Calendar-and-email multitaskers
If both applications stay in use, you may want the screens side by side so you can glance between them and align their heights.
Who is this setup for?
Small-desk reference-screen users
If desk width is limited and you check the calendar less often than email, a stacked arrangement or compact stand may fit your workflow.
Shared or adjustable workstation users
If different people use the desk, or you change tasks often, check how independently you can adjust each screen’s height, angle and reach.
What matters when choosing?
Decide whether the calendar needs to sit beside email at a similar height or can serve as a secondary screen above it. Then check the fit of the monitors and desk before settling on a mount.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing both screens | Confirm the intended side-by-side or stacked layout and whether both screens can be positioned at useful heights. | If I work between email and my calendar throughout the day, I want both visible without placing one well above the other. Around 44% of consumers would put parallel viewing first. |
| Limited desk space | Measure usable width and depth, including clearance behind the desk, and check the mount’s desk attachment. | With little room across my desk, I need the second screen to fit without crowding the main work area. Space would be the primary concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Monitor and desk fit | Compare each monitor’s weight without its stand, mounting-hole pattern and depth with the exact mount specification; check desktop thickness too. | Before changing my screen layout, I need to know that both monitors and the desk can take the chosen mount. Around 23% of consumers would make compatibility their first priority. |
Buying pitfalls
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Choosing by screen size alone
Monitors with the same diagonal size can differ in weight, depth and mounting holes. A dual mount’s load limit may apply to each screen separately.
Check each monitor’s weight without its original stand, its VESA mounting pattern and its depth against the exact mount specification.
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Assuming every dual arm supports stacking
Some mounts are intended for a particular arrangement. Ergotron states that 23–27-inch screens cannot be stacked on its cited LX Dual Side-by-Side Arm.
Choose your screen arrangement first, then check the model’s limits for the sizes and orientations you plan to use.
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Overlooking the desk edge
A mount that fits both monitors may still be unsuitable for a desktop with the wrong thickness or insufficient clearance beneath its edge.
Measure the desktop, look for rails or drawers underneath, and check the clamp or grommet instructions before ordering.
If the supplied clamp does not fit, installation may require a different mounting method or a compatible grommet accessory.
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Treating the mount as the whole workstation setup
The Health and Safety Executive advises positioning the main screen directly in front of you, with its top around eye level and the screen about an arm’s length away. Screen placement also needs to work with your chair, keyboard and mouse.
Adjust the workstation together after installation rather than relying on the arm alone to determine your working position.
Brands to consider for dual monitor mounts
Ergotron
Ergotron offers mounts for defined two-screen arrangements, including the cited LX side-by-side arm.
- Ergotron specifies a 3.2–9.1 kg weight range per monitor and VESA 75/100 mounting for that LX model.
- The same model does not allow 23–27-inch displays to be stacked; check its layout and desk-fit requirements for your setup.
Kensington
Kensington has cited options for adjustable side-by-side or stacked placement and for desks where space is limited.
- Its cited SmartFit One-Touch dual arm supports flat or curved 13–34-inch monitors weighing up to 9 kg each.
- Its cited space-saving model has different limits: monitors up to 27 inches and 8 kg each. Check the specification for the particular model.
StarTech.com
StarTech.com offers both a cited vertical pole mount and a separate full-motion dual arm.
- StarTech.com specifies up to 10 kg per monitor for the cited ARMDUALV vertical stand.
- Its cited ARMSLIMDUO full-motion arm has a different limit of 8 kg per display; the two models’ capacities and layouts should not be treated as interchangeable.
Joybuy products for a two-screen desk
This dual-monitor desk stand is relevant to a two-screen workspace. Confirm that its supported arrangement lets you keep the calendar where you want it beside email.
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DELL Pro Dual Monitor Stand MDS19
For a desk with two monitors, check whether the MDS19 allows your intended side-by-side arrangement. Confirm that each monitor and the desktop fit the stand’s mounting requirements, and check its adjustment range before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Should my calendar screen sit beside or above my email screen?
Place it beside email if you use both screens regularly and want them at similar viewing heights. A stacked layout may suit a narrower desk when the calendar is mainly for occasional reference; position the main display directly in front of you, following Health and Safety Executive guidance.
How can I tell whether both monitors will fit a dual stand?
Check each monitor separately against the exact stand’s per-screen weight limit, VESA pattern and any size or depth restrictions. Use the monitor’s weight without its original stand, and confirm that the mount permits your intended screen arrangement.
Will a desk-clamp monitor stand fit any desk?
No: the desktop must meet the particular clamp’s thickness and clearance requirements. Check beneath the edge for obstructions; if you plan to use a grommet instead, compare the hole and desktop dimensions with that model’s instructions.
Is a dual monitor stand required for a UK work desk?
The Health and Safety Executive does not specify a dual monitor stand as a requirement. It says employers must assess workstations for workers who use display screen equipment daily as part of their normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more; the assessment concerns the workstation, not a requirement to purchase this type of mount.
Will a monitor arm resolve discomfort on its own?
A monitor arm alone cannot be assumed to resolve discomfort. The Health and Safety Executive advises considering the workstation as a whole, so review screen placement alongside the chair, keyboard, mouse and your working position.