If you use a standing desk, you are already one step closer to improving your health than those who sit while they work. Long periods of sitting have been linked to various health problems, including obesity and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a disorder characterised by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, extra body fat around the waist, and high cholesterol levels. Have you given any attention to the ergonomic standing workstation, such as the optimal height for a standing desk and where to position your desktop?
In most cases, a standing desk should be adjusted such that the uppermost surface is at the same level as the user's elbows. It requires positioning your elbows so that they are at a right angle to the floor and then measuring the distance from the floor to the bottom of your elbow. The desk should be constructed at this height, if possible.
The typical height of a standing desk for someone 5 feet 11 inches tall is 44 inches. However, remember that this is simply a suggestion and that before settling on an elevation, you should study the proportions of your body to determine what works best for you. You always have the option to purchase a standing desk that you can adjust to suit your needs if you so want. Using a standing desk height chart is a straightforward method for determining the optimal standing height while maintaining the use of one's existing workstation.
You may choose the height, which is one of the most beneficial aspects of working at a standing desk, whether you're using it in the business or as a hobby office desk at your own home. As a result of the fact that every human body is unique, ergonomics is not a precise science. Hence, you are responsible for determining the optimal height for your standing desk. Your legs, back, shoulders, arms, neck and eyes will be in the healthiest posture possible when you use a height-adjustable standing desk since it allows you to crank the tabletop to exactly the optimum height for you based on what you are doing and the best position for those body parts.
If you already use a standing desk, you've taken the first step toward making a change that could benefit your health. Sitting for long periods has been linked to various health issues, including obesity and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that includes elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Research has established a connection between sitting for long periods and these health issues.
But have you thought about the office ergonomics necessary for a standing workstation, such as the appropriate height for a desk and where to position your computer?
Is A Standing Desk Right For Me?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Your objective should be to move around regularly throughout the day and to vary your posture as often as possible. A decent adjustable desk is a tool that will assist you in achieving this goal. Many people find that always standing is not preferable to constantly sitting and may even be preferable to sitting all the time. The issue arises when an individual consistently engages in either of the two activities. Suppose you decide to go with an adjustable workstation. In that case, it will become an invaluable resource for you on your journey toward enhanced levels of comfort and effectiveness at work and improved physical and mental health.
Why Desk Height Matters
In today's world, we devote a significant amount of time to staring at the screens of our devices. Every day, we put unnecessary pressure on our bodies and eyes, whether at our computers at work or our phones, pretty much everywhere we go. Because of this, we must be able to make responsible use of technology.
Because every portion of our bodies is related to every other part, the harm done to one part can significantly impact the rest of our bodies. For example, because of an inadequate desk height or a terrible office chair, sitting wrongly causes you to distort your body in painful ways gradually, whether in your arms, legs, back or even your wrists. It can create pain in any of these areas. In addition, it may give you persistent pain in your back and neck. And in more extreme cases, research suggests that having a desk, not at the optimum height might cause irreversible damage to the discs or back.
In addition, the incorrect monitor height can generate extra tension in the shoulders and neck, which can lead to headaches. It, in conjunction with sitting in an office's unpleasant or badly set chair, will gradually alter the natural curve of your spine. Finally, you will eventually start to stand and sit in an inappropriate posture on impulse due to the time you have spent slouching while working. It is because of the time you have spent slumped over. Do you think that posture is only a matter of vanity? Unfortunately, improper posture can result in a significant amount of pain, most common injuries to the lower back. Therefore, in addition to adjusting the height of your computer monitor, investing in a good computer chair can significantly impact your posture and general health. Check out this link right now for more information.
In addition, as if the negative effects it has on your health and posture weren't enough, an improper desk height can also substantially impact the amount of work or school you get done. According to several studies, the arrangement of a worker's workspace, particularly their desk, can boost productivity by as much as 16 per cent. Making sure that your office is set up in a way that is comfortable for both you and your body can provide you with the tools you need to succeed in your professional and personal lives.
Should I Get A Standing Desk Or A Sit-Stand Desk?
Work can be done sitting down or standing up when using a sit-stand desk or a desktop converter unit created specifically for use with sit-stand workstations. In addition, some workstations are made specifically for people to stand at, sometimes known as "perching". The term "perching" refers to a sit-stand or semi-seated position that is distinguished by an open hip angle that is quite wide. The standing designs may be more appealing, especially if you're determined to stand or keep your hip angle open. On the other hand, if you plan to sit fully while standing at other times, a sit-to-stand design should be your goal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Standing Desk
How long should you stand at a standing desk?
Sitting behind your desk all day is bad for your health, and experts have long been advising people to stand at their workstations for about 15 minutes an hour. But a University of Waterloo professor says his research shows that people should be standing for at least 30 minutes per hour to get health benefits.
Do you lose weight with a standing desk?
Standing desks won't make you lose weight, and they also don't make you significantly healthier or more productive, according to a new analysis of 53 sit-stand desk studies.
Are standing desks overrated?
A growing body of research suggests that many of the benefits claimed by standing desk evangelists are overblown. Simply put, there's no substitute for good, old-fashioned movement, and our bodies are not designed to stand for prolonged periods of time.
Are standing desks better for posture?
Those who used standing desks during the studies reported an improvement of up to 32% in their lower back and neck pain after using the desk for a period of several weeks.
How much should I spend on the standing desk?
When it comes to price, there are standing desk options for nearly any budget, ranging from $150 to over $2,000. Typically a great value for money standing desk will be $500 to $750. A quality standing desk converter can be around $200.
Correct Standing Desk Height
Suppose you are to buy a standing desk. Much better to go with an adjustable standing desk instead of a non-adjustable one. This way, you will have full control of the desk height.
As you can see in the illustration, the arms are at a 90-degree angle on the desktop, and the monitor is raised up to eye level. There is no real industry standard for standing desks, although fixed standing desks like the ones from Varidesk have a height of 47 inches. Instead, adjustable standing desks have a range of heights, so you will be ok as long as you fit within that range. Get More Info.
Correct desk height and computer screen position are fundamental for improving comfort and minimising injury risk in the office. To begin, set your standing desk at about elbow height. This means your elbows should be in a 90-degree position from the floor. As a guide, the average 5'11" (180 cm) person would have their desk about 44 inches (111 cm) high. Recommendations for screen position are not black and white, but the general consensus is to have it 20–28 inches (51–71 cm) from your face.
As a quick reference, the distance should be no less than from the tip of your middle finger to your elbow. The top of your screen should be eye level, with a small upwards tilt of between 10 and 20 degrees. The idea is that you should never need to tilt your neck up or down.
For standing desk converters, this requires a small calculation. Remember we said that the average desk height was 29 inches. Well, you'll need to add this to the standing desk converter height range because a standing desk converter sits on top of your existing desk.
Generally, the best height for a standing desk should be at elbow level. This implies measuring the height from the floor to the bottom of your elbow while your elbows are at a 90-degree angle from the floor. This is the level at which the desk should be made.
For people who are 5'11", the average standing desk height is 44 inches. However, keep in mind that this is just a guideline and that you should examine your body proportions before deciding on an elevation. Of course, if you choose to, you can always get an adjustable standing desk. A standing desk height chart is a simple technique to get the right height for standing while keeping your current desk.
You might wonder if there is such a thing as a universal standard desk height or an international norm.
Based on ergonomic design guidelines, the standard height of an office desk is 73 to 80 centimetres.
Ideally, however, the height of a desk should depend on the height of the user. To sit at an optimum position, tall people would have to raise their chairs. This way, when their feet are lying flat on the floor, their legs are positioned at a right angle to their back. But then, with a raised seat, a taller worker would also need a taller desk, so there's ample space for their legs under the desk.
Without these adjustments, using a 'standard' office desk would be very uncomfortable indeed for both tall and short individuals. Moreover, the height of a desk also affects the user's seated posture, as well as the following:
- Position of the feet: Your feet should sit flat on the floor while you're sitting at your desk, while your knees should be in line or a little lower than your hips. If you're shorter than average, you may need to use a footrest to ensure your feet don't dangle from your chair.
- Position of the arms: The optimum desk height would have your arms sitting comfortably at a right angle to your sides.
- Position of the elbows: Your elbows should ideally be at a 90-degree angle.
When seated, always sit right at the back of your chair to avoid slouching. The back of the chair should recline to about 110 degrees. It should also provide adequate support to your upper and lower back. Look at this site.
Of course, these are all ideal setups that, whenever possible, should be implemented to avoid preventable injury.
Why Should You Adjust Your Standing Desk?
Your standing desk ergonomic height should be adjusted so that the resting position for your arms, wrists, and hands when you're standing is in a hanging position. So, while the 90-degree ergonomic setup described here for sitting with armrests isn't ideal.
When setting your stand-up desk height, you need to consider your head, neck, leg, arms, and wrists. For example, it is acceptable to put your workstation slightly lower than your elbows' 90-degree angle, but do not set it further than your elbows' 90-degree height; this is considerably more harmful to your wrists and shoulders.
Your standing desk ergonomic height may be affected by the height of your shoes. Someone may, for instance, have heels on one day and sneakers on the next. This requires the desk to be at two distinct levels. If you frequently change your height, an electric standing desk with "height recall buttons" on the remote is definitely worth the investment.
Because you spend a significant amount of time staring at the highest region of a monitor, your eye level should be at the edge of the window. Placing your monitor stand on a small pile of scrap paper is an easy way to accomplish your ergonomic monitor height.
The procedures are the same for most standing desks. In addition, you can use the standing desk height chart to acquire estimated dimensions for the elevation of your chair and keyboard and display whether you prefer sitting or standing.
Factor in your height and body posture
Establishing the right desk, keyboard, and screen height is very important, especially when you use one all day. The right preparations will help you maintain a comfortable standing posture and prevent body strain. To calculate the best height for your standing desk, stand up straight with your hands stretched down. Bend them forward at the elbow so that they are 90 degrees to the floor. The distance between the floor and your elbow is the standing desk height. You can maneuver the desk slightly lower to give room for the keyboard.
To prevent eye strain:
- Adjust your computer so that the top of the screen is at your eye level.
- Slightly tilt the screen upwards so you don't have to keep bending your neck.
- Set the screen at about 24 inches from your face to leave room for your arms to rest.
Otherwise, you risk wrist and shoulder strain.
Steps to Finding the Ideal Standing Desk Height
- Stand in Good Posture – Stand up straight with your chest up, and your shoulders pulled back, then down comfortably as if you're gently placing your shoulder blades in your back pockets.
- Put Arms in Position – Rest your arms at your sides and bend your elbows to parallel your forearms with the floor.
- Measure – Take note of the height from the bottom tip of your elbow to the floor. That is your perfect standing desk height.
Make sure to measure while using the same flooring and footwear you do when at your desk. For example, if you use a standing desk mat, take the compressed height of the standing desk mat into account as well. Any time you change footwear, you may need to adjust your desk to accommodate any change in height. Simply make sure that your desk rests at elbow height when you are fully upright.
Is a Standing Desk Worth it?
- Stand-up desks have been shown to improve efficiency and cognitive performance in studies.
- When you get up instead of sitting, your body uses more energy.
- It helps the body stretch out, increase blood flow, and engage the core, glutes, and leg muscles, relieving pain connected with sitting the whole day.
- Participants reported feeling more energised and aware.
- Sitting for extended periods is detrimental to one's well being.
- If you do not have enough room space but want to buy a standing desk, the minimalist desk is available for purchase.
Conclusion
There is nothing better than having your desk set up to suit you and fit your needs. So spend a bit of time getting the measuring tape to ensure you are getting the most from your office desk.
Whether you are standing or sitting, it's nice to have an adjustable desk for health reasons: no more back pain, sore neck, or tight shoulders. Follow the table above for a general idea of what height chair, desk, or standing desk you need, and for best results, get someone to help you make sure you are sitting properly.