Many people spend a large part of their day sitting at their desk. In order to feel comfortable at work, it is important that the workplace is comfortable. Not only do you need a comfortable office chair, the right height of the desk also plays a role. Many people are of course of different heights. That is why there is no single answer to the question of which height is the right one. Each body size has its own recommendation as to how high the desk should be. Conventional desks are around 70 centimetres high. However, this is not suitable for everyone. We have listed below why the right height is important and tips on how to calculate it.
Why the right desk height is important
If you spend the day sitting at your desk, you quickly tend to get back or neck pain. This is not only due to a lack of exercise or incorrect posture. The wrong choice of furniture, in this case - the wrong height of the furniture, can also promote pain or even more serious illnesses, such as intervertebral disc problems. It is generally known that sitting for long periods is not healthy in the long run. In modern office life, alternatives to long periods of sitting have already been established. If you don't want to sit all the time, you can simply work standing up. This is possible at specially designed standing desks or height-adjustable desks. Standing has many advantages over sitting. More muscle groups in the body are automatically activated and the posture is more upright when standing. When sitting, the circulatory system easily falls asleep, which can promote fatigue and disrupt concentration. But it is not only the height of the desk that is important for ergonomic and body-friendly work. The seat height of the chair also has an influence on the posture of the body and must fit.
Height-adjustable desks for ergonomic work
Height-adjustable office chairs have long been an elementary component of classic office furnishings. One can hardly imagine an office without the typical swivel chair with armrests and adjustable seat height. You will also find such a chair at many desks at home. The concept of purchasing office furniture that can be adjusted to the individual body sizes of employees is therefore not a new concept. Especially in recent years, height-adjustable desks have become increasingly popular for use in the office or at home. Their many advantages make them a worthwhile investment, enabling comfortable and flexible working. Height-adjustable desks not only make it possible to optimally adjust the desk height to the body size, they also help to make working ergonomic. Because they can be flexibly adjusted, they make working life more dynamic. Most height-adjustable tables have hydraulic table legs that can raise and lower the tabletop at the touch of a button. Many tables also offer the option of storing different profiles for the height. This means you don't have to constantly remeasure and find the optimum height. The practical profiles make it easy to switch between working in a sitting or standing position. The individual profiles make it possible for several people to use the same table. This is particularly useful if you have a dedicated space for working while standing. The possibility of saving different profiles makes it easier for several people to share a standing table.
Not only the table is important
The right table height does not start with the table, but already before it. Before you can think about what the optimal table looks like for you, you first have to think about your chair. For ergonomic, body-friendly work, you have to know which seat height fits your body size and how to sit properly. Chairs that can be adjusted in height are also best here. Adjustable office chairs can be found in every office and most homes, so a good foundation is laid. A classic office chair can be adjusted, but it does not always have an ergonomic shape, so you should take a closer look. It is important to have a backrest that supports the back well and keeps it upright. This helps to protect the back and prevents back pain. When sitting, you should always keep an upright posture. This keeps the circulation more active and prevents bad posture. There are recommendations for the correct height of the seat, depending on body size. You can find calculators online that can tell you the optimum seat height. As a rule of thumb, when you put your feet on the floor, your legs should be at a 90° angle. Your back should be aligned and straight towards the desk. The forearms rest on the desk and also form a 90° angle at the crook of the arm.
Finding the optimum desk height
When we talk about "the" optimum desk height, we should actually say "the" optimum desk height. There are two for each person. One is good for working while sitting, the other for working while standing. If you are not quite sure of your height, you should first take measurements. On average, desks are around 70 centimetres high; this height is suitable for people who are 175 centimetres tall. A desk for adults should generally be between 64 and 75 centimetres high. This rough frame is suitable for people who are between 1.60 m and 1.90 m tall. There are also tables and online calculators for the optimum height of the desk. If you already know your optimum sitting height and have adjusted your chair accordingly, you can calculate the right table height yourself. To do this, you can remember the rule of thumb that the distance between the seat and the top edge of the table should be 27 to 32 centimetres. This is then simply added to the height of the seat. You can also calculate the exact height of the table by dividing your height by a factor of 2.48. The result is the optimum height. The result is the optimum height. If you don't want to use the desk while sitting, you can find the right height for it by a little trial and error. When you stand in front of the desk, your arms should create a 90° angle when you lie on them. If this is the case, you have found the right height.
