Best Dual Monitor Stands for 2021
Dual monitor stands are almost the norm nowadays as many of us who spend a lot of hours in front of a computer need more flexibility and ergonomics in our daily activities.
Dual monitor stands fix a main problem that dual monitor setups have, and that is: freeing up desk space and allowing the user to have more usable desk space without compromises.
In addition to extra usable desk space, using a dual monitor stand enable you to move your monitors freely above the desk for better positioning and more comfortable viewing angles (something that built-in monitor stands fail to do), so by using a dual monitor stand your monitor is “floating“ over your desk and removes any limitation such that you can optimize your work/gaming place by positioning your monitors just the way you want.
Since we already talked in our previous article about monitor wall mounts , let’s have a look over dual monitor desk stands and see what are the advantages of using such a setup, what are some of the best dual monitor stands available on the market today and how we can use them to prepare for 2021.
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Most dual monitor stands look pretty much the same, but there are some critical differences that you should take into consideration when choosing the best dual monitor stand for your needs. Since there is allot of variety on the market, making things somewhat confusing as many models fall into multiple categories of use, let’s break down the specs such that you can make an more informed decision and pick the best dual monitor stand for your needs.
Freestanding dual monitor stands
This dual monitor stand type is situated on its own base, which offers several advantages. A standing desk stand is one of the best dual monitor arm if you are constantly rearranging your desk or you change configurations constantly.
The freestanding dual monitor stands are more lightweight, and they can be configured at a large number of angles. The downside of such a dual monitor stand is that, since they have to be positioned on top of the desk, they don’t allow you to maximize the usable space of your desk as much as you would like.
Clamp Dual Monitor Stands
This type of dual monitor stands is a great choice if you want to take advantage of the maximum available space of your desk. They use a C-clamp that makes it easy for them to be mounted onto the side of your desk, and a straight pole that is used as a base for the monitors to be mounted on. They don’t require any drilling or modifications to your desk.
Grommet Dual Monitor Stands
This type of dual monitor stands are very similar to the dual monitor stands with C-clamp, but with one major difference. Just like the previous discussed type, this one will mount onto the side of your desk, but it will require a thinner desk surface to be properly mounted. Many of this type of monitor stand scome with either a C-clamp or a grommet.
When looking to get the best dual monitor stand for your setup, the first thing you have to be careful about is the compatibility with the monitors you are using or plan to buy (if you are looking for ideas on a new monitor, you can check our 4K monitors guide).
There are a few things to take into consideration:
First thing’s first: the mounting interface. Most monitor stands make use of mounting plates already attached to the arms that correspond to the same positioning on the back of a monitor. The most common mount type is VESA, and since it is the standard mounting type, you will find that most of dual monitor stands as well as monitors are compatible with this standard. But before making a choice, do have a look at your monitor specs to avoid any unpleasantness.
Dual monitor stands can take only a certain amount of weight. That being said, you’ll have to know how much your monitors weigh and how much the targeted monitor stand can take. Fortunately modern monitors are not that heavy anymore, but before making any choices, do double check.
Besides maximum weight, another metric to take into consideration is the maximum size a dual monitor stand can support. Most available models have a maximum supported size of 27-inches up to 32-inches. In most cases there is no minimum, so you have to look for a model that’s big enough to support your dual monitor setup.
The biggest selling point dual monitor stands setups are their ergonomics, and the majority of them come with articulations that allows you to adjust the positioning of the monitor itself or even the stand where the monitor sits.
The ways the arms can move and their range of articulation will be different from model to model, and the amount of customization is one of the most important feature a dual monitor stand setup it can offer. So here is what you should look for:
Height: Many of us will probably find a comfortable monitor height and just sick with it. Others though, want the height to be as flexible as possible so the maximum height a dual monitor stand can reach is something you will want to look for.
Rotation: This feature allows you to adjust your screens position between landscape and portrait mode which is something you will want to have, especially if you are a content creator, developer, designer and so on.
Tilt: This feature determines how high or low the screen faces you. Tilt can help avoid glare, and it is particularly useful if you shift your position often.
Depth: most of the monitors stands come with bendable hinges that make possible moving the monitor closer or further away from your face. This feature is probably the most sought out feature as it allows you to transition one situation to another (watching something vs. interacting directly for example).
Swivel: Last but not least, swivel refers to the ability of the stand to turn your monitors in horizontal space. This is particularly useful in offices where a swivel at 360-degrees is great for sharing workspaces by increasing workspace efficiency. Some people that are big fans of clean workspaces take this to another level by building a desk PC in addition to dual monitor mounts.
When we talk about adjustment controls we mainly refer to the way we can adjust the height of the pole of the stand. There are two major adjustment control types available for this purpose:
Manual knob or pole monitor mount: These are pretty basic designs. A single bracket is attached to the pole which lets you slide the arms up and down. These dual monitor stand designs tend to be cheaper in general, but they can be tricky to handle with the monitors mounted on them. For this specific reason, we would suggest these types of dual monitor stands if, and only if, you don’t plan to adjust the height of your setup regularly.
Pneumatic gas cylinder for height adjustment: These are the models you should really look for. The use of a gas cylinder makes height adjustments way easier especially with your screens mounted on, which means you can adjust your dual monitor setup at any time without too many headaches.
Another feature when we are looking at dual monitor stands is the ability to get rid of cables as much as possible. Nobody wants a mess of cables on their desks, so cable management capabilities of such mounts are more than welcome to have. You can streamline your work/gaming space by using the already built-in hooks to store away cables and some more advanced dual monitors stands can even power the cables through the pole itself.
Now that you know what to look for when seeking a dual monitor stand let’s have al look at some stands we think are ones of the best dual monitor arms available today for 2021. Just as a side note, all presented models are VESA compatible.
WALI DUAL Adjustable Monitor Stands
The WALI Dual Adjustable monitor stands is one of the oldest products available on the market. With a simple design, it offers the most of the benefits a dual monitor arms setup can. This mount features a solid metal build and can handle up to two 32-inch, 9.9Kg monitors. It also comes with great cable management options, all the cables being routed at the base of the stand. As mounting mechanism it uses a C-Clamp as well as a grommet.
MOUNTUP Dual Monitor Stand with C-Clamp
This dual monitor stand set looks like it comes from a science lab, but fortunately it looks just as good hooked up with a gaming rig. The monitor arms are very flexible and provide a great level of precision to the adjustment angles that not many dual monitor stands can provide. Both monitor arms use high-quality gas cylinders which makes them a dream to adjust and use for a long time. The arms allow both screens to be adjusted between landscape and portrait mode with ease.
The MOUNTUP Dual Monitor Stand with C-Clamp can support maximum 27-inch, 8Kg screens.
VIVO Full Motion Dual Monitor Stand
The VIVO Full Motion Dual Monitor desk stand can fit up to two 8kg, 27-inch screens. This dual monitor stand is one of the most popular choices because of its sturdy built quality. The base is heavy and wide enough to hold two wide monitors with ease.
It comes with an 18-inch tall center pole which allows each screen to be placed either in portrait mode or landscape mode.
HUANUO Adjustable Gas Spring Dual Monitor Stand
Huanuo has a cool black riser that supports up to two 32-inch monitors and uses a grommet or a C-clamp to maximize compatibility with most of the available desks.
It comes with a good cable management system, and the low-tension gas springs which makes height and swivel adjustments easier. Unfortunately it does require some heavy-duty mounting and height adjustment is manual only, which is really a shame since it uses gas springs.
EleTab Adjustable Dual Monitor Stand
The EleTab dual monitor stand look and work just great. They come in a sleek chrome silver which is a nice change from the traditional black design a lot of monitor arms use. It supports up to 32-inches screens, and each of these screens can be adjusted individually in either portrait or landscape mode and for under $50 it is a bargain.
As mounting mechanism it comes with both a C-Clamp as well as a grommet. There are some downsides to the EleTab though: monitors can sag a little, the plastic peaces can come a little loose and it is lees sturdy than some other available models.
AmazonBasics Premium Dual Monitor Stand
Although it comes from the AmazonBasics lineup, this product it far from basic, and while it is a bit expensive you are getting one of the best quality build dual monitor stand. It can handle two 27-inch monitors, comes with a good cable management system and uses a C-clamp for mounting with an exceptional range of motion.
EVEO Premium Dual Monitor Stand
EVEO claims that this dual monitor stand makes hooking up two 32-inch monitors without too much hassle. And in some cases it is true as it offers a great amount of articulation which makes them a great choice for collaborative workspaces. The standard out of the box settings for these dual monitor stand will be suitable for most users, but if you want more customization you can safely remove the pins on the pump for more precise dual arm movement.
The stand can be mounted on the side of your desk, its arms and springs are fully removable and if comes with a three-year money back guarantee. On the downsides the stand proves to be a little challenging to assemble and mount as the instructions are quite ambiguous.
Dual monitor stands may seem like the perfect solution for a developer or a gamer, and we believe they truly are. Not only that they make your work/gaming place more ergonomic, easier to use and more customizable but dual monitor desk stands look awesome as well.
If you enjoyed our article, please like and share and don’t forget to leave a comment down below with your favorite dual monitor setup.
Before you go, have a look at some awesome dual monitors setups and let us know your thoughts.