Home / Desk height chart / 5'1"
Desk & Chair Height for 5'1" (155 cm)
At 5'1", a standard 29–30 inch desk is about 5 inches higher than your ideal sitting height. That's why so many people end up with raised shoulders or dangling feet. Here's how to fix it.
Your numbers at 5'1"
| Measurement | Height from floor | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Chair seat height | 15.9″ (40 cm) | Thighs level, feet flat |
| Sitting desk height | 24.8″ (63 cm) | Keyboard at relaxed elbow height |
| Standing desk height | 39.4″ (100 cm) | Keyboard at standing elbow height |
| Standing desk + walking pad | 41.7″ (106 cm) | Adds about 2.25 in for the deck |
| Top of screen, sitting | 43.4″ (110 cm) | At or slightly below eye level |
| Top of screen, standing | 58.1″ (148 cm) | At or slightly below eye level |
Assumes regular shoes (about 1 in). Barefoot, subtract about 1 in from every number. Estimates from average body proportions: long legs or a long torso can shift them by an inch or two. Fine-tune in our calculator.
What this means for your setup
Fixing a standard desk
Raise your chair until your elbows line up with the desk, then put a footrest under your feet to make up the 5-inch gap. Or lower your keyboard with an under-desk tray. Both options are in our footrest and keyboard tray guide.
Buying a standing desk
Check the desk's lowest height, not just the highest. To sit properly you need it to go down to about 24.8 in, and some frames bottom out higher than that. See our standing desk guide.
Choosing a chair
Look for a seat that goes down to about 15.9 in and a seat depth that's adjustable or on the shallow side, so the edge doesn't press behind your knees. See our chair guide.
FAQ
What height desk do I need if I'm 5'1"?
About 24.8 in (63 cm) for sitting and 39.4 in (100 cm) for standing, in regular shoes.
What chair seat height is right for 5'1"?
About 15.9 in (40 cm) from the floor to the top of the seat, with your thighs level and feet flat.
How high should my monitor be at 5'1"?
Put the top of the screen at or slightly below 43.4 in (110 cm) from the floor when sitting, about an arm's length away.