The home office journal / Practical decisions
A shared standing desk needs a height record for each user
Create a repeatable seated and standing setup record, then check the desk range, monitor position and storage clearance for both people.
By Office Home Supply editorial · Updated 2026-10-11 · 3 minute read
Record the person before the preset
A memory button stores a desk height, not a complete workstation configuration. Two people can use the same tabletop height while needing different chair settings or screen positions. For a shared desk, begin with separate records for each person and each working mode. OSHA's evaluation checklist emphasizes enough adjustability for supportive working postures and occasional posture changes. Your record should therefore capture the arrangement around the height rather than treating the button number as proof of fit.
Build the seated record
Set up the chair and input area together. Record the chair model, seat-height setting, any foot support, keyboard location and monitor position. Where a control has no numerical scale, use an understandable description or your own reference photograph. Do not loosen structural chair fasteners to create a setting mark. Measure the finished tabletop from the floor at the same location each time, and record the surface thickness if comparing a frame-only product with a complete desk.
Build the standing record
Repeat the arrangement in the shoes normally worn at the desk. Record a usable keyboard position, mouse area and screen position while standing. The relevant desk range must include the finished surface, not just the bare lifting frame. Check whether the monitor has enough adjustment to serve both modes; a desk moving upward also moves a monitor standing on it. If the screen is supported elsewhere, it may remain fixed while the keyboard moves.
Make a four-position table
Use rows for person one seated, person one standing, person two seated and person two standing. Add columns for measured surface height, chair change, screen change and cable or furniture obstruction. This is a record of your own observations, not a universal height prescription. A proposed desk that reaches only three of the four positions leaves an unresolved fit requirement. Keep maximum load and stability questions separate from whether a particular height is reachable.
Check what sits underneath
The lowest shared setting can matter most for a drawer unit, chair armrest or computer stored below. Include the crossbar, motor housing and cable tray when checking the gap. A nominally short cabinet can still collide with a moving component. An obstacle-detection feature is not a substitute for a clear movement path or the manufacturer's installation instructions. Move the storage arrangement on paper before deciding the desk must be larger.
Use a handover routine
Before changing users, clear the movement area and return removable items to their agreed places. Select the appropriate mode, then restore chair and screen settings. Save the four-position table alongside your Workspace Builder shortlist. Repeat the checks after changing a monitor, arm, chair or storage unit. A useful preset reduces repeated adjustment; the surrounding record explains what must also change so that a shared desk remains practical for both people.
Sources & further reading
Original planning analysis based on the cited specifications. We do not claim hands-on testing. Confirm manufacturer compatibility and follow the supplied instructions.