10 Best Monitor Stands and Arm Mounts

A monitor stand can refer to two things: a monitor arm mount and a monitor riser or platform, with the former being the more common type and the first thing most people think of when monitor stands are mentioned.

An arm mount is exactly what it sounds like – a flexible, arm-like support with one end equipped with a VESA mount that attaches to the back of your monitor. Many arm mounts attach to the table via a clamp or a grommet, but there are also products that simply come with a flat base for counterbalance, similar to a monitor’s default stand.

Monitor risers, meanwhile, simply look like mini desks that sit on top of your work desk. Some even come with drawers and compartments for your smartphones, pens, and books. Monitor risers offer an immediate height boost, which is great if your monitor has a fixed stand with no height adjustment option. While most monitor risers have a fixed height, some offer height adjustment in the form of adjustable legs. Unlike arm mounts, monitor risers don’t attach to your monitor via a VESA mount; they are simply small, raised platforms where you place your display.

Arm mounts are recommended if you want a more clutter-free desk and more control over your monitor’s positioning. Monitor risers are great if you simply want to increase your monitor’s height, though some models also double as storage for your small belongings.

Some monitor arms can only support a single monitor while others can support more than three monitors. It’s easy to check how many monitors the mount can support without even looking at the product description. You can tell by simply looking at the product images. However, it’s worth noting that a few models are being sold as a dual and triple monitor mount, with different supported screen sizes for each setup.

Most monitor risers can only accommodate one monitor, but there are some that are designed for two or three monitors. However, for a multi-monitor setup, it’s best to use dedicated multi-monitor arms since they offer better flexibility and take up less space compared to multi-monitor risers.

Not all monitor arms are universal regarding supported screen sizes. While there are mounts that support monitors larger than 30 inches – like our top pick in this guide – there are mounts that can only support 24-inch displays. If you own two differently sized monitors and are shopping for a flexible dual monitor arm, make sure the mount can support both of your monitors’ sizes.

Monitor risers, on the other hand, can support pretty much any screen size as long as the monitor isn’t beyond the weight capacity and the base of the monitor’s default stand isn’t too big for the riser. If you own a monitor whose default stand takes up a large space – like the Samsung C27HG70 – then you may have issues fitting it on a monitor riser.

Monitor stands and arm mounts are rated for different weight capacities, with the max weight typically mentioned in the product listing, allowing you to quickly see whether or not the stand can support your monitor. For multi-monitor arms, companies usually list the max weight for each arm instead of the entire unit. You can mount different monitors to a multi-monitor arm as long as they are within the weight capacity.

When checking your monitor’s weight, either in the included manual or on the manufacturer’s website, make sure you are looking at the weight of the monitor only, without the stand. Some companies list both the with-stand and without-stand weights of their monitors. Others, however, are not in the same boat, only listing the weight of the entire unit and the shipping weight. In case your monitor’s specs are not specific about what the listed weight is referring to, you can check a third-party online database or a hands-on review.

Having more screen adjustment options is one of the main reasons for getting a flexible monitor stand or arm. However, not all products are the same when it comes to ergonomics, which can also be said about monitors. Some stands offer height, pivot, swivel, and tilt adjustments, with wide ranges for all of them. Others are more limited, only offering height and tilt options.

Of course, monitor stands with full adjustment are not automatically the best options for everyone. If you simply want to increase your monitor’s height, then a monitor riser will be enough for you. But if you want full control over the screen position, especially for a multi-monitor setup, then go for a monitor arm with full adjustment.

Although most VESA mount-compatible monitors come with a 100 x 100 mm VESA mount on the back panel, there are also displays that are equipped with a 75 x 75 mm VESA mount. One notable example is the LG 24MP88HV-S, a thin-bezel monitor that will work great in a dual monitor setup.

When shopping for the best monitor stands, make sure the connector is compatible with the VESA mount of your monitor. The good news is that almost all monitor arm mounts on the market are compatible with both of the aforementioned VESA mount sizes, so the chances of you ending up with incompatible VESA mounts are extremely low. Except for the two monitor risers, all products on this list offer compatibility for both 75 x 75 mm and 100 x 100 mm VESA mounts.

If your monitor doesn’t have a VESA mount at the back, check if there are special adapters available, either on Amazon and other online stores or at the manufacturer’s official store. The Asus MX27AQ, a 27-inch monitor with a fixed stand, is a good example. You can only mount it to a VESA monitor arm if you use a special adapter, which, unfortunately, is sold separately.