It is 8.40am on a Tuesday and the window desks are taken, so you are on the end of the bench again. The laptop sits flat, the spare monitor is on its factory stand at the wrong height, and by lunch your neck has noticed. A monitor arm fixes most of that with a few seconds of adjustment, as long as it matches both the screen and the desk.
Below, we cover arm types, VESA patterns, weight ratings and mounting, with specs and prices from our monitor arms range.
Single, dual or quad: how many screens should a monitor arm carry?
Count the screens each person uses every day, not the ones they might add later. For one screen, the Gladius Single Monitor Arm ($112) is a gas lift arm with a counterbalance range of 2 to 9kg. It takes screens up to 30 inch with 75mm or 100mm VESA hole centres. It rotates 360 degrees, tilts 85 degrees up and 15 degrees down, and has built-in cable management.
For two screens, the Core Dual Gas Spring Monitor Arm ($181) carries two 17 to 30 inch screens at 2 to 9kg each from one desk fixing. A quick release mechanism makes screens easy to attach and remove, and the arm carries a 10 year warranty. Its listed width is 990mm, which is worth checking against a narrow desk.
Four screens suit dispatch, trading and monitoring desks. The Revolve Quad Monitor Arm ($237) holds four 10 to 30 inch screens on a centre pole, rated at 10kg per arm. The centre pole stands 708mm tall, each arm reaches 360mm, and the leads run inside the pole.
Gas spring arms versus pole mounted arms
A gas spring arm balances the screen's weight. You move it with one hand and it stays put, which suits sit-stand and shared desks. The catch is the weight range: a screen outside it drifts up or sinks.
Pole mounted arms trade quick movement for structure. You set each arm on the pole once and it holds the layout, so poles suit fixed multi-screen roles better than hot desks. Check the pole height too, because a tall pole can foul a shelf above the desk.
Heavy and wide screens need a higher weight rating. The Forge Single Monitor Arm ($157) is rated from 2 to 20kg and takes 17 to 49 inch screens, so it suits ultrawide monitors that sit outside a 9kg arm's range. It rotates 360 degrees for portrait use and tilts from -90 to 15 degrees.
VESA, screen size and weight: check the monitor first
Turn the monitor around first. VESA mounting is the square of four threaded holes on the back of the screen, measured centre to centre. Most office monitors use 75mm or 100mm, and each arm below that lists a VESA size accepts both.
Next, check the panel's weight without its stand and confirm the screen size is in range. Some slim monitors have no VESA holes at all.
| Product | Screens and size | Weight per screen | VESA | Mounting | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gladius Single Monitor Arm | One screen, up to 30 inch | 2 to 9kg | 75mm or 100mm | Clamp and grommet, both included | Not listed | $112 |
| Core Dual Gas Spring Monitor Arm | Two screens, 17 to 30 inch | 2 to 9kg | 75mm and 100mm | Clamp and grommet fixings | 10 years | $181 |
| Forge Single Monitor Arm | One screen, 17 to 49 inch | 2 to 20kg | 75mm and 100mm | Clamp and grommet fixings | 10 years | $157 |
| Revolve Quad Monitor Arm | Four screens, 10 to 30 inch | Up to 10kg | Not listed | Centre pole | 3 years | $237 |
| Athens Monitor Riser | One standard screen | Not listed | Not needed | Sits on the desk | 3 years | $60 |
Clamp or grommet: fixing the arm to your desk
A clamp grips the back edge of the desk and leaves no hole, but it needs a free edge. A wall, modesty panel, frame rail or cable tray at the back can leave no room for its lower jaw.
A grommet, or bolt-through, mount passes through a hole in the desktop and tightens from below. It can sit away from the edge, which helps on desks against a wall and on bench workstations.
Measure the desktop thickness against the clamp's opening, and look underneath before you decide. The Gladius, Core Dual and Forge arms come with both fixings, so you can choose on the day. Tighten either one fully, because a heavy screen on a long reach adds real leverage.
Using a monitor arm on a sit-stand desk, or choosing a riser
An arm fixed to one of our height-adjustable standing desks rises with the top. You will still make small changes between sitting and standing, which is where a gas arm earns its keep. Leave slack in the cables for the full travel.
Screens on long arms can also catch a shelf or window ledge as the desk rises. For the leads, trays and power under the top, our guide to desk cable management with trays, spines and power modules covers the rest of the set-up.
If a screen never moves, a riser may be all you need. The Athens Monitor Riser ($60) is a laminate stand measuring 600W x 350D x 175H, made from melamine on E1 Enviroboard with 25mm tops and sides. It comes in Beech/Charcoal, Cherry/Charcoal or White. The trade-off is that a riser lifts the screen one set amount and still uses desk space.
Screen height, distance and shared desks in Australian offices
Safe Work Australia's advice puts the screen about an arm's length away, directly in front of you, with its top at around eye level. WorkSafe Victoria also suggests starting at arm's length, then moving the screen closer or further until it reads comfortably. Set the chair and desk height first, then bring the screen to you.
With two screens used equally, put the join between them in front of you. If one is the main screen, centre it and angle the second towards you.
Many Australian offices now share desks across hybrid weeks. Whoever sits down needs to reset the screen in seconds, so a gas arm with a broad weight range suits a floor with mixed monitors. The Gladius page notes that its 2 to 9kg range suits large fit-outs with a mix of monitor types.
If you are planning a team fit-out around the end of the financial year, list every monitor model with its VESA pattern and weight before ordering. Using one arm model across the floor keeps set-up the same at every desk.
Monitor arms — frequently asked questions
How do I know if my monitor will fit a monitor arm?
It will fit if it has a VESA hole pattern the arm accepts and its weight and size sit inside the arm's stated range. Look for four screw holes in a square on the back and measure them centre to centre. A 75mm or 100mm pattern suits the Gladius, Core Dual and Forge arms.
Can you put a monitor arm on a standing desk?
Yes, fix it to the desktop so it rises and lowers with the desk. Leave slack in the cables for the full height range, and check the screen clears any shelf or ledge at the top of the travel.
Why does my gas spring monitor arm keep drifting up or down?
The screen is usually outside the arm's weight range, or the arm's tension has not been set for that screen. A screen below the minimum drifts up and one above the maximum sinks. Weigh the panel without its stand and compare it with the stated range.
Is a monitor arm better than a monitor riser?
For anyone who adjusts their screen or shares a desk, an arm is the better choice because it moves in seconds and frees the surface below. A riser suits a single screen that stays put, costs less and needs no fixing to the desk.
Shop the range
For a simple single-screen upgrade, start with the Gladius Single Monitor Arm, or compare the full range of monitor arms. Risers and other desk add-ons are in desk and office accessories, and sit-stand frames are in standing desks. Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
