how high should a standing desk be

A standing desk is a great way to combat the ill effects of prolonged sitting, such as back pain and poor concentration. On the other hand, choosing an appropriate standing desk height can be tough. Here's what you need to know about the ideal sit stand desk height for your desk.

Ergonomics Of A Desk

An OSHA guide on ergonomics tells us to consider a few key factors. The workspace needs to adapt to you, not the other way around. The ideal desktop height allows your forearms to be level with or slightly below your elbows when situated on the desk, maintaining a 90-degree angle.

The keyboard and mouse should be easily within reach, promoting a neutral wrist position. Monitors should be placed at an optimal eye level — typically, this means the top of the screen aligns with your eye level, reducing strain and unnatural neck postures.

Ignoring these, you might end up dealing with an issue like working at a desk that's too high which could lead to various body strains.

Best Height For Standing Desks

There is no one size fits all solution to determining what height should work best for you. A sit stand desk is a personal choice, and the number of factors you need to consider is practically endless. When you're considering what stand up desk height is most appropriate, keep these important features in mind.

First of all, keeping fit and standing throughout your work day can assist you in combatting any health issues that may arise. For instance, sitting for long periods can cause increased pressure on the spinal discs and cause prolonged pain, discomfort, and suffering. Those who work at a desk all day are more likely to encounter back problems than those who sit down for short periods. The spinal discs of an individual with a sedentary lifestyle become compressed over time and are more likely to become damaged due to chronic sitting. This, in turn, can cause the discs to rupture and lead to more serious health issues eventually.

The idea behind a standing desk is simple: reduce sitting for long periods of time by allowing yourself the option of standing up and working at your desk. This will provide your body with a more active lifestyle and continue to encourage movement.

Standing desks are not only beneficial for your back health but also great for your overall health and wellness. Now, how important is it to get the proper standing desk height?

Why Should You Adjust Your Standing Desk?

Sit stand desk height setup for work from home office

When you're sitting for long periods of time, you're basically leaving your body in a state of inactivity. Sitting for more than a few hours at a time has been linked to increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and even premature death. This is because sitting could have detrimental effects on the health of the body in general. When sitting for too long repeatedly and in a resting position, the body develops chronic pain in various areas such as the neck, back, shoulders and knees. Those who sit at their desk all day may never have thought about the negative effect it could have on their overall health.

The first step to ensuring your long-term health is to adjust your standing desk to the ideal standing desk height. Continuously moving between sitting vs standing may be an interruption to your work day when you first start, but it's a great habit to start. It is important that you do it on a regular basis as this can lead to great improvements in your health as well as prevent joint pain in future. If you're wondering why the right desk height is important, take a look at our article on what happens if your standing desk is too high.

You may also consider adding ergonomic desk accessories such as a monitor arm and anti-fatigue mat to make your standing more comfortable. Lastly, don't forget about your posture when standing! Make sure that you stand with your shoulders pulled back and with your elbows at a 90 degree angle to your desk.

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What is The Proper Height for Standing Desks?

The proper standing desk height is calculated based on the user's height.

Here's how to calculate the proper height for standing desks:

  1. First, stand in a relaxed position with your shoulders slightly back and arms straight down.

  2. Increase your standing desk height until your hands are able to rest on your keyboard with your elbows at a 90-110° angle.

  3. Place your hands on the keyboard with your wrists at rest. Start typing to see if you're comfortable typing and working at this height.

  4. Adjust your monitor height with a monitor arm or monitor standing to ensure ergonomic monitor height. Your monitor should be at eye level while you're standing.

Still unsure? Take a look at our standing desk height calculator for more tips on the correct standing desk height - it's more convenient and accurate than a standing desk height chart.

Ultimately, here's what you need to know about the ideal height for your desk. There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to determining what height should work best for you - that's why we provide a range of heights and some easy steps to follow in order to determine your appropriate desk height.

Many consumers are looking for a standing desk to improve their health. However, it's also important to ensure that you're standing or sitting at the perfect standing desk height that helps keep your body healthy and avoid back problems from sitting all day long. A standing desk is a great way to combat the ill effects of prolonged sitting, such as back pain and poor concentration, but your expensive desk won't help you if you're not using the correct desk height.

Moreover, those who use standing desks are found to be more productive than those who sit down, and it is proven that the brain works better when the body is in motion! Regardless of your type of work, a standing desk may be a great investment for your health and productivity. Note that you'll be losing out on these benefits if you don't ensure the correct height of your adjustable standing desk and may even harm your body due to poor posture when slouched over your existing desk.

Generally speaking, healthy posture involves having equal weight distribution across the feet while they are flat on the ground. You should not be bending forward while typing and you certainly should not be feeling any back pain. If you're experiencing back pain from standing, take a seat immediately and rest before standing again.

So how high should your standing desk be? It all depends on your own personal preferences and needs. A standing desk height that is too low will make it difficult to focus, while a standing desk that is too high will cause the head to jut out forward and strain the neck. However, choosing an appropriate height can be tough.

Now that we've discussed how to find the right height ranges of standing desks in general, what's the most ideal standing desk height for your personal needs? We provide some tips below.

How To Find The Ideal Height Of Your Standing Desk

Here's how to find the ideal height of your standing desk:

  1. First, use our standing desk height calculator here to calculate your standing desk ergonomic height according to your height.

  2. Next, always ensure your posture is correct when sitting or standing at your adjustable height standing desk.

  3. You may have to experiment over a week to see if you're feeling any pain from sitting or standing. If you're feeling pain, consider adjusting your desk height slightly to see if it can help alleviate pain.

Once you've found the ideal height for your standing desk, it can be helpful to purchase ergonomic desk accessories such as a standing desk mat, a foot rest and a monitor stand or monitor arm in order to ensure additional comfort while standing and sitting.

Higher Versus Lower Desks

Your choice of desk height should ideally correspond with your type of work tasks. Handwriters show a tendency to benefit from elevated surfaces, while keyboard users find a lower desk more comfortable.

Moreover, jobs that involve more physical tasks necessitate a desk located beneath your elbows. In contrast, tasks demanding precision should have desks above the elbows. Follow these ergonomic considerations to aid in productivity and maintain your health.

Recommended Desk Depth

As for the ideal depth, we advocate for at least 23.6 inches, but a range between 27.5 inches and 31.4 inches is more suitable, distancing you satisfactorily from a large desktop computer screen. 

Nonetheless, the confines of a home environment could warrant a slightly lesser depth, but we recommend 23.6 inches as the bare minimum to maintain comfort.

How Long Should You Stand At Your Standing Desk?

Desky standing desk height at the office

You should stand at your standing desk for short periods throughout the day, alternating sitting or standing. This is a common question, but there really isn't a simple answer. That being said, the general consensus is that you should stand anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or two each day, depending on how much you're able to without experiencing back and joint pain.

It's important to give yourself regular breaks throughout the day, as sitting for long periods of time can cause health issues. The best way to ensure that you do this is by using an electronic or manual standing desk where you can adjust the height in order to stand up for short periods of time and then sit back down again. You should aim to spend no more than 2 hours a day completely standing, but if you can stand for only an hour each day and perform breaks for the rest of the time, that is better than nothing. If you're feeling a little fatigued, take a break and go for a walk around the office.

Using your standing desk will help you become more active throughout the day, which will aid in combating some health issues caused by prolonged periods of sitting down. It's also important to ensure that your standing workstation is high enough so that your arms are at a 90-degree angle when you're standing. To make the most out of your sit-stand desk, here are some practical tips on how to use it correctly.

Alternate Between Sitting and Standing

The first thing you'll want to do when using your standing desk is alternate between sitting and standing. This is the ideal way to use your standing desk and ensures that you aren't in for a long sitting or standing session. However, if you're going to stand for long periods of time, your workstation should be set up properly. This means that the workstation's height needs to be adjusted so that your elbows are at their most comfortable angle.

Standing 8 Hours A Day: Bad For You?

Naturally, standing is an essential aspect of human posture. However, like most things in life, moderation is key. Extended uninterrupted standing at work contributes to various health concerns, such as muscle fatigue, leg swelling, varicose veins, discomfort in the neck, sore feet, and yes, back pain.

According to CCOHS, consistent standing for hours on end can cause considerable discomfort in various parts of the body.

What happens to your body when you stand for 8 hours?

  • Foot Soreness
  • Leg Swelling
  • Varicose Veins
  • Muscular Fatigue
  • Back Pain
  • Stiffness in Neck and Shoulder

10 Hours Of Standing

Employment that involves standing for more than 60% of the working day could potentially escalate health risks. Experiencing lower back and leg pain, cardiovascular issues, and fatigue indicates a need for balance. This balance is essential between periods of standing, sitting, and exercising during your workday, as indicated by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Defining Standing "Too Long"

Balance is key when it comes to spending your working hours on your feet. Continuously standing for over eight minutes or sitting for more than 20 minutes increases the likelihood of health risks. If your job involves prolonged sitting or standing, consider adopting strategies that mix periods of standing with moving around and sitting.

Keeping the Balance

  • Switch positions: sit, stand, and move.
  • Take short, frequent breaks
  • Stretch frequently

Adjust Your Monitor Height

When you're using your standing desk, you should adjust your monitor position. Without adjusting your monitor height, you will be at risk of slouching and poor posture, even when your standing desk is at the correct height, resulting in health issues such as chronic body pain despite your standing desk investment. Use a monitor arm to ensure ergonomic monitor elevation. Your monitor position should be at eye level.

Purchase an Anti-Fatigue Mat

Purchasing a standing mat for your adjustable standing desk is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. These anti-fatigue mats designed for adjustable standing desks will ensure that you stay standing all day without feeling fatigued or sore and will help you make sure that your feet don't get sore from standing on a hard surface. Our anti-fatigue mats at Desky are made from rubberised gel foam designed to support the foot and provide cushioning - resulting in a big difference when it comes to standing comfortably at your desk. Furthermore, the tops of these mats are textured and offer a soft surface that helps to prevent slipping.

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Switch Up Your Keyboard and Mouse Position

When you're using your standing desk, it's a good idea to change the position of your keyboard and mouse slightly when sitting and standing.

Wrist pain is a common complaint for those who are at their computers all day, and many workers aren't aware that their wrists should be slightly tilted upwards and more extended when they're standing at a desk. In comparison, wrist should be at a more neutral position when sitting in an ergonomic position. Keep your keyboard and mouse at the same height in order to avoid wrist strain.

Take Breaks

Your standing desk will help you to focus on a healthier lifestyle by making it easier to stand up every hour. When your focus is shifting throughout the day, this can cause you to become more tired and ultimately more sedentary throughout the day. To avoid this, you should aim to take regular breaks throughout the day so that you can prevent prolonged sitting periods from occurring.

Is A Standing Desk Worth it?

Gaming sit stand desk perfect companion for long hours of hustle

Standing desks have been shown to have several benefits for people who use them. Numerous different studies have shown that using standing desks can help to improve your health, as well as your overall productivity. When you consider the number of benefits associated with using a standing desk, it becomes clear that they're definitely worth the investment.

Standing desks can help you to cut your healthcare costs. In fact, in many studies, it's been shown that people who use standing desks have lower healthcare expenses than those who only use sit-down desks.

In addition, when people are allowed to stand up at work, they are less likely to switch tasks. This means that they're more productive throughout the day as they're less likely to be distracted. Furthermore, when you stand up at work, you will also be in a better position than when sitting. This can help you to become more relaxed and focused during your workday, leading to higher quality output.

Standing desks have been shown to have numerous benefits and will help you to improve your health and productivity during the day. They are beneficial for people who spend large amounts of time sitting down or those who suffer from back pain. However, before you decide to purchase a standing desk, there are many things that you should consider, such as whether it fits into your budget and what size should fit into your home or office. Take a look at Desky's range of desks today - we've got quality sit stand desks of all kinds to suit every budget and home aesthetic.

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