Start with an assessment of your workstation, not an assumption that regular laptop work requires an external monitor. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says home workers may not need additional equipment if their existing setup is suitable; for prolonged laptop use, it advises either raising the laptop screen and using a separate keyboard and mouse, or using a separate display. Choose a monitor when it addresses an identified screen-position or workspace need, and consider a riser with separate input devices when keeping the laptop screen suits your desk and working pattern.
If you work on a laptop for sustained periods, check whether you can position both its screen and input devices comfortably before adding equipment. HSE guidance treats the complete workstation arrangement, rather than a monitor purchase alone, as the starting point.
If you move between home and an office, you may want a desk connection you can repeat easily without giving up the laptop’s portability. HSE advises assessing whether the equipment used at home is suitable.
If your work or workstation assessment points to a need for an independently positioned display, a monitor may be worth considering alongside suitable input devices. HSE does not treat a separate display as a requirement for every home worker.
Consider it when: Your workstation assessment identifies a need for an independently positioned screen or more visible workspace at a regular desk.
Allow for: Desk space, a compatible display connection and suitable keyboard and mouse placement; a monitor is not automatically necessary.
Consider it when: You want to keep using the laptop screen but need to raise it for prolonged work.
Allow for: A separate keyboard and mouse. HSE pairs these with an elevated laptop screen for prolonged use.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input position | Check whether the screen can sit directly in front of you, about an arm’s length away, while the keyboard and mouse remain suitably positioned. HSE gives this screen-position guidance for DSE work. | If I work on a laptop for long stretches, I need its screen and controls positioned without compromising one to adjust the other. Roughly 36% of consumers would put this positioning need first. |
| Visible workspace | Check whether a separate display would address an identified need, then compare its size, resolution and adjustment with your desk space and viewing position. | At a regular desk, I want enough visible space for my work without assuming that a second screen is necessary. For around 29% of consumers, that workspace need would take priority. |
| Desk connections | Match the laptop’s video output and charging requirements to the monitor or dock, including the cable; check whether you need a USB hub or wired network connection. | When I return to the same home desk, I want to avoid reconnecting several devices, but only if the connection works with my laptop. This would be the main concern for roughly 21% of consumers. |
| Portability | Check what you would need to carry and reset between locations, including a riser, keyboard, mouse and cables. | If I move between home and office, I need an arrangement I can transport and set up without losing a suitable working position. Around 14% of consumers would make portability their primary concern. |
HSE says existing home equipment may be suitable. A new display will not necessarily address the part of the workstation that needs changing.
Identify the issue first—such as screen position, input position, workspace or repeated cable changes—and choose equipment that addresses it.
Moving the laptop screen also moves its built-in controls. For prolonged use, HSE advises separate input devices when the laptop screen is raised.
Plan space for a keyboard and mouse with the riser, or assess whether a separate display is the more suitable route.
A riser-based arrangement for prolonged use also means accommodating a separate keyboard and mouse.
USB-C features differ between products. A connector on a monitor or dock does not establish what the laptop can output or how it can be charged.
Check the exact laptop’s video output and charging requirements against the display or dock, its stated power delivery and the cable you intend to use.
HSE’s workstation guidance also covers input devices, furniture, the work environment and work routine. A different screen alone may leave the original setup issue unresolved.
Check viewing position, reflections, keyboard and mouse placement, and opportunities to change activity as part of the complete arrangement.
Dell’s Pro 24 Plus USB-C hub models are relevant if you are considering an adjustable fixed-desk display with a specified laptop-charging capability.
LG’s Ergo and UltraFine lines provide model-specific options to examine when stand placement or a USB-C desk connection matters.
Samsung’s business-monitor range includes a model worth examining if wired networking or a planned multi-display connection is relevant to your desk.
These external displays are options to consider if your workstation assessment points to a separate screen. Check desk fit and laptop connections before choosing one; a riser with separate input devices may still suit a setup that keeps the laptop screen in use.
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Consider this separate display if your assessment identifies a screen-position or workspace need at a fixed desk.
The product name specifies a height-adjustable stand and USB-C; check desk space and the exact laptop’s video and charging compatibility.
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Consider its separate screen if your assessed setup calls for an external display and your desk can accommodate its size.
The product name lists Type-C with 65W power delivery and a USB hub. Check whether your laptop supports the required video connection and whether 65W meets its charging requirements.
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This is another separate-display option if your workstation assessment identifies a need to position a screen independently of the laptop.
Its product name specifies IPS and WQHD. Confirm the connection you intend to use and any laptop-charging requirement before buying.
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Consider this separate display if you need to assess how a screen will fit into a changeable desk arrangement.
Its product name specifies USB-C. Confirm the actual weight, included mounting accessories, laptop video support and charging requirements for your intended setup.
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Consider this separate display if your assessment identifies a screen need and a 24-inch monitor fits your desk arrangement.
The product name lists 100Hz, USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA. Check which input your laptop can use; confirm USB-C video and charging capability rather than assuming either is available.
No. HSE says home workers may not need additional furniture or equipment if their existing setup is suitable for a comfortable, sustainable posture. Where UK display screen equipment rules apply, use an individual workstation assessment to identify what needs changing.
HSE says the rules can apply to permanent or long-term home workers and people who routinely split work between home and the workplace. It describes DSE users as workers who use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more; assess the individual working arrangement rather than assuming that all occasional laptop use has the same equipment needs.
HSE advises using a separate keyboard and mouse when a riser raises the laptop screen for prolonged use. A separate display is another route if it better addresses the assessed screen-position need.
No: the connector alone does not establish support for both functions. Check your exact laptop’s video output and charging requirements against the monitor or dock’s stated capabilities and the cable you plan to use.