A system and method for monitoring media stack height utilizes a pick mechanism and stack height sensing mechanism. The pick mechanism has a pick arm and a pick roller, the arm rotatably mounted at one end to pivot about an axis and change its angular position relative thereto. The roller rotatably mounted to an opposite end of the arm contacts a media stack top and is rotatably driven to feed sheets one at a time from the stack top changing the stack height. The angular position of the arm relative to the stack changes as the stack height changes. The stack height sensing mechanism arranged on and adjacent to the arm senses arm angular displacement as the stack height changes to provide an indication of the sheet quantity remaining in the stack. A method for calibrating stack height sensing of the monitoring system provides one or more calibration points such as at “full stack” and “stack out” conditions.