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Setup Tools
The working references behind the guides — the same numbers I use at my own desk.
The measurements that drive everything
- Elbow height: floor to bottom of elbow, shoulders relaxed — your desk or keyboard surface target.
- Femur length (seated): backrest to inside of knee — the number seat depth has to match.
- Monitor distance: roughly arm’s length, scaled up with screen size; top of screen around eye level.
- Lumbar height: where your lower back curve actually sits against the chair — check it against the chair’s adjustment range.
What to check on any spec sheet
- Desk frames: height range (does the low end reach your seated elbow height?), load rating with everything counted, duty cycle, crossbar or not.
- Chairs: seat depth (and whether it adjusts), lumbar height range, armrest height range, cylinder height range.
- Monitor arms: supported weight range against your monitor’s real weight, VESA pattern, desk-thickness clamp range.
The start here page walks through taking these measurements in the right order.