One of the biggest ergonomic mistakes that people tend to make with their computer setup is not having their monitor at the right height. The top edge of your monitor should be at eye level and tilted slightly up toward your eyes. This eliminates any potential neck strain, but introduces an issue: many monitors just simply aren’t high enough. Thankfully there is a plethora of monitor stands to lift your monitor up, clear up some desk space, and make sure you can game in style without any kinks in your neck.
EVOOMI Monitor Stand Two Pack
This particular stand is offered by several different companies on Amazon, but this two-pack from EVOOMI is extra useful for those with extra wide monitors or a dual monitor setup. Each stand is rated to hold up to 44 pounds of weight, and the adjustable legs offer three heights for micro-adjusting your monitor where you need it. It’s a bit barebones, but if all you need is to lift a monitor (or two) up off your desk a bit then it’s an affordable and effective set.
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HUANUO Monitor Stand
This monitor stand from HUANUO is a bit more utilitarian in its design when compared to many of the more basic monitor stands available. It features two drawers for storing odds and ends such as cables, USB drives, or whatever other computer accessories are constantly floating around your gaming setup. It’s constructed of a metal mesh with reinforced bars to reduce sag, and can hold up to 33 pounds of weight. The rubber cushion feet ensure that it won’t scuff up your desk if you slide it around, and the mesh ensures that a laptop set on top of it will cool properly if you’re wanting to use it as a laptop stand.
Zimilar Monitor Stand
Zimilar has constructed this stand out of MDF, which is going to be sturdier and more robust than the particle board that’s so common in wooden monitor stands. It’s wider than a lot of the more basic competition out there at 16.5 inches, and is rated for 50 pounds. The real killer feature here is the two-tier shelf, which features just enough clearance to fit an Xbox controller, or really any number of other gaming accessories you might want to tidy up around your desk. The edges are outfitted with handles so adjusting this stand around your desk without having to unload it should be easy to do without warping the legs.
XYTEK Aluminum Monitor Stand
If you’re looking for something that has a bit more of a gamer aesthetic then XYTEK has you covered with their aluminum stand. It doesn’t provide a whole lot of height, so if you’re looking to really dial in the ergonomics of your desk setup then you might seek more versatile options. But if you just want something that looks cool and keeps your monitor up off your desk then it has some nice aesthetic features. The solid aluminum looks great and is rated to hold up to 30 pounds. In the package is an RGB LED strip for attaching to the bottom side of the stand, as well as a matching mousepad. It might be mostly aesthetic, but it gets your monitor up off your desk and looks good doing it.
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TopMate Monitor Stand
TopMate seemed to really want to one-up their competitors when it comes to gaming-friendly monitor stands. This one features a foldable design so you can adjust its width from 21.57 inches to 16.14 inches as necessary for your desk space. On the front edge there’s a small drawer capable of holding smaller items such as cables or USB drives, followed by a pop out phone stand, and finally a USB hub of four 5V 1A USB 3.0 ports. The top edge features built-in RGB strips, which are hardware adjustable via the front panel. For something as simple as a monitor stand, it’s really packed with features.
Monitor stands aren’t just about ergonomics, although they’re a great way to relieve back and neck strain. Sometimes it’s just about getting your desk area looking tidy, containing the pile of cables you keep on-hand, and maybe adding a bit of RGB mood lighting to your desk setup. After all, having a comfortable desk to sit at doesn’t mean much if you can’t stand looking at the mess.
For more hardware guides check out Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers and Best OLED Gaming Monitors on Pro Game Guides.
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Justin is a retro and PC gaming enthusiast with a passion for emulation, benchmarks, and comparing controllers. You can usually find him installing Linux for the umpteenth time or exploring old DOS games.