Who needs this setup?

Illustrators who keep references open

If you draw on one display and keep images, documents or tutorials on another, separate screen adjustment can help you place the reference where you need it without moving the drawing display.

People reclaiming drawing space

Replacing two monitor bases may leave more of a compact worktop available for a sketchbook, pen tablet or other tools. A desk-mounted design still needs a suitable fixing point and room for its hardware.

Owners of heavier or unusual monitors

If either display is heavy, deep or lacks a common mounting pattern, establish its fit with the exact stand configuration before deciding which screen arrangement you prefer.

What matters when choosing?

Decide how often the reference screen needs to move, then check whether the chosen layout leaves enough working surface and fits both your monitors and desk.

Independently adjustable arms

Choose when: You regularly turn a reference screen to portrait or move it closer without shifting the drawing display.

Trade-off: Each arm and its range of movement must suit its own monitor and the space around the desk.

Synchronised crossbar

Choose when: Two similar displays should stay aligned as you adjust their position together.

Trade-off: Shared movement is less useful if you frequently reposition only the reference display.

Pole-mounted stand

Choose when: A compact mounting point and the stated load capacity matter more to you than frequent changes in screen reach.

Trade-off: Check the particular stand’s reach and independent adjustment; a pole mount does not establish either on its own.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Reference-screen movement Separate tilt, swivel and portrait rotation; reach within your available desk space. When I switch between tall reference pages and drawing, I want to move the reference without disturbing my main screen. Around 36% of consumers put flexible reference positioning first.
Clear drawing surface The mount’s worktop footprint and whether its arms can fold back with the available wall clearance. I need room for paper or a pen tablet rather than two monitor bases. Keeping that surface clear comes first for around 28% of consumers.
Monitor and desk fit Each monitor’s stand-free weight, VESA hole spacing and any depth restriction; the desk fixing’s dimensions and clearance. If my displays are heavy or my desk edge is obstructed, I need to establish that the whole setup will fit before choosing a layout. For around 36% of consumers, compatibility is the primary concern.

Common buying mistakes

  • Choosing by screen size alone

    A display can meet a stand’s diagonal-size limit but fall outside its per-arm weight range or mounting requirements. Ergotron also notes a depth-related capacity condition for its cited LX Dual Side-by-Side Arm.

    Check each monitor’s weight without its original stand, VESA pattern, depth and size against the exact stand configuration.

  • Assuming the clamp will fit the desk

    An underside brace, cable tray, thick edge or nearby wall can prevent the fixing or arms from sitting where you intend.

    Measure the proposed mounting point above, behind and below the desk. For a grommet or bolt-through fitting, check the hole against the chosen model’s requirements.

    An obstructed edge may mean using a different mounting method or a suitable adapter.

  • Keeping screens aligned when one needs to move

    A synchronised crossbar can maintain alignment, but that movement pattern may get in the way when the reference display needs a different angle, reach or orientation.

    Choose separate adjustment if moving only the reference screen is a routine part of drawing; favour linked movement if keeping both displays aligned matters more.

  • Expecting the arm to fix the whole workstation

    An adjustable mount provides positioning options, but the resulting screen height, distance and keyboard placement still matter.

    The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the top of the screen around eye level and the screen roughly an arm’s length away. Arrange your primary screen and keyboard so you do not need to twist to use them.

Brands to consider for dual-screen mounts

Ergotron

Its LX range includes adjustable side-by-side designs that can be considered when keeping the centre of a drawing desk clear.

  • Ergotron specifies VESA 75 × 75 mm and 100 × 100 mm mounting and a 3.2–9.1 kg range per monitor for the cited LX Dual Side-by-Side Arm.
  • That cited 45-245 version is discontinued. Check the exact limits of any current LX configuration rather than applying the older model’s figures to it.

StarTech.com

Its range includes separately adjustable dual arms and synchronised crossbar designs for different screen-movement preferences.

  • StarTech.com specifies separate tilt, swivel and rotation for the ARMDUAL2, with an 8 kg limit per arm.
  • A synchronised model such as the ARMSLMBARDUO is a different choice when the reference display must frequently move on its own.

ErgoMounts

Its range includes clamp and bolt-through pole mounts worth checking for heavier displays.

  • ErgoMounts specifies a 12 kg capacity per screen for the UltraView 420.
  • Check that the pole layout provides the reach and separate screen movement your reference workflow requires.

Humanscale

Its configurable monitor-arm range includes the M2 Pro for lighter displays and different desk arrangements.

  • Humanscale states that the M2 Pro supports monitors up to 22 lb.
  • Confirm the selected arm count, mounting plates, base and load limits: an M2 Pro configuration is not necessarily a complete dual-monitor package.

Joybuy product choice

The Dell Pro MDS19 is a dual monitor stand to consider for a drawing screen and a separate reference screen. Before choosing it for a small desk, confirm its fixing method, monitor compatibility and the worktop space its base will occupy.

Dell Pro MDS19 dual monitor stand

Dell Pro MDS19 Dual Monitor Stand

This dual stand is relevant if you want separate drawing and reference displays. Check the adjustment you need for the reference screen, both monitors’ fit and the stand’s mounting method before relying on it to clear a compact worktop.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether both monitors will fit a dual stand?

Compare each monitor’s weight without its original stand, VESA mounting pattern, size and any relevant depth restriction with the exact stand configuration. Check the limit for each arm rather than treating a combined weight figure as sufficient: StarTech.com, for example, specifies up to 8 kg per arm for its ARMDUAL2.

Should I choose a clamp or a grommet fitting for a small desk?

A clamp is an option when the desk edge meets the chosen mount’s thickness limits and is clear underneath. A grommet or bolt-through fitting needs a suitable hole and the clearance specified for that model; it may let you place the mount away from the desk edge. Measure the actual fixing point before choosing.

Is portrait orientation useful for a reference monitor?

Portrait orientation can suit tall pages, long documents or vertical artwork; landscape may suit wider reference material. If you expect to switch between them, check that the stand allows the required rotation and that the monitor and its cables can accommodate it.

Where should I position the screens while drawing?

Place the screen you use most directly in front of you, then position the reference display where you can consult it without repeatedly twisting. The Health and Safety Executive advises keeping the top of a screen around eye level and the screen roughly an arm’s length away; adjust the final layout to suit your work and keyboard position.