Workbench height

[willowman]

I am 6ft 1in. Does anyone know what would be the optimum height for a workbench for me to stand at to do carpentry etc?
I ask because I suffer from a bad back and can't bend over for too long. Thanks.

[heathfield]

There's a traditional carpenter's bench height ... It should be the same height as the large knuckles of your hands when you stand beside it.

[Clanad]

I tried heathfield's suggestion and found it works out about right. I'm 6 feet and mine measures at 34 inches floor to top. The "knuckle test" would place it at about 33 inches. I do have a section about 4 feet long that is 40 inches high, but that's used for my fly tying vice, which also works out well...

[willowman]

Thanks guys. I was sure there would be a logical height that had been tried and tested over the years. Now I'll be able to do all the jobs that MrsW has lined up for me!!!

[mrpeter]

It does not matter what the optimum height is what is more important is that it is comfortable for you and does not damage your back. I have extra timber under my bench legs to make it comfortable for me.

[Solarjunkie]

The knuckle height was ideal when there was a lot of and planing done, when there would be a need for the height of the wood plus you would need to put a bit of weight behind it. Maybe nowadays when so much of that type of manual work can be done faster, more easily (and often better, by amateurs) the formula needs revising - upwards, at a guess!