The ergonomic desk setup checklist

Good ergonomics isn't one expensive chair — it's a handful of small alignments that stop your body fighting your desk all day. Here's the order we'd set things up in.

At a glance

Start with the screen

Your eyes should land on the top third of the screen when you look straight ahead. A laptop almost always sits too low — raise it and add an external keyboard.

Then the chair and your back

Sit back so the backrest supports you; fill any lower-back gap with a lumbar cushion. Hips slightly above knees.

Keyboard, mouse and wrists

Elbows near 90°, wrists straight. A split keyboard opens the shoulders; a vertical mouse keeps the wrist neutral.

Feet and legs

If your feet dangle, add a footrest. If you stand, an anti-fatigue mat keeps your legs fresh.

Finally, the light

Even, flicker-free light over the desk reduces eye strain. Light the surface, not the screen.

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