If your monitor sits too low, or its stand eats half your desk, there are two common fixes: a monitor riser (a small shelf the monitor sits on) or a monitor arm (a mount that clamps to the desk and holds the screen in the air). Both raise the screen. They solve different problems, though, and an arm only works if your monitor and desk meet a few specs. This guide walks through how to choose, with a short checklist you can run with a tape measure in five minutes.
Quick answer
- One monitor, no VESA holes, or you don't want to install anything? Get a monitor riser.
- Two monitors, or you want the whole desk surface back? Get a dual monitor arm, if your screens have VESA 75 or 100 mounting holes and your desk edge can take a clamp.
- Working from a laptop? Neither, really. A laptop stand is the better fit (see below).
What a monitor riser does well
A riser is the simplest upgrade. You set it on the desk, put the monitor on top, and you're done. No tools, no holes, nothing to check on the back of your screen. It works with any monitor that has a stand, including ones without VESA mounting holes.
It also gives you something an arm doesn't: a shelf. The space under the top board is a natural parking spot for a keyboard at the end of the day, a notebook, or small desk items. For a single screen on a small desk, that's often the best mix of height and storage.
The limits: a riser adds a fixed amount of height (our Sparky's Wooden Monitor Riser lifts the screen about 8 cm / 3.1 in), and the monitor's own stand still takes up desk space. It also can't tilt or swing the screen; you get whatever adjustment your monitor already has.
What a monitor arm does well
An arm replaces the monitor's stand entirely. The screen floats above the desk, so the space under it is free all the way to the back edge. A gas spring arm lets you push the screen up, down, closer, or farther with one hand, and turn it to share with someone next to you. Dual arms also line up two screens side by side at the same height, which is hard to do with two mismatched stands.
The trade-off is setup. An arm needs the right monitor, the right desk, and some assembly with the included hardware. If any of the checks below fail, a riser is the safer buy.
The 4-point monitor arm checklist
Using our Sparky's Dual Monitor Arm as the example, here's what to check before you order any arm:
- VESA holes. Look at the back of the monitor for four screw holes in a square. Measure the distance between them: 75 x 75 mm or 100 x 100 mm is what most arms (including ours) accept. No holes means no arm, unless the maker sells an adapter for that model.
- Screen size. Check the size range per arm. Ours fits 13–32 inch flat or curved screens on each side.
- Weight. Find the monitor's weight without its stand (it's usually on the spec sheet or the box). Gas springs work within a range; ours is rated 4.4–17.6 lb per arm. A screen that is too light or too heavy won't stay where you put it.
- Desk edge. A C-clamp grips the desk edge, so you need a solid edge with clearance underneath. Ours clamps desks about 0.39–1.97 in thick, or 0.39–3.15 in thick with the grommet (through-desk) base if your desk has a cable hole. Glass tops, hollow-core tops, and desks with a frame rail right at the back edge are poor fits for any clamp.
Side-by-side comparison
| Monitor riser | Dual monitor arm | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | None, just place it | Clamp or grommet install with tools |
| Monitor requirements | Any monitor with a stand | VESA 75/100, within size and weight range |
| Height | Fixed lift (about 3.1 in for ours) | Adjustable by hand |
| Tilt / swivel / rotate | Only what the monitor's stand offers | Tilt -45°/+90°, swivel 180°, rotate 360° (ours) |
| Desk space | Adds a storage shelf, stand stays | Frees the area under the screens |
| Best for | One screen, renters, quick fix | Two screens, small or crowded desks |
Where to set the height
A common setup guideline is to put the top edge of the screen at or slightly below eye level when you sit normally, about an arm's length away. With a riser, check whether the extra 3 inches gets you there; if your screen still sits well below eye level, an arm gives you more range. With an arm, set the height once with the springs, then fine-tune the tilt so you aren't looking at glare from a window or overhead light.
What about laptops?
A laptop's screen and keyboard are joined, so raising the screen also raises the keyboard. If you use a laptop as your main screen, a dedicated stand like the Sparky's Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Stand plus a separate keyboard and mouse is usually the cleaner setup. If you run a laptop next to an external monitor, a riser or arm handles the monitor while the stand handles the laptop. Our laptop stand vs cooling pad guide covers that side.
Finish the setup
- Tidy the cables. Whichever you choose, bundle the monitor cables together and run them down one desk leg. An under-desk cable tray hides the power strip and bricks, and reusable hook-and-loop ties bundle the rest. See desk cable management basics.
- Add some light behind the screen. A strip on the back of the monitor, like the Sparky's RGB LED Strip Kit, softens the contrast between a bright screen and a dark wall. Our monitor backlight guide explains placement.
- Use the freed-up space. For more ideas, read small desk organization ideas.
The short version
Pick a riser if you want a no-install height boost and a storage shelf for one screen. Pick an arm if you run two screens or want the desk surface back, and your monitors pass the VESA, size, weight, and desk-edge checks above. Not sure? Email us at spgdsllc@gmail.com with your monitor model and desk thickness and we'll help you check the fit.