Workbench Height?

[normans]

I have been told to remove all my tackle stuff out of the house! I cleaned out the storage building insulated and run power to the building. I put up inside walls up and installed lighting. My question is how tall should the workbench be ( if you could start from scratch) I will be making jigs and soft plastics. Thanks for your help.

[normans]

I guess i should learn how to spell it before i build it. Thats workbench!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jig Man]

Will you be standing or sitting? How tall are you? These two things should help you figure it out.

I had to have two stations to do my work comfortably. I stand at the work table but sit at the work desk. I could not stand at the desk because it is too low. I could not sit at the table because it is too high.

[normans]

I am 6 ft. tall and will be sitting most all the time ( bad back ) . Thanks for your help.

[Painter1]

32" to 39" is probably the range you want to look at. I would pick 33" or 36" based on the stool height you use and how long your legs are.

I am setting up my garage to do some woodworking, jig & plastic bait making for my own amusement. I just ordered these workbench legs so that I could adjust the height for my work desk http://www.grizzly.com/products/Adjustable-Height-Legs-34-/G9924

Hope that helps

[Clint M]

Are you older? Do you have bad eyes? I would build it taller than average because that way you dont have to bend over so much to look at stuff your working on. Also would be handy if you are standing. I would say 45 inches.

[Richard Prager]

How tall and comfortable was your previous area? Spend a couple of bucks on the best lighting and a comfortable, adjustable chair. Both are quite important and less expensive than a divorce attorney!IMHO

[bass100]

This is an easy one. I am disabled due to my back and I need to be able to alternate between sitting and standing. Make your bench at waist height and then buy stools that are adjustable to the height of the bench. Buy doing this you can transition from sitting to standing without your work station changing. Although I am a tall guy my old lady is not and she loves the height of all the work stations.

[Bass-Boys]

here is what happened to me. years ago I built a new garage. a buddy that was a carpender was over and I asked him , how high should my work bench be?

Well I am only 5' 8" tall., he said , go in and measure your kitchen counter height and you got it. Well i did that and now for years I have been working on a 25' long bench that is to high !!! not happy, What I had to do was build a platform on the floor that was apx. 4-5 " high to stand on. this platform is only 6' long so I can move it along the bench where needed.

So,,,,

do some testing on your height ,, it will pay off in the long run.

[Vodkaman]

Choose your chair first. once that is sorted, get the tape measure out and work out the height you require with a dry run. At the end of the day you can always add or subtract, but you should have no trouble getting it right first time. I am very happy with my work bench and computer tables, which were both done with this method.

Dave

[redg8r]

36" is standard countertop height........42 is bartop height

I was told once for a truly custom fit, measure the distance from the floor to your elbows and build to suit, use an adjustable stool to allow sitting or standing.

I prefer 36" for general use, allows me to get over a task for added leverage.

[smalljaw]

This is an easy one. I am disabled due to my back and I need to be able to alternate between sitting and standing. Make your bench at waist height and then buy stools that are adjustable to the height of the bench. Buy doing this you can transition from sitting to standing without your work station changing. Although I am a tall guy my old lady is not and she loves the height of all the work stations.

This how my work bench is set up! It is a little above waist high and I'm 6'1", I need to transition so I have a stool, in a chair the bench would be too ihgh but a stool is perfect so I can sit or stand and everything is at a nice level that is comfortable.

[mark poulson]

Try standing and working at your kitchen counter, usually 36+",and your bathroom counter, usually 30"+. Then try sitting at them, too.

That will give you an idea of what works best for you.

I'm 5'9", and use a stool, too.

My main work area is my garage central 4'X8' work table, which is 30" tall. I both sit and stand there, and it's fine. And there's storage underneath.

I do have 37" high perimeter wook benches, and have my drill press table at 42", where my fly tying vise is clamped.

So I have different heights for different things, but I can always raise stuff on my 30" table to work on it comforably.

Maybe have two heights. A 30" desktop height area, and a 36" work bench area, for both sitting and standing. I find I use both a lot.

Grinders, vises, and benchtop machines are usually designed for 36" counters, so you're not stooped when you work at them.

Whatever you decide, make sure you have lots of lighting. Working in poor lighting is like being blind. And dust collection, so your work area, and your lungs, don't wind up coated with sawdust.

Edited December 22, 2011 by mark poulson

[Oldfart9999]

Try standing and working at your kitchen counter, usually 36+",and your bathroom counter, usually 30"+. Then try sitting at them, too.

That will give you an idea of what works best for you.

I'm 5'9", and use a stool, too.

My main work area is my garage central 4'X8' work table, which is 30" tall. I both sit and stand there, and it's fine. And there's storage underneath.

I do have 37" high perimeter wook benches, and have my drill press table at 42", where my fly tying vise is clamped.

So I have different heights for different things, but I can always raise stuff on my 30" table to work on it comforably.

Maybe have two heights. A 30" desktop height area, and a 36" work bench area, for both sitting and standing. I find I use both a lot.

Grinders, vises, and benchtop machines are usually designed for 36" counters, so you're not stooped when you work at them.

Whatever you decide, make sure you have lots of lighting. Working in poor lighting is like being blind. And dust collection, so your work area, and your lungs, don't wind up coated with sawdust.

X2 on work comfortably. The other thing you can do is make the bench at a height that is good for sitting then make a platform that clamps to the bench for standing, if you make it open you could clamp tools to it, when not in use you can set it beside the bench.

Rodney