One-screen users with a paper calendar
If email stays on one display, raising that display can leave more of the desktop available for a calendar or planner. Check that the screen can still be positioned comfortably.
Who needs which setup?
People sharing a desk
When different people use the same workstation, an arm that allows straightforward height and distance adjustments is more useful than a position that rarely changes. The mount must also fit the existing desk.
Two-screen planners
If email and a digital calendar need separate displays, decide whether the screens fit better side by side or stacked. Account for each user’s viewing position as well as the available desk width and height.
What matters when choosing?
Adjustable single arm
Choose when: Email uses one screen and the calendar sits on the desk.
Trade-off: It creates no second digital workspace, but lets shared-desk users reposition one screen.
Side-by-side dual arm
Choose when: Email and a digital calendar need to remain visible on separate screens.
Trade-off: Both displays need enough horizontal room clear of partitions and neighbouring desks.
Stacked dual arm
Choose when: Two screens are needed but a side-by-side pair would crowd the desk width.
Trade-off: The upper screen needs sufficient clearance and a comfortable position for each user.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Room for a paper calendar | Check the arm’s reach and whether its mount leaves the intended calendar space clear. | If my calendar stays on paper, I want usable desk space without pushing the email screen out of position. Around 25% of consumers put that space first. |
| Adjustment between users | Check height and depth adjustment, and whether the screen’s weight falls within the arm’s operating range. | At a desk used by different people, I need to reset the screen rather than keep someone else’s position. Around 31% of consumers make adjustment their primary concern. |
| Monitor and desk fit | Match the display-only weight and VESA mounting pattern; measure desk thickness and the clearance required by the chosen clamp or grommet mount. | Before changing the shared desk, I need an arm that mounts to both my monitor and the actual worktop. Fit comes first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Two screens at once | For side-by-side screens, measure their outside widths; for stacked screens, check arm height and vertical clearance. | If my calendar is digital, I want it visible alongside email without crowding the available space. Around 13% of consumers prioritise separate displays. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing by screen diagonal alone
The diagonal does not establish whether two screens fit side by side or whether an arm can support and mount either display.
Check each screen’s outside width, display-only weight and VESA mounting pattern before choosing an arm.
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Assuming a clamp fits every shared desk
A rear lip, divider, wall or obstruction beneath the worktop may prevent a clamp from seating correctly.
Measure the desk and compare its edge and clearances with the arm’s mounting requirements. Consider a compatible grommet arrangement only if the desk can accommodate it.
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Leaving the screen fixed for every user
A position that suits one person may not suit the next. The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the screen directly in front of the user, with its top around eye level and the screen about an arm’s length away.
Choose practical height and depth adjustment when users need to reset the workstation.
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Adding a second screen for a paper calendar
A dual arrangement adds width or height requirements without necessarily freeing the surface where a paper calendar will sit.
Start with a single-arm layout if the calendar is physical; consider dual arms when a separate digital display is genuinely needed.
Brands to consider for these configurations
Humanscale
Its UK range includes M2 Pro single and dual options and M/Flex configurations for multiple monitors.
- Humanscale specifies a 2.3–10 kg monitor range and screens up to 43 inches for its M2 Pro single arm.
- Those specifications apply to the stated configuration; check the mounting base and your display’s weight without its stand.
Fellowes
Its monitor-arm selector covers screen count, installation method and desk dimensions.
- The Fellowes UK selector asks about desktop thickness, grommet-hole diameter and restrictions behind the desk.
- Check the exact arm’s monitor-weight range and the measurements of the desk where it will be installed.
Ergotron
Its LX Dual Stacking range is relevant when two displays need separate positioning in a stacked layout.
- Ergotron lists a 3.2–9.1 kg monitor range for one LX dual-stacking configuration.
- Ergotron notes that monitor depth greater than 64 mm may reduce capacity; check the specific variant and screen dimensions.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Common questions
Do I need a dual arm to keep a calendar beside email?
No, not if the calendar is on paper: an adjustable single arm can raise the email screen and leave more desktop space. Consider a dual arm if the calendar needs its own digital display, after checking both screens and the available space.
What should I measure for a clamp-mounted monitor arm?
Check the monitor’s weight without its stand and its VESA mounting pattern, then measure desk thickness and clearance around and below the rear edge. Measure both displays’ outside widths if you plan to place them side by side.
Where should the screen sit after I adjust the arm?
The Health and Safety Executive advises putting the screen directly in front of the user, with its top around eye level and the screen about an arm’s length away. At a shared desk, each user should reset the position to suit them.
Does sharing a desk affect workstation assessment?
The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess workstations used by workers who use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more. If fitting an arm changes how that workstation is used, include the changed setup in the assessment.