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by jwr 507 days ago
I would disagree with 1.5m, but I do recommend checking how close you are to your monitor.

Let's assume you have a reasonably sized office monitor (27" or so). Extend your arm with your hand as a fist, forward. If your screen is closer to you than your knuckles, it's too close.

Now, for the height: all monitor stands are too low. If you keep your head straight and look at the monitor, you should be looking at the upper third. VESA mounting arms or monitor stands solve this problem.

2 comments

I've always heard you should be in line with the top of your monitor when looking straight ahead. A quick google has says the said.

Either way we're on the same lines - too many people are looking up too much when looking at the monitor. It takes more effort than looking down.

GP said too low, not too high. I'm thinking a typo though because that doesn't make much sense to me and I agree with you - I always have to adjust monitors as low as they can go in the office.
Not a typo. Most monitors are too low. You should not have to bend your neck to look at your monitor.

But some office setups have other issues, such as chairs that are too low, or desks that are too high, in which case your monitor might end up at the right height, but that doesn't mean much if the rest of your setup is wrong.

Begin with the desk+chair: they need to be set up so that when your hands are on the keyboard, your elbows form a right angle, or very close to it. Look at piano players for reference. Most setups fail that test. But once you get that right, you will notice that your monitor is way too low and all the stands are too low, which was my point.

You need to be looking at the top third when staring straight ahead, otherwise you will need to bend your neck to look at the lower part of the monitor and you will end up with neck pain. Top third, ideally around 2/3 of the monitor, so not the very top.

    all monitor stands are too low. If you keep your head straight and look at the monitor, you should be looking at the upper third. 
If the stand were too low and were to replace it with a higher one, you would then be looking at the lower part of the monitor and that is better?