Workbench Height

[daddycreswell]

Picked up a solid core door at the local Habitat Restore the other day for 20.00. Going to build a workbench with it, what's a good height? Going to add some a place for the table saw on one end using adjustable metal shelves like these pictured. Thanks

 

[ShaneMSnyder]

I like mine right at elbow height.

 

[kd3pc]

Shane has it....

I like my arms, bent at the elbow to lie flat on the bench.

Others will say it depends on what you are going to do "on" it....and if you are going to sit at it, then the chair/stool becomes a factor. I like standing.

best of luck.

 

[Trey T]

I think anywhere from 36" to 38" is a good work bench height. Modern bathroom sink in America is about 36" tall.

I'm about 6' and my work bench is 40 and it's a bit too high majority of the time.

 

[383 240z]

depends on what you will be doing on the bench. I have a bench that is a soldering station most of the time. Thin components, so it sits right about the bent elbow level. Now my main bench, that usually has things on it about 10" 12" tall. Transmissions, and transfer cases, stuff like that, so I built it a bit shorter. Keith

 

[Streetbu]

I'm 6', my bench is at 40" & I'm glad I did. Puts a whatever you're working on at the perfect height.

 

[cuog]

One of the tricks I found for a general purpose workbench height is to wear the shoes you'll normally wear when working, stand up straight and measure to the top of your belt at your side. Depending on the sort of stuff you're working on(delicate stuff higher, bulky stuff lower) you may need to adjust that height a bit, but it should get you in the ballpark.

 

[stage20]

im only 5'9 but i played a lot with heights on blocks and boards and ended up with a 41" workbench height for my cabinets. i have another workbench at 38 and its just a touch to low for me.

 

[Farmall 1066]

I'm 6'7". 43-44" is the sweet spot for me.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There is no set height for a bench. It's your bench and you have to be comfortable at it, nobody else but you.

I'm 6'1" and my bench height is 40".

 

[Nick Danger]

Put it where a hammer head would land if you were hammering nails in mid air.

I'm 6'4" in work boots, so mine is 41 inches.

 

[daddycreswell]

I plan on using it got general use and will be also setting at it in a chair from time to time.


Sent from my dumb apple products my work makes me use.

 

[upndown]

With my back I just can't stay bent over a bench for a long period of time. I use my stool alot. I sat on my stool and found where my arms are comfortable, my ladyfriend measured, and I built from there.

 

[mhoss44]

I sat on a 26" barstool, put a long level (leveled it) one end on top of my leg, other end on the wall, marked with a pencil. Then did the same with the front rack on my ATV, since it will nose in under the bench at time. Came out at 39 inches for the bottom of the front rail for the bench. Bench height will be about 44 inches. And 44 is my lucky number, wore it playing Baseball. Another bench will be standard 36 inches.


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[gueyestan]

I like my arms, bent at the elbow to lie flat on the bench.

 

[PCO6]

At 5'9" a 36" bench height works well for me. My elbows are pretty much in line with the jaws of my vice. I also built my parts washer so that the basin floor is the same height as my bench. It made a HUGE difference and has saved my back many times!

 

[Duker]

There is no set height for a bench. It's your bench and you have to be comfortable at it, nobody else but you.

I'm 6'1" and my bench height is 40".

I am the same as NUTTSGT in height for both. My woodworking bench however is about 37" tall because that is where I do all of my hand planing and that accounts for the average height of the plane.

As NUTTSGT said and I wholeheartedly agree...it's your bench make it work for you.

 

[Andybull]

For most people kitchen counter height, 36" works just fine.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I've heard elsewhere on GJ. stand up with you arms at your side (with your favorite workshop shoes on), bend your hands at the wrist so that they would sit flat on the top of a workbench. That works out to 36" for me (I'm 6' even). That is a good "starting place".. Mine has been this height and I'm fine with it.

Good luck..

Dennis

 

[rexer]

5'-10" --- mine 38" ht. 38" deep 9' wide

 

[AMCguy]

It depends on what you are doing on the bench. I have two benches. For flat on the bench work like layout and other work thats close to the bench top, I use my 40'' bench. For work above the surface like small engine repair or working on something that's in a fixture, I use my 36'' bench.

I'm 6'2'' and like my work at reading glasses height without having to bend over.

 

[2CRUZ]

What I did was to build it a little bit high, use it for a while then turn it over and cut a half or one inch off. then use it for a while cut a little bit more off as needed and stop when it was comfortable. I don't know how high mine is but it fits me.

 

[shortykorte]

Read this document. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/97-117/pdfs/97-117-f.pdf
See the second page. Like others have stated it depends on how you use it and your particular ergonomics. My main table is 36" and at 6'6" my back aches when standing. Built a new counter just below bent elbow height and it is really comfortable while standing.

 

[youngnstudly]

I'm 5-11" and my work surface is just below 39" tall. I stand on a 1" floor mat to keep my feet (and back) comfortable. I think the top is located at the perfect height for me. YMMV.

Andy

 

[rartuin270]

I'm 5'7" and have short arms. I've found I like 37.5" after mistakenly making my first one that height and not 36". I have made the rest of my benches 37.5" to match and it works for me.


Here is one I just built with a solid core habitat door. [emoji2]

 

[Hornman]

Your bench height depends on what you are working on and how you are put together. I am 6'0", but I have longer than average arms. My main woodworking bench is 32" which is just right for planing boards and hand cutting dovetails, but a little low for hand crosscutting boards. I have a 12" high metal working vise on the corner opposite corner from the woodworking vise and it is just right for me. For large cabinet assembly I set up my torsion box table top at 20-24" which allows me to reach top and bottom of the cabinets. I have a 42" high bench I use for detail work and I built a "fine detail" bench (a box) to go on top to bring the work up to almost armpit level. Extreme, yes, but it works for me. I built the countertop around my shop sink to be 40". I use a fiberglass mopping sink, so having the top that high allows me to reach in and remove things with my arms with minimal bending over, which my back thanks me for.

 

[sz0k30]

I'm 6'3" and my workbench is on casters. Its: 30" wide, 8' long and 40-1/2 " high.

 

[zkling]

Main workbench is 40" floor to surface. Mostly used standing and do all sorts of work, very little heavy pounding. Mostly assembly/disassembly and soldering.

https://extranet.fhcrc.org/EN/sections/ehs/hamm/chap8/section5.html

 

[mhoss44]

@shortykorte......good link. That was interesting.


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[daddycreswell]

I'm 5'7" and have short arms. I've found I like 37.5" after mistakenly making my first one that height and not 36". I have made the rest of my benches 37.5" to match and it works for me.


Here is one I just built with a solid core habitat door. [emoji2]

Did you build a frame for the top to attach to or did you just screw legs to the top?

 

[rartuin270]

Did you build a frame for the top to attach to or did you just screw legs to the top?

Yeah there is a frame under there.

 

[daddycreswell]

Yeah there is a frame under there.

That's a little beefier than mine. Should I add the 2x4 cross ways? here is a shot of what I've got right now, I ran out of wood but I'm going to put a 2x4 middle way down in the front and rear, also along the bottom and of course on the sides tip and bottom. You think it will be strong enough?

 

[ZRX61]

The usual formula is: Distance from your elbow to the ground, minus the height of your vise.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I'm 5'7" and have short arms. I've found I like 37.5" after mistakenly making my first one that height and not 36". I have made the rest of my benches 37.5" to match and it works for me.


Here is one I just built with a solid core habitat door. [emoji2]

Very nice....

 

[daddycreswell]

Before I finish this table I want to add a spot to put my miter saw and and be able to remove it when it's not in use. I am guessing the best way to go about this would be to just cut a section out of the table and put a piece of plywood under to support the miter saw. Would this work? Also I was thinking I could put the cut piece back in when not using the miter saw. What do you think.

 

[Hillyard]

I'm 6'1" and mine's at 42" and it's perfect. My back doesn't kill me to work on stuff.

Also put 1.5" - 2" elevator bolts on the workbench legs so you can adjust it for floor unevenness and your desired height.

 

[Gojeremy]

I'm 6'2" and my big stationary bench is 39" and my mobil bench is 38". I use my 38" for my miter saw and circular saw. For me, that 1 inch clearance helps when using my circular saw.

 

[Trey T]

The usual formula is: Distance from your elbow to the ground, minus the height of your vise.

Very good point!

 

[bochnak]

I like mine right at elbow height.

Shane has it....

I like my arms, bent at the elbow to lie flat on the bench.

Others will say it depends on what you are going to do "on" it....and if you are going to sit at it, then the chair/stool becomes a factor. I like standing.

best of luck.

That is how I built my last 2 benches. Only height complaint is where vise mounts, a bit too high IMHO.

 

[daddycreswell]

Almost done, just need to add a couple more braces on the bottom then I am going to put used pallet wood on the bottom for shelves. Still thinking about the cutout for my miter saw.