The Best Monitor Arm in 2020

While computer monitors have become impressively slim and lightweight, they still have a tendency to dominate the real estate of any desktop space. That’s where monitor arms come in. While they may employ different methods for mounting, they all serve similar purposes: freeing your workspace from clutter and providing a more ergonomically sound space for you to game or work.

HotRate wants to help you find the ideal monitor arm for your needs. We’ve identified 10 diverse monitor arms that are available for a variety of different budgets, and we outline what makes each one worth for inclusion on our review list. After that, we share the best traits to consider when shopping for a monitor arm.

TL;DR - 10 Best Monitor Arms:

• AmazonBasics Premium Single Monitor Stand
• Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Arm
• VIVO Single LCD Monitor Desk Mount Stand
• EleTab Dual Monitor Adjustable Monitor Arm
• WALI Free Standing Dual LCD Monitor Arm
• Mount-It! 3 Counter-Balanced Monitor Arms
• Loctek D5D Gas Spring Dual LCD Monitor Arm
• VARIDESK Full Motion Spring Dual Monitor Arm
• HUANUO Full Motion Dual Monitor Arm
• FLEXIMOUNTS Full Motion Single LCD Arm

1. AmazonBasics Premium Single Monitor Stand

The AmazonBasics premium monitor arm is one of the most expensive models around, and it's also pretty basic in its design. But in that case, simplicity is more an asset than a liability. This is a sturdy black monitor arm that offers a great range of articulation that can provide the best ergonomic experience for practically any office or game room layout. Clips for hiding your cables and the ability to fold the arm away both expand the ability for you to create a more minimalistic desk interface, and adjusting the arm is an eminently smooth experience regardless of the weight or size of your display.

2. Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Arm

The Ergotron LX gives off a confidently professional impression that's fortunately more than just swagger. The black and silver design is elegant, but it's also both sturdy and capable of mounting monitors as large as 25 inches with either a C-clamp or a grommet. The unique Constant Force lift it incorporates into its design allows you to move this monitor arm fluidly with a single touch that's also incredibly precise. It's undoubtedly one of the best feelings stands around and an ideal (if somewhat expensive) choice if you find yourself repositioning your monitor frequently. The cable management system directs cables under the arm to prevent tangling.

3. VIVO Single LCD Monitor Desk Mount Stand

The fact that VIVO has managed to craft a monitor arm that's this well built and deliver it to the customer for under $30 is a pretty stellar feat. This desk monitor mount arm includes all the tools you need to install it, and it can be affixed directly to the edge of your desk. At its maximum height, it stands a good foot and a half tall, and clips are built into the main pole for managing your cables more easily. It can also tilt and swivel to a full 360 degrees, so you have some of the best range of movement to work with.

4. EleTab Dual Monitor Adjustable Monitor Arm

Are you looking to transform your office into a full blown workstation but worried about how much space dual monitors will take up? This EleTab dual monitor arm provides an elegant solution. You get a full range of motion for both arms, so you'll have a lot of breathing room to get the positioning that you're looking for, and the gas spring system provides this dual monitor arm with smooth adjustments regardless of how heavy each monitor is, and the pole sports a respectable maximum height of about 16 inches. The unique mounting system is both easy to install and highly stable.

5. WALI Free Standing Dual LCD Monitor Arm

WALI has created a dual monitor arm that's roughly a third of the price of the aforementioned EleTab, and while it doesn't offer the same clamping design or range of movement, this is one of the best monitor arms for anyone working on a tighter budget. This dual monitor arm system works with monitors up to 27 inches in size, and the plates themselves are highly adjustable to suit your needs. The pole can extend as high as 16" tall, and there's a nice range of both rotation and tilt available. The sturdy aluminum design is inarguably a valuable asset here.

6. Mount-It! 3 Counter-Balanced Monitor Arms

The Mount-It! Triple Monitor Mount has the imposing look of Doctor Octopus, but this three monitor arm system is possibly the best model around in terms of sheer productivity. The arms are powered by gas springs to provide an easier and more seamless system for adjusting the height and angles, and this triple monitor mount attaches to the side of your desk to make the idea of a three monitor desk layout actually feasible. Despite its imposing design, it's very easy to install. It comes with all the hardware, tools, and instructions you need to mount it in a matter of minutes.

7. Loctek D5D Gas Spring Dual LCD Monitor Arm

The spring mounted gas arms of the Locktek D5D may be its best feature, but it has a few other tricks up its sleeve too. This monitor arm can elevate to a height of 15.9 inches tall, and it supports two screens at the same time. It also sports a slicker and less industrial look than many of its contemporaries. Each aircraft graded aluminum arm is scratch resistant and offers a full 360 degrees of rotation so you can put together a pretty creative layout with your screens. And the smart gas-powered system ensures that adjusting each of the screens is a smooth and seamless process.

8. VARIDESK Full Motion Spring Dual Monitor Arm

Varidesk has constructed a serious monitor arm that supports up to two monitors, and while it will cost you around $200, that will be well worth it for many power professionals who want one of the best and most reliable monitor arm models available today. Each monitor arm can extend to up to 12 inches tall, and each of the arms also has an extension range of 29 inches, resulting in some of the best adjustable depth of any monitor arm you'll find. In fact, these arms offer some of the best articulation all around the board, a decision that justifies the price tag for this otherwise pretty simple model.

9. HUANUO Full Motion Dual Monitor Arm

The gas-powered springs on this Huanuo dual monitor arm greatly simplify the process of adjusting the height of your screens, resulting in one of the best models for a customer that regularly shifts from sitting to standing over the course of a work day. Both c-clamp and grommet mounting are supported, and all of the tools to properly install this dual monitor arm are included. Full 360 degree rotation and a substantial range of tilt result in a choice that offers some of the best range of movement available in 2020, resulting in both a more ergonomic and productive environment.

10. FLEXIMOUNTS Full Motion Single LCD Arm

Fleximounts is simple and straight to the point, and it bears a price tag to match. You can snag this monitor arm for roughly 40 bucks and have it up and working in a matter of minutes. The inclusion of both a grommet and C-clamp give you more flexibility in how you choose to mount your monitors, and you can adjust the calibration manually to support a wide variety of different screen weights adequately. The channel for managing cables is wider and spacious than most, allowing you to tuck away not just the cable from your screen but other connectivity cords as well.

Monitor Arm Buyer’s Guide

If you’re looking for the best monitor arms available for the first time, you may not know where to start. But we’re here to share with you the best strategy for shopping for a monitor arm. Our guide breaks down the monitor arm shopping process step by step. After that, we’ll share answers to some of the best and most commonly asked questions we hear at HotRate.

Determine How Many Monitors You Need

Are you looking to build an enormous workstation where you can display all the information you need for your business or gaming experiences, or are you simply trying to clear up clutter on your desk? The best arm for you will largely be predicated on that. We suggest that you think about the long term plans when browsing each monitor arm review. Otherwise you could find yourself having to make another purchase a little further down the road.

Since most desk monitor mounts can be attached to the side of your desk, it can be worth your time to invest in one that supports multiple monitors if you’re even considering expanding your business or gaming workstation with a new display. Just bear in mind that a mount that includes multiple monitor arms generally have a lower maximum weight capacity per display.

If you’re looking to expand your work station, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide for the best dual monitor arms of 2020.

Determine Size and Weight

Every monitor arm we review above has a maximum weight it can hold as well as a range of display sizes that it’s compatible with. These aren’t recommendations. They’re carefully tested, and putting a monitor too heavy or too big on even the best monitor mounts for desks can be explicitly dangerous. Take the time to either measure the specs for your monitor or look up their specifications online. While that may be a bit of a pain, it’s a necessity for every customer, and it fortunately helps you narrow down your results to only the best options.

Choose Between Mounted or Freestanding

A mounted monitor arm will attach to the side of your desk using either a c-clamp or a grommet mount, while a freestanding model will sit directly on the surface of your desk. The former gives you a lot more space to work at your desk, and we typically recommend that style of you’re looking to incorporate multiple screens into your workstation. Fortunately, most mounted monitor arms don’t require you to drill into your desk to be attached.

A freestanding monitor arm tends to be cheaper , and while it’s going to take up more space, that stand also creates a greater sense of stability. A monitor arm attached to a stand is also generally easier to rotate left and right. Often, a monitor on a stand will also offer more flexibility when trying to adjust the pole height.

Measure Your Desk

If you’re looking to purchase a mounted monitor arm, that means first finding where you want to mount your desk and then measuring that section’s thickness. Monitor arms that attach to the side of your desk have a maximum or minimum thickness for safe mounting. If you’re looking to purchase an arm stand, you’ll want to evaluate the size of your desk to determine whether it can fit feasibly in your space. That means taking into consideration the width of the stand but also the size of your monitors. One of the main advantages of using a monitor arm is that it frees up space, so review your options and make sure that the model of monitor arm you’re investing in isn’t counterproductive to that purpose.

Evaluate the Features

Clips for hiding away cables are a great feature to have in an arm, but you should spend most of your time looking at how well articulated a model is. This can have a major impact both on how ergonomic your desk layout is while also helping you create a more productive space for work or gaming. There are a few adjustment settings to take into consideration.

• Height naturally determines your ability to adjust how tall your screen is, and it can either be handled at the pole or on the individual monitor arms. The latter is a great choice if you’re looking to mount multiple screens. Ideally, you want your screens to be eye level to prevent neck pain while working. Models that allow you to go tall with your monitors are typically known as risers.
• Tilt refers to the extension range of pointing your screen to the ceiling or the floor, and it works in tandem with height to create a healthier viewing experience. A monitor arm with a more expansive tilt and height range can potentially replace the need for a standing converter desk.
• Rotation allows you to swivel your monitor between landscape and portrait mode, and that can be an especially powerful advantage in a number of creative fields. If you’re an artist who regularly makes use of touch screens, you should more or less consider this an essential feature.
• The swivel of a monitor arm allows you to pivot the monitors left and right. That’s a valuable asset if you find yourself working in a collaborative environment where there’s a need to share a screen or for a customer who moves around at their workstation a lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Monitor Mount?

That’s a question with no easy answer. Because different mounts support different sizes and weights, and the importance of specific dimensions of range of movement will vary between customers, there is no definitive choice. But you can be confident with any of the models on our list.

How Do I Choose a Monitor Arm?

Start by choosing one that supports the size and weight of your monitor or monitors, and then consider the features that matter to you. We go into more detail in our guide above.

What is a Monitor Arm?

A monitor arm allows you to mount one or more monitors and adjust them to create a more productive, ergonomic, and decluttered workspace. They can either be mounted to the side of your desk or set up on a standalone base.

What is the Best Dual Monitor Stand?

That’s going to vary depending on your needs, but we highly recommend the Huanuo model we evaluate above. It finds the perfect balance between price, functionality, and range of movement.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to mount a screen of 32 or 25 inches, and whether you’re looking to spend 200 bucks or 50, you can find something on our list that should scratch your itch. Of course, there are a lot of great mounting arm systems on the market today, and we weren’t able to analyze all of them. But we’re confident our reviews and guide can help you track down a model you’ll love.