Home Office
Setup Checklist

Desk with at least 48" of surface width

Wider is better. 60" is ideal.

Chair with adjustable seat height

Lumbar support is a bonus.

Monitor at arm's length from your face

20–28" is the target range.

Keyboard and mouse on the same level

Avoid reaching up to type.

External monitor (at least 24" FHD)

Biggest productivity upgrade for laptop users.

Monitor top at or slightly below eye level

A stand or monitor arm makes this easy.

External keyboard (full-size or TKL)

Required if monitor is on a stand.

External mouse

Reduces wrist fatigue vs trackpad.

USB hub or dock (for laptop users)

One cable connects everything.

No window directly behind your monitor

Causes glare — reposition desk if needed.

Adequate desk lighting (300–500 lux at surface)

Desk lamp or monitor light bar.

Front-facing light for video calls

Ring light or soft box.

Bias light behind monitor (optional)

Reduces eye strain significantly.

Webcam producing at least 1080p

Laptop cams are usually 720p or worse.

Dedicated mic or USB headset

Audio quality matters more than video.

Test audio and video before important calls

Don't discover problems mid-call.

Clean, neutral background for calls

Or use a virtual background.

Under-desk cable management tray installed

Keeps cables off the floor and desk.

Cables bundled with velcro ties

Not zip ties — you'll re-route later.

Power strip with surge protection

Under the desk, not on top.

Cable labels on both ends

Saves confusion when troubleshooting.

Feet flat on floor (or footrest)

Knees at 90° or slightly open.

Elbows at 90°, forearms parallel to floor when typing

Adjust chair height first.

Screen tilted slightly back (5–15°)

Reduces eye strain for most people.

Keyboard directly in front of you — no reaching

Break every 90 minutes

Pomodoro or Stretchly app helps.

Reliable internet (test at fast.com)

At least 25 Mbps upload for video calls.

Ethernet cable if Wi-Fi drops on calls

More reliable than Wi-Fi.

Noise-cancelling headphones for focus work

ANC beats ear plugs.

Do-not-disturb signal for your household

Physical boundaries matter.