Glossary
Monitor arm
A clamp or grommet-mounted arm that holds a screen and lets you set its height, depth and angle, freeing up desk space.
A monitor arm attaches to the edge of a desk with a clamp or through a hole with a grommet mount, then holds a screen on an adjustable joint instead of a fixed stand. Most arms let you move the screen up, down, forward, back, and tilt it, and many fold flat against the wall when not in use.
The main advantages over a stock monitor stand are desk space and precise positioning. Because the monitor is lifted off the desk surface, the area underneath it opens up for a keyboard, notebook, or other items. It also makes it far easier to line the screen up with eye level and viewing distance exactly, rather than settling for whatever height the stand happens to be.
Weight capacity and VESA compatibility are the two things people miss most often. An arm rated for a light monitor will sag or drift down under a heavier ultrawide screen over time, and a monitor without a standard VESA mount pattern will need an adapter plate before it can attach at all. Dual monitor arms add a second consideration, since both screens share one clamp and base.