In fact, the construction is simple enough that you can build one yourself if you’re handy with a few basic power tools. Some even have pass-through ports for handy extras, like USB and audio. Side-clamp mounts can be simple, with only a few pieces of steel, or elaborate, with multi-jointed arms supported by tightened bolts or even gas-spring mechanisms suspending the monitor over the desk and closer to your face.

Installation is easy, and requires only a screwdriver and a little elbow grease to secure the clamps in place. You’ll need a desktop that extends out beyond the legs or support by a few inches-most modern computer desks will do, but older styles with a “boxy” construction may be incompatible. This gives you the advantage of clearing away desk space immediately beneath the monitor, without having to resort to a permanent or semi-permanent installation. Side-Clamp Desk Mounts: Maximum Desk Space and FlexibilityĪn intermediate option is to use a clamp-style mount, which attaches the riser pole or arm to the side of the desk. Single-monitor stands with all the features above can be had for as little as $30. More elaborate models come with spring-loaded rising mechanisms and integrated cable management, but if you’re looking for a freestanding mount, you are generally want the cheapest option. But replacing your stand with a third-party one can give you more options, including a much greater height (ideally placing the center of the screen at your eye level or just below it), panning and tilting, and even rotating the screen itself into a landscape format. These are simply a replacement for the standard monitor mound or stand-they attach to your monitor at the top and rest on your desk’s surface, just like normal. Freestanding Mounts: Ergonomics On a Budget The monitor on the left includes a 100mm VESA mount, but the one on the right has a curved back that can’t accommodate one. Many smaller, cheaper, or thinner monitors may not be VESA-compatible, and will work only with the custom stands that came from the manufacturer. VESA 100 (with a square hole pattern 100mm wide on each side) is the standard, though some super-sized monitors above 35 inches may have larger requirements.

Microcenter monitor mount