Workbench Heights

[Spudland_Dave]

Workbench Heights…what do you guys like & use? I know this is going to be a little subjective, but by the same token, it seems like standard heights fall into roughly 2 dimensions…36” or 48”

Standard counter height in a kitchen in 36” to the surface…looking at various toolboxes (Snap On & MAC) it appears finished heights end up +/- 48” ish.

If I wasnt already confused enough....Vidmar & StorLoc have sizes to do both heights...and more.

How high is your workbench and do you like it?

 

[Jack Olsen]

Standard counter height is 36". That's normal bench height, too. But guys usually fall somewhere between 34" and 42" for benches, depending on the user's height and the type of work being performed. It's a tough one to get advise on, unless we know what you'll be doing and how tall you are.

I'm 5'11" and all of my benches are 37", which is handy when I'm bridging long stock over more than one of them.

 

[bdamico]

ideal is based on your height. i don't know where anyone has a 48" tall workbench but I'm short

 

[coop]

I like 42" for standing work, and anywhere from 28" to 32" for seated. I am 5'8" and stand on a 1/2" fatigue mat.

 

[madosta]

I am designing a new desk/workstation/bar type workbench for my office. I played around with a few different heights, and for me doing the type of work I will be doing in my office - 45" to the top of the desk feels awesome for standing. It's also easy to get a bar stool under and work. It all depends on what you're going to be doing.

I'm only 5'10" but working on 36" after a while is painful for my back while standing.

I measured my elbow height standing with shoes and no shoes.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

ideal is based on your height. i don't know where anyone has a 48" tall workbench but I'm short

I'm 6'0 Tall...

What really got me to thinking about it is all the "toolboxes" would end up 48" high. I'd really like to go with a toolbox bench type, seems simple & effective. But at the same time, I'd like to be able to work on my bench.

 

[HandsomeDan]

I'm 6'2" and IIRC mine is around 40" tall.

 

[2mJps]

I work in different shops alot and benches are all heights thats not so bad but never mount a vice to a bench it will be to tall.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

It all depends...I have a 36" and a 26" bench. The 36" is just my general purpose one that has a vise mounted to it and use for normal standing work. The 26" is handy to use as a stand for saws and such, also great for assembling things that are a little bigger/taller as you're able to work over them without it being too high, also is the perfect height for when I'm on my roller stool to slide right under.

 

[Angelfire]

It all depends on the work being performed, the user, etc...

For woodworking, I've seen it recommended to hold your arms by your side with the palms facing the floor. Measure the distance between your palms and the floor and that's the recommended height. You'll be surprised at how low a bench will end up with this but there is reasoning for it. This is primarily for those woodworkers using planes etc... and a lower bench allows for one to get better leverage etc... while using hand planes, saws, and such. YMMV.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Like some have pointed out already, the workbench height depends on your height and types of projects you will use the workbench. To me it is simply your posture when working at a workbench.

In my case, I am 6 foot tall, primarily I standup when working at my workbench and majority of my jobs are not large or bulky. So my primary workbench is 42" tall. My projects are closer to me and I never find myself leaning over the workbench.

In my opinion, a workbench used for woodworking or larger/bulkier projects is one with a height between 30" to 33." Again, I am 6 foot tall.

 

[bdamico]

I'm 6'0 Tall...

What really got me to thinking about it is all the "toolboxes" would end up 48" high. I'd really like to go with a toolbox bench type, seems simple & effective. But at the same time, I'd like to be able to work on my bench.

way too tall imo. i followed a calc and am happy

 

[donnykooy]

tall benches work good for assemiling something like working on a starter or repairing a lawnmore...also my welding table is tall because i could use an adjustable chair or i can stand. there is a youtube video about this...search "workbench height" on you tube.

 

[scab]

I'm 6'0" and I built my work bench and project table 37.5" so that I could push them together if need be. That height works great for me but I based it on my stool height as well. Since I do a lot of stuff sitting down, I wanted to be comfortable there too. I would be sure to measure both.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My bench is 40" or42" I can't remember off hand. They are a comfortable height for me to stand yet I can sit at them on a stool just as easy.

 

[ZRX61]

Height of YOUR prefect bench is the measurement from your elbow to the ground minus the height of your vise.

 

[TRWTOW]

im 6ft made mine 41 inches mostly used for resting drinks on

 

[John in OH]

I'm 5'-11" and my primary bench is 36". Been very satisfied with that height for many years.

 

[ilovevocs]

I'm 5' 10" and have built all my benches at 39". Start with your counter and a few scrap pieces of lumber of varying thickness, stack them up and put a sheet of Luan board or ply wood on them for the top and experiment a bit.

As stated above maintaining a constant height for all or most your benches is a real plus when bridging them with materials.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I just finished two of these and did them at 39" I'm 6'1" and that seems to work good for me.

 

[rick carpenter]

Kind of a mini big thing in the woodworking world is bench on a bench or bench raiser (search either or both terms). They are little bitty benches that get clamped temporarily to a bench top.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

I just finished two of these and did them at 39" I'm 6'1" and that seems to work good for me.

I remember seeing your bench posted in another thread. Do you have any pictures of it finished? This is one of my favorite bench designs. I assume you built your bench after the Family Handyman bench that was in a recent issue.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I get home and measured my existing workbench... 39"
So I guess I asked the wrong question...although tons of great info here...Those of you with "Toolbox workbenches" how do you like working on the height of them? I'm not finding any box shorter then 41"...all the nice ones like the Macsimizer and Epiq are 48"

It wouldnt be a "Working bench" in terms of metal fab, more of a beverage holder/junk collector/service manual holder...I got a 36"x48" piece of 1" thick (yes one inch) steel which I will make into a welding/working table with a vice.

Robinhood...Beautiful bench!

 

[steel 35]

Yep it's 39" for me as well, even the 13 drawer boxes

 

[Steevo]

Mine is 39.5" to the work surface:

 

[niget2002]

My initial plan was to make mine 36", but after standing at the wall with a tape measure and 'pretending' to be working on something, I ended up making mine 40" high. I'm 6'1".

 

[TrooperJoe73]

I made mine 34" tall. I'm 5'9 and it seems to be at a good height.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I remember seeing your bench posted in another thread. Do you have any pictures of it finished? This is one of my favorite bench designs. I assume you built your bench after the Family Handyman bench that was in a recent issue.

I will take some of it (in finished state) when I get back home, I'm on the road now. Yes, those were from the Family Handyman magazine, you are correct. I still have the plans I could send you if you'd like those too.

 

[lilscorpion]

I've always made mine 36" high and I'm 6'1". I'm used to that height, not sure if its perfect or not because I've never messed with it. My welding table was 30" but that's because I wanted tribe able to get over the top of things when welding.

 

[Oldbear]

My initial plan was to make mine 36", but after standing at the wall with a tape measure and 'pretending' to be working on something, I ended up making mine 40" high. I'm 6'1".

This is why our work bench is 39" high.

 

[jvitez]

Bend your elbows horizontal to the floor, pretend to work on what your usually do. What's comfortable? Measure down to get the height. No pat answer for something as personal as a workbench.

 

[AMCguy]

I'm 6'2''. As I get older, my biggest consideration is keeping my work in the range of my reading glasses. I built two of the same type of bench. One is 36'', to work on larger objects like cylinder heads on a fixture. The other bench is 40''. On that one I do more flat work. All to keep the thing I want to see, at the the desired distance from my eyes.

One other thing to consider is the higher you make the top, the larger the item you can put beneath it.

Here is my 36'' one.

 

[lilscorpion]

I'm 6'2''. As I get older, my biggest consideration is keeping my work in the range of my reading glasses. I built two of the same type of bench. One is 36'', to work on larger objects like cylinder heads on a fixture. The other bench is 40''. On that one I do more flat work. All to keep the thing I want to see, at the the desired distance from my eyes.

One other thing to consider is the higher you make the top, the larger the item you can put beneath it.

Here is my 36'' one.

Since you commented on getting older...the higher the surface, the higher you must also lift an object to put on it.

 

[zmotorsports]

I am 6'2" and my two main workbenches are 38" high. The ones at work are 36" and seem just a bit low for me.

My welding table is 32" as I wanted to be able to sit comfortably and weld as well as place larger items on it to weld on without having to get a step stool. I can also use it for large items such as transmissions if I want to have 360 degree access around it. It actually gets used much more than I originally intended and more than just welding on.

When building transmissions it works great because I roll it over parallel to my stationary work bench with the transmission fixture and I teardown on my stationary and set the components on my welding table, this way I don't have one bench get overly crowded.

Mike.

 

[vartz04]

Mine is 42" I love it. My 27" roll cab fits under it with about 1" clearance. Take the casters off the box if you need it lower.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I started out building my welding table with the elbow height measurement. I'm 5'10" and it gave me 42" in height. It looks high and seems high. Initially I didn't like it and wanted to cut it down. After using it a while I'm either used to it or it's not too bad. The rest of my workbench run the wall along a sloped floor. It's 36" at the rear and near 39" at the front. I really can't say that I notice much of a difference in any spot. If you're over 6' tall then maybe the 36" is a little low. I'd say anything 36" to 40" is comfortable. You could but leveling legs on it and allow yourself the freedom to adjust it. My legs would add 3"-4" if fully extended.

 

[dbabicky]

I'm 6'3" all my benches are 42". Like said before, it's what ever you're comfortable with.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I remember seeing your bench posted in another thread. Do you have any pictures of it finished? This is one of my favorite bench designs. I assume you built your bench after the Family Handyman bench that was in a recent issue.

Here are the two I made:

 

[Sixshooter]

6'3" and I built mine at 42". It works fine although I wouldn't mind it being a inch shorter. It's just not worth the effort to cut it down for 1 inch, but I might get to it one of these days!