Choose a single adjustable arm if the dashboard and report share one display, or a dual arm if each needs its own screen. For one ultrawide display, choose an arm explicitly rated for its format and weight. Whichever layout you prefer, check the monitor’s VESA mount, actual weight and desk mounting conditions before comparing reach and adjustment.
If the dashboard and report share one monitor, an adjustable arm is relevant when you regularly change the screen’s height, distance or angle. The Health and Safety Executive advises positioning the screen and keyboard to avoid twisting, so movement is useful only if the resulting position suits your workstation.
If the dashboard needs to remain visible while you read or edit a report on another display, consider a side-by-side dual arm. Ergotron describes its LX Desk Dual Direct Arm as an adjustable side-by-side arrangement; check the fit and positioning of both monitors before choosing a dual model.
For a heavy, large or ultrawide display, check the arm’s stated screen-format and weight limits alongside its VESA pattern. Desk thickness and construction matter too: ARCTIC’s X1-3D, for example, specifies a 20–55 mm table thickness and advises reinforcement for desks with hollow pockets.
Decide whether the dashboard and report will occupy one display or two, then check monitor fit and desk mounting before choosing how much movement you need.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor compatibility | Match the rear VESA pattern and actual monitor weight to the exact arm’s stated mounting pattern and load range; screen size alone is not enough. | If my monitor is heavy or uses an unfamiliar mount, I need to know it can attach to the arm and stay within its load range. Around 36% of consumers put monitor fit first. |
| Dashboard-and-report layout | Choose between one movable display, two displays on a dual arm, or a single ultrawide; check reach and the capacity for each screen. | I want the dashboard visible while I work on the report, whether on separate screens or in windows on one ultrawide. For around 29% of consumers, layout is the primary concern. |
| Screen positioning | Check height travel, reach and angle adjustment against your normal working position. The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the screen about an arm’s length away, with its top near eye level. | When I change tasks or share a desk, I need to move the display without having to lean or twist. Around 21% of consumers place screen positioning first. |
| Desk installation | Measure desk-edge thickness and underside clearance, check the desk construction, and allow cable slack through the arm’s intended movement. | A cable tray or hollow desk edge could complicate mounting, so I need an arrangement that suits my desk. Desk fit comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
A monitor can fall within an arm’s advertised screen-size range yet exceed its load limit or use a different rear mount.
Check the monitor’s actual weight and VESA pattern against the specification for the exact arm and variant.
The clamp must suit the desk’s thickness, construction and available space beneath the edge. ARCTIC advises a stiffening board for hollow-pocket desks when fitting its X1-3D.
Measure the usable edge and check the arm’s mounting instructions before choosing a clamp or through-desk fitting.
A suitable stiffening board or a different mounting method may be needed for some desk constructions.
Even a widely adjustable arm can leave you twisting towards a screen or working at an awkward viewing distance.
After fitting it, use the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance to place the screen about an arm’s length away, with its top near eye level, and keep the screen and keyboard central where possible.
Cables or a blocked port can restrict where the monitor can be positioned.
Test the intended lift, extension and swivel positions before securing the cables, and make sure power and display connections remain accessible.
Ergotron offers the single-display LX arm and an LX Desk Dual Direct Arm for side-by-side monitors.
The Invision MX200 is a single arm specified for 19–32 inch monitors with VESA 75/100 mounting.
The ARCTIC X1-3D is an option to examine for one large display holding a dashboard and report in separate windows.
Humanscale describes its M2 Pro as an adjustable arm for lighter monitors on traditional desks or sit-stand workstations.
Compare its rear mounting pattern and actual weight with the exact arm’s VESA and load specifications. A screen within the advertised diagonal-size range can still be unsuitable if it exceeds the weight limit or needs a mounting adapter.
Use a dual arm when each needs to stay visible on a separate monitor; use a single arm when they share one display and you want to reposition it. For one ultrawide, check that the particular arm supports its screen format, VESA pattern and weight.
Measure the usable desk-edge thickness and space beneath it, then check the arm maker’s construction requirements. ARCTIC specifies a 20–55 mm desk thickness for the X1-3D and advises reinforcement for hollow-pocket desks; Invision says the desk used with its MX200 must support at least three times the total load.
The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the screen about an arm’s length away, with its top near eye level. Keep the screen and keyboard central where possible to avoid twisting, rather than leaving the arm at its maximum reach or height by default.
No. The Health and Safety Executive says employers must carry out a workstation assessment for workers who use display screen equipment daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more. An arm is one part of the workstation, not a substitute for assessing the setup as a whole.