The right standing desk height is the height that puts your keyboard at about your bent elbow while you stand with relaxed shoulders. That number comes from your own body, not from a chart, so the first job is to measure it. The second job is to check that the desk you are looking at can actually reach that height when you stand and drop low enough when you sit. This guide walks through both, then compares the height ranges of the standing desks we sell.
If you are still choosing the rest of the office, our designer furniture buying guide covers sizing and delivery across the whole room.
How high should a standing desk be?
Ergonomic guidance for keyboard work is consistent on the basic posture: upper arms relaxed and close to your sides, elbows open to about a right angle or slightly more, and wrists straight rather than bent up. Cornell University’s workstation ergonomics guide recommends keeping the elbow angle at or greater than 90 degrees and the wrists as straight as possible. When you type in that position, the top of the keyboard sits close to the height of your elbow. So the desk surface should sit a little lower than your elbow, by about the thickness of your keyboard.
Cornell University’s ergonomics group adds a point many buyers miss: when you raise the desk to type standing up, the screen has to go up too, or you end up bending your neck to look down at it. Their sitting and standing guidance also notes that standing all day is tiring and recommends changing posture and moving every 20 to 30 minutes rather than standing for long stretches. A height-adjustable desk makes that easy, but only if both of its heights fit you.
How to measure your standing desk height
- Stand in the shoes you normally work in. A two inch heel or a thick anti-fatigue mat changes the answer.
- Let your shoulders drop and keep your upper arms by your sides.
- Bend your elbows to about 90 degrees with your forearms level.
- Have someone measure from the floor (or the top of your mat) to the underside of your forearm at the elbow. This is your standing elbow height.
- Subtract the height of your keyboard at the home row, usually about an inch for a slim keyboard. The result is your target standing desk height.
Repeat the measurement seated in your office chair with your feet flat on the floor. That gives your target sitting height. Write down both numbers before you shop. A desk that reaches your standing number but cannot drop to your sitting number will leave you perched on a raised chair with dangling feet.
Standing desk height for tall people
Tall users should look first at maximum height. If your target standing height is close to a desk’s top setting, there is no room for a mat or thicker shoes later. Leave a margin of an inch or two.
Standing desk height for short people
Shorter users should look first at minimum height. Many electric frames bottom out around 28 inches, which can be too tall for seated typing if you are petite. A footrest helps when the desk will not go low enough, but a desk that reaches your seated number is better.
Standing desk height range compared
Here are the published height ranges for the adjustable desks we carry. All measurements come from the product pages, and prices were current at the time of writing.
| Desk | Lowest height | Highest height | Top size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjustable White Wood and Steel Standing Desk | 28.3 in | 46.5 in | 47.25 x 23.5 in | $213.99 |
| Adjustable Black Wood and Steel Standing Desk | 28.3 in | 46.5 in | 55 x 23.5 in | $253.49 |
| Adjustable Black L Shape Standing Desk | 28.3 in | 46.5 in | 63 x 25 in | $520.49 |
| Light Gray and Charcoal Trestle Standing Desk | 30 in | 42 in | 48 x 30 in | $529.99 |
| Rove Concepts Eryk/Athena E-Standing Desk | 28.3 in | 47.25 in | 63 x 31.5 in | $1,217.00 |
| Rove Concepts Eryk Standing Desk | 28.3 in | 47.25 in | 63 x 31.5 in | $1,637.00 |
A few things stand out. The three electric HomeRoots desks share the same 28.3 to 46.5 inch range and three memory presets, so the choice between them is mostly about desktop size. The trestle desk has the narrowest range, 30 to 42 inches, which suits people whose standing target is 42 inches or less and who do not need to sit very low. The Rove Concepts electric frames reach a little higher, to 47.25 inches, and list a 220 lb weight limit; the E-Standing Desk listing also notes testing to ANSI/BIFMA durability standards. The Eryk adds wooden legs with adjustable shelves and a push-close door for storage.
Rove Concepts Athena and Eryk
The Rove Concepts Athena Standing Desk ($1,819.00) pairs the electric desk with a fluted, lacquered wood base, and lists a 63 x 31.5 inch top, a 28.3 inch lowest height and a 220 lb limit. The base is also sold on its own; our Athena base in ebony ($923.00) is the wood unit only and is meant to pair with the matching electric desk component, so check that it is what you want before ordering. For a deeper look at the build, see our Rove Concepts Athena standing desk review, and browse the full Rove Concepts collection.
Monitor height when standing
Raising the desk raises the keyboard, but the screen has to follow. On a single-surface desk the monitor moves with the top, so if your sitting setup is right, your standing setup usually is too. Problems appear with laptops, which put the screen far too low at any desk height. Use a separate keyboard and raise the laptop on a stand. Cornell’s guide suggests lining your eyes up with the top of the screen’s viewing area, which puts the center of the screen slightly below eye level, whether you sit or stand.
Sitting height matters just as much
Most people who buy a standing desk spend more time sitting at it than standing. Make sure your chair and desk agree at the low setting. Our guide on how to choose an office chair explains seat height and armrest fit, and how to match the chair to your desk. If your seated target is below 28 inches, look for a chair that can sit low enough with your feet flat, or add a footrest.
Buying checklist
- Standing target: At least an inch or two below the desk’s maximum height.
- Sitting target: At or above the desk’s minimum height.
- Depth: 23.5 inches is enough for a laptop and one screen; 30 inches or more gives space to push a monitor back to a comfortable distance.
- Weight: Add up monitors, arms and computer, and stay inside the listed limit where one is given.
- Presets: Memory buttons make switching between sitting and standing fast, which makes you more likely to do it.
Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight; smaller orders ship for a flat $200. Questions about a specific desk? Call 866-777-2590 (Mon to Fri, 9AM to 6PM PST), and read our return and refund policy before you order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct standing desk height?
Set the desk so your keyboard is at about elbow height while you stand with relaxed shoulders and elbows bent near 90 degrees. Measure floor to elbow in your work shoes and subtract the keyboard’s thickness.
Is there a standing desk height chart by height?
Charts based on overall height are rough averages, because arm and torso length vary a lot between people of the same height. Measuring your own elbow height takes two minutes and is far more accurate.
How high do standing desks go?
Among the desks we sell, the highest setting ranges from 42 inches on the trestle desk to 47.25 inches on the Rove Concepts electric frames. The HomeRoots electric desks top out at 46.5 inches.
How long should I stand at a standing desk?
Cornell’s ergonomics guidance favors short, frequent posture changes and movement over long periods of standing, for example a break to stand and move every 20 to 30 minutes. If you have back, leg or circulation concerns, check with your doctor about what suits you.
