Mounting a monitor on the wall or a desk is a perfect solution for space limitations and digital eye and neck strain.
In addition, you can have a fun working environment using a flexible monitor position that can swivel, rotate, and tilt.
All you need is a mountable monitor and a fitting bracket that keeps it in place.
Can you mount every monitor regardless of the brand and model?
Can All Monitors Be Mounted?
Most modern monitors are desk and wall mountable, allowing for better viewing angles, flexibility, and ergonomics.
These monitors conform to the VESA standard, offering holes with universal dimensions for back screws, making them mountable.
This way, you can mount the monitor on the wall using brackets attached to the wall.
Even if a monitor doesn’t have the VESA standard, you can still use different methods to mount it.
For example, you can use mounting brackets that support the monitor by housing its edges instead of having holes at the back.
You can also use adapters, although they’re not as strong as original VESA mounts and can take up more space.
What’s VESA?
If you’re in the market for a monitor, you can probably see VESA in most—if not all—monitor specs sheets.
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) determines standards for mounting different displays, including monitors and televisions.
VESA conforming monitors have at least four holes on the back panel corresponding to the same holes on the wall-mounted VESA brackets.
Depending on the size and weight of the monitor, it may have more than four holes on the back.
These holes are easy to find, but they may be hidden under the monitor’s own stand.
If you can’t find the holes, remove the panel attached to the monitor’s stand, and you can see them.
Identifying The VESA Standard On Your Monitor
To mount your monitor, you should first look for the VESA hole patterns on the back of the monitor.
If you can’t find them, it doesn’t mean they’re not there.
As mentioned, they may be under another panel for aesthetic reasons.
In addition, the standard VESA holes come in different patterns depending on the model and manufacturer.
These patterns determine the type of bracket you should get for attaching to the wall.
You can identify these patterns in different ways.
The first option is to check the back of the monitor and inspect the holes.
VESA has three different standards characterized by the distance between the screw holes.
The VESA MIS-D standard, the most common, has a square pattern with holes 75 mm or 100 mm from each other.
VESA MIS-E monitors have a 200 mm by 100 mm rectangular pattern.
If your monitor is large with a VESA MIS-F standard, it has a 400 mm by 200 mm or 600 mm by 400 mm rectangular pattern.
If you can’t see the holes, see if there’s a cover attached to the monitor’s built-in stand.
By removing this cover, you can see the VESA holes.
You can also check your monitor manufacturer’s website to look up its model and check its specs to see if it has a VESA standard.
The monitor’s user manual also lists all the device specs, including whether it’s VESA approved or not.
VESA Adapters
If your monitor doesn’t have VESA holes, you can still mount it.
Curved monitors, Apple monitors, and smaller displays aren’t VESA compliant, but you can use VESA adapters to mount your device.
You can find various adapters that can directly attach to the monitor or as a plate between the wall mount and the back of the monitor.
Some monitor manufacturers, including Apple, offer custom mounts for their devices, which you can purchase as aftermarket tools.
There’s also another form of adapter.
Suppose you have a wall mount for your current monitor, but it doesn’t match your new monitor because it has a different VESA standard.
In that case, you don’t need to purchase a new wall bracket.
Instead, you can use a universal adapter to adjust the distance between the screw holes.
These adapters come as kits that give you all the necessary hardware to mount your monitor.
If your monitor has holes that don’t correspond to the bracket’s holes, you can use adapters in the shape of plates with several holes.
You can adjust the plate in a way that it matches the hole pattern on the monitor.
Finally, if your monitor doesn’t allow you to attach the wall mount through screws, you can use brackets with clamps that attach to the monitor’s edges.
What To Consider In Choosing The Right Monitor Mount
VESA compliance is the most important factor when selecting the right mount for your monitor.
It greatly affects your choices and can take the guesswork out of your buying process.
You get a universal bracket that you can use for all compliant computers.
Still, you need to consider some other features to get the best mount for your setup.
1. Do You Need A Mounting Arm?
Before purchasing a mounting arm, you should ensure that mounting the monitor is the right way to go.
Here are the main reasons that you should get a mounting arm:
- You work with the computer for long hours and suffer from eye and neck strain.
- Your workspace is small, and you need more real estate on your desk.
- You perform different tasks on the computer, each requiring different viewing angles and sitting positions.
- You get tired of sitting all day at the desk and could use an ergonomic workstation.
- You need to share your work with co-workers, allowing them to see your computer screen from where they’re sitting.
2. Monitor Dimensions And Weight
Here’s the most important consideration: you should ensure the mount can bear the monitor’s weight.
Otherwise, you risk dropping the monitor or damaging the wall.
In addition, if the monitor is too heavy for the mount, it will limit the extra movements that should otherwise give you flexibility.
The same thing applies to the dimensions.
If your monitor is too big for the mounting arm, you can’t move it as you like.
Look for the maximum weight the arm can support in the specs to avoid these issues.
In addition, you should consider whether you need height adjustments or not.
For example, if you want to use your monitor in both seated and standing positions, or different people are using the same monitor, you’ll need an arm with adjustable height.
Almost all arms come with height adjustment capabilities, but repeated changes in height require stronger mechanisms like gas or spring arms instead of manual mechanisms.
3. Workspace Limitations
The amount of space you have will directly affect the choice of the mounting arm.
For example, if you have limited space, you must use a wall mount.
In that case, you should decide whether the wall is strong enough to hold the monitor and if electrical wires run inside the wall.
You could also mount your monitor on the desk, which requires making sure it has enough space to accommodate the arm.
If you want to use two monitors on the same desk, it should be deep enough for both arms to move.
The depth of your desk determines the length of the arm.
In dual or multiple setups, the distance between the arms and the monitors is also important to provide you with the ergonomics and flexibility you want.
You should also consider the space left behind the desk affected by the design of the arm.
Some arms sit behind the desk while others rest over the desk.
In both situations, you should ensure you have enough space.
Otherwise, the monitor can’t sit over the desk.
The design of the desk also affects your choice of arm.
You should pay attention to the desk’s edge and its thickness and get an arm that can securely sit on the edge.
Ornamental pieces or ledges on the edge of the desk limit your choices and don’t let you fix the arm securely.
You may also want to consider the color choices for your mounting arm if you care about your office decor.
4. Adjustability
If you think you may add to or change your current setting, you should get a future-proof mounting arm.
For example, it should allow you to add a new monitor if you plan to do so.
In such cases, getting a modular arm can help you add or reduce the monitors or shorten and lengthen the arm for better adjustability.
Knowing your plans, you can go for single, double, or multi-monitor arms to avoid the hassle of adding more arms in the future.
In addition, you should decide about the features of the arm, whether it’s rotatable, tiltable, motorized, or electrical.
These features are crucial in giving you the best viewing angle depending on your work and how you can adjust the arm.
If you need to change the arm’s position repeatedly, it should be straightforward and adjustable with simple touches.
5. Strength
The strength and stability of your monitor arm depend on many factors.
One of them is the dimensions and weight of the monitor.
However, you should consider other factors, too.
For example, the material used in making the arm is vital because it has to bear the monitor’s weight.
Metal arms are always superior to plastic ones, even if they’re sturdy.
Another thing to consider is stability.
If you type a lot or need a lot of movement while working with your monitor, you should ensure the display remains stable.
The type, thickness, and length of the arm directly affect its stability.
If you don’t need to change your viewing angle or height, get an arm that doesn’t extend from your desk and remains fixed.
6. Installation
In addition to the straightforward design, the mounting arm should be easy to install in the first place.
Check the parts and mounting process to ensure you can do it yourself.
If the package contains many small parts, make sure you know how to assemble these parts and can make sense of it.
Different Types Of VESA Mounts
A crucial consideration in choosing the perfect mounting arm is the type that determines its design and mounting style.
Depending on your space and requirements, you can choose one of these styles:
1. Desk Clamp
These mounting arms are easy to install, highly adjustable, and the most common.
They attach to the desk edge with a clamp, allowing you to adjust the height easily.
You can use them for multiple users and come in spring and post types.
Since these types clamp onto the edge of the desk, you should ensure the edge and the clamp are the same size.
2. Grommet Mounts
Also known as desk mounts and pole mounts, grommet mounts are used on desks.
Instead of a clamp, they use a grommet attached to the desk.
They require a hole in the desk for better stability and strength.
As a result, although it may look like a clamp arm, it fits firmly into the hole and is perfect for setups that require high stability.
It’s perfect for desks that don’t have a suitable edge for clamp mounts.
In addition, they take up less space because they don’t have overhangs.
3. Wall Mount
Wall mounts are perfect for small spaces but require more preparation.
You should ensure the wall has a strong stud and can handle the monitor’s weight.
In addition, the wall requires repair or redecorating if you remove the wall-mounted monitor.
Plus, you may have less flexibility than a desk-mounted setup because you can’t move the monitor in all directions since the wall limits your movements.
It’s also more difficult to install because you need to create holes in the wall, and attaching the monitor can be more challenging.
4. Cubicle Mount
As the name suggests, cubicle mounts are specifically designed for cubicle walls.
They have different VESA ratings, allowing you to attach different monitors depending on the wall’s strength.
You can find easy-to-install mounts that don’t require any assembly and simply hang from the cubicle wall.
Then you can secure the mount with bolts, allowing for a stable setup.
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