
We favored monitor arms that required fewer tools to set up, too.Tony Stark (V.O.): Been a while since I was up here in front of you. Easy to assemble: Monitor arms should come with clear instructions or supplementary assembly videos online.For the side of the arm that attaches to your monitor, we made sure the arm used the VESA standard, which just means that the screw holes and locations on screens like TVs and monitors will match the size and layout on compatible mounts-it’s common on most hardware and all of our picks. A good mount should be adjustable for a range of desk or table thicknesses and widths, and it should include cable-management options, too. Monitor arms must also attach sturdily to the desk most secure themselves with a grommet or desk clamp. Desk mounting and VESA support: We focused on desk-mounted arms for this guide because they’re the easiest to assemble and don’t require putting holes in your wall.Note that monitor arm warranties don’t include damage to the monitor itself. Because of that, we looked at warranty length and customer support to see which companies would stand behind their models and the arms’ expected years of performance while holding up an expensive monitor (or two). Instead, you should expect a monitor arm to last many years and adapt to changes such as a new desk or display. Long warranty: Monitor arm technology isn’t something that will change radically and warrant a replacement every year or two.Smoothness of motion: We preferred monitor arms that were firm enough to stay put while we worked but could reposition easily and didn’t require too much force.Vertical movement (up and down) is the most important range if you work at a sit/stand desk, but side to side, forward and back, and rotation and tilt are also crucial for achieving ideal ergonomics for a wide range of people, postures, and workflows.


We think paying for a longer guarantee is smarter than prioritizing short-term savings-a monitor arm should last you many years, and the company that makes it should stand behind it. The Ergotron LX is nearly identical to the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Stand, but Ergotron’s warranty is 10 years, far longer than Amazon’s one-year coverage. If you’re over 6 feet tall, the Ergotron LX Tall Pole would be a better option for you. The LX has nearly identical side-to-side ranges, tilt, and pan and rotation capabilities as the Fully Jarvis-but its max height range is a few inches lower. If you have a 34-inch monitor or one that weighs up to 25 pounds, the Ergotron LX Desk Monitor Arm will work just as well.
