Do you have a preferred workbench or equipment height? I’ve been measuring some equipment, and the numbers are all over the place.
Personally, I’m 5′ 9″ and prefer a 38″ height as the default. That allows me to tackle semi-precision work, while still being able to crank down on something tough.
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The SawStop Jobsite table saw I’ve been testing has a 36″ table height. Their larger saws are shorter. Their professional table saw, for instance, has a 34″ table height.
The reason I’ve been looking into this is because I’m embarking on a squareish mobile workbench build, and it would be great if I could match the height to my new Woodpeckers router table, jobsite table saws that I always seem to be testing, and other such equipment. That way I could have a mobile outfeed table.
When looking into Sortimo WorkMo mobile workcenter tool storage boxes, I saw mention of 750mm being ideal for harder work, and 1000mm being better for precision work. That’s 29.5″ and 39.4″, respectively.
Kitchen counters are typically 36″ tall. But they’re also designed for everyone in a family to use equally.
If you’ve developed any preferences over the years, let’s hear it! Or if you just rolled with what you built or bought, do you like your setup?
If you mention measurements, telling us your height would be beneficial.
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Brian
I like 42″ and I’m 6’7″.
BigDan
6’6 yeah that’s decent. Anything below the belt makes me nervous and that seems to be a lot of things. Maybe I don’t trust my abilities with certain tools but it seems like common sense safety precautions to me.
Patrick H
42″ is the ideal height for some one of our heights. I completely agree. (6’7″ as well, apparently you have a lot of tall readers haha)
Kevin
Jeez guys, I’m 6’5″…it’s not very often that I’m made to feel short!
Nate818
I like 42″ and I’m 5’7″.
Raul
I’m 5’ 7”
And I’m building a 42” work bench. I had a 36” work bench and I’m no sure if I’m going to tall?
it feels right on the money for me, I need a second opinion
Stuart
In case it helps, one quick way to simulate a taller work surface is to put books or cardboard boxes on a kitchen counter.
Mike
44″ @ 6’4″ and I agree.
garrett
The older I get, the higher I want them.
Bird Legs
Indeed! At this rate I’ll need one nipple high in a few years!
brian
between my belly button and nipples
RKA
As you mentioned, it really depends, and if it’s to be an indeed or outfeed table to, you’ll need some form of adjustment. Further, if you intend to use it for assembly of large projects, a lower height may be advantageous. Rockler has an adjustable table frame that looks interesting. Just add casters and a top sized to your needs. 4-5 cranks of the handle for an inch of vertical adjustment means you can dial it in right where you want (26-42″ range). Made in the USA. It’s on sale right now, it would be great to see a review! :). I might get it anyway. 🙂
Stuart
Adjustable height benches have 2 compromises – rigidity and weight capacity.
I had my eye on the adjustable height bench in the past, but user reviews made me hesitant and I forgot all about it.
If the SawStop becomes a long-term test sample, I might detach it from its roller stand and build a mobile workbench around it.
RKA
Yeah, for outfeed and assembly I could compromise on the rigidity, but not for other tasks. I saw the warning about centering the load on the table and it does look like to would be prone to racking if you didn’t. I didn’t see reviews though.
It doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to build one table to do it all, not with machines at different heights.
Brandon
5’11”.
My bench is 32″ tall for hand tool work. When I need to get really close to my work I pull up a stool.
Raul
Does it work good for ya
Joe G
Ideally, you really want to make everything the same height in your workshop. Then use a stool to get your body lower for fiddly work.
Usually that height is the height of your table saw.
Chance
I guess I don’t agree with that. I have many surfaces all at different heights catered to each task.
fred
I find that tablesaw outfeed height is too high for tasks like hand planing – which for me is better done at 30 inches. The bench I sit at for soldering and fine work is 40 inches tall. The top of my roll-away assembly bench that I put cabinet carcasses on is 25 inches off the ground. From time to time I’ve seen plans for building an auxiliary bench to plant on top of your main bench to clamp work done at a greater height.
Here is one idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIguWLiQHOs
ktash
It’s more than height. It’s also where your arms bend at the elbows. Then there are different kinds of leverage for different tasks. I don’t want to be bent over for hours at a time, either. It’s more comfortable to stand up straight for most things.
I was just looking at some adjustable sawhorses from Shopnotes #17. I like these better than some other designs I’ve seen, they are more of a stand, they don’t have angled legs . These might come in handy for outfeed, etc. The feet come off and they store in a small space. On my list to consider further. http://www.shopnotes.com/plans/adjustable-sawhorse/
ktash
I googled them to see if I could find more, and here’s someone who built them. They are more adjustable than I thought, and attractive enough that you could use them to make an extra table for outdoors when you have a barbeque, etc. After seeing this, I’m definitely making them.
Heck, if I like them, maybe I’ll make them in cherry with brass hardware and use them for a dining table 😉 . http://christophermerrill.net/ww/shop/sawhorses.html
Chance
I have most stands and tables at different heights.
My tablesaw and outfeed table are all at the standard 34″ which is the lowest, except for maybe the jointer table. Planer is propped up higher so boards will clear anything I have laid out on the tablesaw side table. Miter saw is higher so I can cut comfortably and see my marks at a comfortable standing position as well as run really long boards out over the top of the jointer. Drum sander is somewhere in between everything else but doesn’t really matter since all you’re doing is placing material on the conveyor. Multiple other things at different heights, but my router cabinet is the tallest, I can’t remember for certain, but I think I built it at about 44-46″ tall. Since I’m not using any hand tools at the router I like it to be taller so I can control the material better and get a better view of adjustments and what’s going on. Hand planing feels good at about 34″, and most my door and faceframe assembly is done at that height. Casework assembly is done at 36″.
Basically my points is this, there is no magic number. Every process and tool dictates it’s own height. If you try to make everything at the same height it will never work because a sagging board will never magically slide off one surface and onto another that’s at the same exact height. Time and experience will dictate what height YOU want, which will be wrong to everybody else. . . . . .
Lance
When I built the workbench in my current garage I built it so it folded up onto the wall so I could use the garage as a place to park a car as well, kind of important when you only have a single car garage that has to double as a workshop.
I mounted it high enough so that the mirror of my wife’s car could clear underneath it safely when folded. Due to the rather aggressive slope of the garage floor towards the door end, this meant an 8 foot long workbench at 43 inches high on one end and 47 inches on the other, rather high by most people’s standards I would think.
It ended up being a beautiful thing! At 6 feet tall I find this workbench is an absolute perfect height and I find myself working more often on the 47 inch end than the shorter end. It puts things high enough that I’m not leaning over all the time to work on them or see what I’m doing.
We are building a new house later this year and when I put workbenches together for my workshop I will definitely be building them tall. I’m thinking my main workbench will probably be 48 inches high with another bench beside it at about 40 inches just so I have two choices depending on the work I’m doing.
Tall workbenches also mean more room to store things underneath, or higher cabinets with more drawers or larger doors.
glenn
I am 178cm/ 5’10” and prefer 900mm/35.4″ high benches, which all of mine are.
Tegian
900mm (35.4″) is the standard bench height here in Sweden.
glenn
Yes, its the same here in Australia, which is I suppose why I am used to it and chose that height for my garage.
Steve
This is perhaps the best video I’ve seen on the subject. Jim Tolpin has written some great books, too! https://youtu.be/bBS5-AV81lg
Alick
I raised my table saw a couple of inches when I put it on wheels so that it can be rolled back against the wall. It’s now 37″ and pretty comfortable for my 5’10”. Would be a good bench height for me too.
I’m also test fitting a new bench top above some storage bays for dewalt toughboxes and festool systainers. It’s 41″ at the surface – much higher than i’m used to. I like how it brings things nearer to my ageing eyesight and may be good for some fine tasks but i think its too high for woodworking. I plan to drop it a couple of inches.
Nathan
my table saw I think in is that 34 inch range. My mitre stand device is 32 I think and I know when I put the saw on it the deck is something like 36 or so.
So for those device that range is about right for me – a little taller wouldn’t hurt. It is about waist high for me. 6’3″ here. So those work for wood work etc. In fact I use my table saw table as an assembly table sometimes. But as I am building a new workbench in the wall I’m leaning towards 42-45 inches for it. so I don’t have to lean over much. My rollaround is 41 or so.
And I’m really interested in the Toughbuilt style saw horse/ which tops out around 33 inches – but that’s for portable use mostly and I can’t stand short plastic saw horses.
Flaken
While body height, I’m 6 feet four inches tall, has quite a bit to do with comfortable working spaces, arm and leg length are important, too. Being a bit taller and working at the normal work surface heights gives me backaches quickly.
One also has to consider where items are designed in the world and not the markets they are intended for. Items designed in the U.S. & Europe are fit for those from about 5 foot 6 inches up to around 6 feet 1 inch. Designers in Asia tend to use lower heights of 5 feet to 5 feet 6 inches.