Desk and posture height calculator
Find the right desk, chair, monitor and bike-saddle height for your body height — a quick calculator, a table for every height and the ergonomic rules that actually matter.
The rules that matter more than the numbers
- Feet flat on the floor (or a footrest), thighs roughly parallel to the floor and knees at about 90 degrees.
- Elbows at about 90 degrees with forearms roughly level and shoulders relaxed — the keyboard should sit around elbow height.
- Top of the screen at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away, tilted slightly back.
- For a standing desk, set the surface to your standing elbow height and keep the screen top at eye level.
- For a bike, set the saddle so your knee keeps a slight bend (about 25–35 degrees) at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
The centimetre figures are approximate starting points based on typical body proportions. Set them, then adjust to the rules above — your own proportions, shoe height and chair matter more than any formula.
Heights at a glance
| Body height | Desk | Chair | Monitor top | Standing desk | Bike saddle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155 cm | 65 | 40 | 107 | 96 | 62 |
| 160 cm | 67 | 42 | 110 | 99 | 64 |
| 165 cm | 69 | 43 | 114 | 102 | 66 |
| 168 cm | 71 | 44 | 116 | 104 | 67 |
| 170 cm | 71 | 44 | 117 | 105 | 68 |
| 172 cm | 72 | 45 | 119 | 107 | 69 |
| 175 cm | 74 | 46 | 121 | 109 | 70 |
| 178 cm | 75 | 46 | 123 | 110 | 71 |
| 180 cm | 76 | 47 | 124 | 112 | 72 |
| 183 cm | 77 | 48 | 126 | 113 | 73 |
| 185 cm | 78 | 48 | 128 | 115 | 74 |
| 190 cm | 80 | 49 | 131 | 118 | 76 |
Pick your height
155 cm
Desk 65 cm · chair 40 cm · monitor 107 cm.
160 cm
Desk 67 cm · chair 42 cm · monitor 110 cm.
165 cm
Desk 69 cm · chair 43 cm · monitor 114 cm.
168 cm
Desk 71 cm · chair 44 cm · monitor 116 cm.
170 cm
Desk 71 cm · chair 44 cm · monitor 117 cm.
172 cm
Desk 72 cm · chair 45 cm · monitor 119 cm.
175 cm
Desk 74 cm · chair 46 cm · monitor 121 cm.
178 cm
Desk 75 cm · chair 46 cm · monitor 123 cm.
180 cm
Desk 76 cm · chair 47 cm · monitor 124 cm.
183 cm
Desk 77 cm · chair 48 cm · monitor 126 cm.
185 cm
Desk 78 cm · chair 48 cm · monitor 128 cm.
190 cm
Desk 80 cm · chair 49 cm · monitor 131 cm.
These are general ergonomic starting points, not a medical or occupational-health assessment. If you have persistent pain, see a professional.
Source: Standard ergonomic rules of thumb; centimetre figures estimated from typical body proportions. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
How high should my desk be?
For seated work the desk surface should sit at about your elbow height so your forearms stay level and your shoulders relaxed. For a body height of 175 cm that is roughly 74 cm, but adjust to your elbows rather than the number — a footrest or a keyboard tray fixes a desk that is fixed too high.
How high should my chair be?
Set the seat so your feet rest flat and your knees are at about 90 degrees, with thighs roughly parallel to the floor. That is around 46 cm for a 175 cm person; use the table below as a starting point.
Where should the monitor be?
Put the top of the screen at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away. Raising a laptop on a stand and adding a separate keyboard is the cheapest way to fix neck strain.
How do I set my bike saddle?
A common starting point is the LeMond method: saddle height (from the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle) at about 0.883 times your inside-leg measurement. Then fine-tune so your knee keeps a slight bend at the bottom of the stroke.
Sit less, move more
TempoLife tracks your steps and reminds you to break up long sitting — the habit a perfect desk cannot replace.