Small-desk spreadsheet users
If your desk also holds a keyboard, calculator and recipe paperwork, the monitor's stand depth and width matter as much as its screen diagonal.
Who needs this kind of monitor?
Dense cost-sheet reviewers
Comparing yields, unit prices, supplier invoices and margin columns makes visible worksheet space important. Dell's P2425D is one 23.8-inch QHD option to assess alongside its stand adjustments.
Laptop-first home businesses
If your laptop is the main computer, a USB-C connection may reduce desk cables. Check that the laptop outputs video through that port and that the monitor can supply the charging power it requires.
What matters when choosing?
Measure the space available for the stand first, then decide how much worksheet you need to see at once. Treat a simpler Full HD connection and a USB-C laptop setup as different connection requirements, not as reasons to overlook desk fit.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Desk fit and posture | Measure usable width and depth against the complete stand. Check height adjustment or compatible mounting if the screen cannot sit directly in front of you at a comfortable height. | I need space beside the screen for a keyboard and recipe paperwork, without placing the display awkwardly; around 31% of consumers put desk fit and positioning first. |
| Worksheet space and text | Compare Full HD at 1,920 × 1,080 with QHD at 2,560 × 1,440 on a 23.8-inch screen. Check whether QHD text is comfortable at your preferred scaling. | When several ingredient, yield and supplier columns must stay visible, I would prioritise worksheet space; roughly 31% of consumers make that their main concern. |
| Laptop connection | Check the laptop's video output and the monitor's matching input. For USB-C, confirm video support, charging power and the cable you will use. | I work from a laptop and want fewer cables, but still need the screen and charging arrangement to work together; about 23% of consumers prioritise that connection. |
| Occasional costing | Confirm the screen size, resolution, stand footprint and an input your computer can use before choosing additional features. | If I only update recipe costs now and then, a straightforward external screen meets my primary need; around 15% of consumers put that simpler setup first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Measuring the screen but not its stand
A 23.8-inch panel can still take up substantial desk space. BenQ lists the GW2490E at 540 mm wide and 182 mm deep with its stand, which could restrict room for a calculator or paperwork.
Measure the usable desk surface and the complete monitor footprint. If considering an arm, check the monitor's mount pattern and whether the arm fits your desk.
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Assuming every USB-C port carries video and charges a laptop
USB-C functions depend on the particular port and model. Lenovo specifies DisplayPort Alt Mode and up to 75 W power delivery for the L24m-40; Dell describes the downstream USB-C port on the P2425H as data-only, with up to 15 W power delivery.
Check your laptop's USB-C video capability and charging requirement against the monitor's specified input before planning a one-cable connection.
If the connection cannot handle both jobs, you may still need a separate charger, dock or video adapter.
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Choosing resolution without checking screen position
Extra pixels will not fix a display that sits too low, off-centre or too close. The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the screen directly in front of you, with its top at eye level and roughly an arm's length away.
Check the stand's adjustment range. If your desk and chair cannot place the screen appropriately, consider a compatible monitor arm rather than relying on resolution alone.
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Putting an unwanted monitor in household rubbish
GOV.UK says electrical products marked with the crossed-out wheelie-bin symbol should not go in household rubbish.
Take an unwanted monitor to an appropriate electrical-waste collection point or household waste recycling centre.
Relevant brands to consider
Dell
Office-oriented 23.8-inch options include Full HD, QHD and USB-C hub models; compare the exact model rather than assuming they share connections.
- Dell lists height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustment for the P2425H; the P2425D offers QHD at 23.8 inches.
- The P2425HE's stated power delivery of up to 90 W is specific to that USB-C hub model, not the P2425H.
BenQ
The GW2490E gives small-desk shoppers stated dimensions for assessing a conventional 23.8-inch Full HD setup.
- BenQ specifies a 540 × 408 × 182 mm size with the stand, two HDMI ports and VESA 100 × 100 mm mounting for the GW2490E.
- Its listed stand adjustment is tilt; check whether that suits your desk height or whether you would use a compatible arm.
Lenovo
Lenovo's L24i-40 and L24m-40 illustrate different connection choices within its 23.8-inch home-monitor range.
- Lenovo lists HDMI and VGA for the L24i-40; the L24m-40 lists USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode and up to 75 W power delivery.
- Check the model name carefully: the L24m-40's USB-C video and charging specifications should not be assumed for the L24i-40.
ASUS
The VY249HF is a 23.8-inch Full HD IPS option with manufacturer-listed screen-time features.
- ASUS lists a Rest Reminder alongside flicker-free and blue-light-filter features for the VY249HF.
- Those features do not establish whether its stand will place the screen appropriately on your desk; check its dimensions and adjustments separately.
Joybuy monitor choices
These monitors offer different named resolution options for recipe-cost spreadsheets. Compare each model's desk footprint and connection requirements with your own setup before choosing.
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ASUS ProArt PA248CNV IPS WUXGA
Consider this WUXGA option for recipe-cost worksheets if its stand leaves enough room for your paperwork. Confirm the complete footprint and the connection your computer will use.
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Dell P2425H Full HD
For straightforward recipe-cost entry, this 23.8-inch, 1,920 × 1,080 model offers a conventional Full HD workspace. Dell lists height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustment, plus HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA; do not assume its downstream USB-C port is a laptop video input.
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ASUS ProArt PA278CV IPS WQHD
This WQHD model is worth comparing if worksheet space is a priority. Measure its full stand footprint before choosing it for a small desk, and check that your computer supports the connection you intend to use.
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ASUS ProArt PA24ACRV IPS QHD
Consider this QHD model when dense costing sheets are your main concern. Check its stand dimensions against the desk and try your preferred text-scaling setting; confirm laptop video and charging requirements before relying on USB-C.
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ASUS ProArt PA248CRV IPS WUXGA
This WUXGA model is another option to assess for document-heavy recipe costing. Confirm its stand footprint, the video connection your computer needs and which cable comes with the model you order.
Common questions
Is a 24-inch monitor too large for a small desk?
Not necessarily: the stand footprint, rather than the screen diagonal alone, determines how much usable desk space remains. BenQ lists the GW2490E at 540 mm wide and 182 mm deep with its stand; allow additional room for your keyboard, calculator and paperwork, and check that the screen can sit directly in front of you.
Should I choose Full HD or QHD for recipe-cost spreadsheets?
Choose Full HD at 23.8 inches if comfortably sized default text matters more than keeping many columns visible. QHD at the same size gives you more pixels for dense sheets, but check whether its text is comfortable at your preferred display scaling.
Will a USB-C monitor display my spreadsheet and charge my laptop?
It can do both only when the laptop supports video through the chosen USB-C port and the monitor supplies enough power for that laptop. Lenovo lists DisplayPort Alt Mode and up to 75 W power delivery for the L24m-40, while Dell lists up to 90 W for the P2425HE; check the exact model, laptop requirements and cable before relying on one connection.