Standing Desk Height & Sizing Guide: How to Set the Right Height
6 min read
Quick answer: set a standing desk so your forearms are roughly level with the keyboard and your shoulders stay relaxed. For someone about 160cm tall, a useful starting point is approximately 65β67cm when seated and 96β99cm when standing. Fine-tune from there with your own elbow height.
The most common standing-desk mistake isn't buying the wrong desk β it's setting the wrong height on a good desk. Too high and your shoulders creep up; too low and you hunch forward. This guide gives a practical starting point, then shows how to make it fit your own body and screen setup.
The rule: elbow height, not a fixed number
Stand naturally with your arms relaxed at your sides, then bend your elbows to about 90 degrees. Set the keyboard and mouse at the height where your forearms can stay roughly level and your shoulders remain relaxed. Repeat the same check while seated, with your feet supported and your chair adjusted first.
The numbers below are starting points, not prescriptions. Torso length, footwear, chair height, keyboard thickness and personal comfort all make a difference.
Standing desk height by your height
| User height | Approx. seated desk height | Approx. standing desk height | ULTI desk fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150cm | 62β64cm | 92β95cm | Measure before buying. Arc Pro lowers to 64cm, so it may suit some setups but is not an automatic seated-height match. |
| 160cm | 65β67cm | 96β99cm | Arc Pro covers this starting range with a published 64β124cm height range. |
| 170cm | 68β70cm | 101β103cm | Arc Pro is the safer range match. Aura Pro starts at 72cm, so check your seated elbow height first. |
| 180cm | 72β74cm | 106β109cm | Arc Pro and Aura Pro both cover these starting points; choose by your workspace and feature needs. |
Measure from the finished work surface, not from the frame. A thicker desktop, desk mat or keyboard tray changes the effective height. If two people share the desk, set separate memory presets after each person completes the elbow-height check.
How to fine-tune your sitting and standing presets
- Adjust your chair first: feet supported, hips comfortably positioned and shoulders relaxed.
- Set the seated desk height so your keyboard and mouse do not force your elbows to flare out or your shoulders to lift.
- Stand upright, keep your shoulders relaxed and set the standing preset at your working elbow height.
- Type for a few minutes in each position, then make small adjustments rather than chasing an exact chart number.
- Save the final seated and standing heights to separate handset presets.
Check the desk range before you choose
A desk only helps if it can reach both of your working positions. The Arc Pro Standing Desk has a published 64β124cm height range and dual-motor lift. The Aura Pro RGB Standing Desk has a published 72β122cm height range, 80kg capacity and dual-motor lift. For shorter users, the lower seated setting is often the deciding measurement; for taller users, confirm the standing height with your own elbow measurement.
Not sure which desk size and features fit your setup? Use the standing desk finder or compare Arc Pro and Aura Pro side by side.
Monitor height changes the setup
Desk height and monitor height solve different problems. Once the keyboard is at elbow height, position the monitor so the top of the screen is at or just below eye level and the screen is comfortably viewable from your usual seated and standing positions. A monitor arm lets you adjust the screen independently of the desk, which is especially useful for a laptop, a deep desktop or a sit-stand workspace.
For a height-adjustable desk, also check that monitor and power cables have controlled slack through the full desk travel. See ULTI's monitor-arm cable slack guide before finalising the route.
Common questions
What standing-desk height is suitable for a 160cm person?
Start around 65β67cm seated and 96β99cm standing, then use your elbow height to fine-tune. The right final position should let your shoulders stay relaxed while you use the keyboard and mouse.
How high should a standing desk be when standing?
Use your relaxed elbow height as the starting point. There is no universal number because two people of the same height can have different torso and arm proportions.
Can a monitor arm make a standing desk fit better?
It can make screen height easier to adjust, but it does not replace correct keyboard and desk height. Check the arm's published monitor weight, VESA and desk-mounting limits before buying.
The practical takeaway
Use the table to get close, then trust the elbow-height check. Choose a desk whose published range covers both your seated and standing positions, and treat monitor position as a separate adjustment. For the full range of options, browse ULTI standing desks.