Start with the home-and-office DSE assessment if it applies to you, then choose equipment for the specific gap: screen position, display area or repeated connections. A stand, monitor or hub solves a different problem, and none removes the need to check laptop compatibility or whether equipment should be provided following the assessment.
If you spend sustained periods working on a laptop, you may need to position its screen separately from its keyboard and mouse. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) describes separate inputs as part of a setup where the laptop screen is raised.
If you want more working area at home or need a display that travels between locations, consider whether a fixed or portable monitor better fits your space and routine. Dell and Lenovo illustrate these different approaches in their P2425HE and ThinkVision M14 models.
If you regularly attach displays and peripherals, check your laptop’s video and charging capabilities before choosing a hub or USB-C monitor. The USB Implementers Forum explains that USB-C connections and cables can have different capabilities.
For workers covered by UK DSE regulations who use display screen equipment at home and in the office, the HSE says the employer’s assessment should cover both settings. Use the assessment outcome to guide any personal purchase.
| Concern | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input position | Check the assessment outcome and whether the laptop can be positioned separately from a keyboard and mouse. Confirm that any stand fits the laptop. | If I work on a laptop for long sessions, I want to raise the screen without raising its built-in keyboard with it. Around 33% of consumers put independent screen-and-input positioning first. |
| Display area and location | Decide whether the screen will stay at a desk or travel between locations, then check desk space and the laptop’s supported video output. | If I need more working area, I want a screen that suits where I work and how often I move between locations. Around 27% of consumers prioritise display space and its location. |
| Connections and charging | Check the exact laptop, display, hub, cable and charging requirements; a USB-C socket alone does not confirm video or charging compatibility. | If I reconnect displays and peripherals often, I want the connection setup to work with my laptop and power needs. Around 20% of consumers put straightforward reconnection and charging first. |
| Assessment and provision | If DSE regulations cover your role, check what the employer’s assessment says about both work locations and any equipment it identifies as necessary. | If I am unsure whether to buy equipment myself, I want to know what the assessment requires and who should provide it. Around 20% of consumers prioritise assessment and provision. |
Video output, cable capability and power delivery have separate requirements. A connection that fits may still not provide the display mode or charging arrangement you need.
Compare the exact laptop port, display input, cable and charging requirements before choosing a hub or one-cable setup.
Raising a laptop screen also raises its built-in keyboard. The HSE’s guidance for prolonged laptop use describes using a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be positioned independently.
Plan screen height and input position together, taking the applicable DSE assessment into account.
If an assessment indicates that the employer needs to take action, such as providing DSE equipment, the HSE says the worker cannot be charged for that action. This does not mean every preferred accessory must be supplied.
Check the assessment findings and employer-provision route before buying equipment for an assessed need yourself.
These examples relate to specific product lines and illustrate different workstation needs; inclusion is not an endorsement of every product in a brand’s range.
The P2425HE illustrates a fixed USB-C hub monitor for a regular desk.
The ThinkVision M14 illustrates a portable second-screen option.
The 553 USB-C Hub illustrates a portable multiport connection route.
The MX Keys Mini illustrates a compact separate-keyboard option.
The Easy Riser Aluminium illustrates a folding laptop-stand option.
These options cover laptop screen positioning, external displays, multiport connections and separate keyboard-and-mouse input. Check your laptop’s compatibility and any applicable DSE assessment before choosing.
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For raising a laptop screen at a home desk or between work locations, this listing describes a foldable stand with a carry bag.
Seven height positions and nine width settings; listed for 10–17.3-inch devices and up to 15 kg.
For prolonged laptop work, plan for separate keyboard and mouse positioning as described in HSE guidance.
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For a compatible laptop that needs an external display and additional peripheral connections, this hub lists HDMI and USB-A ports.
Listed features include 4K at 30 Hz HDMI output, three USB-A data ports and 100 W PD pass-through.
Check the laptop, display, cable and charging requirements before relying on a particular output or power arrangement.
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For a regular home desk that needs an external display, this listing specifies a 27-inch 4K UHD screen.
Listed features include an IPS panel, USB-C 65 W power delivery and a four-way adjustable stand.
Confirm that the laptop supports the intended video connection and that the stated power delivery suits its requirements.
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For a laptop setup where keyboard and mouse need to be separate from the raised screen, this listing includes both input devices.
The listing specifies Bluetooth and a wireless USB receiver, a keyboard wrist rest and a mouse with up to 4000 DPI. It describes connections to up to three devices.
Check the connection method and keyboard layout against the devices and workspace you use.
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For an extra screen that needs to move between work locations, this listing describes a portable 15.6-inch Full HD monitor.
Listed at 780 g and 11.8 mm thick, with a 60 Hz refresh rate and USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
The single-cable video connection requires a host with USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode support.
No. For workers covered by the DSE regulations, the HSE says an assessment should determine whether additional home equipment is needed. If the existing setup is suitable, an extra monitor may not be necessary.
A stand alone does not separate the screen from the laptop’s built-in keyboard. The HSE’s guidance describes using a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be raised independently; check the assessment outcome and whether the stand fits your laptop.
No. A USB-C socket alone does not establish video or charging compatibility. Check the laptop, hub, monitor and cable specifications against the intended display mode and charging needs.
The HSE says that where an assessment indicates the employer needs to take action, such as providing DSE equipment, the worker cannot be charged for that action. A personally preferred upgrade is not automatically an assessed requirement.
Where the regulations apply and you use display screen equipment in both places, the HSE says the assessment should cover both situations. Review the arrangements if your workstation or its use changes.