Standing Desks and Sitting All Day

Is it worth it?

For people who sit 8 or more hours, already have back pain or fade in the afternoon, alternating sitting and standing helps. For people who rarely sit long or will not change the habit, it is money spent on a taller desk. Our honest analysis covers both cases.

Set it up right

Stand relaxed, bend your elbows to 90 degrees and measure from the floor to your forearms: that is your standing height. Raise the monitor so the top is at eye level, 20 to 40 inches away. Then set your seated height the same way and save both as presets.

Timing and movement

Start with short standing blocks and build up. Many people use a sit, stand, move cycle, such as 20 minutes sitting, 8 standing, 2 moving. Stretch your hips and calves during the moving minutes; a timer helps for the first few weeks.

What should I fix first?

Three fixes in the order that pays off fastest, using the measurements from the guides on this page.

1. Decide whether you need one. Alternating sitting and standing helps people who sit 8 or more hours, already have back pain or fade in the afternoon; if you rarely sit long, the money is better spent on a chair or a screen. Is a standing desk worth it? covers both cases, and a converter on your current desk is the cheaper way to try it.
2. Set both heights properly. Stand relaxed, bend your elbows to 90 degrees and measure from the floor to your forearms for the standing height, then do the same seated and save both as presets. Keep the top of the screen at eye level in both positions. The free Standing Desk Height Calculator does the math.
3. Build up the timing. Start with short standing blocks and work toward a sit, stand, move cycle such as 20 minutes sitting, 8 standing and 2 moving, with a timer for the first few weeks. Wear supportive shoes or use an anti-fatigue mat on hard floors. The standing desk setup guide has the full routine.

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