Best monitor arms 2024: The ultimate in flexibility

The Ergotron LX is a sturdy, practical monitor arm that can handle most monitors. It’s easy to set up, easy to use, and (when purchased in its white or polished aluminum colorway) attractive.

Ergotron positions the LX as an entry-level monitor arm, but the company’s definition of “entry level” exceeds most competitors. The arm is primarily constructed from metal, with some plastic cladding, and can support monitors that weigh up to 25 pounds. Ergotron recommends sticking to monitors 34 inches wide or smaller. The monitor arm is backed by a 10-year warranty.

The arm has a healthy range of adjustment that includes 13 inches of lift, 75 degrees of tilt, 360 degrees of rotation, and 360 degrees of pan (or swivel). While not as smooth as the Herman Miller Flo, I was able to adjust the monitor arm left, right, forward, and back without standing.

Setup is simple. The monitor has an included clamp and grommet mount. Installation is mostly handled with a bundled Allen wrench, though you’ll still need a Philips head screwdriver to attach your monitor to the VESA mount. Most owners will be able to install smaller monitors (24 to 27 inches) alone, but help is recommended for larger displays.

Ergotron also avoids any serious flaws. I have a few nitpicks, sure. I think the clamp could be smaller. The white colorway doesn’t have a color coordinated VESA mount. And the arm’s overall design looks a bit industrial. Still, this is a bomb-proof mount, and it’s available under $200.  

The Workstream by Monoprice single monitor arm is a no-frills solution that delivers basic monitor arm features at an exceptionally low price.

The monitor arm has an all-metal construction that in some ways feels sturdier than the Ergotron LX, as the Workstream doesn’t include as much plastic cladding. It’s not entirely a win, though, as the plastic that exists feels frail (and I even broke a small, though unnoticeable, bit while adjusting the monitor).

It provides a good range of adjustment, with 13.2 inches of height and 90 degrees of tilt, swivel, and rotation. The arm’s height and tilt adjustment are comparable to others on this list, but it can’t swivel in a full circle, which may prove annoying if you frequently move a monitor arm to share your screen with colleagues.

The Workstream’s slim budget is felt in its difficult setup and stiff operation. Users will need to install several screws for a clamp or gromet mount. More screws may need to be adjusted once the arm is in place, as its default tension proved inadequate for supporting a 32-inch monitor.

Monoprice lists the monitor as capable of supporting 20 pounds, but I felt the 32-inch monitor (which weighed 15 pounds) was pushing the Workstream to its limits. Monoprice also skimps on the warranty, offering just one year of coverage.

These flaws are easily excused by the Workstream’s $60 price tag. It’s clearly less capable, less attractive, and more difficult to use than Ergotron’s LX, but it offers a good range of adjustment and durable construction for less than half the price. It’s an ideal choice for shoppers on a tight budget, as well as those who plan to install a small, light 24-inch or 27-inch monitor.

The Huanuo HNSS6 Single Monitor Arm is easily our go-to recommendation for shoppers looking to buy the least expensive monitor arm that can still fulfill its job.

The arm comes in two pieces: The lower portion swivels while the upper portion allows for height, tilt, and rotation adjustments. A gas spring provides tension to keep monitors aloft, which is an upgrade from the clips and screws used by the least expensive arms. However, it’s worth noting that gas springs can lose their potency over time. These features are typical for the price: Most competitors are similar in design and use a gas cylinder.

What makes the Huanuo a winner is its overall quality and ease of install. Setup required installation of just three screws (and adjustment to a couple more). The clamp used to mount the arm to the desk was intuitive compared to rivals like the MountUp Single Monitor Arm, as the spacing of the clamp is adjustable without removing and re-installing screws to secure it. The arm claims to hold 32-inch displays up to 20 pounds, which is enough to hold most monitors. We tested it with panels up to 32 inches weighing up to 12 pounds, and it supported those with ease.

One notable downside is cable management. The plastic covers provided are finicky and won’t hold many wires, so if you want to add USB cables in addition to a video connection and power, you’re probably out of luck. To be fair, though, the same is true of most inexpensive arms.

The Huanuo wasn’t as easy to set up or adjust as the Ergotron LX, our favorite overall pick, and it’s not as sturdy as the Monoprice Single Monitor Arm, which typically sells for $60. Still, the Huanuo gets the job done.

Want a monitor arm that gets the job done and looks good doing it? The Herman Miller Flo is for you.

The Flo’s design sets it apart from the pack. Herman Miller ditches the angular, industrial design of many competitors for a smooth, natural look. While clearly designed for a corporate office, it also fits in with a home office setup, where its friendly, approachable look helps it blend in with its surroundings. The Flo is backed by a 12-year warranty and offers 24/7 customer service.

It’s easy to set up and use. The monitor’s clamp works similarly to other monitor arms I tested, but it’s more refined and requires fewer screws (a grommet is also available). The VESA mount is also excellent, providing a simple clip design that’s secure and can be easily pre-mounted to a monitor for simple installation. The way this mount works accommodates monitors that have a slightly recessed mount position, which may cause problems for other monitor arms.

The monitor’s range of adjustment isn’t much different from other high-end monitor arms. It offers 13.3 inches of vertical adjustment, 80 degrees of tilt, and 360 degrees of swivel and rotation. That’s essentially identical to the less expensive Ergotron LX. The Flo’s operation is smoother, however: I found I could adjust a monitor’s height with a mere nudge.

Surprisingly, the Flo has a listed weight limit of 20 pounds and recommends use with monitors weighing at least 7 pounds. Most monitors fit within this range, but some heavier models won’t be compatible with the Flo.

Herman Miller lists the Flo at $295, which is a lot to ask for a single-monitor arm. The Ergotron LX offers similar features at a much lower price. However, the Flo is a smoother, more appealing monitor arm, and worth the upgrade if you want form with your function.

It’s natural, given the only slight difference in name, to think the Ergotron HX is merely an uprated version of the Ergotron LX. That’s not the case. This is an entirely different monitor arm which pairs its increased capacity with improved build quality and a more professional look.

First, let’s talk weight. The Ergotron HX is rated to hold monitors that weigh up to 42 pounds and screen sizes up to 49 inches. That’s an extraordinarily high weight limit—I haven’t reviewed a single monitor in 2023 that exceeds it. I attached both a 32-inch widescreen and 38-inch ultrawide monitor, which weighed roughly 15 and 20 pounds, respectively, and the HX easily handled both.

The use of plastic is minimal and reserved for small portions of cladding that appear used only for cable routing. The arm’s moving parts include larger, sturdier mechanisms, and felt extremely smooth in my use. Ergotron backs the arm with a 10-year warranty.

The monitors range of adjustment is a bit limited compared to the LX. It offers 11.5 inches of height, 75 degrees of tilt, 180 degrees of swivel, and 360 degrees of rotation. However, a somewhat more limited height adjustment is typical in this category due to the size of monitors these stands are expected to carry.

The monitor arm’s impressive design also provides a more robust look. This could be a con for some, however, as the arm can seem a bit…much in a home office setup. It’s an expensive arm, as well. Expect to pay about $350.

The Ergotron HX is an obvious choice if you want to mount an ultrawide, super-ultrawide, or large format widescreen monitor on your desk.

The Humanscale M2.1 with M/Connect laptop docking station is an attractive, robust, and modern monitor arm that can expand your laptop’s connectivity without taking up additional space on your desktop.

Humanscale’s entry-level M2.1 doesn’t include a laptop dock, but it’s designed to accommodate the M/Connect 3, which nestles snuggly into the base of the arm. Most home office shoppers will likely choose the M/Connect 3 USB Data Hub, which currently retails for $253 (on top of the M2.1’s base price of $356). The hub adds three USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. If you want even more ports, the $600 M/Connect 3 Pro Dock adds two more USB-A ports, two more USB-C, Ethernet, and two DisplayPort ports.

The M/Connect 3’s added connectivity is an excellent way to expand the ports on a laptop. Its central location makes the ports easy to access and keeps them firmly located in a set position on your desk (as opposed to freestanding hubs and adapters, which tend to get shoved around, or off, a desk). It’s also a good alternative to a USB-C monitor. We like USB-C monitors, but packing connectivity into the monitor can make it difficult to access some ports, as most are located on the rear of the display.

Connectivity aside, the Humanscale M2.1 is a robust, if conventional, monitor arm. It can handle monitors between 5 and 15 pounds, which is enough to support the vast majority of widescreen monitors under 32 inches in size. It also has a “smart stop” feature, which lets users customize the amount of rotation the arm allows, and easy-to-use quick release joints that are handy when disassembling or moving the arm. The arm isn’t as smooth in operation as the Herman Miller Flo, but it remains easy enough to adjust.

Two monitors are always better than one, and the same goes for monitor arms. It’s no surprise, then, that Ergotron’s LX Side-by-Side ranks as our best dual monitor arm. The Ergotron LX Side-by-Side pairs two LX monitor arms together on one mount. The look, feel, and specifications of each arm are close to its standalone sibling.

Monitor size is one exception: While the standard LX is rated for monitors up to 34 inches, the Side-by-Side’s arm is only rated for monitors up to 27 inches. The monitor arms aren’t long enough to fit two 32-inch or 34-inch monitors side-by-side. Vertical arrangements are also supported, though only if one of the two monitors is small (less than 23 inches diagonal).

Look and feel is otherwise similar to the standard Ergotron LX, and that’s why the dual monitor arm also earns a recommendation. The dual-monitor arm provides the same winning balance of build quality, adjustability, and smooth operation, and it’s backed by the same 10-year warranty.  Pricing is a bit higher at $330, which is a slight savings compared to buying two LX arms individually.

The same logic that applies to our favorite dual monitor arm also to the budget model, giving Monoprice’s Workstream Dual Monitor Arm a clear path to victory.

In fact, the dual arm’s pricing is even more impressive. The Workstream Dual Monitor is four times less expensive than the Ergotron LX Side-by-Side. I’m a bit shocked by the quality Monoprice can offer at a $100 price point. Ergotron’s alternative is more attractive and easier to use, but is it four times better? That’s a tough call.

The Workstream’s downsides are identical to standard model. Build quality is impressive for the price, but the arm is difficult to set up and not as smooth in operation. I’m also doubtful the arm is capable of handling two 20-pound monitors, as its spec sheets claim. Fortunately, 27-inch monitors (the largest this arm can handle side-by-side) usually weigh less than 10 pounds, so weight capacity shouldn’t be an issue.

The Huanuo HNDS12 represents a middle ground for shoppers who want an upgrade in quality but need to respect their budget.

Each monitor arm is almost all metal with only a small piece of plastic to provide cable routing. The arm also has gas springs capable of lifting up to 26 pounds of weight, which is enough to handle 32-inch widescreen and 34-inch ultrawide monitors.

There’s one unusual feature: a USB hub. This includes two USB ports that are placed at the front of the arm base. Each of these will need to plug in to your computer, which might be a problem if you have a laptop with just a few ports, but it’s a functional bonus.

The Huanuo HNDS12, like the HNDS6 (below), is a bit fiddly to set up. It has two clamps that need to be adjusted and roughly a dozen screws that need to be installed. The gas springs also require a bit of adjustment to reduce the force provide, at least when used with a 24-inch or 27-inch monitor. 

Still, the HNDS12 is a good pick at its regular retail price of $140, which often drops as low as $110 when on sale. It looks attractive and offers plenty of force for holding larger monitors.

The Clearspace Uni-2’s design is a bit different from most competitors. It places two individual arms on a single pole. Each arm can adjust for height, swivel, and tilt, and each monitor mounts to an “independent slider” which can move right or left, making it easier to tune the placement of each monitor relative to the other. Compared to the Humanscale M8.1, I found the Uni-2 easier to adjust. However, the Humanscale M8.1’s beefy crossbar is likely to prove more stable if you’re mounting large monitors.

I think the Clearspace Uni-2 looks great, and that’s important. Competitors from Humanscale and Herman Miller also look luxurious but have a more corporate or “executive’s office” vibe. The Uni-2’s softer look feels more appropriate for a home office. Clearspace also provides black, silver, and white colorways, and every component of each colorway is molded in the promised color (which isn’t true of most competitors). Clearspace also throws in subtle touches, like soft-touch inserts on the side of each monitor arm. That’s the kind of design a home office user will appreciate.

Clearspace also looks to separate itself with connectivity. The Uni-2 comes standard Smart Hub that provides a single USB-A and USB-C port. That’s a small edge over competitors, which often sell the dock as an upgrade. Owners can improve the basic hub with the optional SmartDock (pictured), which expands connectivity to include additional USB ports, HDMI, and Ethernet. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend it: The SmartDock is priced at $650 yet lacks support for features I’d expect at that price, like 4K 60Hz video and 2.5Gbps Ethernet.

While the optional SmartDock is a miss, the arm is a winner. The Clearspace Uni-2 is expensive, but the price can be justified if you’re picky about the look and feel of your home office space. Clearspace also offers a single-monitor and triple-monitor arm: While I didn’t test them, I expect they’d offer similar perks.

The MountUp MU0004 Single Monitor Arm seems like an even more affordable alternative to the Huanuo HNSS6. They look similar in photos, and each has a gas spring. However, the MountUp’s lower price — usually $5 to $10 less than the Huanuo — comes with some compromises.

The MountUp arm was more difficult to install. This is due to the clamp, which has a two-piece design that requires screws be removed and re-installed when adjusting the clamp’s size. Adjustment of the clamp was also a bit more difficult, as turning the knob required more force, and the clamp lacks a rubberized pad to prevent it from marking the underside of your desk.  We also didn’t like the MountUp’s fit and finish. It had a coarse, matte feel that seemed more industrial than the Huanuo, and miles behind the Ergotron LX.

It’s not all bad news. MonutUp says the monitor arm can support 32-inch displays up to 17 pounds. That’s rather heavy for a modern monitor, and it easily handled a 32-inch display weighing 12 pounds. While inferior to the Huanuo, the MonutUp could work if you don’t mind fiddling with a few more screws during installation and can overlooks is lackluster build quality.

Still, it’s hard to justifying paying $30 for the MonutUp if you can bug the Huanuo for $40 (or even $50). A monitor arm can last for years, so spending a few extra bucks for a better experience makes sense.    

At the time we bought it for testing, the Vivo STAND-V002 was ranked as the second best-selling monitor arm on Amazon. That’s a shame, because it’s easily the worst arm we’ve tested so far.

To be fair, it’s also the least expensive. The STAND-V002 is typically sold below $30. That’s less than many top-selling single monitor arms! Vivo achieves that by cutting the arm’s features to the bone.

Adjustability is minimal, so much so that Vivo (mostly) advertises the STAND-V002 as a “desk mount” or “stand” instead of an arm. It has a clamp, a pole, and two jointed arms that attach to the pole at a single point. You can adjust the monitors for height, but only together: One can’t be higher than the other. The arms, meanwhile, have joints that allow swivel and adjustment side-to-side, as well as tilt up and down. You can’t adjust these on-the-fly, though, because everything is tensioned by screws that must be loosened with a tool, adjusted, and then re-tightened to keep the monitors in place. 

Build quality is poor. Vivo claims the arms can hold two monitors up to 22 pounds each, but we noticed a slight deflection downward even when attaching a 27-inch display weighing 10 pounds. Cable management is provided by plastic clips that are barely adequate to the task and tend to fall off when jostled. The clamp is small and lacks a rubber pad, so it could mark softer woods and materials.

We suppose the Vivo could work if you plan to mount a couple 24-inch monitors and don’t care about adjusting them once in place, but it’s otherwise not worth $30. It’s cheap, sure — but in our experience, monitor arms this cheap tend to fall apart after a couple years (or less).

Humanscale is synonymous with high-end office furniture: The Freedom chair is something of an icon in executive offices across the globe. But Humanscale’s high-end office hardware is at times an awkward fit for a home office, as the M8.1 demonstrates.

The Humanscale M8.1 looks similar to the M2.1, but it’s upgraded to handle monitors between 6 and 28 pounds (almost double the M2.1 in our list above). That’s enough to handle nearly any monitor available today, including large ultrawides like the Dell Ultrasharp U4025QW. The arm can also handle two monitors of the appropriate combined weight and offers a “crossbar” to support them both on a single arm.

That’s good, and useful, but pricing is an obstacle. The arm starts at $545, but the crossbar (required to use two monitors) ups the price to $686. The M/Connect 3 laptop dock is also available to the M8.1 but, of course, adds even more to the price. That’s a bit hard to accept when the Ergotron HX, which supports monitors up to 42 pounds, starts at $350, or $585 for the dual-monitor crossbar version. Ergotron’s alternative feels as sturdy, supports even larger and heavier displays, and is less expensive.

The Humanscale M8.1 has features you won’t find on the Ergotron, such as an optional laptop dock and customizable arm rotation, and it’s a fine selection if price is no obstacle. In most cases, though, the M8.1’s price will be hard to justify.

Huanuo’s HNDS6 is a budget dual-monitor arm that’s popular on Amazon (in fact, it’s listed as the best-seller in Computer Monitor Arms). It provides a reasonable level of quality at a low price but fails to unseat the Workspace by Monoprice Dual Monitor Arm on our list.

We’ll begin with the positives, which, to be clear, outweigh the problems. The Huanuo HNDS6 carefully walks the value tightrope to deliver a decent dual-monitor arm at a typical price of $60 (which can dip below $50 on sale). The arm’s metal construction feels rigid and looks durable.

Each arm is rated to hold between 4.4 and 14.3 pounds. That’s not a lot: The Workstream by Monoprice arm is rated up to 20 pounds. Still, it’s enough to handle a huge majority of 24- and 27-inch monitors, and the monitor arms provided plenty of lift in our testing.

We’re not a fan of the arm’s installation. It has two clamps instead of one unified clamp, which is strange, because the base of the monitor arm is one solid piece. There are roughly a dozen screws to install. And the included cable routing can prove hard to tighten once several cables are held within the routing.

The Huanuo HNDS6 is a decent dual-monitor arm for the price and worthwhile on a discount (it was once sold for just $38). In general, though, we think the Monoprice Workstream Dual Monitor Arm provides more for a similar price.