Keyboard and Work Surface

• The height of the "home keys" should be 28 to 31 inches from the floor.
• The top row of keys should be no more than 10 inches from the front edge of your work surface.
• The work surface should allow 25 to 27 inches of clearance for your legs.

Computer Screen

• The middle of the screen should be from 37 to 43 inches above the floor.
• The distance from your eyes to the screen should be no more than 20 inches.
• The middle of the screen should be directly in the center of your line of sight.

Chair

• The chair should be fully adjustable and should support the curve of your lower back.
• If the chair has armrests, they should adjust so you don't have to slouch to use them.
• The chair seat should be 16 to 20 inches above the floor.
• The chair seat should be at least 18 inches wide, 15 to 17 inches deep.
• The back of the chair should lean back no more than 15° from the vertical starting point.
• The chair seat should slope downward no more than 10° from the horizontal starting point.
• Use an adjustable footrest if your feet do not rest comfortably on the floor when the chair is adjusted to these dimensions.
• Your thighs should remain horizontal or sloped slightly downward when you are seated in the chair.

General

• When your hands hang loosely at your side, your wrist is in a flat and neutral position. Try to maintain this position when you are operating your keyboard.
• Sharp edges should never come into contact with your wrists. A padded wrist rest may help.

RELAX!

• Use the least amount of pressure that you possibly can on your keys.
• Avoid drastic changes to your work station. Use the guidelines above as suggestions to gradually adjust your work area until it is comfortable for YOU!

David Curd, M.S. & William Etchison, M.S.
Columbus, Georgia
Adopted from Anonymous, IBM, 1973, ANSI Standards