Desktop Monitor Arms Roundup

In addition to Mike's excellent 4-step cure to help de-clutter your desk, we've always found desktop monitor mounts to be just as (if not more) useful at creating a clear and open workspace on your desk for you to get stuff done. Here's our picks for monitor mounts in plenty of different flavors depending on what kind of stuff you're looking to put up. Get your articulation fix, after the jump!

1. Humanscale M2 Mount ($240) - A bit pricier than most solutions, but then again - it's Humanscale we're talking about here.
2. atdec VF-AT-W Focus Articulated Arm Wall Mount ($75) - Slick like the Humanscale at a fraction of the cost.
3. ERGOTRON 45-174-300 Neo-Flex LCD Arm with Extension (silver) ($73) - One of the more popular choices for monitor arms that we've seen.
4. ERGOTRON 33-091-200 DS100 Dual-Monitor Desk Stand, Vertical (black) ($230) - Probably the best double monitor mount we've seen used in workplaces.
5. ERGOTRON 45-241-026 LX Desk Mount LCD Arm ($124) - For those interested in a more industrial look.
6. Planar 997-5602-00 Black Quad Monitor Stand ($220) - Good for those who are looking to build a supercomputer setup!
7. 3M(TM) Mechanically Adjustable Monitor Arm - Desk Mount ($100) - Your standard single monitor arm.
8. Vanguard VM-842C Column Type Television and Monitor Mount (Black) ($60) - A nice budget solution.
9. Tyke Supply Triple LCD Monitor Stand ($60) - Can't argue with value here. One arm. Three monitors!
10. Knoll Sapper™ Monitor Arm ($146) - For the more luxurious types.

Have a monitor arm you use at work that functions like a dream? Let us know in comments!

Comments (10)

I notice the Ergotron Mx Desk Arm isn't on here. We have two of these holding up 24" monitors and we love them - they are very functional, sturdy, and also aesthetically pleasing even when seen from the side or back.

http://www.amazon.com/Mx-Desk-Mount-LCD-Arm/dp/B001IWOBGI/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IWVXCG1RTPN38&colid=1RIT2HJJZWMQ9

Is $118 the normal price for that the MX? I would like to get one, but that's quite pricey for an arm.

$118 is worth it for an Ergotron...considering it will still be working just fine after upgrading monitors into the foreseeable future.

I have an Ergotron dual monitor stand and paid ~$300. Worth every penny.

I have the Expedit bookshelf/desk from IKEA. Is it safe to get am arm that grips the outer edge of the bookshelf (NOT the desk)? I'm afraid of crushing my particle-board furniture and dropping my monitor in the process. Also, do the arms go sideways like that?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20116071

I have a 24" Dell, if that matters.

It will depend on the weight. What I might recommend if you are worried about load is using some wood on the top and bottom of the clamp to distribute the weight across more of the shelf. It SHOULD be fine, I have used a monitor arm on particleboard surfaces before, but I can't safely say yes or no without seeing the shelf, the arm, and knowing the weight of the monitor and how far it extends.

The arm will go sideways depending on the mount you get. There are a rather large number of options to be honest.

Monoprice is the place to go for monitor/tv arms. They are super cheap and yet super high quality. I've bought 3 mounts/arms from them and am extremely happy with them. And yeah, I don't work for them.

kamikaze, I was actually wanting to clamp it vertically to the side of the shelf unit, not onto one of the horizontal shelves...the more I think about it, the less I think it's a good idea. It seems like the clamp could slip and my monitor would come down.

@Greyhound I don't think it's a good idea either. I've seen how easily those things can be destroyed with specific points of pressure.

@Jose A Just checked out their mounts. They're quite cheap, but has no style at all. :(

@anthonyn: I believe that is the average price, yeah. I got them for $124 actually, so they've come down a teeny bit. They're great - once you calibrate them for the weight of your monitor you don't have to tweak anything, they have a pretty great range of motion, and you can rotate the monitors.

I usually spend 12 hours a day in front of my monitors and reconfigure/rotate them for different purposes, so the MX's were totally worth it for me. Your mileage may vary.

@ anthonyn: Good mounts seldom look very stylish mostly because they are very basic in design. For example I had a set of the ergotrons above and they never stayed in place, and constantly sagged over the day. all the ones I saw in the office did it. Maybe with a lighter display they would be fine, but the displays we had were completely in spec for the mount.