Where do you men prefer your shop bench height for general purpose work?

I have one table for the work I do and it was in the basement when I moved in. It's too high for me now, I'm 5'9" and the bench top is at 3-1/2 ft.

I need to bring it down, I'll cut the legs but want to get some input so I get it right the first time.


Thanks, Rob

I have a bad back, so belly button high is good for me

I like a shop bench to be just high enough to for me to rest my palms on while they're at my side, at rest. (If that makes sense?)

Basically, figure out how to make it high enough so that you do not have to bend over to work as nothing screw your back up more than spending hours hunched over.

I'm 6'6" tall and I've been dealing with the average world my whole life- bellybutton high is a good reference so your not stooping over the damn thing all day. another thing to try- make a plywood box, closed on all sides, 8"x12"x24"* to raise and rest one of your feet on while at the bench working. saves wear & tear on the back.

*in fact, make two- we use them in the movie business, we call them "apple boxes", and use them for just about everything.

RR, My main bench is 36". This places the 5" vise at a comfortable working height for me. I'm 5'7". My other bench is 39" and the Tipton gun vise is also comfortable. Just a suggestion, but why don't you "raise the floor" by standing on a pallet and get a "feel" for what works for you? Good Luck...

As mentioned, the height can vary depending on what your doing on the bench. Vise work, or flat work on the bench surface are 2 different things, with working on large items (like a cabinet) adding another dimention.
Figure out what height works best for what you do the most (the platform idea is a good one) and is still useable for the less common tasks you do.

I have both a sitdown and a standup bench. I'm 6-1 and like to do some work sitting and some standing.

Checkering is a sitdown job although I stand at times for a break.

My standing bench is 37" tall and the sitting bench is 29" and by dumb luck instead of planning.

Both seem fine to me.

Standard height for kitchen counters is 36" and for a kitchen table it's 30". standing and sitting workbenches should be similar. My kitchen counter is 38" ,fine for my 6'1" height .My workbench is 32, mostly used for sitting.The 'flat of hand on bench' is a good measure as it produces the least amount of back strain.Just as important is good lighting -good overall lighting [no shadows] with work lights as needed.

my main bench is 37". I am 5' 10" but have pretty long arms and legs for my height. I do most of my work standing and like my main working bech to be comfortable with me standing in front of it, arms bent at the elbows to maybe 70° or so. 90° bent arms get tired too easy and when you start having your arms too straight it puts your work farther from your eyes, makes you bend your neck more (not good after hours of working), and makes it harder to do fine little detail work. I have a stool that is a perfect height for the bench, but I do almost everything except checkering while standing

I don't know about the cheapy on that I bought and put together but would guess it is close to the same as the ones I have built, which is 38", in fact, I think it's all 38 in there, I have a rolling table that is about 3x6 and I have it setup so I can roll it up in front of the bench and it is all one height. have never done it yet, but have the ability if I ever need to put something real big up.

38 though was determined by me to be where I was comfortable, I too have back problems (3 discs with tears and degeneration in the vertebrae, and that at 29) so don't like to bend over if I can avoid it.

Red

Standing with your arm hanging by your side, the top of your vise should be at your elbow. I've followed that rule for years and it works good for me.
Standing the same way but with your hand made into a fist, your knuckles should just touch the top of an anvil. That works very well, also.

I agree with Dago Red, 38" seens to be the preferred height for a work bench!