Fit more monitors in less space.
What's better than working with a single monitor? Working with multiple monitors, of course. I currently rock dual 32-inch 4K Dell monitors, which sit on my desk. Unfortunately, those two monitors rob critical tabletop space I could use for my peripherals and other work gear.
With this in mind, I felt it would be a good opportunity to look at the different types of monitor mounts out there that would allow me to elevate my monitors and reclaim some desktop space.
Monitor Desk Mount Versus Wall Mount
There are two basic types of mounts for monitors. First, there are non-invasive mounts that clamp onto your desk. These are often the cheapest available and the quickest to install. Since they don't involve drilling into a wall, no traces of their existence are left behind when you don’t wish to use them any longer. On the downside, these monitor desk mounts do take up a little bit of your desk space and will require a desk sturdy enough to handle the weight of your added monitor(s) at the mounting point.
The second method uses a monitor wall mount, which is a bit more involved and requires additional tools to install. You'll also need to drill holes into your wall, which may be a non-starter if you live in a rental property. The advantages of a wall mount are that nothing needs to be attached to your desk, you save a ton of desk space and that a wall stud can provide a very sturdy mounting surface. The disadvantage is that once you start getting into the triple-monitor and higher configurations, the mounts can get very pricey. In addition, you need to have your desk backed up against a wall, which is not always possible in every work environment.
When it comes to desk mounts, there are various configurations that you could choose. Of course, the simplest is a desk mount for a single monitor. These mounts all typically rotate, swivel and tilt for you to find an optimum viewing angle. he $28 Huanuo Single Monitor Mount(opens in new tab) is a good example.
Besides the side-by-side configuration, which we detail below with an option from Mount Pro, you can opt for 3x1 configuration, like this WALI Triple Monitor Mount for $84 after coupon on Amazon. With this arrangement, three monitors are held side-by-side, with a central monitor flanked on both sides by another.
There are 2x2 configs with two monitors side by side, with another two monitors stacked above, as we see with this Vivo Quad(opens in new tab) for $59.99. Or you could go with a 4x1 or even a 3x2 configuration, as seen with the Vivo Steel Hex(opens in new tab), priced at $139.99. A desk monitor mount configuration is likely out there that can meet your current needs. However, be cognizant of the weight limits of your desk, the weight limits of the mount and the VESA pattern on the back of the monitors you wish to use.
There are also many configurations available for wall monitor mounts (although not nearly as many as desk mounts), starting from the relatively basic WALI Wall Mount(opens in new tab) that supports tilt and swivel for a low $14.99. Our guide covers the 2x1 Huanuo Dual Wall Monitor Mount(opens in new tab) ($56.99) installation in detail. Prices tend to go much higher from there, with a 3x1 mount from Displays2Go(opens in new tab) ringing in at $229.
Installing a Monitor Desk Mount
For my desk mount install, I went with the Mount Pro(opens in new tab) on Amazon, which retails for $32.99. However, at the time I purchased it, a $7 coupon was available, dropping the price to $25.99. According to the product specifications, the mount can accommodate two 13- to 32-inch monitors weighing up to 19.8 pounds.
My Dell U3223QE weighs just 12.46 pounds without the stand, comfortably meeting the mount's requirements. My Dell S3221QS is a bit porkier, coming in at 16.31 pounds without the stand, but it's still within the 19.8-pound limit.
The Mount Pro is constructed of stainless steel and aluminum, and can accommodate VESA 75x75 or 100x100 patterns. This mount swivels, tilts and rotates, articulating into just about any position you can think of to reach the ergonomic sweet spot for your viewing pleasure.
The exact instructions will vary based on the model of desktop monitor mount you buy, but here’s a general list of steps to follow for setting one up.
1. Pull everything out of the box and survey the components. Luckily, in my case, each of the Mount Pro’s main parts were individually bagged and well marked to make construction easy.
2. Assemble the desk clamp. The clamp for the Mount Pro comes in two pieces: a lower half that holds the knob you use to tighten the mount to your desk and the top portion that screws into the mounting pole. The two halves are held together with two bolts.
3. With the mount assembled, attach the pole. In the Mount Pro’s case, this required three screws.
4. Attach the mount and pole to your desk and tighten the clamp knob, so there is no play/movement.
5. Ensure that the mount arm is fully tightened against the pole. If the connection isn’t tight enough, the weight of the attached monitors will cause the arm to slide down the pole.
6. Remove the stands from the back of your monitor(s). In the case of my Dell monitors, the factory stand is removed using a simple push-button. Once it was removed, I found four screws already installed, which I needed to remove. Each monitor is different, so this step will vary depending on your monitor's manufacturer.
7. Attach a mounting bracket. Depending on the type of monitor, it may come with screws or you may need to bring your own.
8. Attach each monitor to its respective plate on the arm. On most desktop monitor monitors, the plates slide in from the top and are then secured with a single bolt.
9. Do some cable management. Many desktop monitor mounts, including the Mount Pro I used, include nifty clips for cable management, allowing you to route power and display cables along the arm and down the pole.
As you can see, getting the monitors off the desk opens up a lot of space by removing the bulky stands (don't mind my mess of cables for my external drives, Echo, Thunderbolt 3 dock and speakers).
