A monitor arm is one of the most underrated desk upgrades. It lets you put the screen exactly at eye level, frees up the space taken by the stand, and makes it easy to push the monitor back or rotate it to portrait. This guide explains how to pick the right arm for your monitor and covers well-known options from budget to premium.
Quick picks
| Best for | Arm | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most single monitors | Ergotron LX | Proven gas-spring design, long reach, smooth adjustment |
| Value | Amazon Basics monitor arms | Affordable, simple and widely available |
| Heavy ultrawides | Ergotron HX | Built for larger, heavier displays |
| Dual monitors | A dual gas-spring arm rated for both screens’ weight | Independent adjustment for each display |
Before you buy: four checks
- VESA mount. Look at the back of your monitor for four screw holes in a square (usually 75×75 or 100×100 mm). No VESA holes? Some monitors support an adapter; many curved and ultra-thin models don’t.
- Weight range. Gas-spring arms have both a minimum and a maximum weight. A monitor that is too light won’t stay down; one that’s too heavy will sag. Check the monitor’s weight without its stand.
- Screen size. Large ultrawides need arms rated for their width and weight.
- Desk mounting. Most arms clamp to the desk edge or go through a grommet hole. Check desk thickness, and avoid clamping to thin glass or particle board without a reinforcement plate.
The picks
Ergotron LX — best overall
The Ergotron LX is the arm many others imitate. It offers a long reach, smooth movement and a tension adjustment that keeps the monitor exactly where you leave it. Ergotron rates the desk-mount LX for monitors up to 34 inches within a specific weight range — confirm your monitor fits before ordering. It’s a strong choice for a single 27-inch or lighter 34-inch monitor.
Amazon Basics monitor arms — best value
Amazon’s own arms cover the basics — gas-spring height adjustment, tilt, swivel and rotation — for less money. They’re a good fit for standard 24–27-inch monitors. As always, check the weight rating against your display.
Ergotron HX — best for heavy ultrawides
Big curved ultrawides are heavy and wide, which is exactly where lightweight arms fail. The HX is designed for larger, heavier displays, including many ultrawides — useful if you’re pairing it with something like the LG 38-inch UltraWide.
Dual monitor arms
For two screens, choose an arm where each side has its own gas spring and weight range, so you can adjust them independently. Make sure the combined width fits your desk, and consider whether you want one screen rotatable to portrait for code or documents.
Installation tips
- Mount the clamp behind the center of where you sit, not at the desk corner.
- Attach the monitor to the arm with the arm in its raised position, and adjust spring tension before letting go.
- Route cables through the arm’s channels and leave slack at the joints.
- Set the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, about an arm’s length away.
- On a standing desk, recheck the height in both sitting and standing positions.
Not sure whether to go with one big screen or two? Read our ultrawide vs. dual monitors guide first.