There are a lot of details to consider before buying a monitor arm desk mount; how many monitors you have, how they should be arranged, the configuration of your work desk, whether you need to adjust the position of the monitors on a regular basis, and future expandability. In this article, we will explain the 11 major issues related to the purchase of a monitor stand, and gain an in-depth understanding of the guide to buying a monitor arm.

Compared to Europe, the United States, Japan and Korea, the use of monitor mounts in Taiwan is still very low. Especially in the U.S. market, where medical costs are high, monitor arm has become a standard employee benefit for medium and large companies, indirectly proving that the use of monitor arm can reduce the potential damage caused by poor sitting posture and sedentary behavior, and the added value is to enhance work efficiency and free up more desk space. 

For those of you who sit in front of a computer for at least 8 hours a day, the return on investment is impressive.

It's recommended that you take a brief note of your answers while reading to help you quickly build a shopping list and find the best monitor arm for you. If you only have questions about certain features of a monitor arm desk mount, take a quick look at the 11-question list below to see what to look for in a monitor arm.

1. Does your monitor have a VESA mounting interface??
2. How many monitors are you using at the same time? Is there a need for future expansion?
3. What is the weight of each monitor?
4. What is the size of each screen?
5. How do you want the screens to be arranged?
6. What kind of installation do you want to use? Does your table fit?
7. Is your work desk up against a wall or office cubicle?
8. Do you want the screen to be raised a bit or to be able to move with your sitting position at any time?
9. When using more than 2 monitors, is it the same brand and the same size?
10. Are you considering placing the monitor in the corner of an L-shaped desk?
11. What is your budget?

We wish you the best of luck in finding the ideal monitor stand to create a unique workspace.

11 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Monitor Arm

#1 Does your monitor have a VESA mounting interface?

Be sure to check if your computer has a VESA standard mount on the back of the screen.

The VESA Association has developed a global mounting interface that allows screen and TV manufacturers around the world to design their monitors with four square screw holes at the center of gravity on the back of the screen casing.

One of the heaviest monitors in the market is the Samsung 49" Odyssey G9, which is approximately 14 kgs without the original stand and falls within the threshold of the most common VESA 100 x 100 mm standard mounting interfaces for monitor mounts.

The easiest way to verify that the screen has a VESA mounting interface is to check the back of the screen for the four screw holes. If the original monitor stand is designed to move slightly when manufacturing, the VESA interface may be hidden in the original stand where the screen is assembled to the stand. In addition, you can confirm that the monitor has a VESA interface by searching for "Monitor Model Ex: LG 49WL95C-WE" + "Specifications" on the brand website.

• If your monitor has a VESA standard mounting interface, your monitor meets the key criteria for a monitor arm.
• If not, needing an additional VESA adapter to mount your monitor to a monitor arm.

When using the VESA adapter, the center of gravity of the screen does not lie perfectly to the mount, so additional leverage weight will be generated. In this case, an additional 1kg is required to calculate the weight of the screen to avoid the screen bracket from drooping.

Also, when purchasing a universal VESA adapter for monitors under 32 inches, you should pay attention to whether the adapter will block the power supply and other cable connections of the monitor.

Tip: iMacs are the most typical computer monitors that do not have a VESA standard mounting interface, but Apple has come up with an expensive screen mount adapter.

#2 How many monitors are you using at the same time? Is there a need for future expansion?

Image source: YouTube

This couldn't be a simpler question to help you narrow down your search and quickly find the perfect monitor mount.

• 1 screen
• 2 screens
• 3 screens
• 4 or more screens

There are many types of monitor arm desk mount on the market designed for 1 or 2 screens, and they can be subdivided (based on the aspect ratio), into wide (16:9), ultra-wide (21:9), super ultra-wide (32:9) , and curved ratio 1000R to 3200R (the smaller the number, the greater the curvature). For example, the Samsung Odyssey G9 is a super ultra-wide 32:9 curved 1000R, one of the top  computer monitors.

When installing a single monitor arm, the additional weight of the levers generated by the aspect ratio and curvature should be taken into account and added to the weight of the screen itself to select a monitor arm that meets the criteria, as explained in detail in question #3. When installing multiple monitors, there are even more factors to consider, as explained in question #5.

If there is a need to expand the number of monitors in the future, it is highly recommended to purchase a monitor arm desk mount with a pole to allow for future expansion possibilities.

Tip: Rare suppliers who design and manufacture itself offer additional arms to mount more screens on a pole, allowing for a minimal cost upgrade within the overall maximum weight limit of the mount base.

#3 What is the weight of each monitor?

Each monitor arm has a different weight limit, so it's important to know the weight of the monitor you're using in advance. If you have enough budget, it is best to choose a monitor arm desk mount that can carry 2 to 3 kg more than the actual weight of the screen. In addition to safety considerations, it reduces unnecessary risks and extends the life of the monitor stand.

Besides the quality of the metal material, the load weight of the monitor stand depends on the strength of three components:

• VESA tilt mechanism: The part directly connected to the screen is designed with bolts and nuts to lock the metal gaskets to generate friction, so that the screen remains suspended while still retaining room for up and down tilt adjustment.
• Gas/mechanical spring arm mechanism: The key part that allows the screen to move up and down easily, designed with a pneumatic system or mechanical spring to provide sustained strength, allowing the screen to be stationary at any height.
• Mount base: The part directly connected to the desktop, which must carry the total weight of the stand itself plus the monitor, as well as the additional transient force generated by moving the monitor.

When the VESA mounting standard interface was released, most of the monitors on the market were mainly 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio monitors. When purchasing a mount for an ultra-wide curved screen, at least 1kg of additional lever weight is required to ensure safety in use.

Note when purchasing a monitor arm desk mount for more than 2 screens:

In order to maximize the marketing effect of the specification, some manufacturers will use the total weight to market the monitor arm desk mount, for example, a monitor bracket that supports 4 monitors will have a weight of 40kg.

If one of the monitors is particularly heavy, it is likely that the VESA tilt mechanism and the gas/mechanical spring arm mechanism of the monitor arm will not be able to support more than 10kg of monitor weight.

#4 What is the size of each screen? *For people who need to use more than 2 screens

Just like the weight of the screen, the size of the screen is important in the selection of the monitor arms. When the industry marks the size of a screen or TV, they usually include the length of the diagonal of the "panel", but not the bezel. In this case, for the same 32" screen, the actual width and height of the monitor will vary slightly from different manufacturers.

What does this have to do with choosing a monitor arm?

• When choosing a monitor arm desk mount for more than 2 monitors, you need to verify if the arm length of the monitor arm is sufficient, otherwise there may be overlap between the 2 monitors. If you simply look at the diagonal length of the "panel" and ignore the screen bezel, it is likely that the screens will overlap.
• When measuring the width and height of a screen for the purpose of purchasing a monitor arm desk mount, be sure to take into account the thickness of the bezel as well.
• When arranging two monitors horizontally from left to right, evaluate whether the length of the arm of the monitor mount is greater than [(left screen width + right screen width) / 2].
• When arranging 2 screens vertically, evaluate the maximum height of the monitor arm to see if it is greater than [lower screen height + (upper screen height / 2)].

In #1 Does your monitor have a VESA mounting interface, we have already understood that the monitor is connected to the arm via a VESA interface, so when arranging multiple monitors, we are actually comparing the length of the monitor arm to whether or not it is greater than the distance between the VESA mounting interface of the two monitors.

How do I correctly measure the screen size in relation to the monitor arm desk mount arrangement?

After arranging the monitors in an ideal setup, measure the distance between the center points of the VESA interface on the back of the monitors.

Tip: To place the monitors on the user's side and bend it inward toward the user for an immersive view, the longer your arm is than the width of the screen, the greater the angle you can bend it inward.

#5 How do you want the screens to be arranged?

Unlike the fixed stand that is included in the original package, the monitor arm desk mount allows you to adjust the monitor in any way you want within the range. Please check below for the common one to six screen configurations. If you find one that matches your intended configuration, there is a product available on the market; if not, you can contact the monitor arm manufacturer for customization.

Most monitor arms can rotate the screen to a portrait position. To simplify the setup arrangement, only the arrangement with the screen in the landscape position is drawn.

Two monitors arrangement

Six monitors arrangement

#6 What kind of installation do you want to use? Does your table fit?

There are four ways to install the monitor arms: wall mount, c-clamp mount, grommet mount, and free standing.

• 1. Wall Mount: Drilling holes on the wall and locking the base to it, completely freeing up the space occupied by the original monitor stand on the desktop.
     Disadvantage: permanent damage to the wall.
  2. C-Clamp Mount: Clamp the monitor on the edge of the table, suitable for the table without obstacles along the edge of the table, will not cause damage to the table. Disadvantage: There are basic requirements for the thickness and material of the table.
  3. Grommet Mount: Drill holes on the table and bolt the bracket from the bottom of the table, the most solid and mobility mounting method.
     Disadvantage: It causes permanent damage to the desk.
     
  4. Free Standing: Like the factory-supplied brackets, this is the most versatile and can be placed directly on the desktop, but is usually considered when more than two monitors are in use.
     Disadvantage: The screen is less adjustable and takes up considerable desk space.

#7 Is your work desk up against a wall or office cubicle?

When your desk is against a wall or office cubicle, using a multi-monitor arrangement can reduce flexibility because the arm does not extend behind the desk. On the other hand, reserve at least 3 cm of space between the desk and the wall for the c-clamp mount to go through.

When arranging smaller monitors, the monitor arms had to be extended much forward to place two screens being side by side, and unless the desk is deep enough, the screen will be placed too close to the user.

If using a wall mount or c-clamp mount in this situation, monitor arms with a detachable lower arms or are able to place the lower arms to face the same side help reduce the overall arm length to achieve the setup goal.

#8 Do you want the screen to be raised a bit or to be able to move with your sitting position at any time?

You can skip this topic to #9 If you want the screen to be raised a little, since the basic articulating monitor arm or fixed monitor stand may be the ideal product for these requirements.

If you are an efficiency-oriented user who wants the monitor to fit your habits rather than having your body lowered to fit the monitor, a monitor arm desk mount with a gas/mechanical spring mechanism endures the maximum flexibility, which supports three different types of height adjustment:

• Gas spring arm: The built-in pneumatic bar structure allows the monitor to stay at any height and can be easily controlled by the user with only one hand.
• Mechanical spring arm: The function is similar to the gas spring arm. But it has a shorter service life, compared to the gas spring arm. However, even for the cheap mechanical spring, the experience of height adjustment is close to high quality gas spring arms.
• Extra height on the pole: If you need extra height, choose a monitor arm desk mount with a pole to extend the mounting joint. Adjusting the height of the arm on the pole usually requires tools and is less convenient to use.

Retractable Monitor Arms

Before discussing this issue, we need to know the ergonomic distance of watching the monitor, which is approximately the length of your arm. Then you can choose the right monitor arm according to the depth of your desktop and the intended mounting method.

Another benefit to moving the monitor freely is to make more use of your desktop space, simply push the screen away to quickly clear the desktop.

Rotation

Most software or programs are designed to operate in a landscape orientation (16:9) for maximum efficiency. However, with the prevalence of mobile devices (9:16), if you can easily switch the screen in a portrait mode at any time, you will be able to use all software programs to their fullest potential, such as viewing code, comics, and 9:16 videos.

Tilt & Swivel

The VESA mounting interface of the monitor arm is almost equipped with the micro-adjustment structure of tilt and swivel head. After adjusting the gas spring arm to approximate location, then micro-adjusting the tilt and swivel angle to most comfortable viewing angle to match your sitting posture and habits.

#9 When using more than 2 monitors, is it the same brand and the same size?

If the answer is no, and you also want each screen to be aligned on at least one side of the top and bottom, you must choose a monitor arm with a gas/mechanical spring. If you use an articulating arm, not only will the different screen sizes not line up, but the different weight of the screens on the jointed arm will also create different lever weights, which will make much more height difference between the screens.

#10 Are you considering placing the monitor in the corner of an L-shaped desk?

When you place the screen in a corner, the distance between the screen and the user will be relatively far. In this case, you will need a longer monitor arm desk mount, but you will also need to consider the following two things.

1. While extending the arm to meet the ergonomic viewing angle, is the arm still long enough to allow multiple screens to be placed side by side without overlapping each other.
2. Priority to using a grommet mount if possible. If using a c-clamp mount in the corners will increase the distance between the screen and you, resulting in fewer options for monitor arm products.

#11 What is your budget?

Afterall, it's all about price. To be more specific, investing in a good monitor arm can increase your productivity and give you more advantages. With the 10-year warranty of ULTRARM monitor arm, a small monthly investment can reduce the risk caused by poor sitting posture in the next 10 years, and a cleaner and more professional work space can make your mind more agile and focused on your current tasks.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

In the next 10 years, the screen you're using may be obsolete, but the ULTRARM monitor arm will still be in place. No matter what your future accomplishments and vision grow to, always keep your screen moving to match your habits and create a comfortable work environment that keeps you moving up the ladder.