Tt

"Toller"

06/03/2004 10:52 PM

Desk height?

Is there any standard for desk heights?
All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
26".

I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
drawers.


This topic has 9 replies

BA

Bay Area Dave

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

06/03/2004 11:27 PM

standards: height to work surface - 28 - 30"

width 36 -42

depth 18 -24

this is from Nick Engler's Woodworker's Wisdom.

highly recommended.

dave

Toller wrote:

> Is there any standard for desk heights?
> All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
> However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
> 26".
>
> I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
> drawers.
>
>

MO

"My Old Tools"

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

06/03/2004 5:11 PM

On the secretaries I checked, the drawers fit plenty snug and don't need any
extra clearance above the knees. One was blonde and one was a redhead.

--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there any standard for desk heights?
> All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
> However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
> 26".
>
> I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
> drawers.
>
>

MO

"My Old Tools"

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

06/03/2004 5:12 PM

Sorry, it was too easy. Most desk chairs are sized for a 30 inch high
surface.

--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there any standard for desk heights?
> All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
> However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
> 26".
>
> I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
> drawers.
>
>

Po

"Pounds on Wood"

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

07/03/2004 9:29 AM

I consider 30" standard for desks, 26" for keyboarding workstations.

--
Bill Pounds
http://www.billpounds.com/woodshop


"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there any standard for desk heights?
> All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
> However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
> 26".
>
> I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
> drawers.
>
>

Dd

"Dan"

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

06/03/2004 11:37 PM

We build these things quite often, building cabinets for a living and
building them on a 32mm system ( a whole other topic) our desk heights come
out around 31" to the top of the worksurface. I was always taught growing
up that 30" was the standard, but if you get a person with large thighs at
the desk or they are using the under the counter keyboard trays, the extra
inch is always appreciated. Mostly, check and see who is using it and what
they like if possible. What works for the intended use/person is what is
correct, this may not end up being an industry standard.

Dan
"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> standards: height to work surface - 28 - 30"
>
> width 36 -42
>
> depth 18 -24
>
> this is from Nick Engler's Woodworker's Wisdom.
>
> highly recommended.
>
> dave
>
> Toller wrote:
>
> > Is there any standard for desk heights?
> > All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
> > However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary)
are
> > 26".
> >
> > I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees
for
> > drawers.
> >
> >
>

BH

Bob Haar

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

06/03/2004 6:52 PM

On 2004/3/6 5:52 PM, "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Is there any standard for desk heights?
> All that I measure are between 29" and 30".

That is pretty typical for traditional desks.

> However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
> 26".

Many work surfaces that are intended for a computer keyboard and mouse are
at that height to give better ergonomics.

BA

Bay Area Dave

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

07/03/2004 4:53 AM

exactamundo. I'm 6'5" and built a desk for myself that is a good inch or
more above standard desk heights, so that my legs wouldn't hit the
underside of the pencil drawer.

However, the OP's question was merely about standards.

dave

Dan wrote:

> We build these things quite often, building cabinets for a living and
> building them on a 32mm system ( a whole other topic) our desk heights come
> out around 31" to the top of the worksurface. I was always taught growing
> up that 30" was the standard, but if you get a person with large thighs at
> the desk or they are using the under the counter keyboard trays, the extra
> inch is always appreciated. Mostly, check and see who is using it and what
> they like if possible. What works for the intended use/person is what is
> correct, this may not end up being an industry standard.
>
> Dan
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:%[email protected]...
>
>>standards: height to work surface - 28 - 30"
>>
>>width 36 -42
>>
>>depth 18 -24
>>
>>this is from Nick Engler's Woodworker's Wisdom.
>>
>>highly recommended.
>>
>>dave
>>
>>Toller wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Is there any standard for desk heights?
>>>All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
>>>However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary)
>
> are
>
>>>26".
>>>
>>>I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees
>
> for
>
>>>drawers.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

SB

Scott Brownell

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

07/03/2004 10:24 AM

In article <[email protected]>, Toller says...
>
>Is there any standard for desk heights?
>All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
>However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
>26".
>
>I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
>drawers.
>
>

My antique secretary is 30", has 3 drawers below the folddown.

HTH,
Scott

Bn

Bridger

in reply to "Toller" on 06/03/2004 10:52 PM

06/03/2004 4:49 PM

On Sat, 06 Mar 2004 22:52:16 GMT, "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Is there any standard for desk heights?
>All that I measure are between 29" and 30".
>However, the 2 secretaries I have measured (I am building a secretary) are
>26".
>
>I presume this is because they don't require clearance above the knees for
>drawers.
>


or that they take into account the height of a typewriter (remember
those?)


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