Under Desk Elliptical Desk Clearance Checker

How to measure for an under desk elliptical

1. Desk underside: measure from the floor to the lowest point under your desk where your knees will be. That might be a keyboard tray, drawer or support bar, not the desktop itself.
2. Knee height: sit in the chair you'll use, feet flat on the floor, and measure from the floor to the top of your thigh just behind the knee.
3. Knee rise: at the top of each stride the pedal lifts your foot, and your knee rises with it. That's typically 5 to 9 inches depending on the machine. The checker uses typical values for each type.

If your knee height plus that rise comes within about an inch and a half of the desk, you'll likely bump it on every stride. To double-check a specific model, rest your foot on something as tall as the machine's listed height and see where your knee lands.

What to do if it's tight

• Lower your chair an inch or two (and check that your arms still reach the keyboard comfortably).
• Sit slightly further back so your knees rise in front of the desk edge.
• Choose a low-profile machine like the DeskCycle Ellipse. See our compact under desk elliptical picks.
• Use a standing desk setup instead. Compare under desk elliptical vs walking pad.

Also stop your chair rolling back with caster cups. It makes pedaling far more comfortable. Full setup tips are in how to use an under desk elliptical.