Picking a PC Monitor Stand for a Video Editing Desk
Most editors do not consider using a monitor stand until they start to feel pain in their necks after a long color session. At that point, the decision is whether the editor needs something as simple as a cheap wooden riser, or if there is enough budget to purchase an Ergotron HX dual monitor arm capable of supporting two 32-inch monitors above the desk.
Honestly, the correct answer depends on what will be placed on top of it. A typical 27-inch IPS display weighs significantly less than a 38-inch ultrawide loaded with a calibration probe. Any inexpensive arm designed to hold a single lightweight display will most likely begin to sag when used with anything heavier.
This guide is intended for the professional video editor who has built a custom video editing computer, not the typical user searching for an inexpensive laptop stand. The guide covers heavy-duty single arms designed for large, wide format monitors with accurate color reproduction, double mount stands which allow you to place a reference grading panel next to your timeline, and simple risers with adjustable height. Prices range from low-cost to very expensive and the most important consideration when choosing between these options is monitor weight, how often you move the monitor, and whether your desk surface can support a clamp.
What Actually Matters for a PC Editing Setup
The specs for a monitor arm are generally meaningless until you have reviewed three numbers. Weight capacity is the most critical number because it will end an arm. Manufacturers tend to boast about their products supporting as much as 33 lbs. However, they also tend to be very quiet about the fact that the gas spring performs best in the 11 to 22 pound range.
As long as your monitor is at the high-end of the specification, you can expect to battle drift. Find out how heavy your monitor is (the weight is on the back of the monitor near regulatory labels) and include the weight of its panel mount stand plate if you decide to keep the original. Reviewers feel that having a monitor arm with more strength than needed is far better than the reverse.
The second number to check is the VESA pattern. The most common pattern is used by 99% of all flat-panel monitors (100 x 100mm) and some wide screens or reference displays use 200 x 100mm or 200 x 200mm. Cheap arms for these larger mounts do not usually come with enough mounting hole spacing. The third item is cable management. Keeping your cables straight from the back of your monitor to a powered USB hub and then under the desk to your computer tower gives you clean shot lines if you decide to convert your desk into a b-roll background, and lets you reseat the panel without unplugging anything.
Clamp vs Grommet vs Wall Mount
Most desktop arm bases are shipped with a C clamp that locks onto the back edge of the desk. The clamp accommodates thicknesses from approximately .5 inches to 2 inches and is by far the easiest way to mount your monitor on a glass or hollow-core desk.
Grommet mounts go through a drilled hole and bolt up from below. They appear neater than the C clamp and provide additional security for very large heavy color displays, but you actually need to drill a hole into the desk, which most commercially available desks do not include. Wall mounts are rare on PC editing rigs because monitors typically remain stationary. However, if you are creating a permanently configured grading station, consider using a wall mount.
Setting It Up Right
The installation is likely the biggest misconception. Prior to clamping anything, check the depth of your desk at the rear edge (the area that the clamp will sit) as almost every arm has some type of specification. Too little clearance can cause the arm to rock, and too much may simply not fit.
When you install your display, mount it with the arm fully extended towards yourself and clamp the desktop firmly. The gas springs need the weight on them during the final step of tightening. If you pre-load the arm without the display this creates an imbalance. Run all of your cables before you finally tighten those VESA screws, because threading a HDMI cable through the channel after the monitor is mounted is extremely difficult.
Best Heavy-Duty Single Arm: Gabor LeviTouch DMH-10B
The Gabor LeviTouch DMH-10B is intended for those who have either an ultrawide or a reference panel. The DMH-10B will hold one panel as large as 59 pounds, which covers almost all of the current 49" super-ultrawides, plus the larger 38-inch panels that tend to wobble when placed on lighter-weight arms.
The gas spring is optimized for that higher weight, so a 30 pound monitor will sit exactly where you place it (as opposed to slowly rising into your lap overnight). All reviewers comment on how well the arm supports heavy monitors without sagging.
You receive a VESA quick-release plate with your arm. It may seem like nothing until you have struggled to place a 35lb. monitor on top of a single attachment point. The desk thickness limit is approximately 3.5" and there is a Grommet Adapter included in the box.
Most users will agree the installation was easy enough. However, installing this product as well as lifting the monitor will need at least two people. Many heavy-duty arms share the same cable channel issue, where multiple HDMI cables along with a display port cable and one or two USB cables can be difficult to fit into the space provided.
If you would prefer to remain on Amazon, the HUANUO TitanLift heavy duty monitor arm offers a 44 lb weight limit and works with monitors up to 49" wide. The WALI heavy-duty ultrawide monitor arm is a comparable Amazon alternative. The Gabor feels heavier in hand, however the HUANUO is the easier reorder when you do not want to wait for a B&H shipment.
Best Dual-Monitor Arms
Ergotron HX: Premium Pick
The Ergotron HX dual monitor desk arm is the best option for a two-panel editing setup. Each arm holds 17.5 pounds, so two 27-inch IPS monitors fit with weight to spare.
Ergotron's construction is significantly better than most other brands, and they use something they call Constant Force technology. Essentially, Constant Force is an ergonomic version of a gas spring (although by some accounts much more advanced). Adjusting monitor height with one finger and having it stay put for years rather than months is the main practical advantage.
Longevity is something reviewers frequently comment on. Many people have run the same HX setup across multiple monitor replacements over five plus years with no sag.
Price is the big negative. It is significantly more expensive than the other options in this comparison. The justification for paying extra is if you are changing monitors to create different color spaces or if a saggy arm during a grading session would cost you money. Users have also commented negatively about the size of the clamp, which takes up more space than they expected.
Gabor DM-552: Mid-Range
For those who need two monitors but do not want to spend the cash on an Ergotron, the Gabor DM-552 Dual Arm Monitor Mount is your best bet. It supports two displays from 17 to 32 inches at up to 19.8 pounds each, so a 27 inch timeline panel with a 27 inch reference display has no problem.
Each arm is independently articulated, so one screen can be landscape while the other is portrait for viewing scripts or a Slack window.
Reviewers say they had no problem installing this mount solo and that the height range fits most adults without an extra riser. A couple of reviewers reported that the gas spring arms are stiff and require two hands to reposition. That stiffness adds to the overall stability of the mount.
If you would prefer to purchase directly from Amazon, the HUANUO dual monitor arm is the most popular dual mount in this price range with years of consistent reviews.
Best Budget Single Arm: Gabor LeviTouch DM-600
The Gabor DM-600 single-arm display mounting system is the realistic entry point. It can hold displays from 17 to 45 inches at up to 35.2 lbs, which covers most single-screen video editing setups.
The arm has a gas spring that does not move as smoothly as an Ergotron, however it will work for a screen you only adjust on average every month. The arm extends approximately 21 inches away from the wall, giving you space to swing the monitor toward a clean backdrop for video calls.
Some users have mentioned they like how affordable this item is to build. Many feel the arm has surprising stability given the cost, and most agree the cables can be hidden well with the provided cable ties.
The biggest complaint is that the VESA screws are too short and will not go into thicker monitor backs. Pick up a small package of M4x12 screws from any hardware store and you'll be fine. If you want an Amazon equivalent, the VIVO single monitor gas spring arm is the closest match at a similar price.
Best No-Mount Option: A Fixed Height-Adjustable Riser
A full articulating arm is not needed by all editors. A simple riser stand will do if you can place your monitor in one position and you simply want to raise it up.
The KINLINK solid wood monitor stand riser is one of the highest-rated wood risers on Amazon. Riser stands are far less expensive than an articulating arm, require less real estate on your desk, and provide the necessary elevation (approximately 3") with storage underneath for a keyboard or small drives.
If you prefer a VESA mounting version without the articulated arm, the Gabor DMS-200 desktop monitor stand has a fixed base that bolts directly to the back of your monitor. It offers 6" of height adjustments without a gas spring. A number of users report that the base is sufficiently stable and will not move when you knock into the desk.
However, this base is not freestanding and may tip over if children or pets lean on it. The drawback of any non-arm riser is reach. While you can use a stand to pull the screen further out, it would take considerably less time for you to become tired of reaching across the desk vs swinging an arm.
A good BenQ ScreenBar or equivalent monitor light clips to the top of any panel without conflicting with most arms or risers, and that is the next ergonomic upgrade after the stand itself.
If you are upgrading a full editing system, you will probably also be looking at your computer hardware for editing, your external SSD setup, and the panel itself. Your new arm will not help with color issues unless you also get a better display. The VESA Mounting Interface Standard page on Wikipedia is worth a quick read if you do not know which pattern your old monitor uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate monitor arm if my monitor came with a stand?
The monitor stand that came with your display is perfectly acceptable for stationary use. Editors opt for arms instead of a fixed base because it provides extra desk space and ergonomic comfort. A fixed-base monitor occupies roughly one square foot of desk real estate in front of you that an adjustable arm gives back. If you work with a BenQ PD2720U or similar designer panel, the standard stand is usually fine but limits the maximum height or minimum position.
Can a desk arm hold a 49 inch ultrawide?
Most standard arms cannot. You need one of the heavy-duty classes such as the Gabor DMH-10B or the HUANUO TitanLift. The standard arm has a maximum lifting capability of approximately 35 lbs. A curved 49 in. panel usually weighs considerably over that amount. Always verify the weight capacity against your monitor's actual weight (located on the rear) rather than its display size.
Will a monitor arm damage my desk?
A C-clamp may damage softwood finish coatings when over-tightened. All arms have rubber padding on either side of the jaw to protect the majority of desk surfaces. For glass tops or particularly well-finished hardwoods, place a small felt disc between the arm and the surface. Grommets provide a longer term hold than clamps however they require drilling a hole.
What VESA pattern do I need for a 27 inch editing monitor?
Most 27 inch monitors use 100x100mm VESA mounts. The other size supported by these arms is 75x75mm. Check the back of your panel or its spec sheet. Reference and broadcast monitors at sizes ranging from 31 to 32 inches typically use 200x100 or 200x200 VESA and require a specific mounting bracket.
Is a single heavy-duty arm better than two regular arms?
For an ultrawide, yes. For two separate 27" monitors, two standard arms or a dual-arm mount such as the Ergotron HX is better since each monitor articulates independently. A single heavy duty arm is correct for one large screen with maximum sturdiness. A dual setup is right when you want flexibility for a timeline plus reference monitor layout.
How long do monitor arms last before the gas spring fails?
Cheap ones begin to drift within 12 to 24 months under heavy load. Premium versions by Ergotron, Humanscale, and the better Gabor models are generally used for 5 or more years when properly loaded. Loading an arm at maximum weight spec wears the gas spring out faster. Using an arm in the middle of its spec will help extend its life, which is why heavy duty arms holding smaller monitors tend to last forever.