Desk-Fit Worksheet: Measure Before You Buy

A desk fits your measurements, not a height category. Use this worksheet to compare a specific workstation with your seated and standing needs. It is a shopping aid, not an ergonomic certification or medical assessment.

A tape measure and your normal work shoes are enough. Your browser's print command also works.

Undo The Desk · undothedesk.com/resources/desk-fit-worksheet · October 19, 2026

1. Record two typing positions

Let your shoulders relax, with your elbows near your sides and hands in a comfortable typing position. Measure the height from floor to where the keys would sit. Repeat while seated with supported feet. This uses OSHA's general working-position guidance as a starting point; do not force a position to match a number.

Units (inches or centimeters):

Shoes / mat used when measuring:

Seated key height from floor:

Standing key height from floor:

Keys above the desktop surface:

Other user, if sharing the desk:

2. Convert key height to a desktop target

Starting desktop height = desired key height − key height above the surface. Use the same units throughout. For example, a 48-inch key target with keys 1 inch above the desktop suggests starting around a 47-inch surface. This is an illustrative calculation; verify with actual typing.

If you use a keyboard tray, measure the actual key position relative to the surface instead. A tray below the surface changes the relationship. Do not compare a frame-only height with a measurement that includes the top.

Seated desktop target:

Standing desktop target:

3. Compare the exact desk

Brand, frame generation and top:

Listing range and whether top is included:

Available room width / depth:

Return deadline and return freight:

The configuration reaches both targets, including the needs of another user if shared.
Chair arms, knees, frame supports, wall clearance and cables fit the full movement range.
I have checked monitor position separately. Correct keyboard height does not guarantee correct screen height.
I know which feature I need that my current equipment cannot provide.

If the result is close to a desk's limit, ask the seller to confirm the exact assembled height. This worksheet does not predict wobble, comfort or long-term durability.

4. Keep the alternative in view

If the current desk fits and you only want more changes of position, buying a new one may be unnecessary. Try the free workday checklist. If shopping remains useful, compare standing-desk ranges, the V2-Commercial and E7 Pro, or chair-fit tradeoffs.

Measurements and checkmarks are not submitted or stored by this page. Source context: OSHA workstation purchasing guide. The measurement worksheet and shopping sequence are Undo The Desk's editorial framework.