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Ergonomic Monitor Height Calculator

Get the right monitor height and viewing distance for your setup — where the top of the screen and its centre should sit relative to your eyes.

Seated eye height from floor

Monitor diagonal size

Aspect ratio

Wear bifocals / progressives?

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How it works

Screen height = diagonal × (short-side ÷ √(w²+h²)) · Top ≈ eye level (lower ~4 in for progressives) · Centre = top − height ÷ 2 · Distance ≈ diagonal × 1.2 (20–40 in)

Good monitor ergonomics keeps your neck neutral and your gaze slightly downward, which is the eye's natural resting angle. The guideline is to put the top of the screen at or just below eye level so you look down a little at the centre, never up. The tool derives the screen's physical height from its diagonal and aspect ratio, then places the top at your seated eye height and the centre below it. Bifocal and progressive wearers should drop the screen further so they can read through the lower lens without tipping the head back.

Worked example

For a 27-inch 16:9 monitor, screen height is 27 × (9 ÷ √(16²+9²)) ≈ 13.2 inches. With a seated eye height of 46 inches, put the top around 46 inches from the floor and the centre near 46 − 6.6 = 39.4 inches, sitting about 32 inches (2.7 ft) away.

Frequently asked questions

Should the monitor be at eye level or below?

The top of the screen should sit at or just below eye level so your gaze falls slightly downward to the centre. Looking up at a screen strains the neck and dries the eyes by opening them wider.

How far away should the monitor be?

Roughly arm's length — about 20 to 40 inches — with larger screens pushed further back so you are not sweeping your eyes across them. If text is too small at that distance, increase the font size rather than leaning in.

What changes with bifocals or progressives?

Those lenses put the reading zone at the bottom, so a normally placed screen makes you tilt your head back to see through it. Lowering the monitor several inches lets you read through the lower lens with a neutral neck.

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Educational estimate only — not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual needs vary; consult a qualified healthcare professional for decisions about sleep, hydration, nutrition, exercise, or ergonomics.