Who needs which adjustments?

Artists who move references frequently

If you bring a secondary display closer to inspect an image and move it back to clear your drawing space, check its available reach, height movement and rotation.

Portrait-reference users

If you turn a display to view tall image boards or documents, check that both the monitor and arm support the required mounting pattern and rotation, with room for the screen to turn.

Users with larger or heavier displays

If your reference monitor is heavy, deep or mounted with an offset VESA plate, compare its complete setup with the load limits for the exact arm configuration, not just its advertised screen-size range.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the monitor’s mounting pattern and weight, then consider how you want to move it and whether your desk can take the arm’s fixing.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Frequent repositioning Check forward reach, clearance when folded away, height movement and the arm’s full supported weight range. If I move the reference screen towards me for close inspection and back again to make room to draw, I need those changes to fit my workspace. Around 31% of consumers put frequent repositioning first.
Portrait references Match the monitor’s VESA pattern to the arm and check rotation and surrounding clearance. When I use tall reference sheets or documents, I want to turn the screen without it hitting the desk or nearby equipment. Portrait layout is the primary concern for around 23% of consumers.
Heavier or offset displays Compare the monitor’s weight without its original stand, depth and VESA position with the exact configuration’s load range. If my reference display is heavy or its mounting plate is offset, I need the chosen configuration to support that setup. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this fit.
Desk mounting Measure desk thickness, any grommet hole and the space behind the desk before choosing a fixing. With a restricted desk edge or little room behind it, I need a fixing that fits without obstructing the arm’s movement. Desk compatibility comes first for around 23% of consumers.

Mounting mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing by screen diagonal alone

    A monitor within an arm’s stated size range may still have an incompatible weight or VESA hole pattern. Ergotron identifies hole pattern and monitor weight as primary mounting criteria.

    Check the monitor’s weight without its original stand and its mounting pattern against the specification for the exact arm you intend to buy.

  • Checking only the maximum load

    Some adjustable arms also specify a minimum load, so a lighter monitor may not stay at the chosen height. Ergotron lists a 3.2–11.3 kg display range for its LX Desk Mount Monitor Arm, Tall Pole.

    Check both ends of the load range for your chosen arm and configuration, including any limits for an offset VESA plate or accessories.

  • Assuming a clamp will fit the desk

    Desk thickness, access to the rear edge and obstacles behind the desk can affect installation and movement. A grommet fixing needs a suitable hole.

    Measure the desk and clearance before ordering, and check which fixing is supplied with the exact model.

    For the Duronic DM351X3, a grommet fitting is sold separately from the supplied desk clamp.

  • Expecting adjustment alone to fix screen position

    An adjustable arm still needs to be set for the way you use the display. Health and Safety Executive guidance describes a standard setup with the top of the screen near eye level and the display about an arm’s length away.

    Position the reference screen so you can view it without repeatedly twisting towards it, and reassess its position when your drawing setup changes.

Monitor-arm brands to consider

Ergotron

The LX Desk Mount Monitor Arm, Tall Pole is a reference point for buyers who need substantial single-screen adjustment.

  • Ergotron specifies 33 cm of lift, 360° rotation and a 3.2–11.3 kg display range for this model.
  • Check the exact model and monitor weight: the stated adjustment and load range do not apply to every Ergotron arm.

Humanscale

Its configurable monitor arms call for close attention to the selected mount, monitor weight and VESA position.

  • Humanscale UK lists an M2 Pro option for one monitor up to 7 kg.
  • Humanscale’s separate M2.1 capacity guide gives different limits by configuration, including offset-VESA setups; do not apply one model’s figure to another.

Fellowes

The Platinum Series includes gas-spring arms for buyers who want to adjust a workstation display’s height.

  • Fellowes UK describes 28 cm of dynamic height movement and clamp and grommet mounting across the range.
  • Its stated support for screens up to 8 kg and 40 inches depends on the individual product; check the single, dual or stacking version selected.

Duronic

The DM351X3 is a pole-mounted option for a single reference monitor that needs height positioning and portrait rotation.

  • Duronic specifies one 13–27 inch screen up to 10 kg, VESA 75/100 mounting and 360° rotation for the DM351X3.
  • Its 18 cm arm may not provide the forward reach needed over a deep drawing desk; a grommet fitting is sold separately.

Joybuy products for a drawing desk

This dual-monitor stand is an option if you want a reference display alongside another screen while drawing. Check its movement and desk fixing against your setup before choosing it for frequent repositioning.

DELL Pro Dual Monitor Stand MDS19

DELL Pro Dual Monitor Stand MDS19

Consider this dual-monitor stand if you want to arrange a reference display alongside a second screen at your drawing desk.

Before ordering, check each monitor’s weight and VESA mounting pattern, the stand’s forward reach and height-adjustment range, and how it attaches to your desk. If portrait viewing matters, confirm the pivot range for your setup.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is monitor size enough to tell whether an arm will fit?

No. Match the monitor’s VESA hole pattern and weight to the exact arm first; Ergotron identifies those as primary mounting criteria. Then check whether the screen has enough room to move or rotate beside your drawing area.

Should I choose a clamp or a grommet mount?

Choose the fixing your desk can accommodate, after measuring its thickness, any grommet hole and the clearance behind it. Fellowes includes these checks in its UK monitor-arm selector. For the Duronic DM351X3, the desk clamp is supplied but the grommet fitting is sold separately.

Why might an adjustable arm fail to stay at the chosen height?

The monitor may be outside the arm’s supported load range, or its configuration may have a different limit. Check both the minimum and maximum for the exact setup: Ergotron lists a 3.2 kg lower limit for its LX Desk Mount Monitor Arm, Tall Pole, while Humanscale publishes configuration-specific M2.1 limits.

Where should I position a reference screen after fitting the arm?

Set it where you can check references without repeatedly twisting or leaning towards the display. Health and Safety Executive guidance describes a standard setup with the top of the screen near eye level and the screen about an arm’s length away; adjust its position to suit your drawing workspace.