Ergonomic Workbench Height Calculator
Recommend a workbench height based on user height and task.
A workbench at the wrong height can lead to back pain, fatigue, and poor quality work. Ergonomics in the workshop are crucial for long-term health and enjoyment of the craft. This calculator helps you find a personalized, ergonomic workbench height based on your body and the type of work you do.
The ideal height varies: heavy hand-planing requires a lower bench for better leverage, while fine, detailed work like carving is more comfortable on a higher surface. This tool uses anthropometric principles to recommend a height that puts you in the most comfortable and efficient posture for your primary task.
The calculation is based on your height and the task you perform most often.
- Enter Your Height: Provide your total height in inches.
- Select Primary Task: Choose the type of work you do most frequently at the bench.
- General Assembly: Often set to wrist height, allowing for a neutral posture.
- Fine Detail Work: Set higher, near elbow height, to reduce hunching and bring the work closer to your eyes.
- Heavy Work: Set lower to allow you to use your body weight and core muscles for tasks like hand planing.
- Calculate Height: The calculator multiplies your height by a factor associated with that task to recommend a bench height.
- Ergonomics: The science of designing and arranging things so that people can use them easily and safely.
- Anthropometry: The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.
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Always double-check your measurements before cutting.
Account for the kerf (the width of the saw blade) in your calculations.
Consider wood movement (expansion and contraction) in your final dimensions.
Buy 10-15% extra material to account for mistakes and waste.