Desk Height Calculator — Ergonomic Guide

Input

Mode

Units

Your Height

Enter total body height.

Precision Decimal places for results.

Center Ratio (k) Auto-fills to 0.28 for sitting and 0.62 for standing.

Min k

Max k

Result

—

Recommended surface height

Low: — High: —

Adjust within range for comfort

Downloads

Formula Used

This tool estimates an ergonomic desk surface height from total body height using proportional anthropometric ratios. The general model is:

Desk Height = k × Body Height

Sitting: default k = 0.28 with an adjustable range of 0.26 – 0.30.
Standing: default k = 0.62 with an adjustable range of 0.60 – 0.65.

These ratios target roughly elbow-height alignment so forearms are near horizontal. Individual preferences, chair height, footwear, and input-device thickness can shift the optimal number; use the range for fine-tuning.

Example Data

Mode	Body Height (cm)	k	Recommended (cm)	Range (cm)

Examples assume centimeters. Switch to inches for calculations if desired.

Tips for Setup

Keep elbows near 90° and shoulders relaxed.
For typing, keep wrists straight; consider a thin desk mat if needed.
If using a thick keyboard tray or desk pad, reduce calculated height slightly.
Use the range and your comfort to finalize the exact setting.