The best monitor arms in 2023: position your monitor perfectly for total comfort

Man and woman consult a smartphone in front of one of the best monitor arms
(Image credit: Ergotron)

The best monitor arms are essential if you want to save yourself from worsening eyesight and potential neck, back and shoulder pain. Because unless your monitor stand places your screen in the exact perfect position (and lets face it, that's unlikely), you'll need a way of placing it more effectively. 

So if you've invested in the best monitors for image or video editing, it's worth putting a little extra money into getting it into the right position for your health, stress levels and sanity.

These desk-mounted monitor arms clamp securely to the back edge of your desk, maximizing your work area in front. And they offer a ton of flexibility, in terms of height, pan (left/right) and tilt (up/down) movement. 360 degrees of rotation is also a common feature, allowing you to easily switch from landscape to portrait. In all, much better than relying on your existing stand.

To help you find the right model, this article brings together the best monitor arms available today. We've included monitor arms for single monitors as well as for multiple monitor setups, so you're sure to find what you're looking for here.

The best monitor arms in 2023

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(Image credit: Ergotron)

1. Ergotron LX Desk Monitor Arm

The best monitor arm overall

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 34"
Max monitor weight: 25lbs / 11.3kg
Height adjustment: 7.9" / 20cm
Tilt adjustment: 70 degrees backward, 5 degrees forward
Pan adjustment: 360 degrees
Mounting hole patterns: 100x100mm, 75x75mm
Arm weight: 8lbs / 3.6kg

Reasons to buy

+
Rugged-looking design
+
Lots of adjustment
+
Can support up to 34" screen

Reasons to avoid

-
Somewhat pricey
-
Only 20cm height adjustment, though taller option is available

We'll start with the best of the best. Ergotron's LX Desk Monitor Arm impresses with its polished aluminium construction which is solid enough to support a monitor weighing up to 11.3 kg and/or 34-inches screen size, plus it's guaranteed for 10 years. 

The arm itself weighs in at 3.6kg and attaches via a clamp to a desk surface 10-60mm thick, and it's packed with ergonomic adjustment. You get 33cm of height adjustment, 70 degrees of backward tilt and 5 degrees forward tilt, 360-degree pan and 360-degree rotation. The arm can fold right back to sit directly above the base, maximizing desk space in front. Just be sure the monitor you'll be mounting has VESA mounting holes conforming to either a 100 x 100mm or 75 x 75mm pattern, though these are almost universally standard.

(Image credit: Mount-It!)

2. Mount-It! MI-1771 Single Monitor Arm Desk Mount

The best budget monitor arm

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 32"
Max monitor weight: 20lbs / 9kg
Height adjustment: 13" / 33cm
Tilt adjustment: 90 degrees up or down
Pan adjustment: not stated
Mounting hole patterns: 100x100mm, 75x75mm
Arm weight: 4.37kg

Reasons to buy

+
Decent adjustability
+
Accessible price

Reasons to avoid

-
Weight capacity not that high
-
Not particularly attractive

Want a cheaper option? This desk-mounted monitor arm may not have quite as much wow-factor as pricier models on this list, but it can certainly match them on specs. You can mount a display up to 32 inches, it'll support up to 9kg, and there's an excellent 33cm of height adjustment. You also get all the usual range of adjustment, with up to 90 degrees of up or down tilt and 360-degree rotation. There's even a gas spring inside to balance varying monitor weights for super-simple height adjustment. 

The aluminium and steel arm can be had in silver of black finishes and will attach to a desk up to 8.4cm thick. Providing your monitor has a 100 x 100mm or 75 x 75mm mounting hole pattern (highly likely), this arm is a great value buy.

(Image credit: Amazon)

3. AmazonBasics Single Monitor Stand

The best monitor arm for smaller monitors

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 24"
Max monitor weight: 10kg
Height adjustment: 16cm
Tilt adjustment: 85 degrees backward, 15 degrees forward
Pan adjustment: Not stated
Mounting hole patterns: 100x100mm, 75x75mm
Arm weight: 2.54kg

Reasons to buy

+
Bargain price
+
Clamps to a wide range of desk thicknesses

Reasons to avoid

-
Aesthetically challenged
-
Max monitor size only 24 inches
-
Limited and basic height adjustment

Amazon's Basics range is cheap but reliable, and this back-to-basics arm is a good example. The main catch (other than the less-than-designer looks) is you're limited to a max monitor size of 24 inches. But if that's not a problem, this arm enables a decent range of adjustability, although changing height requires you to release a clamp and to slide the arm up or down the mounting pole - no gas lift monitor balancing here. But since most of us rarely need to change the height of our display, that's not necessarily a deal-breaker. 

This arm will, however, clamp to any desk from 2 to 10cm thick and it's compatible with standard 100x100mm and 75x75mm VESA hole patterns, so you should have no trouble fitting it to your desk or monitor.

(Image credit: Ergotron)

4. Ergotron MX Wall Mount LCD Arm

The best wall-mounted monitor arm, and the best for large monitors

Specifications

Arm type: Wall mounted
Max monitor size: 42"
Max monitor weight: 30lbs / 13.6kg
Height adjustment: 5" / 12.7cm
Tilt adjustment: 75 degrees up, 5 degrees down
Pan adjustment: 360 degrees
Mounting hole patterns: 200x200mm, 200x100mm, 100x100mm, 75x75mm
Arm weight: 3.7kg

Reasons to buy

+
Can support very big and heavy screens
+
Stylish looks

Reasons to avoid

-
On the expensive side
-
Height adjustment could be better

Don't fancy mounting your monitor to your desk and want a more solid fixing point? A wall-mounted arm could be the answer. You'll just need a power drill, some basic tools and the right fixings to suit the construction of the wall you'll be mounting to. 

Once in place, Ergotron's MX Wall Mount LCD Arm is ideal for supporting big-screen and ultrawide monitors up to 13.6kg in weight and a whopping 42-inches large. As such, the mounting plate is larger than average, accommodating typical 100 x 100mm & 75 x 75mm VESA hole patterns, along with large panel 200 x 200mm and 200 x 100mm hole patterns. 

The arm itself is easy on the eye with its polished aluminium finish and it features internal cable routing to maintain the sleek look. Monitor manoeuvrability isn't quite as extensive as with some desk-mounted arms, but it's still respectable, offering 12.7cm height adjustment, 90 degrees rotation and 360 degrees of pan movement.

(Image credit: 3M)

5. 3M Dual-Swivel Monitor Arm

The best monitor arm for heavy monitors

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 27"
Max monitor weight: 30lbs / 13.6kg
Height adjustment: 10.6" / 27cm
Tilt adjustment: 90 degrees backward, 15 degrees forward
Pan adjustment: 360 degrees

Reasons to buy

+
Supports 30lbs
+
Nicely adjustable
+
Hides cables

Reasons to avoid

-
Tricky to assemble

Here's a great choice if you have a heavier set up. The 3M Dual-Swivel Monitor Arm is capable of supporting screens up to 30lbs/13.6kg, and can clamp to desks up to 4.25 inches thick. It offers with 18.6 inches of vertical adjustment and horizontal extension up to 19.5 inches, and allows angle tweaks for perfect positioning as well as giving you the option to rotate from landscape to portrait orientation.

This arm is hollow, allowing you to run your cables inside, and avoid lots of trailing wires getting in the way. It's a bit trickier to set up than many of the models on this list, but the extra strength and solidity it provides makes that well worth it should you have a weighty monitor.

(Image credit: Ergotron)

6. Ergotron LX Desk Monitor Arm, Tall Pole

The best monitor arm for tall people

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 34"
Max monitor weight: 25lbs / 11.3kg
Height adjustment: 13" / 33cm
Tilt adjustment: 70 degrees backward, 5 degrees forward
Pan adjustment: 360 degrees
Mounting hole patterns: 100x100mm, 75x75mm
Arm weight: 9.7lbs / 4.4kg

Reasons to buy

+
Great height range
+
Excellent all-round adjustability

Reasons to avoid

-
Noticeably pricier than standard version

If you're tall, a wall-mounted monitor arm may be for you. It allows you to position your screen at the ideal height to suit your eyeline. But if you'd rather not start drilling big holes above your desk to fit a wall-mounted arm, this desk-mounted alternative with an extended height range is worth considering. 

Where the standard Ergotron LX Desk Monitor Arm 'only' offers 20cm of height adjustment, this Tall Pole version ups that range to 30cm. So even LeBron James perched on a bar stool should still be able to be able to get a comfortable viewing position. Apart from the extra lift, this arm is essentially the same as a regular Ergotron LX Desk Monitor Arm with excellent adjutsability. There's also a dual-screen Tall Pole option should you need it.

NB North Bayou Heavy Duty, one of the best monitor arms

(Image credit: NB)

7. NB North Bayou Monitor Desk Mount Stand

Another great choice for large monitors

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 42"
Max monitor weight: 33lbs / 15kg
Height adjustment: 17.1- 23''
Tilt adjustment: +12° to -12°
Pan adjustment: 360° Rotation

Reasons to buy

+
Supports heavy monitors
+
Sturdy
+
Flexible

Reasons to avoid

-
Overkill for small monitors

The NB North Bayou Monitor Desk Mount Stand is another great option if you're looking for the best monitor arm for a large display. It's made of high quality steel and aluminum alloys, with heavy duty construction to keep everything stable. Supporting monitors between 24 and 42 inches in diameter, and up to 33lbs (15kg) in weight, it's a good choice for heavy gaming monitors. It's compatible with 75 x 75mm and 100 x 100mm VESA mounts, and rotates throughout 360 degrees.

Product shot of Vari Dual-Monitor Arm

(Image credit: Vari)

8. Vari Dual-Monitor Arm

The best monitor arm for supporting two small screens

Specifications

Arm type: Desk mounted
Max monitor size: 24"
Max monitor weight: 19.8lbs / 8.9kg
Height adjustment: 12''
Pan adjustment: 360° Rotation

Reasons to buy

+
Good build quality
+
Lots of flexibility
+
Supports two screens

Reasons to avoid

-
Won't fit desks thicker than 2in
-
Fiddly to install

If you have two monitors to support but they're on the smaller side – 24 inches or less – then here's another good option. This dual monitor arm is on the expensive side, but it is very well made and robust. Each monitor arm holds up to 19.8lbs (9kg) in weight, is fully articulating, and rotates the full 360 degrees. Height can be adjusted up to 12 inches and arm extension goes up to 29 inches.

VESA-compatible, this dual monitor arm comes with a universal desk clamp, a cable management clip, and some tools you need to install it, which can be a little fiddly. Note, also, that it can't be installed on desks that are more than two inches thick.

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Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.