How Tall Should a Standing Desk Be?

A sedentary lifestyle can be harmful in the long run. That's why more and more people are shifting towards a standing desk or a shifting desk, something that you can adjust to both standing and sitting levels.

Understanding how tall should a standing desk be and what height you should position your standing desk for maximum compatibility and benefits is important. Before that, let’s first understand what exactly standing desks are and their benefits.

What Are Standing Desks?

The name standing desk is quite self-explanatory. You can understand that these desks are made for standing and not sitting, unlike the conventional desk models used globally.

Sitting all day is not, in fact, comfortable for your body. Such a sedentary lifestyle can lead to serious physiological and health issues. You might not realize it but spending your working hours sitting in one place without moving around much is a leading cause of blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and muscle aches in many people. Sitting too much is considered very bad for your health, it may cause health risks.

So, does that mean that you should stand all day, instead of sitting in gal day? Not at all. The purpose of standing desks not to keep you on your feet all day long but to give you opportunities to change up your position.

Many standing desks come with a height adjustability option, so you can easily shift a standing desk to a sitting desk with a few buttons. This way, as you alternate between sitting and standing, you reduce the risk of succumbing to sedentary health issues while also feeling more focused and increasing productivity.

Why Adjusting The Height Matters?

Standing desks are very useful and can be very beneficial if used correctly. However, if you don't adjust the desk height of the standing desk appropriately to suit your own, it can harm you instead of helping you. The desk's wrong height would result in you standing incorrectly with a wrong posture, which would defeat the purpose of a standing desk entirely.

Once the height is adjusted ergonomically to fit your posture and comfort, then you would automatically see the difference in your health and productivity levels.

Disadvantages of Not Adjusting The Height

Many fail to properly adjust to the ergonomic standing workstation as they don’t make the right height adjustments and pair the table with correct accessories. This can lead to back pain, posture stiffness, joint pressure and can even result in injuries.

The Optimal Desk Height

There is no one optimal height of standing desks. How tall should a standing desk be depends on your height and comfort. Ideal standing desk height varies for people depending on their height. The height here has to take in the shoe thickness as well. Even tall people who may sometimes find it difficult to find a flexible desk can easily adjust a flexible standing desk.

With the correct and ideal standing desk height, you should be at eye level with your computer monitor or laptop so that you don't have to lean down or strain up to look at it. Your elbows position should be perpendicular to the floor. The desk height should be a little below your elbow, and you should be able to comfortably rest your wrists on the table to use the mouse or keyboards.

You should also be able to stand at ease without locking your knees and feel comfortable with your body's position at the desk.

Once you have adjusted your table to your preference and height, you should use the 1:2 ratio to alternate between sitting and standing. You should stand at least 30-40 minutes out of every hour.

Chart For Different Height Ranges

There are easy ways to calculate your height to desk height ratio. The chart below will help you determine how tall your standing desk should be in proportion to your own height.

Best Adjustable Standing Desks

When choosing a standing desk, how well and easily you can adjust the desks' height matters immensely. If you choose a desk that's not very flexible with different height options, you may find it difficult to work on it. Not to mention it would probably cause your health problems.

Here are some of the best options for standing desks with the flexible height you can choose for yourself.

1. SmartDesk 2 - Home Office

This home office desk is one of the best adjustable standing desks you can find. It's perfect not only for your cozy home offices but also for your professional workspace too.

The table comes with four different height settings and has a dual-motor system that you can activate with a button's press. The desk is sleek and modern and has a weight capacity of 300 lbs.

2. SmartDesk 2 - Premium

SmartDesk 2 - Premium includes all the home version's goodness while also providing a wider height range. It's easy to work with and allows a more professional option for an office workspace. It is the best desk for tall people as well as short one.

3. SHW Electric L-shaped Standing Desk

This is another motorized standing desk that's designed to accommodate a large workstation. It can easily be adjusted to taller heights and comes with four presets for height adjustments. Obviously, you can adjust the height of this standing desk. 

The desks can be lifted from 28 inches to 45 inches.

EndNote

Office ergonomics have to be carefully considered before shifting to a standing desk after being used to sitting all day. You’d need to consider various factors, like the compatibility of the proper height of standing desks with yours, the elbows' position, the height of the elbows at the desk, and your posture while standing. A flexible height of standing desks helps you make those adjustments without any hassle. Question of how tall the desk be is not a big problem any more!