Laptop stand height calculator
A laptop on a desk puts the screen below eye level, so you look down at it. Enter your height and your laptop’s screen size to see how far a stand needs to lift it so the top of the screen sits at or just below eye level.
Your numbers
Enter your height to see your numbers.
Why a raised laptop needs a separate keyboard
Cornell’s ergonomics guidance describes the basic laptop problem: when the screen is at a comfortable height and distance, the keyboard is not, and the other way round. [3] A stand fixes the screen and moves the keyboard out of reach. The usual answer is an external keyboard and mouse at elbow height, with the laptop lifted in front of you. Use the desk height calculator to set the keyboard.
How the numbers are worked out
- Screen height comes from the diagonal and the screen shape. A 14 inch 16:10 laptop has a screen about 30 cm wide and 19 cm tall.
- With the laptop flat on the desk, the top of the screen is the base thickness (2 cm) plus screen height × sin(105°), because a laptop screen is usually opened a little past vertical.
- Eye height above the desk is 0.458 × your height minus your seated elbow height (0.143 × your height) plus 2.5 cm, which assumes your elbows are level with an external keyboard on the desk. Or your own measurement.
- The target is the top of the screen from 8 cm below eye level up to eye level, following OSHA and CCOHS. [1][2]
- The lift is the target minus the flat-on-desk height, measured at the laptop’s hinge. It is never below zero.
Lift needed by body height
A 14 inch 16:10 laptop, without JavaScript.
| Your height | Eye height above desk | Raise the laptop by |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm59.1 in | 50 cm19.6 in | 22–30 cm8.5–11.6 in |
| 155 cm61.0 in | 51 cm20.2 in | 23–31 cm9.1–12.3 in |
| 160 cm63.0 in | 53 cm20.8 in | 25–33 cm9.7–12.9 in |
| 165 cm65.0 in | 54 cm21.4 in | 26–34 cm10.3–13.5 in |
| 170 cm66.9 in | 56 cm22.1 in | 28–36 cm11.0–14.1 in |
| 175 cm68.9 in | 58 cm22.7 in | 29–37 cm11.6–14.7 in |
| 180 cm70.9 in | 59 cm23.3 in | 31–39 cm12.2–15.4 in |
| 185 cm72.8 in | 61 cm23.9 in | 33–41 cm12.8–16.0 in |
| 190 cm74.8 in | 62 cm24.5 in | 34–42 cm13.4–16.6 in |
| 195 cm76.8 in | 64 cm25.2 in | 36–44 cm14.1–17.2 in |
Choosing a stand
Match the range in your result. A fixed stand gives one height, so pick one inside the range. Adjustable stands cover a spread of heights and suit shared desks. Keep the laptop about an arm’s length away and centred, and check the viewing distance against the 50 to 100 cm range in the monitor height calculator. If the small screen forces you to lean in, increase the text size.
Limits
These are estimates from average body proportions: rounded ratios of your height, checked against the average sitting and leg measurements in the ANSUR II survey of US Army personnel (a sample that is younger and more male than the general public) and against standard body-segment tables for the standing values. Two people with the same height can differ by several centimetres in leg length, torso length and arm length, so treat the result as a starting point and adjust from there. What matters is how you sit or stand at the desk: shoulders relaxed, elbows near your sides, wrists straight, feet supported, head over your shoulders. If a number and your body disagree, go with your body.
This page is general information. If you have numbness, tingling, weakness or pain that keeps coming back, see a clinician.
The maths assumes the screen is opened about 105 degrees and the base is 2 cm thick. A thicker laptop or a different hinge angle changes the result by a centimetre or two.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a laptop stand be?
High enough that the top of the screen is at or just below eye level. For a person about 175 cm tall using a 14 inch laptop, that is roughly 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in). Enter your height and screen size above for your own range.
Do I need an external keyboard with a laptop stand?
Yes. Once the laptop is raised its keyboard and trackpad are too high to type on comfortably. An external keyboard and mouse at elbow height solve that. Cornell notes that laptops trade off screen position against keyboard position, and this split fixes it.
Is a laptop stand better than a book or a box?
Height is what counts, and a stack of sturdy books can reach the right height. A stand made for the job is usually more stable, adjusts in smaller steps and keeps the vents clear.
What if I only use the laptop on my knees or a couch?
Those setups put the screen low and the keyboard high, and neither can be fixed with a stand. The guide to working from a couch or bed covers what helps.
Does screen size matter?
Yes. A larger laptop has a taller screen, so its top edge is higher and it needs less lift. A 16 inch laptop needs a few centimetres less than a 13 inch one.
Is the result exact?
No. It uses average body proportions and a typical screen angle. Adjust the height until the top of the screen is at or slightly below your eye level and you are not tilting your head up or down to see it.
Sources
- OSHA. Computer Workstations eTool: Monitors.
- CCOHS. Office Ergonomics: Positioning the Monitor (OSH Answers).
- Cornell University Ergonomics Web. Computer Workstation Ergonomics Guidelines.
- OSHA. Computer Workstations eTool: Keyboards.
- ANSI/HFES 100-2007. Human Factors Engineering of Computer Workstations. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (standards catalogue).
- Gordon CC et al. (2012). 2012 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel (ANSUR II). Average body sizes from this survey were used to check the body proportions here.
- ANSI/BIFMA G1-2013. Ergonomics Guideline for Furniture Used in Office Work Spaces Designed for Computer Use. BIFMA.