Best monitor arm 2026: Ergotron and alternatives analyzed
A monitor arm frees your desk and protects your neck. We analyze the best on the market and tell you which to buy.
Why a monitor arm is an investment, not an expense
The base that comes with your monitor takes up 20 to 30 centimeters of depth on your desk. It forces you to put the monitor further away than ideal or sacrifice workspace. The fixed base also locks the monitor at one height, which is rarely correct for your build.
A monitor arm eliminates the base, returns 20–30cm of useful surface, allows you to adjust the exact height so your eyes are level with the top third of the screen, and lets you rotate the monitor to vertical with a flick of the wrist. For dual monitor setups, it's essential.
What distinguishes a quality arm from one that creaks and sags
There are two types of mechanisms in monitor arms: spring and gas. Spring ones are cheap but tension changes over time and the monitor starts dropping on its own. Gas (or combined gas and spring) arms maintain position with precision indefinitely. Every serious arm uses gas.
The second factor is maximum supported weight. A 27" IPS monitor weighs between 5 and 7kg. An arm that supports "up to 8kg" is really at its limit with a 27" monitor. Look for arms with a 2–11kg range for real margin.
The third factor is the desk attachment system. Good arms attach with a clamp on the edge of the tabletop or with a pass-through bolt (grommet). The clamp doesn't damage the desk and is quicker to install. The grommet is more stable but requires drilling.
When to choose a laptop stand instead of a monitor arm
For laptops, the alternative to a monitor arm is an elevating stand like the NexStand K2: foldable, lightweight and bringing the laptop to the correct height in 30 seconds. If you work with the laptop as the only screen (no external monitor), an elevating stand is the right solution. If you use the laptop in clamshell mode with an external monitor, you need the arm.
VESA compatibility: check this before buying
All monitor arms use the VESA standard (100×100mm or 75×75mm). 95% of monitors are compatible, but there are exceptions: some ultrawide monitors and some iMacs don't have VESA support without an adapter. Check your monitor's specification before buying the arm.
Our picks: the best monitor arm by category
After testing the main models on the market, here are our recommendations:
Our picks
Ergotron LX
The most recommended monitor arm. Smooth movement, premium build and compatible with monitors up to 34".
Nexstand K2
The best-selling foldable laptop stand. 9 adjustable angles, compatible with all sizes and folds to fit in a backpack.