Monitor Mounts: How To Mount Them Properly
Mounting your computer monitor helps to clear desk space, provide a slicker look for your workstation, and better fit your office into a small space. With swivel or tilting mounts, you can also adjust viewing angles and create a more customized experience that can potentially reduce any neck and eye strain from staring at your monitor all day. Read on to learn how you can mount your monitor.
Monitor Mounts
You have several mounting options for your monitor that can change the usability and the mounting process. In order to use any third-party monitor mounts, your monitor should be VESA compatible. VESA (the Video Electronics Standards Association) essentially sets the standards for mounting monitors, TVs, and other displays. The good news is that most modern monitors are compatible with VESA. To tell if your monitor can be mounted, look for mounting holes drilled into the back of your monitor, usually in its steel frame. Sometimes these holes are hidden behind the existing stand. Remove the stand or simply look up the VESA compatibility of your monitor online.
Smaller, cheaper monitors or thin monitors with a curved back tend to not be VESA compatible. Thankfully, you can still mount these monitors, but you will need to purchase an adapter.
From there, it’s a matter of deciding the type of mount you want.
Monitor Wall Mount
Monitor wall mounts offer the slickest look of all the monitor mount options, completely doing away with desk clutter. These mounts do require finding studs and drilling into your walls, which isn’t always feasible in rental properties and offices. You may not even have a wall near your desk. We’re mainly talking about desktop mounts here. For more help on how to install our monitor wall mounts, check our installation page.
Desktop Monitor Mounts
Freestanding mounts can be used anywhere on the desk without having to clamp them to the tabletop. They are one of the most affordable options, essentially acting as a replacement for your usual monitor stand. The mount attaches to the monitor and rests on your desk. Without any screws or clamps, there isn’t anything stabilizing these mounts to your desk aside from their own weight. Still, these are highly adjustable and a considerable step up from the stand that your monitor came with. Freestanding mounts allow you to adjust the height, viewing angle and panning, and many even allow you to rotate the screen between landscape and portrait orientations.
Monitor Desk Mounts
Clamp mounted monitor arm desk mounts attach your monitor to the edge of your desk, securing the mount’s pole or riser with a sturdy clamp. This significantly clears up your desk space while providing all the customization and adjustability of a freestanding mount. The main problem with side-clamp mounts is that they might not mount to all desk types. The modern computer desk or task desk will work fine, but older, boxy desks sometimes lack the edge required for these mounts.
Grommet Mounts
Through-the-desk or grommet mounts offer the greatest stability, requiring you to drill a hole into your desk or use an existing hole (like the cable management grommets found in some office desks). This may limit your options, but through-the-desk mounts allow you the highest weight capacity while still minimizing desk clutter. If you have multiple monitors, through-the-desk mounts might be the way to go.
How To Wall Mount a Monitor?
Here are some general steps to install a computer monitor wall mount:
Choose the right wall: Before you begin, make sure the wall you select is sturdy enough to support the weight of your monitor.
Select a VESA mount: Check your monitor to see if it has VESA mount compatibility. If it does, select a VESA mount that is compatible with your monitor's VESA pattern.
Attach the mount: Follow the instructions that came with your VESA mount to attach it to the wall. Make sure it's level and securely fastened to the wall.
Remove the monitor stand: Remove the stand from the back of your monitor. This typically involves unscrewing a few screws or pressing a release button.
Attach the monitor to the mount: Attach the VESA plate to the back of your monitor using the screws provided with your mount.
Mount the monitor: Attach the monitor to the VESA mount by aligning the VESA plate on the back of the monitor with the mount, and then sliding the plate onto the mount until it clicks into place.
Adjust the angle: Adjust the angle of the monitor to your desired position, using any adjustment knobs or levers that are built into the mount.
Check for stability: Once your monitor is mounted, check to make sure it's stable and secure. Wiggle it gently to ensure it's properly attached to the mount.
Connect cables: Finally, connect any necessary cables, such as power and video cables, to your monitor. Make sure the cables are neatly tucked away so they don't interfere with the monitor's position.
Please note, these steps are general and may vary depending on the specific mount and monitor you are using. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to ensure proper installation.
Installing a Clamp Mount
To install a desk monitor mount, you will need a Phillips head screwdriver, but all other tools, parts, and accessories that you need to install a clamp mount should be included with the mounting kit.
- Attach the bracket to the bottom of the mounting arm. Make sure all the screws are lined up properly and tightened completely.
- Attach the clamp to the bracket using the included screws.
- Loosen the clamp by twisting the knob counterclockwise. Position the mount at your selected location and tighten the clamp by turning the knob clockwise. Tighten until the clamp is secure, but try not to go overboard. Clamping too tight can potentially cause damage to your desk.
- Use the screws and washers to attach your monitor to the rear mounting plate. Make sure that the arrow on the plate is pointed up.
- Slide the monitor plate onto the mount arm. Repeat for other monitors if you are using a multi-monitor mount.
- To ensure the perfect angle, adjust the gas spring arm to proper tension. The spring arm is what keeps your monitor perfectly balanced. If your monitor is too light, the arm may gradually raise it up. If your monitor is too heavy, the arm may sink down. The spring is set at a lower tension out of the box. The screw to adjust the tension can be found at the joint of the arm. To adjust, press the arm and loosen the screw. Turn it counterclockwise to increase tension for heavier monitors, and clockwise to reduce tension for lighter monitors. This can take a little trial and error as you use the mount, but it will make all the difference once you lock it in. See our video tutorial here for more information
Installing a Through-the-Desk Mount
Many of the steps here are the same as the steps involved with the clamping mount. The main difference is that the clamp is replaced by the grommet style mount.
- Attach the mounting bracket featuring the support screw into the bottom of the mounting arm. The support screw should be sticking down.
- Stick the foam pads to the bracket. This helps to provide cushion and support and prevents dents in your desk.
- If you have an existing hole in your desk, like the cable management holes standard to many office desks, you are good to go. However, if your desk does not have a screw or if you want a different position for your mount, you will need to drill a hole into your desk using a drill bit that is slightly larger in width than the screw.
- Slip the screw into the hole and tighten using the washer and knob. Tighten enough that the mount stays secure. There should be no wobbling.
- From there, attach the mounting plate to your monitor, slide it onto the mount arm, and adjust the tension in the gas spring.
How To Mount a Monitor Without Holes?
Mounting a monitor without VESA holes can be more challenging, but there are still some options available to you. Here are a few possible solutions:
Use an adapter: Some manufacturers including Mount-It! make adapters that can be attached to the back of a monitor to add VESA mounting compatibility. These adapters typically stick to the back of the monitor using adhesive or suction cups, and then have VESA mounting holes that allow you to attach the monitor to a mount. Check to see if we have an adapter available for your monitor.
Build your own mount: If you're feeling handy, you could try building your own mount. One option is to attach a piece of wood or metal to the back of your monitor using adhesive or screws, and then drill your own mounting holes in the wood or metal. You could then attach the wood or metal to a wall mount or desk mount using screws. This is a more involved option, but could be a good choice if you're up for a DIY project.
Use a monitor stand: Finally, if none of the above options work for you, you could simply use a stand to hold your monitor. There are a variety of stands available, including adjustable stands that allow you to change the height and orientation of your monitor. This might not be as elegant as a wall mount, but it could still provide a stable and adjustable way to position your monitor.
Dual Monitor Mounts
Dual monitor mounts are mounting systems designed to hold two computer monitors at the same time. These mounts come in various configurations, including desk mounts, wall mounts, and ceiling mounts.
Dual monitor desk mounts are the most common type and are designed to be clamped to a desk or table. They come with adjustable arms that allow you to position the monitors at a comfortable viewing angle. Some models also allow you to adjust the height of the monitors independently.
A dual monitor wall mount is designed to attach to a wall or other vertical surface. They can be a great space-saving solution and are particularly useful for workspaces with limited desk space. Ceiling-mounted dual monitor mounts are also available and are useful in situations where you need to mount the monitors overhead.
When choosing a dual monitor mount, it's important to consider factors such as weight capacity, adjustability, and compatibility with your monitors. Many models are designed to work with standard VESA mounting patterns, which is a set of standards for mounting flat panel displays to stands or wall mounts. Overall, dual monitor mounts can be a great way to improve productivity and comfort when working with multiple screens.
Triple Monitor Mount
Triple monitor mounts are mounting systems that can hold three computer monitors at the same time. They are designed to provide an efficient and organized workspace for users who require a larger display area or multitasking capabilities.
There are various types of triple monitor mounts available in the market, including desktop mounts, wall mounts, and ceiling mounts. Monitor desk mounts are the most common type and are designed to be clamped to a desk or table. They come with adjustable arms that allow you to position the monitors at a comfortable viewing angle. Some models also allow you to adjust the height of the monitors independently.
Wall-mounted triple monitor mounts are designed to attach to a wall or other vertical surface. They can be a great space-saving solution and are particularly useful for workspaces with limited desk space. Ceiling-mounted triple monitor mounts are also available and are useful in situations where you need to mount the monitors overhead.
When choosing a triple monitor mount, it's important to consider factors such as weight capacity, adjustability, and compatibility with your monitors. Many models are designed to work with standard VESA mounting patterns, which is a set of standards for mounting flat panel displays to stands or wall mounts. Overall, triple monitor mounts can be a great way to increase productivity and comfort when working with multiple screens. They provide a neat and organized workspace, and also free up desk space, making it easier to work efficiently.
VESA Monitor Mount
A VESA monitor mount is a type of mounting system designed to attach a computer monitor to a stand, wall mount, or other mounting solution. VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association, and VESA mount patterns are a set of standards that dictate the size and spacing of the holes on the back of a monitor for mounting purposes. A VESA mount typically consists of a plate or bracket that attaches to the back of the monitor using the VESA mount pattern, and then attaches to a stand or other mounting solution. This allows the monitor to be easily and securely mounted to a variety of different surfaces, such as a desk or wall. The size and spacing of the VESA mount pattern vary depending on the size and weight of the monitor. For example, smaller monitors may have a VESA mount pattern of 75mm x 75mm or 100mm x 100mm, while larger monitors may have a pattern of 200mm x 200mm or 400mm x 400mm.
Adjust Height and Viewing Angle
Proper ergonomics is good for your overall health and can keep you from getting uncomfortable after a long day at your computer. Thankfully, with a mounted monitor, making adjustments on the fly is simple.
Your monitor should be about 20 to 28 inches (about an arm’s length) away from your face. The top of the monitor should be at or slightly below eye level so that you’re looking down at the screen at an angle of about 15 degrees. At the same time, the monitor should be tilted up to about 20 degrees. If you are also using a laptop for a dual monitor setup, think about also getting a laptop stand so your screens are at the same level.
Along with adjusting your monitor, adjust your seat and posture. Your feet should rest flat, and your thighs should be parallel to the ground. This may mean investing in a footrest. Adjust your armrests so that your arms can stay on them with your shoulders loose and relaxed. Your keyboard should be slightly below elbow height with your wrists straight and not touching the desk.
Setting up a mount for your monitor can seem intimidating, but it’s much easier and straightforward than you think. Mounting your monitor can improve your ergonomics and make your work much more efficient.
Sources:
