by Joanne Allpress –
Keyboard trays – essential tool or legacy habit?
Requests for keyboard trays still crop up regularly, particularly in organisations with US links where they’re often seen as standard. But in practice, they’re rarely a requirement and sometimes they solve the wrong problem.
Are keyboard trays required?
Usually not. The priority is achieving a neutral working posture: relaxed shoulders, straight wrists, elbows level with (or slightly above) the keyboard and mouse, hips slightly above knees, and good support under the feet. A tray is just one way to get there not the default.
Why do they keep appearing?
Many office standards date back to when desks were too high for comfortable keyboard use. Trays became a quick retrofit and stuck around even though modern furniture often makes them unnecessary.
Where trays can help:
- Fixed or high desks where keyboard height can’t otherwise be adjusted
- Keeping the main desk surface available for paperwork (which often suits a slightly higher working height)
- Supporting individuals with specific musculoskeletal needs
Common downsides:
- Restricted mouse space leading to awkward wrist positions
- Poor adjustment causing wrist extension or contact stress
- Reduced leg clearance sometimes encouraging people to perch forward away from back support
- Added complexity, cost, and maintenance
When you probably don’t need one:
If desks are around 720–740 mm in height, there’s enough space on the desk itself for the equipment required for the tasks, and users have a height-adjustable chair (with a footrest where needed), most people can achieve a good setup without a tray.
What to check first if someone requests one:
- Adjust chair height so elbows align with the work surface
- Ensure feet are supported – add a footrest if needed
- Check monitor height and viewing distance
- Confirm there’s enough space for keyboard and mouse use
Often, these simple steps resolve the issue without additional equipment.
Why this matters (a quick example)
We recently supported a long-standing client during their move to a new office, reviewing plans as part of a full redesign. Through early input, we were able to spot several issues that could have affected comfort and usability — including shelving positioned too low for sit-stand desk use, large industrial printers located behind workstations that would have increased noise disruption, and desk layouts that limited legroom.
Had keyboard trays also been specified as standard, we would have taken the same approach: reviewing desk heights, anthropometric data, chair adjustability ranges, and task requirements to determine whether they were genuinely needed. As we know, in many cases small design changes can allow most users to work comfortably without trays — improving legroom, simplifying the setup, and avoiding unnecessary cost.
Early involvement like this helps create a workspace that is practical, inclusive, and fit for purpose from day one.
The takeaway
Keyboard trays are a useful option in specific circumstances but they shouldn’t be the starting point. A brief review of furniture and individual needs will usually identify simpler solutions.
If you’re planning changes, reviewing layouts, or fielding lots of tray requests, we’re happy to talk through options.
