If your desk is too tall, here’s how to fix it

Your desk isn’t made for you: it’s for “everybody.” With a standard height of 28 to 30 inches, your desk works best out of the box for everyone taller than 5’8’’. As anyone outside that range knows, working with a “wrong” desk isn’t fun. You either end up straining your arms to reach the keyboard, or you raise your chair so high that your feet can’t touch the floor.

This bad posture can result in headaches or back pain for many hours.

“Many esports professionals suffer from repetitive strain injury or RSI, a condition that can develop as a result of repetitive movements in flawed ergonomic setups,” says Pete Wilkins from GamingCareers.com. A condition called repetitive strain injury (RSI), can prevent you from doing simple tasks on your computer. It can lead to more serious injuries if it is not treated.

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It can also be difficult or too costly to switch desks. There are several ways to make your long, high desk more functional with a simple office chair and a couple of inexpensive gadgets.

Tall chairs and footrests

If you think your desk isn’t the right height for you, a chair with adjustable height is the next-best solution. Or maybe you already have one, but you aren’t sure how to use it effectively. “A good rule of thumb is to adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle,” Wilkins said, adding that your elbows should be parallel to your desk.

But people shorter than 5’8’’ may not be able to do both of these things at the same time, even with an adjustable chair and a regular desk. If that’s you, the cheapest solution is to adjust your chair so that your elbows are at the right height and to find something to rest your feet on, to create that 90-degree knee bend and prevent your legs from dangling. A great and inexpensive alternative is an under-desk footrest.

You can find footrests in many forms: from inexpensive foam to elaborate wooden designs. In the end, they all serve the same purpose as an old box or a couple of paper reams, so there’s no need to overthink this. You can do anything as long as your knees remain at an angle and you have your feet on a smooth surface.

After adjusting the height of your footrest and chair, make sure you adjust your laptop or monitor. As a rule of thumb, the screen should be an arm’s length away from you and the top edge of it should be just a few inches above eye level.

Keyboard Trays and Armrest Troubles

“To maintain good ergonomics, the keyboard and mouse should be positioned so that your wrists are in a neutral, straight position,” Wilkins said. There is no single way to find a good wrist position. Everyone is different and each person has their own needs. A tip for PC heavy users: Keep your mouse and keyboard near your belly button. To compensate for sitting far beneath your desk, you should not raise your shoulders. This will not only put your elbows up at the desk but it can also cause severe strain to your back and neck. Likewise, desk chair armrests that are above your elbows’ natural position can encourage bad posture.

What if you have a desk so tall your arms can’t reach the top of your chair? Don’t worry. The keyboard tray is an inexpensive and simple way to reduce the height of your keyboard. Keyboard trays aren’t as popular as they used to be, but they work just as well as they did in the ’90s, if not better. These retractable boards can be attached to the desk’s bottom to reduce your keyboard and bring everything closer to you torso.

The keyboard tray is great for ergonomics, but also for organizing your space. These keyboard trays are also very stylish. If you’re upset about the idea of drilling a hole into your desk (or, vitally, not your desk), there’s another option. You can use clamp-on keyboard trays to make your desk look better than any other screwed-in options. For added stability, you should choose a tray that has two clamps. A tray must be placed under the desk. You might need to get a ruler out and measure the space under your desk if it has a protruding framework.

It is important to experiment with different settings and discover what works best for you. “Everyone is different, and different games require different amounts of mouse movement,” Wilkins said. “It is important to experiment with different positions to find the one that is most comfortable and allows you to maintain good posture while gaming.”