How to calculate the perfect workbench height

The secret formula for the perfect workbench height.
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[StumpyNubs]

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[thingmaker]

If your lower back hurts more than your upper back, the bench is too low. If your upper back hurts more than your lower back, the bench is too high. If your entire back hurts evenly, the bench is just right.

[kiwdwks]

I have a hydraulic scissor lift that I put a MFT style worktop on. Being able to raise and lower depending on what you are doing/working on is a game changer!

[wdtaut]

Excellent as always, Stump. Auxiliary surfaces are the solution. Oh, and at 1:01, "A workbench...is a work holding jig". Truer words never spoke. If it won't hold your work, it's a table.

[bruceregittko]

My work bench doubles as an out feed table for my table saw so that dictated the height.

[patrikwihlke]

This, is me. Sweden's finest youtube viewer. Quality and high performance at an affordable price.

[jakespede]

Excellent presentation and explanation. You speak well and clearly without the um, huh, and and, which is a poor habit to fall into in any presentation.
I value the effort that goes into what you do and the great level of professionalism you deliver your videos with. Great job and keep up the good work.

[delgoldthorpe]

Only just seen this James, so only 11 months late with the comment....great Grandfather was a ships carpenter and I remember him making a lot of people workbenches for hand tool working....his formula was to stand straight, with your hands dangling loosely by your side and wearing the footwear you would be wearing while working....then he would take a measurement from roughly halfway between your wrist and your said many things you just explained, but his method gave a workbench height that was a best of both worlds for saw cutting and planing and chisel work. It is interesting to see your views and his coincide as they do for me, as he actually served in the first world war and the second, along with my father, so that kind of gives an idea of the age difference. Great work mate, and again another very informative vid.. thank you.

[rosshollinger]

Applying the you-can-always-cut-more-off rule, I have built two benches with what felt like the "perfect" height and added 2". Use it, play with it and cut off the bottoms of the legs 1/2" at a time until it's just right. Worked for me, anyway. Now I know for sure where it should be, which is 34" for me.

[crmcbrideww]

I'm 6'2 with bad vision so the elbow height baby bench, was the best thing I ever made for my shop.

[ninjitown]

I watch a lot of videos, and follow many people. I can honestly say that I look forward to yours the most. I love your approach to the topics, you get after the content right away, give great information and keep me engaged. I appreciate you and all you do my friend!

[danhusker]

I'm 6' with waning vision. My original bench was 36" high with a plywood top. It worked well as an out-feed table for my table saw. As I am doing more hand work, I replaced the ply with a laminated top, so the bench is now 39" high. The wonderful thing I love about wood projects is if your requirements change, take it apart and build it to what you need. Wood is good. Thanks for a great channel.

[aldreymenezes]

I made a elbow height jig last month, it's so much more pleasant to work now.
I wish you made this video years ago, it would have changed my life back then, but I'm sure this unassuming video is going to change a lot of amateur woodworkers lives from now on

[DKWalser]

My workbench has to serve the outfeed table for my table saw. So, that pretty much sets the height.

[sysmith]

I looked at the title: " Most woodworking benches are the wrong height". And thought; hello, this looks like click bait. But I'm glad I watched. Great video, excellent info. Having just built a workbench, this info will be great for when need to build a future workbench. Thanks. Cheers.

[sprint]

I really do need a dedicated workbench. My wife is over wood shavings at her diner table 😛

[Tydyrium]

One thing I did with my bench in my old garage was build it long. It was flat from end to end, but the slope of the garage meant that I had a tall bench at one end and a short bench at the other, with variety in between.

[claypigeon]

I could have used this video last year when I built my new workstations😉 oh well there's always next time. Thanks James 👍

[ronaldsmith]

I’ve never heard anyone explain workbench height before. Excellent presentation. Just bought a husky adjustable height bench for the purpose of an assembly table. Works great for being able to work on projects at different heights. Seems like the older I get the closer to the project my eyes need to be! Not to mention the relief to my achy back!

[mdeschepper]

This came out at the perfect time. I'm building my bench currently and keep debating internally on how high to make my bench. I'm 6'4" and don't see many woodworkers as tall a me.