Desk height based on your height — calculator
Enter your height without shoes — we'll show the tabletop height for sitting and standing. Below is a table for heights from 150 to 205 cm, the formula, and the sources.
Table: desk height by your height
Tabletop height from the floor, ±2 cm. The last column shows whether GEEKRIG desks travel far enough (72–121 cm).
| Height | Sitting | Standing | Does GEEKRIG fit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 60 cm | 94 cm | Yes; sitting — raise the chair and use a footrest (the desk lowers to 72) |
| 155 cm | 62 cm | 97 cm | Yes; sitting — raise the chair and use a footrest (the desk lowers to 72) |
| 160 cm | 64 cm | 100 cm | Yes; sitting — raise the chair and use a footrest (the desk lowers to 72) |
| 165 cm | 66 cm | 103 cm | Yes; sitting — raise the chair and use a footrest (the desk lowers to 72) |
| 170 cm | 68 cm | 106 cm | Yes; sitting — raise the chair and use a footrest (the desk lowers to 72) |
| 175 cm | 70 cm | 109 cm | Yes, both sitting and standing |
| 180 cm | 72 cm | 113 cm | Yes, both sitting and standing |
| 185 cm | 74 cm | 116 cm | Yes, both sitting and standing |
| 190 cm | 76 cm | 119 cm | Yes, both sitting and standing |
| 195 cm | 78 cm | 122 cm | Sitting: yes; standing needs 122 cm, and the desk rises to 121 |
| 200 cm | 80 cm | 125 cm | Sitting: yes; standing needs 125 cm, and the desk rises to 121 |
| 205 cm | 81 cm | 128 cm | Sitting: yes; standing needs 128 cm, and the desk rises to 121 |
How we calculate
Sitting: 0,39 × height + 1,5 cm. Standing: 0,625 × height. Tolerance ±2 cm, result rounded to the nearest centimeter.
The tabletop should be at elbow level or slightly below, shoulders relaxed, wrists straight. Height is without shoes; the allowance for shoes (about 2.5 cm) and a thin keyboard (about 2 cm) are already in the formula.
If sitting work needs a height 3 cm or more below your desk's lowest position, raise the chair to the right elbow height and put a footrest of the same height under your feet. Clause 2.4 of GOST 12.2.032-78 recommends this for desks that don't go low enough for shorter people.
Check: for a height of 170 cm the GOST 12.2.032-78 nomogram gives about 68 cm for keyboard work — the formula gives the same.
Sources
- GOST 12.2.032-78 "Workplace for seated work. General ergonomic requirements" — clause 2.4 and the work-surface height nomogram.
- GOST 12.2.033-78 "Workplace for standing work" — a benchmark for industrial labor; for standing computer work we use elbow height.
- GOST R ISO 9241-5-2009 — standing desk height set by elbow height, adjustable for heights from the 5th to the 95th percentile.
- S. Pheasant, "Bodyspace" — elbow height and popliteal height as shares of body height; W. Drillis, R. Contini (1966) — elbow joint height is 0.63 of body height.
- OSHA Computer Workstations eTool — elbows at keyboard level, screen 50–100 cm from the eyes.
GEEKRIG desks rise from 72 to 121 cm — these figures are from the model's spec sheet. The desk is not a medical device: if after 15–20 minutes you reach for the keyboard or your shoulders come up, shift the height by 1–2 cm.
FAQ
What desk height is best at 170 cm tall?
About 68 cm for sitting work and about 106 cm for standing work (±2 cm). The GEEKRIG desk lowers to 72 cm, so when sitting, raise the chair and use a footrest — as GOST 12.2.032-78 recommends.
What desk height is best at 180 cm tall?
About 72 cm sitting and about 113 cm standing (±2 cm). Both heights are within the GEEKRIG tabletop travel of 72–121 cm.
What desk height is best at 190 cm tall?
About 76 cm sitting and about 119 cm standing (±2 cm). Both heights are within the 72–121 cm travel.
Will a GEEKRIG desk work for someone 195 cm or taller?
Yes for sitting. For standing work, 195 cm tall needs about 122 cm and 200 cm tall needs about 125 cm, while the desk rises to 121 cm.
How can I check the height without a calculator?
Sit or stand up straight, relax your shoulders, and bend your arms at the elbows to a right angle. The tabletop should be at or just below elbow level with straight wrists. Save the heights you find in the handset memory.
What should I do if the desk doesn't go low enough?
Raise the chair to your elbow height and put a footrest of the same height under your feet — clause 2.4 of GOST 12.2.032-78 recommends this. If the difference is up to 2 cm, you don't need it — that's within tolerance.
Choose a complete desk
Height is just the first question. The desk finder also accounts for equipment, space and finish, and shows a model with a price.