Sitting height calculator
Seated height (from the seat to the top of the head) is on average about 52% of standing height; people with longer legs sit relatively lower. Try it in Step length & sitting height above.
| Standing height | Sitting height (≈52%) |
|---|---|
| 150 cm (4' 11") | 78 cm (2' 7") |
| 160 cm (5' 3") | 83 cm (2' 9") |
| 170 cm (5' 7") | 88 cm (2' 11") |
| 180 cm (5' 11") | 94 cm (3' 1") |
| 190 cm (6' 3") | 99 cm (3' 3") |
| 200 cm (6' 7") | 104 cm (3' 5") |
Step length calculator · Body proportions
Why sitting height matters
Sitting height decides how you fit in a car, an aircraft seat, a desk or a bike. Two people of the same standing height can differ by several centimetres when seated, because leg length varies more than torso length. Someone with a long torso needs more headroom in a car; someone with long legs needs more legroom instead.
Using the number
- Desk: with your feet flat, the desk top should sit at elbow height, roughly 23 to 26 cm above the seat for most adults.
- Monitor: the top of the screen should be at or just below seated eye level, which is about 12 cm below the top of your head.
- Car: leave at least a fist of space between your head and the roof lining.
- Health checks: the ratio of sitting height to standing height (about 0.52 in adults) is used by doctors to assess body proportions in growing children.
To measure it yourself, sit upright on a flat stool against a wall and measure from the seat to the top of your head.