Top 5 compared
The best monitor arms
The screen held over the desk at eye level, and pushed back out of the way when you need the space.
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The top 5 at a glance
A monitor arm clamps to the edge of the desk, or bolts through a hole in it, and holds the screen up on a jointed arm, so it can be raised, pulled closer, tilted or turned on its side. HSE’s guidance for screen work puts the top of the screen level with the eyes, about an arm’s length away. Most arms lift on a gas spring; others use a mechanical spring or a counterbalance.
The monitor needs VESA mounting holes on the back, 75mm or 100mm apart, and its weight without the stand has to sit inside the arm’s range: too heavy and the screen slowly sinks, too light and it drifts up. Each clamp suits its own range of desk thicknesses, so measure the desk too.
What matters
- The screen sizes it’s rated for, in inches.
- Reach and height range, for where the screen needs to sit.
- Cable management that hides the leads along the arm.
- A tension window or scale for matching the spring to the screen.
#1Invision MX200 Single Monitor Arm
£20–£30
A gas-spring arm for 19 to 32-inch screens weighing 2 to 9kg, with up to 530mm of reach and a 2-year warranty. Invision is a Bolton company that also makes TV brackets and stands.
What owners say: Owners say fitting it is straightforward, and that it holds a 32-inch monitor steadily, even on a thick desk.
A closer look: Hang the screen on the plate before setting the tension, so the gas spring is balanced against the real weight. Height runs from 140mm to 400mm above the desk, and the clamp needs a desktop at least 20mm thick; through-desk fitting suits thinner tops.
- Up to 530mm reach
- Tool-free height adjustment
- Clamp or through-desk mount
- Cable management in the arm
- 2-year warranty
Best for: One screen at the right height
- Screen sizes
- 19–32in
- Screen weight
- 2–9kg
- Height lift
- Gas spring
- VESA
- 75 and 100mm
- Clamp fits desks
- 20–90mm
- Tilt
- +85° / −30°
#2Invision MX450 Single Monitor Arm
£50–£75
A heavier-duty arm for big screens: a die-cast alloy frame on a gas spring that carries monitors from 24 to 40 inches and 2 to 15kg, so a 34-inch ultrawide stays where it’s put. For a standard 24 or 27-inch monitor, the cheaper MX200 at the top of the list does the same job.
What owners say: Owners say it holds heavy ultrawides with no wobble, goes up easily with clear instructions, and like that every joint can be tightened without tools; they find it fair value next to other big-screen arms.
A closer look: Weigh the monitor without its stand first: anything from 2 to 15kg sits on this arm, and screens under 24 inches are better on the MX200. If the VESA holes sit in a recess in the back of the screen, Invision’s support team will suggest a fix before it goes up.
- Die-cast alloy frame
- Two-year warranty
Best for: Ultrawides and heavy screens
- Screen sizes
- 24–40in
- Screen weight
- 2–15kg
- Height lift
- Gas spring
- VESA
- 75 and 100mm
- Clamp fits desks
- –
- Tilt
- +85° / −30°
#3Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm (45-241-026)
£150–£200
Built for heavier screens and long service: it holds 3.2 to 11.3kg and screens up to 34 inches, reaches out to 64cm, and Ergotron backs it with a 10-year warranty.
What owners say: Owners say it moves into any comfortable position and feels rock solid, and one has it holding a 27-inch pen display.
A closer look: Constant Force is Ergotron’s counterbalance, made so the screen moves with a light touch. The desk clamp suits desktops from 10mm to 60mm thick, and the grommet mount goes through a hole in desks up to 57mm, with both in the box.
- 10-year warranty
- Moves with a light touch
- Reach up to 64cm
- Cables run beneath the arm
- Clamp and grommet in box
Best for: Heavier screens, for years
- Screen sizes
- Up to 34in
- Screen weight
- 3.2–11.3kg
- Height lift
- Constant Force
- VESA
- 75 and 100mm
- Clamp fits desks
- 10–60mm
- Tilt
- +70° / −5°
#4HUANUO FlowLift Pro Single Monitor Arm
£20–£30
Instead of a gas strut it uses a mechanical spring, with a little window that shows the tension, so matching it to the monitor’s weight isn’t trial and error. It takes 13 to 32-inch screens of 2 to 9kg, with 420mm of height travel.
What owners say: Owners like the generous height range and how easily it moves, and say it gives a desk a clean, uncluttered look.
Heads up: Balance it with the monitor fitted: if the screen sinks, turn the adjuster towards +, and if it rises, towards −, watching the window.
A closer look: HUANUO’s case for a mechanical spring is that it doesn’t rely on sealed gas pressure, so the tension should hold over the years. Both the clamp and the grommet base are meant for wooden desks, and HUANUO advises checking bevelled or irregular edges before fitting.
- Window shows the spring tension
- Up to 475mm reach
- Clamp or grommet base
- Made for wooden desks
Best for: Setting the tension by eye
- Screen sizes
- 13–32in
- Screen weight
- 2–9kg
- Height lift
- Mechanical spring
- VESA
- 75 and 100mm
- Clamp fits desks
- 15–90mm
- Tilt
- +85° / −25°
#5BONTEC Single Monitor Arm (GDM7501)
£26.99 RRP
Lifts the centre of a 13 to 32-inch screen of 3 to 9kg up to 450mm above the desk, with a gas spring, a concealed cable channel and snap-fit clips to keep the leads out of sight.
What owners say: Owners say it went up in under an hour with every tool needed in the box, and feels solid once fitted.
Heads up: Mount the monitor before adjusting the arm’s height: BONTEC notes the gas spring only works with a screen in place.
A closer look: Both the upper and lower arm turn a full circle at their joints, so the screen can swing round to face someone across the desk or tuck in beside a laptop. BONTEC recommends a desktop between 10mm and 70mm thick for either the clamp or the grommet.
- Concealed cable channel
- Snap-fit cable clips
- Both joints turn 360°
- Clamp or grommet
Best for: Hiding the cables
- Screen sizes
- 13–32in
- Screen weight
- 3–9kg
- Height lift
- Gas spring
- VESA
- 75 and 100mm
- Clamp fits desks
- 10–70mm
- Tilt
- ±90°
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Invision MX200 | #2Invision MX450 | #3Ergotron LX | #4HUANUO FlowLift Pro | #5BONTEC GDM7501 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for big screens | Best premium | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Price | £20–£30 | £50–£75 | £150–£200 | £20–£30 | £26.99 RRP |
| Screen sizes | 19–32in | 24–40in | Up to 34in | 13–32in | 13–32in |
| Screen weight | 2–9kg | 2–15kg | 3.2–11.3kg | 2–9kg | 3–9kg |
| Height lift | Gas spring | Gas spring | Constant Force | Mechanical spring | Gas spring |
| VESA | 75 and 100mm | 75 and 100mm | 75 and 100mm | 75 and 100mm | 75 and 100mm |
| Clamp fits desks | 20–90mm | – | 10–60mm | 15–90mm | 10–70mm |
| Tilt | +85° / −30° | +85° / −30° | +70° / −5° | +85° / −25° | ±90° |
| Best for | One screen at the right height | Ultrawides and heavy screens | Heavier screens, for years | Setting the tension by eye | Hiding the cables |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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