Monitor Arms, Desk Mounts

Monitor Arms and Desk Mounts

A monitor arm takes the screen off its factory stand and puts it on a clamp attached to the desk. You get the height and depth adjustment the stock stand never had, and you get the whole footprint of the base back as usable desk space. NXP stocks 27 monitor arms and desk mounts for screens from 12 to 34 inches, in single, dual and vertical dual configurations, from StarTech.com, Brateck, Fellowes, Digitus, Sylex, Gladius and Kardo.

Check three things before you order

Getting this wrong is the most common reason a monitor arm goes back in the box.

1. Does your monitor have VESA holes? Look at the back of the screen for four threaded holes in a square. That's the VESA pattern, measured in millimetres between hole centres — 75x75 on smaller screens, 100x100 on most business monitors, and larger patterns on big displays. If there are no VESA holes, the monitor can't mount to an arm without an adapter plate.
2. What does the monitor weigh? Every arm has a stated weight range, and it's a range rather than a maximum for a reason — a gas-spring arm that's too strong for a light screen will drift upwards, one that's too weak will sag. The screen weight is on the spec sheet, not the box. NXP stocks heavy-duty options up to 8kg for larger or older displays.
3. How will it attach to the desk? A C-clamp grips the back edge of the desk. It needs a clear, accessible rear edge and a desktop within the clamp's thickness range — a problem on desks with a modesty panel or a thick rear rail. A grommet mount bolts through an existing cable hole for a tidier, more stable fix. Several arms here ship with both options; check before you commit if your desks are non-standard.

Single, dual or vertical

Single arms suit one screen, and also suit laptop users who dock to one external display.

Dual arms hold two screens side by side on one clamp point. This is the standard setup for finance, design, dispatch, service desks and anyone reconciling two documents at once. Fellowes, Brateck, Digitus, Sylex and StarTech all offer dual configurations here.

Vertical dual stacks one screen above the other — the right answer when desk width is limited, or for monitoring, coding and long-document work where vertical space beats horizontal.

For dual setups, check the combined width against your desk. Two 27-inch screens on articulating arms need roughly 1.4 metres of clear span to sit side by side without overlapping the person next to them.

Why offices buy them

The ergonomic case is straightforward and well documented: a screen at the wrong height makes people crane their necks, and that shows up as discomfort and, eventually, as claims. A monitor arm lets each person set their own screen height without shims, reams of paper or a monitor riser — which matters most in hot-desking and shared-desk environments where the same workstation serves several people a week.

The second reason is desk space. A standard monitor base occupies roughly 200 x 250mm of prime desk. Across a floor of forty desks, that's a meaningful amount of surface returned.

The third is cable management. Most arms here route cables through the arm itself, which keeps the desk clear and makes cleaning faster. If you're doing a full fit-out, pair the arms with cable management and clean up the underside of the desk at the same time.

Setting the height correctly

Once mounted, the top of the screen should sit roughly level with your eyes when you're sitting upright, about an arm's length away, tilted back very slightly at the top. If you wear multifocals, set it lower — you'll otherwise tip your head back to read through the bottom of the lens. If raising the screen leaves your feet short of the floor, add a footrest rather than lowering the chair.

Fit-outs and multi-desk orders

Specify one arm model across the floor so installation, spares and staff training are consistent, and confirm the desk thickness and rear-edge clearance on a sample desk before ordering in volume. NXP has no minimum order quantity, orders placed by 3pm dispatch same day from the nearest branch, and freight is free over $50.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my monitor is VESA compatible?

Look for four threaded holes arranged in a square on the back of the screen. Measure the distance between hole centres in millimetres — 75x75 and 100x100 are the common business sizes. If the back is smooth with no holes, the monitor isn't VESA compatible and will need an adapter plate.

What's the difference between a clamp mount and a grommet mount?

A clamp grips the back edge of the desk and needs no drilling — quickest to fit and easy to move. A grommet mount bolts through an existing hole in the desktop, which is more stable and tidier but permanent. Clamp is the default; use grommet where the desk has no accessible rear edge.

Can one monitor arm hold two screens?

Yes — dual monitor arms mount two screens from a single clamp point, either side by side or stacked vertically. Check the combined weight against the arm's rating, and check you have the desk width: two 27" screens on articulating arms need about 1.4m of clear span.

Will a monitor arm damage my desk?

A correctly fitted clamp shouldn't. Use the supplied protective pads, check the desktop thickness is within the clamp's range, and avoid clamping to unsupported glass or thin laminate overhangs. Take particular care with veneered and glass tops.

Do monitor arms fit ultrawide monitors?

Many do, but check both the weight rating and the VESA pattern — ultrawides are heavier and often use a larger pattern. This range includes arms and stands rated to 32" and 34", and heavy-duty models to 8kg. Browse the full monitor range if you're buying screen and mount together, or a laptop stand if the screen is built into the machine.