What is the correct ergonomic height for my desk, computer monitor and office chair?

Correct height settings for sitting and standing at work

About the author:

Time and again we get asked the same question….“what is the correct ergonomic height setting for my office chair?” The answer is not that simple because it depends on two main factors, namely your height, and the type of work that you do. Because every person and their job environment is unique, the correct height for your desk, monitor and office chair will fall within a range of values.

The correct ergonomic chair, desk and monitor height for office work

If you use a desk chair doing ‘normal’ or ‘standard’ office work like writing or working on a computer, then the following guidelines are applicable for setting the correct ergonomic height for your office chair, desk and monitor.

correct desk height for office chairs

Whether you are standing or sitting, adjust the desk, office chair and monitor so that it is at a comfortable ergonomic height. Best practices for ergonomics in the workplace.

Find out whether it is good to alternate between sitting and standing at work

What is the correct height for your DESK, OFFICE CHAIR and MONITOR?

Every person is unique and the height ranges shown in the tables below should serve as a guide or starting point. 

Your height with shoes (cm) Desk height -seated (cm) Chair seat height (cm) Monitor height – seated (cm) Desk height – standing (cm) Monitor height – standing (cm)
152 55-60 36-41 105-109 92-98 141-145
155 57-62 36-42 107-112 93-100 144-148
158 58-63 37-42 110-113 95-103 147-150
161 60-65 38-44 112-115 97-105 150-153
164 61-66 39-44 114-118 99-106 153-156
167 62-68 40-45 116-120 100-108 155-159
170 64-70 41-45 118-122 102-110 158-162
173 65-72 42-46 120-124 104-112 161-164
176 66-73 43-48 122-126 106-114 164-168
179 68-75 44-48 125-129 107-116 167-170
182 69-76 45-49 127-131 109-118 170-173
185 71-78 46-50 129-134 111-120 172-175
188 72-80 47-51 131-135 113-122 175-179
191 74-82 48-52 133-138 115-124 178-181
194 75-83 49-53 135-140 116-126 181-184
197 77-85 50-53 138-142 118-128 184-187
200 78-86 51-54 140-145 120-130 187-190

1. Sitting at a Desk

Select your height in centimeters (cm), to determine the correct height for your DESK, CHAIR and MONITOR.

YOUR HEIGHT WITH SHOES (CM) DESK HEIGHT -SEATED (CM) CHAIR SEAT HEIGHT (CM) MONITOR HEIGHT – SEATED (CM)
152
55-60
36-41
105-109
155
57-62
36-42
107-112
158
58-63
37-42
110-113
161
60-65
38-44
112-115
164
61-66
39-44
114-118
167
62-68
40-45
116-120
170
64-70
41-45
118-122
173
65-72
42-46
120-124
176
66-73
43-48
122-126
179
68-75
44-48
125-129
182
69-76
45-49
127-131
185
71-78
46-50
129-134
188
72-80
47-51
131-135
191
74-82
48-52
133-138
194
75-83
49-53
135-140
197
77-85
50-53
138-142
200
78-86
51-54
140-145

2. Standing at a Desk

Select your height with shoes in centimeters (cm), to determine the correct height for your DESK and MONITOR.

YOUR HEIGHT WITH SHOES (CM) DESK HEIGHT -STANDING (CM) MONITOR HEIGHT – STANDING (CM)
152
92-98
141-145
155
93-100
144-148
158
95-103
147-150
161
97-105
150-153
164
99-106
153-156
167
100-108
155-159
170
102-110
158-162
173
104-112
161-164
176
106-114
164-168
179
107-116
167-170
182
109-118
170-173
185
111-120
172-175
188
113-122
175-179
191
115-124
178-181
194
116-126
181-184
197
118-128
184-187
200
120-130
187-190

Work surface height settings for other (non-office) work

If you do non-office work at a desk or workstation, then the above height ranges may not apply.

For example, precision assembly or laboratory work typically requires a higher work surface, and heavy assembly a lower one. Industrial, Laboratory & Medical Chairs cater for this type of work.

Contact our Ergonomic Risk Facilitators who will gladly assist you in setting the correct height for your office chair, desk and monitor.

How to correctly adjust the height of your OFFICE CHAIR, DESK and MONITOR

THE CHAIR

      1. Move the chair AWAY FROM THE DESK.
      2. Sit back in the chair with your back positioned properly against the chair backrest.
      3. Check that the gap between the inside of your knees and the front edge of the seat. It should be about 3 fingers wide. If it is more than 3 fingers wide, increase the depth of the seat by adjusting the seat slider forward to extend the seat depth. If it is less than 3 fingers wide, adjust the seat slider backwards to shorten or reduce the depth of the seat.
      4. Now adjust the height of the chair. The correct chair height is when both your feet (with shoes), are flat on the floor and your knees are slightly lower than the level of your hips. By sitting with your knees below the level of your hips you reduce the rotation of the pelvis which in turn reduces the pressure in the lumbar discs. What happens when you sit?
      5. Adjust the height of the armrests so that when your forearms rest on the arm pads, your elbows are bent at approximately 900. Your shoulders should be relaxed and comfortable – in other words you should not have to lift your shoulders (armrests too high) or let them drop downwards (armrest too low).
      6. Adjust the width of the armrests to suit your body shape. Ideally the arm pads should be positioned so that your upper arm is vertical and not extended too far outwards away from your body.
      7. Rotate the arm pads so that your forearms rest comfortably over the full extent of the arm pad.
      8. Adjust the tension of the swivel mechanism so that it suits your body weight. When you relax in the chair, you should easily be able to recline backwards without using excessive force. As you recline, the spring tension should “balance” your weight.
      9. Adjust the height of the backrest and/or the position of the lumbar support so that it fits snugly in the lumbar region of your back. Ensure that you keep the spine in a natural position. Don’t over or under accentuate the inward curvature of your spine. Back support for office chairs.
      10. Adjust the headrest into a comfortable position. Tip: Placing your head back and touching the headrest forces you to push your shoulders into the backrest and lift up your chest. This lifts your diaphragm which enables you to breathe better. Improved breathing leads to better concentration.

Now (and only now), move the chair towards the desk.

THE DESK

      1. The top of the armrests should be in line with the surface of the desk. In other words, just like your forearms were resting comfortably on the arm pads, they should now rest comfortably on the desk with your elbows bent at about 900.
      2. If your elbows are bent at an angle much greater than 900, the desk is too low. RAISE THE HEIGHT OF THE DESK.
        Do not lower the chair height because you will then sit with your knees above the level of your hips which will increase the pressure in the lumbar discs and quickly result in back pain. Furthermore, you will automatically hunch your back resulting in shoulder and neck pain. This is VERY IMPORTANT. If the desk is not height adjustable, use blocks of wood, old books, reams of paper etc, to raise the height of the desk.
      3. If your elbows are bent at an angle much less than 900, the desk is too high. Lower the height of the desk. If the desk is not height adjustable, then RAISE THE HEIGHT OF THE CHAIR. This means that your feet will no longer be flat on the floor, so use a FOOTREST to support your feet. DO NOT let your feet dangle in the air.
      4. If you need to sit closer to the desk and only use the desk to support your forearms, lower the armrests so that they are under the desk when you work. Alternatively slide the arm pads backwards to allow you to sit closer to the desk.

THE MONITOR

      1. Adjust the height and distance of your monitor so that the top of the screen is at eye level and about an arms-length away.
      2. If you use 2 monitors, position them equally from you. Ergonomics in the workplace.

RELAXING IN THE CHAIR

Release the synchronous or free-float mechanism and tilt fully backwards in the chair to increase the angle between your thighs and torso. By changing this angle, you automatically stimulate, or activate numerous muscles in your lower back, core and legs. As a result, the blood flow through these muscles increases, bringing oxygen and other nutrients to the muscles and carrying away the waste products of muscle metabolism. By doing so, muscle fatigue and its associated pain is reduced, particularly in the lower back. This is known as Dynamic Sitting.

By the same author:

Shopping cart

Holiday Closure: Orders placed after 11/12/2024 will be delivered from 15/1/2025. Wishing you a joyful Festive Season!

Product Enquiry