The 10 Best Monitor Stands
Special Honors
Three by Three Up-rise The trendy, curved design of this versatile model makes it a nice choice for a modern space. It comes with removable dividers for creating separate compartments within its shelves, and it’s available in two attractive finishes. If you no longer need to use it as a riser, it can also be mounted to the wall for use as a mail sorter. threebythree.com
Ergomart Connect 44 Unless you dabble in surveillance for fun, this mammoth stand is probably best utilized for commercial applications. It can hold eight monitors, giving each the ability to be tilted, swiveled or rotated. Its cable routing system helps keep the wiring situation under control. ergomart.com
Wooden Amsterdam Walnut A handmade stand from a European producer of premium wood products, this elegant piece provides a little extra height for your monitor, with space underneath for keyboard storage. The bottom is protected by a cork pad, which helps prevent scratches when you move it around. It can support considerable weight, too. woodenamsterdam.com
Editor's Notes
August 06, 2021:
One not-so-fun fact about home offices is that a surprising number are not very ergonomically sound. Something as simple as the AmazonBasics Adjustable or as elegant as the Monoprice Multimedia can go a long way in getting your monitor to a safe and comfortable viewing height. More complex options like the Herdzi Home & Office and Superjare Desktop also create a bit of storage space to help organize your desktop, and the Fellowes Designer even has a slim drawer for storing pens, notes, and other workplace essentials.
April 13, 2020:
Eliminated two items that were no longer available: the Sparco Mesh and Stand Steady Jumbo. Made adjustments to the listing for Monoprice Multimedia to reflect that it is no longer available in multiple sizes and colors — the clear glass version is the only style listed currently.
It's worth noting that while we’ve included the wide, single-level version of the Kantek MS500 on this list, you have several other styles to choose from as well, including versions with drawers and one with two levels.
While most of the models on this list are designed to support a single laptop or monitor, we’ve included the Superjare Desktop to provide an option for accommodating multiple devices. It consists of three connected platforms, allowing you to set up two screens with additional surface space left over for a small printer or a speaker. The two outer platforms can be swiveled to various angles, giving you the ability to customize your workstation.
Most of the plastic and metal stands are designed more for utility than aesthetics, but the wooden and glass models on this list can be used to add an element of style to your home office setup.
Choosing The Best Monitor Stands
On the other hand, stands to be used for other office items to simply create desk space can be much simpler, and may require a bit less thought.
With all the different makes and models on the market, choosing the best monitor stand can be difficult. There are a few considerations, though, which every buyer should think about when deciding which stand is right for them.
The first consideration is the quality of the material used to make the stand and how well it is built. For instance, if a stand is designed to hold heavy items, yet is built of low quality plastic which bends when it does so, it is not going to be a reliable option. Low quality building material is a red flag in equipment that will be used to support expensive items like monitors and computers.
Another thing to take into consideration when choosing a monitor stand is how much additional space it creates while in use. Most tabletop stands will create useful space under the stand itself. This can be enough to store books, office items, memos, manuals, or a mouse and keyboard if there is no keyboard tray available. If the desk is especially small, many people will choose a monitor stand which creates even more additional space; such as side pockets or slide out drawers. This usable space is made while still occupying the same footprint on the desk. Creating an organized desk positively influences productivity, and a well placed stand is an easy way to get an organized desk.
This leads to the idea that the use of the stand must always be kept in mind. Using a monitor stand for a computer monitor alone opens up many options like cable storage or additional USB ports to transfer data or even charge a cell phone. With the modern concerns over cell phone battery life, this function may be the deciding factor for some. On the other hand, stands to be used for other office items to simply create desk space can be much simpler, and may require a bit less thought.
Who Needs A Monitor Stand?
Monitor stands are perfect for people with limited desk space who need to create additional room for storage or simply clear their immediate area. A well placed stand provides a sense of order in an often chaotic work environment. Creating order in this way may increase productivity, and may even influence the mental health and work stress of its users.
Stands can also be used by those who need to support multiple monitors or devices. Many desks are cluttered with two monitors, a telephone, printer, books, and various office supplies. These can all be easily organized with the proper use of a stand. That said, the stand should be long enough to fit everything and have enough depth to keep anything from hanging off of the edge. Height adjustment is also important to some users, providing the opportunity to further adjust the stand for comfort.
Monitor stands can also make for great laptop stands as well. Many models have perforated holes or are created using a mesh design which is optimal for supporting CPU cooling during heavy use. The laptops fans do much of this job, but this can be difficult if the base of the computer is on a closed surface. Using a stand in this way ensures a laptop's longevity.
Many people have also found use for these stands to hold a notebook or laptop on the couch, and even as serving trays to some extent. Essentially anyone looking to create additional space and convenience in their lives can benefit from using a monitor stands.
Health Benefits Of Monitor Stands
In addition to creating space on a desk, monitor stands may actually protect the spine from damage. This is due in part to a disorder called text neck. The disorder is a misalignment in the cervical spine caused by regularly looking forward and down, such as while texting or using a computer. Studies have linked text neck to increased neck pain and trouble fully flexing the neck.
Maintaining a poor posture over time can lead to chronic back pain.
The disorder has been labelled an epidemic in the modern age, but it is not a new disorder. In the past it was called scholar's neck, due to the fact that people who spent countless hours studying and reading books developed the same misalignment in their upper vertebrae. The position is not uncommon, humans spend a lot of time looking down without cell phone and computer use. The difference is that people spend much more time on computers and mobile devices than ever before, and they do so in much the same position: looking down with their neck forward. This is not the spine's normal position, and actually puts a large amount of stress on the muscles in the neck. Gravity makes this positioning even worse. Depending on how hunched over a person is, this position can be like placing a 60 pound weight on the neck.
People with this forward head posture often experience upper back pain, shoulder pain, and muscle spasms. If left untreated, a cervical nerve may become pinched. This can cause even more pain and possibly neurological symptoms in the arms and hands such as tingling or stinging sensations. Using a monitor stand to raise the monitor to eye level can help reduce this strain whenever a computer is being used. For regular cell phone users, doctors recommend to bring the cell phone up to eye level in front of your face during use. It may seem silly at first, but it is definitely better than permanent cervical damage.
Monitor stands also help to correcting the poor seated posture most computer users have. On the typical desk, the monitor is below eye level, on the same plane as the keyboard and mouse. This causes the user to hunch over to see it, rounding their shoulders as they do. Maintaining a poor posture over time can lead to chronic back pain. Chronic back pain is the most common complaint in office workers around the world, and costs companies millions in paid leave and decreased productivity each year. Business owners should consider equipping all of their workers with monitor stands to help correct their sitting posture and encourage both happy and productive employees.