How High Should an Office Desk Be? Standard Desk Heights & Ergonomic Tips

The common height for an office desk is between 72 and 75 centimeters. However, your best desk height can only be determined based on your seated elbow height. Making sure your ideal desk height helps make sure your forearms remain at the same level as the ground to avoid shoulder, neck, and posture problems.

In order to create an enjoyable working environment for yourself, you require furniture that is suited according to your physique. Take a look at our full range of office desks and find beautiful products that will help you in getting exactly  the measurements you need.

TL;DR Summary 

• The Core Rule: In asking for the ideal height of your office desk, the key rule is matching the top surface level to that of your elbow when sitting.

• Standard Sizes: The average office desk size measures from 72cm to 75cm in height, built to accommodate most of the people.

• Ergonomics: An improperly sized desk causes long-term pain. Ensuring that your chair, desk, and computer screen coordinate is paramount.

• Full Size Dimensions: Besides the height, the average sizes of office desks have widths ranging from 120cm to 180cm, while the depth ranges from 60cm to 80cm.

• Where to Buy: Whether reception tables or simple office desks, at Cassa Vida, we provide comfortably sound office furniture in any professional setting.

1. Introduction: The Importance of Desk Height 

One of the most important considerations that you need to make when arranging for a functional working space is that of the height of the office desk. Although many people are only interested in the design, colors, and materials of their office desks, the actual size of the furniture items is what determines your ease and health at work.

If you happen to be working on arranging an office space either at home or in a corporate building, you may find yourself asking just how high an office desk should be to suit your needs. A desk that is too high will force you to lift your shoulders resulting in back and neck strain. On the other hand, a desk that is too low will force you to bend your body causing chest and back discomfort.

It is crucial to get familiar with the height that your office desk should have to improve your productivity. The correct ergonomics of space increases productivity and decreases tiredness. In this article, we will cover the basic measurements of the desk, as well as the best ways to arrange a space to guarantee that you create a healthy, beautiful room. If you would like to learn about special measurements of reception desks in offices, check our article Efficiency and Elegance: Duties and Responsibilities of an Office Reception Desk.

2. How High Is a Standard Office Desk? 

While exploring different catalogs with furniture models, one will notice some specific trend concerning size measurements. But then what is the best height of the office desk?

According to modern furniture manufacturers, a universal office desk height varies around 72 cm – 75 cm (or 28 – 30 inches) from the floor level. It was selected many decades ago based on the average height of an adult man from the mid-20th century.

However, if one asks any manufacturer about proper office desk height, he/she will answer right away with some figure between 72 cm and 75 cm because this measurement is considered to be effective and fits almost everybody. Once again, not all human beings are made similarly. Hence, if a particular individual is shorter than 175 cm (5'9"), the standard desk height becomes extremely inconvenient. To adapt to such an office desk height, a person requires an ergonomical chair along with an angled footrest.

In deciding how high an office desk should be for you, it is important to understand that the industrial standard may not necessarily be your personal ideal. In the case of using a computer with a keyboard resting on the desk top, the standard of 73cm may result in the bending of your wrists upwards, leading to problems like carpal tunnel syndrome. In essence, knowing how high an office desk is the most important thing to consider before purchasing one.

3. How Tall Are Office Desks? 

It is also common to have varying expressions when looking for office desks on various websites. It is not uncommon for people to ask how tall are office desks or how tall should an office desk be in order to plan their room.

When one looks for an answer to questions such as how tall is an office desk or how high should an office desk be, the height that remains constant is that of the standard office desk, and it measures anywhere between 72cm to 75cm vertically. What changes when we bring in alternative desk designs as well as professional uses?

• Desks For Students: In case we consider furniture for students, sometimes they may be a bit smaller in height. Nevertheless, quality products such as Hampton White Large Timber Student Desk have ergonomic measurements which guarantee that they will easily fit both a high school and a university student, without causing poor posture formation.

• Adjustable & Standing Desks: Should you be thinking about how high is too high for a standing office desk? Well, adjustable desks such as the CV Premium Electric Height Adjustable Office Desk are just what you need. These desks offer easy transition from 70cm to 125cm height and may even be locked at 90cm, making them ideal drafting tables.

• Executive Desks: Even with its bigger size, this type of desk adheres to the same standard regarding office desk height. The height of around 75cm makes it possible to have drawers in the desk without compromising leg space, as seen in the St Kilda Solid Timber 160cm Writing Desk - Chocolate.

By knowing how high an office desk can be, it becomes possible to combine various styles in one interior of your house.

4. The Ideal Desk Height by Person Height 

In order to solve the puzzle related to determining the right height for a work desk, one only needs to consider the correlation between the general height of the person and the elbow height when seated.

If you are wondering "what is the height of a proper office desk according to my body height?", then take a look at the quick guide below.

It is also worthy to mention that such a chart provides you with an excellent starting point. However, the proportions between a person's trunk and legs differ considerably from one individual to another, which is why you always have to adjust your sitting position in a fully adjustable chair.

From this chart, you will be able to find out how high an office desk is in case of yourself or your employees. As can be seen from the chart, the optimal desk height is only 65cm for someone measuring 160cm tall—ten centimeters below the average office desk height available at stores! In fact, this explains perfectly why it is important to consider the issue of how high an office desk should be prior to spending money on furniture.

5. Standard Office Desk Dimensions in Australia 

While figuring out how high an office desk can be can help you make one decision, it will not suffice to make sure that you are fully taking into consideration the physical size requirements of your workstation and if it suits the overall layout of your room and your everyday activity there.

The average desk dimensions Australia adhere to according to structural standards that satisfy workplace health and safety are as follows:

• Office Desk Width Dimensions: The standard width of an office desk varies in size but ranges roughly from 120cm to 180cm. While a 120cm wide desk will be large enough for a monitor, laptop, and notepad, desks ranging from 150cm to 180cm are big enough for two or three monitors, a printer, and even paper work.

• Office Desk Depth Dimensions: As important as determining how high an office desk should be, the depth of your office desk is equally crucial. An office desk depth will typically vary anywhere from 60cm to 80cm. But as far as standards go, the minimum required desk depth is 60cm, allowing your monitor to rest at an arms' length away from you.

• Clearance and Leg Room: When determining the standard size of desk, guarantee that there is proper clearance of 70 cm to 90 cm space behind your chair. With this clearance of space, it would become convenient for you to move and stand out from the chair without coming across any obstruction like walls, shelves, or even people. When it comes to taking the measurement of your desk, you should have at least 60 cm space for knees in the sitting position.

With the help of the above mentioned measurement procedure, it becomes easy for you to imagine how the furniture would be adjusted in your office premises. Whether it is the question of the height of the office desk or the width of your desk with two monitors, it is very important to take standard measurements in consideration of your office room dimensions.

6. Ergonomics: How to Set Up at the Right Height 

Now that you understand the standard measurements, you need to know how to put everything together properly. If you have purchased an office desk that suits your space, follow this step-by-step workstation setup to upgrade your productivity and prevent physical exhaustion—particularly during that 3 PM afternoon slump:

1. Adjust Your Chair Height First: Your chair should match your body function rather than your desk. Sit down and adjust the air-powered cylinder so that your feet rest completely flat on the floor, while the angle made by your knees equals 90 degrees.

2. Determine Your Seated Elbow Height: First, let your shoulders loose and allow your arms to fall freely by your side. Next, bend your elbows in such a way that the angle formed by your upper arm and forearm equals exactly 90 degrees.

3. Align the Desk to Your Chair: Move your chair next to the desk. In regards to the question "how high should an office desk be?", the answer is straightforward – the level of the desktop (or keyboard tray) should sit exactly at the level of your resting elbows.

4. Adjust for a Fixed-Height Desk: When you have to deal with a standard 75cm office desk that cannot be lowered, you will need to move your chair up until your elbows reach the right working height. Should the chair rise too much causing your feet to stop touching the floor, you must use an angled footrest for proper support.

5. Correct Distance and Position of the Screen: With the desk and chair perfectly aligned, place your computer monitor so that the top third of the screen is exactly at your eye level, roughly an arm's length (50cm to 70cm) away.

As you can see, this method provides a clear, final, and certain answer to the question. "How high should an office desk be?" and turns a mass-produced piece of furniture into a personalized workstation that perfectly suits your biological specifics.

7. Upgrading Your Workspace with Cassa Vida 

Once you know how high an office desk should be, the next step is to obtain the right furniture that adheres strictly to these ergonomic requirements and does not affect the beauty of your space.

Cassa Vida has a wide array of desks made to perfection and ready to upgrade your working space. With options ranging from modern minimalist writing desks to large storage-filled executive suites, ensuring that your perfect fit is obtained with high-quality furniture means an elegant office space.

Through the use of top-class timber, correct dimensions in Australia, and classic designs, you will be able to transform your humble office space into a productive area where you can work effectively and without discomfort for decades to come. Remember how high an office desk should be.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is the 20/8-2 rule?
   The 20/8-2 rule refers to an ergonomic practice where you spend 20 minutes sitting, 8 minutes standing, and 2 minutes walking/stretching for every 30 minutes of workday.

2. Is 75 cm a good height for the desk?
   If you are less than 175cm (5'9") tall, then having a desk height of 75cm is quite high. You will have to increase your chair's height to match the correct alignment of your elbows with the use of a footrest.

3. What is the recommended desk height from the ergonomics point of view?
   To be in full ergonomic shape, you need a desk that is at the same level as your elbows while sitting with shoulders relaxed. This ensures that your forearms will be in line with the floor while typing.

4. What is the perfect desk height?
   The ideal height for an ordinary office desk found in a shop is within 72cm to 75cm range. But the ideal height varies depending on the person since what suits one individual may not fit another.

5. What indicates that the desk is high enough?
   An indication that the desk is high enough includes sore shoulders, stiff neck muscles, and pain in the wrists due to raising your hands while typing.