Who is this setup for?

Digital artists working with references

Keeping drawing software on one display and images, briefs or long documents on the other makes independent positioning useful. Check for portrait rotation if you want to turn a reference screen upright.

People using shared desks with limited space

A single mount can leave more surface space for drawing tools, provided its attachment fits the desk and the workplace permits it. Check for dividers, cable trays and obstructions beneath the mounting point.

People with larger or heavier paired monitors

Check the size, mounting pattern and weight of each display against the exact arm model. A combined capacity figure is not a substitute for the limit on each monitor position.

What matters when choosing a stand?

Establish that both monitors and the shared desk can take the mount, then decide how much independent movement your drawing and reference layout needs.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Desk space and attachment Measure the usable desk edge or existing grommet, including clearance beneath and behind the desk. Confirm workplace permission for the attachment. I need room for a drawing tablet or paperwork without leaving a monitor base in the way. Around 29% of consumers put shared-desk space first.
Monitor and desk fit Match each monitor’s weight without its original stand and its VESA hole pattern to the exact mount; check the desk-fitting limits too. My two screens need to fit the same mount individually, and I cannot assume the shared desk accepts its fixing. Around 29% of consumers make physical compatibility their primary concern.
Drawing and reference layout Check independent reach, height and rotation against the side-by-side or portrait arrangement you intend to use. I want the drawing screen centred while moving reference material into view without shifting both displays. Around 24% of consumers prioritise independent positioning.
Repeated adjustment Check the usable height and angle ranges, and leave enough clearance for movement. Consider the screen positions alongside the rest of the workstation. When different people use the desk, I need to reset the screens without rearranging everything around them. Around 18% of consumers put frequent adjustment first.

Fit and layout mistakes to avoid

  • Checking screen size but not weight or VESA fit

    Two monitors with the same diagonal size can have different weights and mounting holes. An arm may also specify both a minimum and a maximum weight for each screen.

    Check each display’s weight without its original stand and its VESA pattern against the exact arm model. Do not rely on the combined weight of the pair.

  • Assuming the clamp will fit any desk edge

    A cable tray, divider or support beneath the desktop may prevent a clamp from seating properly, even when the desk thickness appears suitable.

    Measure the unobstructed mounting area. For a grommet fitting, check the hole and desktop dimensions against the model’s instructions.

  • Choosing a compact mount for a frequently changing layout

    A single-base mount may leave more desk surface clear yet lack the reach or independent movement needed to reposition the reference screen regularly.

    For mostly fixed side-by-side screens, check footprint and fit. If you often change the layout, compare the height, reach, swivel and rotation ranges as well.

  • Treating the arm as the whole workstation setup

    Moving the displays does not address the position of the keyboard, mouse or chair. The Health and Safety Executive advises setting the top of a screen level with the eyes and placing it about an arm’s length away as part of its display-screen guidance.

    Set the screens in relation to the other equipment and follow the workplace’s workstation-assessment process where it applies.

Relevant brands to consider

Kensington

Kensington offers both a space-saving dual mount and a more adjustable One-Touch dual arm.

  • Kensington specifies two monitors up to 27 inches and 8 kg each for its SmartFit Space-Saving K55513WW, with clamp and grommet mounting options.
  • Check each model separately: the space-saving and One-Touch arms have different monitor limits, movement ranges and desk-fitting requirements.

Ergotron

Ergotron’s referenced LX dual-arm configurations include side-by-side and stacking arrangements, but layout limits depend on the exact model.

  • Ergotron specifies VESA 75/100 compatibility and 3.2–9.1 kg per monitor for the referenced LX 45-245 model.
  • Ergotron labels the referenced model discontinued and states that 23–27-inch screens must be side by side on that model. Check the exact identity and specifications of any alternative listing.

StarTech.com

StarTech.com’s ARMDUAL2 is a desk-mounted dual-arm option with clamp or grommet fitting.

  • StarTech.com specifies support for two displays up to 32 inches and 8 kg per arm, with VESA 75 × 75 mm or 100 × 100 mm mounting.
  • Check its pole height, movement ranges and desk-fitting dimensions against the drawing and reference layout you need.

Joybuy dual monitor stands

This dual-monitor desk stand is an option for keeping drawing work and reference material visible together. Check how it attaches to a shared desk before choosing it for that setting.

DELL Pro MDS19 dual monitor stand

DELL Pro Dual Monitor Stand MDS19

Consider this dual-monitor desk stand for a drawing screen alongside a reference screen. Before ordering, check each monitor’s weight and VESA fit, how the stand attaches to your desk, and whether its adjustment range suits the positions you need.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

Will a dual monitor arm fit any two monitors?

No. Check each screen’s VESA pattern, weight without its original stand and size against the exact mount, as well as the desk attachment. StarTech.com, for example, specifies VESA 75 × 75 mm or 100 × 100 mm and up to 8 kg per arm for its ARMDUAL2.

Where should I put the drawing and reference screens?

Keep the primary drawing screen directly in front of you and place the reference screen where you can view it without obstructing your work. The Health and Safety Executive’s display-screen guidance describes a setup with the top of the screen at eye level and the screen about an arm’s length away; a portrait reference layout also needs a mount and desk with enough rotation clearance.

Can I clamp an arm to a shared-office desk?

Only if the workplace permits it and the desk has a suitable, unobstructed mounting point. Measure the edge and space underneath against the exact clamp instructions, or check the hole and desktop dimensions if you plan to use a grommet fitting.

Does a shared-office display setup need a workstation assessment?

In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive says employers must carry out a workstation assessment when workers use display screen equipment daily as part of their normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more. Changing the monitor mount does not replace consideration of the whole workstation.