Two-screen document comparers
If you keep an original and a revised document open on separate monitors, you may need to align both displays while still being able to move each one.
Who is this setup for?
Portrait-reference readers
If you read long contracts, proofs or source material beside a second document, rotating one compatible monitor may give you a more useful view of the page.
Owners of larger or heavier monitors
For this setup, the load on each arm and the fit of each monitor’s mounting interface matter as much as whether the two screens will fit side by side.
What matters when choosing a mount?
For two-screen document comparison, decide whether the displays need frequent independent movement or will mostly stay in place. Then check monitor compatibility and desk mounting before choosing between an articulated arm, a centre-pole arrangement or a desk stand.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Independent positioning | Check each arm’s stated height, reach, tilt and swivel range, plus the clearance needed around the desk. | If I move one document closer while keeping the other in view, I need the screens to adjust separately. Around 33% of consumers put independent positioning first. |
| Monitor compatibility | Check each screen’s actual weight against the mount’s per-monitor range, as well as its size limits and VESA pattern. | With larger or heavier displays, I need to know that both screens fit their respective mounts before considering extra movement. For around 27% of consumers, compatibility and load are the primary concern. |
| Portrait reading | Check for stated landscape-to-portrait rotation and enough height and clearance for the screen when turned. | When a long reference document stays open beside my edits, I want to turn one screen without obstructing the other. Portrait use comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Desk and workstation fit | Check the available clamp or grommet position, desk suitability and where the screens will sit relative to your chair and keyboard. | If desk space is tight, I need a fitting position that still lets me face the screens comfortably. Around 20% of consumers make desk and workstation fit their first priority. |
Checks that are easy to miss
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Checking screen size but not weight
A monitor can fall within a mount’s stated size range yet sit outside its load range. Some adjustable arms also specify a minimum weight.
Check each monitor’s weight without its original stand where applicable, including attached accessories, against the stated range for each mounting position.
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Assuming every dual mount moves the same way
A centre-pole layout and an articulated dual arm offer different adjustment arrangements. That difference matters if you often move one document screen without moving the other.
Decide how often the layout will change, then compare the documented height, reach and rotation ranges for the specific model.
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Overlooking the screen and desk connections
Compatible screen dimensions do not establish that the VESA plate fits both monitors or that the desk has a suitable place for a clamp or grommet fixing.
Check both monitors’ mounting holes, the desk edge or grommet location, and the model’s desk requirements before ordering.
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Treating an arm as the entire workstation setup
The UK Health and Safety Executive’s display-screen guidance considers monitor position alongside the rest of the workstation. Changing the mount alone does not settle chair, keyboard or glare issues.
Position the chair, keyboard, mouse and screens together. The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the screen’s top around eye level and the screen roughly an arm’s length away.
Relevant brands for reference
Invision
Invision’s MX400 and MX900 illustrate dual-arm options for different stated monitor size and weight ranges.
- Invision lists the MX400 for two 19–32-inch monitors, with VESA 75×75 mm or 100×100 mm mounting, a 2–9 kg range per arm and clamp or through-desk fitting.
- The MX900 has a higher stated 2–15 kg range, but its model-specific fit and the desk’s suitability still need checking.
StarTech.com
The ARMDUAL2 is a centre-pole dual-monitor mount to consider for a largely side-by-side document layout.
- StarTech.com specifies two displays up to 32 inches and 8 kg each, VESA 75×75 mm or 100×100 mm mounting, and rotation between landscape and portrait.
- Check whether its stated adjustment range and the available clamp or grommet position suit your intended screen placement.
Ergotron
Ergotron’s LX desk arm illustrates the compatibility checks for a single-screen arm, rather than providing a dual-monitor example.
- The LX product information states a 3.2–11.3 kg single-monitor range and VESA 75×75 mm or 100×100 mm support.
- Ergotron marks the displayed LX SKU as discontinued and notes that vertical travel may decrease with monitors above 9.1 kg.
Joybuy products for this setup
This two-monitor desk stand offers a way to place document versions on separate screens. It is a desk-standing choice, not a confirmed clamp- or grommet-mounted monitor arm.
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DELL Pro Dual Monitor Stand MDS19
A desk-standing option if you compare document versions on two separate monitors.
Before ordering, confirm the height-adjustment range, each monitor’s weight and mounting fit, and whether the stand’s desk footprint works for you.
Common questions
Do I need a dual monitor arm to compare two document versions?
No: you can place two windows on one sufficiently large screen. If you use two separate monitors, choose a dual-screen mount or stand that fits each display; an independently adjustable arm is worth considering when you regularly change their positions.
Can I turn one monitor vertically for document review?
Yes, if the particular monitor and mount support portrait use. StarTech.com states that its ARMDUAL2 rotates between landscape and portrait; also check clearance, cable slack and the monitor’s mounting arrangement before turning a screen.
What should I check before choosing a clamp or grommet mount?
Check the model’s permitted fixing method and desk requirements against your desk edge or grommet location. Account for the monitors and accessories as well as the mount, rather than assuming that a compatible screen makes the desk suitable.
Does fitting a monitor arm replace a workplace display-screen assessment?
No. The UK Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess workstations for workers who regularly use display screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work. A change to the monitor mount should be considered in the context of that workstation, not as a substitute for assessing it.
Where should I position the screens after fitting the mount?
Use the mount to position the screens in relation to your seated posture, keyboard and mouse. The Health and Safety Executive’s setup guidance places the top of the screen around eye level and the screen roughly an arm’s length away; adjust the full workstation rather than the screens in isolation.