Add an external monitor if you need more screen space and can position it comfortably on your desk. Choose a USB-C hub monitor for a simpler connection only after checking your laptop’s video output and charging requirements; if space is tight and you do not need another display, a laptop riser with a separate keyboard and mouse is another option. For sustained work, check the whole workstation arrangement, including any employer display screen equipment assessment that applies.
If you use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more, the Health and Safety Executive says your employer must assess your workstation. Its home-working guidance also covers workers who routinely split their time between home and the workplace. The question is whether the whole setup suits the work, not simply whether a larger screen fits.
Decide whether you need additional screen area or mainly need to raise the laptop display. The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance pairs an elevated laptop screen with a separate keyboard and mouse for prolonged use; a monitor is a separate way to position the display.
Check the exact laptop model before relying on one cable for video, charging and peripherals. Video Electronics Standards Association guidance describes video over USB-C for devices that support DisplayPort Alt Mode, while Apple Support notes that external-display limits depend on the Mac model and display configuration.
Start with whether you need another display at all. Then check how it will connect, fit and be positioned in your workspace.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Extra screen space | Decide whether you need a separate display for your work, or just a better position for the laptop screen. Check the available desk area and the proposed screen size. | I work across documents or windows and want a display I can position separately from my laptop. If I only need to raise the laptop screen, a riser with separate input devices may meet that need without adding a monitor. |
| Video connection | Match the laptop’s video-capable output to the monitor input. For USB-C, confirm display support on the exact laptop model; for a dock or adapter, check its display limits as well as the computer’s. Apple Support says supported display count depends on the Mac model, resolution and refresh rate. | A tidy cable arrangement matters to me, but I need to know that my laptop can drive the intended screen before choosing a USB-C monitor, dock or adapter. |
| Laptop charging | Compare a monitor’s stated power-delivery output in watts with the laptop’s charging requirement. Confirm that the intended connection supports both video and charging before planning a one-cable setup. | If I want to leave the laptop charger in my bag, the monitor connection needs to meet my laptop’s actual charging needs, not just have a USB-C socket. |
| Screen position | Check stand height, tilt and available desk depth. The Health and Safety Executive advises positioning the top of a display around eye level and the screen about an arm’s length away; an elevated laptop should be used with a separate keyboard and mouse for prolonged work. | My screen needs to sit at a workable height without forcing me to use a raised laptop keyboard. Adjustment also matters if someone else shares the desk. |
| Workstation assessment | For employees who use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more, check the employer’s workstation assessment process. The Health and Safety Executive says the rules can also apply to permanent or routine hybrid home working. | Before buying equipment for regular home work, I want to know what changes the assessment identifies for my workstation. |
A USB-C connector does not establish video capability. Video Electronics Standards Association guidance describes DisplayPort video through USB-C for source devices that support DisplayPort Alt Mode; the computer’s supported display count also matters.
Check the exact laptop model’s video-output specification and the intended display count, resolution and refresh rate before selecting a monitor, dock or adapter.
Moving the screen upwards also moves the built-in keyboard and trackpad. The Health and Safety Executive’s prolonged-laptop-use guidance pairs a raised screen with separate input devices.
Allow desk space and a suitable connection for a separate keyboard and mouse when planning a laptop riser.
A display purchase does not establish whether the complete home workstation is suitable. The Health and Safety Executive requires a workstation assessment for employees who use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more.
If that applies to your work, follow your employer’s assessment process before deciding which equipment to obtain.
LG lists a webcam, microphone, speakers and 90 W USB-C power delivery for its 27BA850-B, alongside a 1920 × 1080 Full HD display. The cited Dell, BenQ and Lenovo models have QHD displays with different connectivity features.
Compare the display specification with the meeting and connection features you will use; do not assume that monitors with similar docking features provide the same screen resolution.
The Dell UltraSharp U2724DE is a 27-inch QHD Thunderbolt hub monitor to consider when laptop connections and screen adjustment are priorities.
The BenQ GW2790QT is a 27-inch QHD USB-C model for a desk where stand adjustment and laptop connectivity matter.
The LG 27BA850-B is a 27-inch Full HD model for workspaces where built-in meeting equipment and connections are important.
The Lenovo ThinkVision P27h-30 is a 27-inch QHD model for buyers considering USB-C docking and several peripheral connections.
These monitors offer separate-screen options for home or hybrid laptop work, from a portable display to larger desk-based models. Check your laptop’s output and the space available before choosing one.
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A 27-inch separate screen for a desk where display position needs to change. The listed 2560 × 1440 display has HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C connections, a USB hub and height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustment. Check your laptop’s video output and the monitor’s USB-C charging output before relying on one cable.
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A separate 27-inch screen to consider when a 3840 × 2160 display suits your intended laptop setup. The listed stand offers 150 mm height adjustment, pivot, swivel and tilt; HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C are listed as inputs. Check the exact laptop’s supported resolution and confirm USB-C video and charging behaviour if you want a one-cable connection.
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A 24-inch separate-screen option for a desk where you need to check the fit carefully. It lists HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode, power delivery up to 96 W, and height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustment. Confirm your laptop’s USB-C video and charging support; if hub connectivity matters, confirm the features of the supplied regional version.
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A larger separate display for a desk with room for its stand and screen. It lists HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, a four-port USB hub, and 0–130 mm height adjustment with tilt, swivel and pivot. Its stated dimensions with stand are 714.8 × 245 × 595.6 mm; check both desk fit and your laptop’s video output before buying.
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A portable additional screen to consider when you move between work locations or have little desk space. The listed display is 1920 × 1080 at 60 Hz, weighs 780 g and uses USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode with a compatible device; HDMI is listed as unsupported. Check your laptop’s video support and how you will position the screen for longer desk sessions.
No. Check the laptop’s specifications for video support on that port and for its supported external-display configuration. Video Electronics Standards Association guidance says USB-C devices supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode can carry DisplayPort video, including through an appropriate adapter for certain other display inputs.
Only if the connection supports charging and the monitor’s stated power delivery meets the laptop’s requirements. Compare the output in watts with the laptop manufacturer’s charging specification rather than assuming any USB-C monitor will replace its charger.
It matters when you cannot otherwise place the display at a workable height or when people sharing a desk need different positions. The Health and Safety Executive advises placing the top of the screen around eye level and the display about an arm’s length away; also check whether the stand and desk allow that arrangement.
Check whether your employer’s display screen equipment assessment applies and what it identifies for your workstation. The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess workstations for employees using display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more, and that the rules can apply to permanent or routine hybrid home working.