your feet flat and your upper arms relaxed. Measure from the floor to your bent elbow. That is the height your keyboard surface should be at.
Related guides
- What Size Desk Do You Need for a Small Room?
- Will an Office Chair Fit Under My Desk?
- Best Computer Desks for Small Spaces
- Best Office Chairs for Small Spaces
- How to Fit a Desk in a Small Bedroom
- Office Chair Making Your Feet Numb? Causes and Fixes
Last updated: September 29, 2026. The numbers are planning estimates from average proportions, not medical advice.
