Adjust the height of your standing desk so that when your hands are on the keyboard (in a natural way - as if you're typing) there is a 90-100 degree angle at the elbow.
Any range between 90 degrees and 100 degrees is fine for most people and it is fine if you find 90 degrees more comfortable than 100 degrees, and vise-versa. Problems can occur if you go outside of this range. Note that in the photo to the right, my elbow angle is closer to 100 degrees than 90 degrees. I find this more comfortable than 90 degrees. |
![]() Correct standing desk height - between 90 - 100 degrees. Note that in this photo I am at about 100 degrees, which I find more comfortable for me personally.
|
If the angle is noticeably less than 90 degrees, or your standing desk is too high, it will mean that your elbows are below the level of the desk. This is shown to the right. If this happens, one of two things is likely to happen. Either your forearm/wrist will dig into the edge of the desk because you're effectively reaching upwards to type, or you will shrug your shoulders to raise the height of your forearms back to parallel.
Neither of these compensations are conducive to an ergonomic set up. |
If the angle is considerably more than 100 degrees, your shoulder muscles will have to do more work because your arms will not be supported on the desk. Your shoulder muscles (particularly your upper traps - "shrugging" muscles) will have to activate to help hold and support your arms up off the desk.
Also, you are more likely to slouch forward if the desk is too low, which will lead to problems. |
![]() Standing desk height too low.
|