Desk setup

Desk setup calculator

Find a starting point for your chair, desk and screen. Save your setup as a one-page PDF.

Your sheet updates as you change the settings.

How to use and save your sheet

Choose sitting or standing, enter your height and screen size, then adjust your workstation using the four targets. Check the fit before settling on a setting.

Select Save PDF, choose Save as PDF in your browser's print dialog, and turn off Headers and footers. The sheet prints on one page.

For a raised laptop, use an external keyboard and mouse so the screen and your hands can sit at comfortable heights.

How the estimates are calculated

We multiply body height by 0.2429 for seat height, 0.3769 for seated desk height and 0.6115 for standing desk height. For a person 175 cm tall, that gives starting points of 42.5 cm, 66.0 cm and 107.0 cm. These are approximate proportions used by this tool, not measurements of your body or clinically validated recommendations.

The ranges allow 1.5 cm either side of the seat estimate, 2 cm for a seated desk and 2.5 cm for a standing desk. Shoes, chair compression, body proportions and keyboard thickness affect the fit. Check that your feet are supported and your shoulders relax while you type.

Monitor distance uses screen size and aspect ratio. OSHA's monitor guidance suggests a comfortable readable distance, generally 50–100 cm, with the screen top at or below eye level. Bifocal users may need a lower screen. The guidance supports the fit checks; it does not endorse this tool's body-height formulas.

Fine-tune the estimates using OSHA's workstation checklist. A height-only calculator cannot account for every body or workspace.

General guidance, not medical advice. For pain, numbness, headaches or persistent discomfort, consult a doctor or qualified ergonomics professional.