Desk & Monitor Reference Chart
Desk, keyboard, and chair heights across a full range of statures, sitting and standing, plus monitor viewing distances for common screen sizes — all comfort starting points, computed by the same calculators used elsewhere on this site.
Desk, keyboard, and chair height by stature
| Height | Sitting | Standing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desk / keyboard | Chair seat | Desk / keyboard | |
| 150cm (59.1in) | 64.5cm / 59.5cm (25.4in / 23.4in) | 37.5cm (14.8in) | 97.5cm / 92.5cm (38.4in / 36.4in) |
| 155cm (61in) | 66.7cm / 61.7cm (26.3in / 24.3in) | 38.8cm (15.3in) | 100.8cm / 95.8cm (39.7in / 37.7in) |
| 160cm (63in) | 68.8cm / 63.8cm (27.1in / 25.1in) | 40cm (15.7in) | 104cm / 99cm (40.9in / 39in) |
| 165cm (65in) | 71cm / 66cm (28in / 26in) | 41.3cm (16.3in) | 107.3cm / 102.3cm (42.2in / 40.3in) |
| 170cm (66.9in) | 73.1cm / 68.1cm (28.8in / 26.8in) | 42.5cm (16.7in) | 110.5cm / 105.5cm (43.5in / 41.5in) |
| 175cm (68.9in) | 75.3cm / 70.3cm (29.6in / 27.7in) | 43.8cm (17.2in) | 113.8cm / 108.8cm (44.8in / 42.8in) |
| 180cm (70.9in) | 77.4cm / 72.4cm (30.5in / 28.5in) | 45cm (17.7in) | 117cm / 112cm (46.1in / 44.1in) |
| 185cm (72.8in) | 79.6cm / 74.6cm (31.3in / 29.4in) | 46.3cm (18.2in) | 120.3cm / 115.3cm (47.4in / 45.4in) |
| 190cm (74.8in) | 81.7cm / 76.7cm (32.2in / 30.2in) | 47.5cm (18.7in) | 123.5cm / 118.5cm (48.6in / 46.7in) |
| 195cm (76.8in) | 83.9cm / 78.9cm (33in / 31.1in) | 48.8cm (19.2in) | 126.8cm / 121.8cm (49.9in / 48in) |
| 200cm (78.7in) | 86cm / 81cm (33.9in / 31.9in) | 50cm (19.7in) | 130cm / 125cm (51.2in / 49.2in) |
“Desk / keyboard” lists the recommended work-surface height followed by the recommended typing-surface height (about 5cm lower). These are the exact figures the desk height calculatorreturns for each stature — enter your own height there for a result computed for you specifically rather than the nearest row here.
Monitor viewing distance by screen size
| Diagonal size | Minimum distance | Ideal distance | Maximum distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20in | 26in (66cm) | 32in (81.3cm) | 40in (101.6cm) |
| 22in | 28.6in (72.6cm) | 35.2in (89.4cm) | 44in (111.8cm) |
| 24in | 31.2in (79.2cm) | 38.4in (97.5cm) | 48in (121.9cm) |
| 27in | 35.1in (89.2cm) | 43.2in (109.7cm) | 54in (137.2cm) |
| 32in | 41.6in (105.7cm) | 51.2in (130cm) | 64in (162.6cm) |
| 34in | 44.2in (112.3cm) | 54.4in (138.2cm) | 68in (172.7cm) |
| 38in | 49.4in (125.5cm) | 60.8in (154.4cm) | 76in (193cm) |
| 43in | 55.9in (142cm) | 68.8in (174.8cm) | 86in (218.4cm) |
| 49in | 63.7in (161.8cm) | 78.4in (199.1cm) | 98in (248.9cm) |
These are the exact figures the monitor distance calculatorreturns for each diagonal size. Sizes at or below 20in are held at the calculator’s 20in ideal / 18in minimum floor rather than scaling down further with the diagonal.
How to read this chart
Find the row closest to your own height for the desk table, or your monitor’s diagonal size for the monitor table, and treat the figures as a considered starting point rather than a fixed requirement — both tables are built from population-average ratios and commonly recommended viewing-distance ranges, not a measurement of your specific body or eyesight. Sit or stand at the suggested height, or move your monitor to the suggested distance, for a few days and adjust by a centimeter or two in whichever direction feels more relaxed.
The two tables are independent of each other — desk height depends on your stature, and monitor distance depends on your screen’s diagonal size, not on how tall you are. A tall person with a small monitor and a short person with a large monitor each read down their own column in each table separately, rather than trying to match a row number between the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the numbers in this chart come from?
Every row is computed by the same deskHeight() and monitorDistance() functions behind the Desk Height Calculator and Monitor Distance Calculator — this page doesn't maintain a separate table of figures. If you'd rather enter your own exact height or monitor size instead of reading the nearest row, the calculators do the same math for any specific input.
Why does standing desk height grow faster than sitting desk height as stature increases?
Both figures are the same percentage of a person's height (about 65% standing, about 43% seated), so a taller person's standing and sitting heights both go up — but because the standing ratio is larger, each additional centimeter of stature adds more to the standing figure than to the seated one in absolute terms.
Why does the monitor distance table stop scaling at very small screen sizes?
Below roughly 20 inches of viewing distance, eyes generally have to work harder to focus regardless of screen size, so the calculator applies a floor — a 20-inch or smaller monitor's ideal and minimum distance are held at that floor rather than following the diagonal-based ratio down further.
Are these numbers exact for my body or my monitor?
No. The desk and chair figures are population-average ratios, and the monitor figures are a commonly recommended range, not a measurement of you or your specific eyesight. Use the row closest to your own height or screen size as a starting point, then adjust by feel — or run your exact numbers through the calculators directly for a more precise starting figure.
Educational comfort reference only — not a medical or occupational-health assessment. Everyone’s proportions and eyesight differ from the averages these ratios are built on; adjust to your own comfort, and see a doctor or physiotherapist about pain, numbness, or tingling that doesn’t go away.
Use it with
- Desk Height Calculator— get a desk, keyboard, and chair height for your exact height, rather than the nearest row on this chart.
- Monitor Distance Calculator— get a viewing distance for your exact monitor diagonal.
- How to Set Your Desk and Chair Height to Match Your Body — the full guide behind the desk-height half of this chart, with a worked example.
- Measuring Your Own Desk Height Instead of Guessing — how to check whether your own proportions match the ratios this chart is built on.