For prolonged laptop work, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises using a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be raised on a riser; a separate display is another option. A monitor suits a regular home desk when you need more screen space, while a dock is worth considering only after checking the exact laptop’s display, connection and charging capabilities. If an applicable display screen equipment (DSE) assessment identifies equipment that a worker needs, HSE says the worker cannot be charged for it.
If you use a laptop for extended screen-based tasks at home and in the office, consider how you will position the screen and use separate input devices at each workstation. HSE advises a separate keyboard and mouse when a laptop screen is raised.
Before choosing a monitor or dock, check the exact laptop model’s display support, ports and charging requirements, along with any employer IT restrictions. Apple and Microsoft Surface guidance both make clear that external-display connections depend on the device and connection used.
A riser with a separate keyboard and mouse can be put away between work sessions. If you are considering a monitor and dock instead, check where they and their cables will sit while the desk is in use.
Decide how you will position the screen and input devices, then check the space available and the exact laptop connections before choosing a display or dock.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input position | Check the screen height and where your arms rest while typing. HSE advises a separate keyboard and mouse if you raise a laptop on a riser; a separate display is also an option. | I use the laptop for long stretches and want to position the screen without having to type on a raised laptop keyboard. |
| Laptop compatibility | Check the exact model’s video output and supported external-display count, then match the cable or adapter. For a dock, also check host compatibility, charging requirements and employer IT restrictions; connector shape alone does not establish these functions. | A monitor or dock needs to work with my actual work laptop, not just have a connector that looks right. |
| DSE assessment | For employees covered by the DSE rules, establish what the individual assessment requires for home and office use before personally buying equipment described as necessary for work. HSE says workers cannot be charged for action or equipment required by that assessment. | Before paying for work equipment myself, I want to know whether an applicable employer assessment identifies what is needed. |
| Desk space and portability | Measure the usable desk area and decide what must move between locations. A riser and separate peripherals can be stored away; a monitor and dock call for space for the equipment and connections. | My home desk may be shared, so I need to decide whether to pack the setup away or leave a display in place. |
The intended display and charging functions depend on the exact laptop, dock and connection. Apple, Microsoft Surface and DisplayLink guidance each describes device- or connection-specific limits.
Check the laptop manufacturer’s display and port specifications, the dock’s host requirements and your employer’s IT policy before choosing one.
A higher screen also puts the attached keyboard and trackpad higher. HSE’s riser arrangement uses a separate keyboard and mouse.
Plan where those input devices will sit whenever you use the riser for prolonged work.
For employees covered by the DSE rules, an individual assessment determines what action is needed. HSE says a worker cannot be charged when that assessment identifies necessary equipment or other action.
Ask your employer how to complete or update the assessment before paying personally for equipment presented as necessary for work.
Home and office desks may have different space and connections. HSE says a DSE assessment should cover both situations where a worker uses display screen equipment in both places.
Note what equipment and connections are available at each desk before deciding what to carry and what to leave at home.
These references help with model-specific connection checks; they do not establish that every product from a brand will suit your laptop.
Apple’s Mac guidance is relevant when connecting a compatible Mac laptop to an external display.
Microsoft’s Surface documentation helps users check a particular Surface model against an external display or compatible dock.
DisplayLink’s support guidance is relevant when considering a DisplayLink-enabled dock or adapter.
These options cover separate input devices, portable and desk-based displays, and USB-C connection accessories for a hybrid laptop workspace. Check the exact work laptop and, where applicable, the employer’s DSE assessment before choosing equipment.
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Consider this external-display option if you need a screen that can move between work locations. Its name specifies FHD; confirm the connection required by this model and whether your work laptop supports it.
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A separate keyboard and mouse let you use a laptop riser without relying on the raised laptop’s built-in controls. Check the supplied keyboard layout, connection method and your employer’s device policy.
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This 27-inch, 4K UHD display is an option for a home desk where you can leave a monitor in place. Check the available desk space, the monitor’s intended connection and the laptop’s supported display output.
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For a desk that needs display, network and USB connections, the product name specifies 4K HDMI, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports and 100W Power Delivery. Check the laptop’s video mode and charging requirements before relying on those connections.
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Consider this dock for a desk where two HDMI display connections are useful. Its name specifies 4K and 100W Power Delivery pass-through; check the exact laptop’s external-display support, accepted charging power and IT restrictions, plus the power supply needed for your setup.
No. HSE says home workers may not need office-style equipment to achieve a suitable workstation arrangement. For employees covered by the DSE rules, an individual assessment should determine what is needed in their circumstances.
According to HSE, employers must carry out a DSE workstation assessment for workers who use display screen equipment daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more. Where a worker uses it at home and in the office, the assessment should cover both situations.
No. HSE says that where an applicable DSE workstation assessment identifies action that is needed, including equipment provision, the worker cannot be charged for it. An individual assessment establishes what action is required.
Not necessarily. Check the exact laptop model’s video and display support, the dock’s host and cable requirements, accepted charging power and any employer IT restrictions. A USB-C connector by itself does not confirm those functions.
Use a separate keyboard and mouse so you can raise the laptop screen without using its elevated keyboard and trackpad, as HSE advises. If you need more screen space at a regular desk, a compatible separate display is another option.