← All guides · Updated 14 October 2026
Typing posture: how to sit at the keyboard
A good posture makes typing more comfortable, helps you keep going for longer and makes it easier to type accurately.
Your chair and desk
- Sit with your feet flat on the floor and your back supported.
- Adjust the chair so your elbows are bent at roughly a right angle when your hands are on the keyboard.
- Keep the keyboard directly in front of you, close enough that you don't have to reach.
Your screen
- Place the top of the screen at or slightly below eye height.
- Keep it about an arm's length away.
- With a laptop, consider a separate keyboard or a stand, so you don't have to bend your neck.
Your hands and wrists
- Keep your wrists straight and level, not bent up or down.
- Let your hands float slightly above the keyboard while typing. Rest them on a wrist rest only during pauses.
- Curve your fingers lightly and rest them on the home row: A S D F and J K L. Use the bumps on F and J to find your place.
- Press the keys lightly. Modern keyboards need very little force.
Take breaks
Stand up, stretch your hands and look at something far away every half hour or so. Short, regular breaks help more than one long break.
If you get pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or wrists that doesn't go away, talk to a doctor or physiotherapist.
Put it into practice
Good posture is easier to keep when it's part of how you learn. Our touch typing course starts with the home row, so your hands get used to the right position from the beginning.