If you want your screen higher and your desk clearer, a monitor arm is usually the better choice. It clamps to your desk, frees up the surface underneath, and lets you move the screen in almost any direction. A monitor stand is simpler and cheaper, sits on the desk, and gives you a fixed lift plus a bit of storage underneath. If you only need to raise one screen to eye level and you like a tidy, no-fuss solution, a stand does the job.
The short version
A monitor arm holds your screen off a clamp or grommet fixing, so the base of the screen floats above the desk. You get full height, tilt, swivel and depth adjustment, and you reclaim the space a stand or the monitor foot would otherwise take. A monitor stand is a raised platform or riser that sits on the desk. Your monitor goes on top, and you often get a shelf underneath for a keyboard, notebook or odds and ends. One moves; the other stays put.
Both fix the same core problem. Most monitors sit too low out of the box, which pulls your head and neck down all day. Getting the top of the screen roughly level with your eyes is the goal, and either option can get you there.
Monitor arms: what you gain and give up
The big win with a monitor arm is adjustability. You can pull the screen closer when you are reading, push it back when you want distance, drop it for a document, or swing it aside when you need the desk for something else. If you share a desk or switch between sitting and standing, that flexibility matters.
You also clear the desk. With the monitor floating on an arm, the space under and around it opens up. That is useful on smaller desks and on standing desks, where a cleaner surface makes raising and lowering the desk easier.
What you give up is a little simplicity. An arm needs a solid desk edge or a grommet hole to clamp to, and thin or glass tops are not always suitable. Fitting takes a few minutes, and a good arm costs more than a basic stand. For most people the trade is worth it, but it is a real difference.
What to check on an arm
- Weight and size rating. Every arm has a maximum screen weight and size. Heavy or large monitors, and most ultrawides, need an arm built for them.
- Gas spring vs fixed. A gas spring arm moves smoothly and holds position anywhere. A fixed arm sets a height and stays there. Gas spring is easier to live with day to day.
- VESA fitting. The arm bolts to the VESA pattern on the back of your monitor, usually 75x75mm or 100x100mm. Check your screen has one before you buy.
- Clamp or grommet. Make sure your desk edge is thick enough for the clamp, or that you have a hole for the grommet fixing.
Monitor stands: what you gain and give up
A monitor stand is about as simple as it gets. You set it on the desk, put the monitor on top, and you are done. There is nothing to bolt, no VESA pattern to match, and it works with almost any screen because the monitor keeps its own foot. Many stands add a shelf underneath, which is handy for tucking a keyboard away or holding a notebook and pens.
The catch is that the lift is fixed. Most stands raise the screen by a set amount, so if that height is not quite right for you, your options are limited. You also cannot tilt, swivel or pull the screen towards you. And the stand still takes up desk space rather than freeing it. For a single screen at a fixed desk, none of that may bother you. For a flexible or shared setup, it can.
Stands sit alongside the rest of your workspace accessories, and they pair well with a separate keyboard and mouse, since raising the screen usually means your keyboard needs to come down to the desk.
Which should you buy?
Choose a monitor arm if you want the screen at exactly the right height, you move between sitting and standing, you run a large or ultrawide monitor, or you simply want the desk surface back. It costs a bit more and takes a few minutes to fit, but it is the more capable tool.
Choose a monitor stand if you have one screen, you like the fixed height it gives, you want storage underneath, or your desk will not take a clamp. It is cheaper, needs no tools, and works with practically any monitor.
If you run two screens, an arm is often the easier route because you can angle each one towards you. A wide single stand can hold two smaller monitors side by side, but you lose the independent angling that makes a dual setup comfortable.
Common questions
Do monitor arms work with any desk?
Most clamp to a desk edge or fix through a grommet hole, so you need a sturdy top of the right thickness. Very thin, glass or flimsy desks may not be suitable. Check the arm's clamp range against your desk before buying.
What is VESA and do I need it?
VESA is the standard hole pattern on the back of a monitor that an arm bolts to, usually 75x75mm or 100x100mm. You need it for a monitor arm. A stand does not use VESA because the monitor keeps its own foot.
Can a monitor stand hold two monitors?
A wide stand can hold two smaller screens side by side, but you cannot angle them independently. For a proper dual setup at eye level, a dual monitor arm is usually more comfortable.
Will raising my monitor fix neck pain?
Getting the top of the screen roughly level with your eyes stops you looking down all day, which helps a lot of people. It works best alongside a supportive chair and a desk at the right height rather than on its own.
The bottom line
An arm gives you full adjustment and a clear desk for a bit more money and a few minutes of fitting. A stand gives you a simple, fixed lift and some storage for less. Both raise your screen to a healthier height, so pick the one that suits your desk and how you work. You can browse our full range of monitor arms and stands to compare.
Whatever you choose, you buy genuine stock from an authorised UK dealer, with free UK delivery and a 30-day money-back guarantee.