Dual Monitor Setup Guide: Height, Distance & Angle (Stand or Arm?)
A second monitor is the cheapest productivity upgrade you can make. Traders watch charts on one screen and place orders on the other. Coders keep code on one side and the browser on the other. But set it up badly and you spend eight hours a day with your head turned to one side.
Here's how to set up two screens properly, using the guidance published by OSHA, the US workplace safety agency.
The 3 numbers for every screen
| Setting | What to aim for |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 50–100 cm from your eyes, roughly an arm's length |
| Height | Top edge of the screen at or slightly below eye level |
| Tilt | Screen tilted back about 10–20°, facing your eyes |
OSHA also suggests keeping the centre of the screen about 15–20° below your eye line, and not placing a screen more than about 35° to the side of where you naturally look.
Which layout suits you?
You use both screens equally
Place the two screens side by side with the join between them right in front of your nose. Angle both inward slightly, like an open book, so each one faces you.
One screen is your main screen
Put the main screen straight in front of you and the second one beside it, angled in. Most of your day stays centred and you only turn for the occasional glance.
Your desk is narrow
Stack the screens one above the other. Both stay centred, so you never turn your neck sideways. Keep the lower screen at eye level and tilt the upper one down toward you.
Stand or arm: what's the difference?
| Desk-clamp monitor stand | Gas-spring monitor arm | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fixed setups you adjust once | Moving the screen often |
| Movement | Tilt, swivel, rotate, slide on pole | Float the screen up, down, in and out by hand |
| Budget | Lower | Higher |
| Multiple screens | Easy: 2, 3 or 4 on one pole | Usually one arm per screen |
Check these 4 things before you buy
- VESA holes. Look at the back of your monitor for four screw holes in a square, usually 75×75 mm or 100×100 mm. No holes means you need an adapter.
- Screen size and weight. Check the weight of each monitor without its original stand, and match it to the capacity of each arm.
- Desk thickness. A clamp needs a solid desk edge. Our monitor stands fit desk tops up to 80 mm thick.
- Space behind the desk. If your desk sits against a wall with no edge to clamp, a wall-mounted arm is the cleaner choice.
Our picks
- Dual Monitor Stand (side by side): compact 440 mm seamless steel pole, dual C-clamp, 10 kg per arm, full motion on each screen.
- Vertical Dual Monitor Stand: stacks two screens on an 810 mm seamless pole for narrow desks.
- Single Monitor Arm: gas spring with tension adjustment, so you can add a second screen one arm at a time.
- Wall-Mounted Monitor Arm: for desks with no clampable edge.
All our monitor stands and arms come with a 3-year warranty. See all monitor stands →
Set it up in 10 minutes
- Sit in your normal working position first, then adjust the screens to you, not the other way round.
- Set the main screen height so the top edge is at your eye line.
- Pull the screens back until you can read normal text without leaning in. Increase the text size instead of moving closer.
- Tilt each screen back a little and angle the pair inward.
- Clip the cables along the pole so nothing drags when you move a screen.
FAQ
Can I mount two different-sized monitors?
Yes. Each arm adjusts on its own, so line up the top edges and you'll barely notice the size difference.
I wear bifocals. Does this change?
Yes. OSHA suggests placing the screen lower than usual and tilting it back, so you can read through the lower part of your lenses without tipping your head up.
Will a clamp damage my desk?
A wide clamp spreads the load. A dual C-clamp grips at two points, which reduces the pressure on any one spot. For thin or soft desks, add a small steel plate under the clamp.
