Sit-stand desk height calculator: set your sitting and standing targets
Use your measured floor-to-elbow heights instead of a one-size body-height guess. Adjust for where your keyboard sits relative to the desktop, then check whether a finished desk range covers both postures.
Measurement method
Measure the person, then check the desk.
A desk height is useful only in relation to the working elbow position. Measure the seated and standing floor-to-elbow distances in the setup you will actually use. If shoes or an anti-fatigue mat raise your feet, include them in the measurement instead of adding them again afterward.
The calculation shown in the tool
desktop target = elbow height − keyboard-above-desktop offset
A positive offset means the keyboard sits above the desktop; a negative offset means a tray places it below the desktop. The default uncertainty band is ±1 in (±2.5 cm) around each target.
Keyboard first
The result targets the surface where your keyboard sits. A thick desktop, a keyboard tray, and a tall keyboard change the desktop height needed to place your elbows comfortably.
Monitor principle
This tool does not output a false-precision monitor height. OSHA's principle is to put the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level; adjust the display after setting the desk and keyboard. Read OSHA's workstation checklist
Why switch positions?
Standing is not a reason to lock into one posture all day. Cornell's sit-stand guidance treats standing as a way to change position and notes that raising the desk also changes the screen relationship. Keep moving, use the desk as an adjustable surface, and follow the instructions that match your body and work. Read Cornell's sit-stand guidance
Continue with the right check
Height is the starting point, not the whole desk decision.
Use the result to screen a finished height range, then move to the page that matches the rest of your setup. The tools below keep desk height, walking-surface clearance, and desktop size as separate questions.
Compare source-labeled standing desks
Review finished height ranges, desktop dimensions, frame evidence, and unknown fields before ordering.
Read nextChoose a desk for a walking pad
Read the buying guide for walking-pad height, clearance, cable, and workflow questions.
Read nextCheck walking-pad desk height
Add your measured walking surface to the standing elbow height and screen a finished desk range.
Read nextSize a dual-monitor desktop
Plan width, depth, monitor support, laptop room, and clear room width separately from height.
Read nextSource checkpoints
Use the guidance as a starting point, not a guarantee.
OSHA's computer-workstation material describes neutral elbow, wrist, shoulder, foot-support, and monitor relationships. Cornell explains the practical limits of static sitting or standing and the need to adjust the screen when the work surface moves.
OSHA
Keyboard near elbow height
OSHA lists adjustable keyboard ranges for seated and standing tasks, says the keyboard should be about elbow height, and notes that a fixed desk may need a keyboard tray. Open the purchasing checklist
Its neutral-position guidance also covers relaxed shoulders, elbows near the body, straight wrists, and supported feet. Open the position guide
Cornell CUErgo
Change posture and recheck the screen
Cornell notes that raising a sit-stand surface changes the monitor relationship and that standing work should not become another static posture. Open the sit-stand page
Its workstation guide adds practical monitor, keyboard, and neutral-posture checks. Open the ergonomics guide
FAQ
Questions before you set the desk.
How do I measure floor-to-elbow height?
For seated work, sit with your feet supported, shoulders relaxed, and forearms roughly level. Measure from the floor to the underside of your elbow. For standing work, stand naturally and repeat the same elbow position. Measure in the shoes and on the anti-fatigue mat you will actually use, so you do not add their height twice.
Why does this calculator ask for elbow height instead of body height?
The keyboard surface should meet your working elbow position, not a population-average height ratio. Body height can be a rough starting point, but arm, torso, leg, chair, shoe, and posture proportions vary. A direct floor-to-elbow measurement is the primary input here.
What does keyboard surface relative to desktop mean?
The offset describes where the keyboard sits relative to the desktop. A positive offset means the keyboard is above the desktop; a negative offset means a tray puts it below the desktop. The calculator uses desktop target = elbow height − keyboard-above-desktop offset.
What do pass, borderline, and fail mean?
Pass means the finished desk range covers both the complete seated and standing target bands. Borderline means both target points are inside the desk range but one or both bands are not fully covered. Fail means at least one target point is outside the entered finished range. If no desk range is entered, the tool shows the targets but does not claim a fit verdict.
Does the calculator give an exact monitor height?
No. Monitor height depends on the screen, stand or arm, viewing distance, posture, and vision needs. OSHA gives the useful principle that the top of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level. Set the desk and keyboard first, then adjust the display to your eye line.
Is this a medical or ergonomic assessment?
No. These are measurement-based setup starting points, not medical advice, an injury diagnosis, or a guarantee of comfort. Change positions regularly and seek an occupational-health or clinical assessment for persistent pain, numbness, weakness, or an injury.