Looking for a good and reliable display for a multi-monitor setup?
In this buying guide, you will find the most cost-effective displays for the best dual monitor setup, including monitors with thin bezels, plenty of screen space, VESA mount and other useful features for office, professional and productivity work.
Type | Monitor | Size | Resolution | Panel | VESA | Ports | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best 1080p Monitors for Dual Setup | 22” | 1920x1080 | IPS | No | HDMI, VGA | ||
24” | 1920x1080 | IPS | Yes | HDMI, VGA, DP | |||
Best 1440p Monitor for Dual Setup | 27” | 2560x1440 | IPS | Yes | 2xHDMI, DP | ||
Best 4K Monitor for Dual Setup | 27” | 3840x2160 | IPS | Yes | 3xHDMI, DP |
These are the best monitors for a multiple-monitor setup. As you can see, they differentiate by screen size and resolution as well as connectivity choices, VESA mount compatibility and even panel type.
In order to be certain you’re getting the right monitor, make sure your graphics card can support the resolution you want and that its ports match those of the monitor.
Also, remember that all monitors in this list have an integrated low-blue light filter and a flicker-free screen.
In case you are sensitive to screen flicker or you often work for a prolonged time or at night, these two features will prevent eye fatigue and headaches.
For gaming, we don’t recommend dual monitors as you’d always have an annoying gap right in the center of the screen — unless you plan on gaming on one monitor and web surfing, chatting, etc on the other.
A triple monitor setup for gaming makes more sense as you simply extend the screen at the sides.
But this method is more expensive, and if you’re after such an immersive gaming experience, you should consider getting an ultra-wide gaming monitor.
If a monitor supports a VESA mount, you can detach its base and mount it on a third-party desk or wall mount which will give you more desk space and therefore further increase your productivity.
In case the monitor has no VESA mount compatibility and limited ergonomics, you may want to consider getting a monitor riser so that you can adjust the height of the screen for your viewing position.
Visit our best monitor stands and risers buyer’s guide for the best deals.
You can also view our changelogs for this buying guide at the end of this guide.
Best 1080p Monitors For Dual Setup
The following category consists of reliable and cost-effective displays for the best budget dual monitor setup.
Acer SB220Q
Best For Budget Dual Monitor Setups
Size: 22”
Resolution: 1920×1080
Panel: IPS
VESA: Yes
Ports: HDMI, VGA
The Pros:
- Slim bezels ideal for multi-monitor setups
- Plenty of gaming features including AMD FreeSync up to 75Hz
- Rich colors and high pixel density
- VESA mount compatible
The Cons:
- Tilt-only design
- Not VESA mount compatible
- No headphone jack
About The Monitor
The Acer SB220Q is the best monitor for a cheap dual monitor setup.
Image Quality
The monitor is based on an IPS panel, which will provide you with vibrant and consistent colors and wide viewing angles, meaning that the picture won’t shift in color, contrast, or brightness if you’re looking at the screen for skewed angles.
So, if you were to take three of these screens and align them at an angle to form a cockpit-style screen, the image of the monitors at the sides wouldn’t degrade in quality.
Although the Acer SB220Q is only 21.5″ in size, it has a Full HD screen resolution which will provide you with a rich pixel density, or in other words, plenty of screen real estate for your apps, browsers and whatnot.
Features
As previously mentioned, the Acer SB220Q is also great for gaming.
You get the AMD FreeSync technology, which allows you to synchronize the monitor’s refresh rate with GPU’s frame rate, thus eliminating screen tearing and stuttering — given that you have an AMD FreeSync card.
Moreover, the monitor offers a 75Hz refresh rate, which gives you a small but noticeable boost in motion clarity for fast-paced gaming.
Other gaming-related features include ‘Black Boost’ for better visibility in dark games and various pre-calibrated picture presets.
Design & Connectivity
The Acer SB220Q monitor has a tilt-only design and it’s not VESA mount compatible.
As you can see, the display has very thin bezels and a slim design, which makes it ideal for a multi-monitor setup. Connectivity consists of one HDMI input and one VGA (D-Sub) port.
Alternatives
All of these monitors use the same 22″ 1080p IPS panel, so you can expect similar image quality and performance – the main differences come down to certain features and design.
If you want an even cheaper display, we recommend the Acer SB222Q or the Aopen 22SA2Q. These models use VA panels with a higher contrast ratio, but they don’t have as wide viewing angles.
HP 24mh
Best Value Monitor For Dual Setups
Size: 24”
Resolution: 1920×1080
Panel: IPS
VESA: Yes
Ports: DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA
The Pros:
- Ergonomic stand with VESA mount compatibility and thin bezels
- Rich colors and decent pixel density
- DisplayPort input, built-in speakers
The Cons:
- Design lacks swivel option
- No AMD FreeSync
About The Monitor
The HP 24mh is slightly more expensive than the Acer SB220Q, but it will provide you with a larger screen and an ergonomic stand!
Image Quality
Just like the SB220Q, the HP 24mh features an IPS panel with rich colors, wide viewing angles and Full HD resolution as well as a 75Hz refresh rate.
Due to its larger screen, it offers a bit lower pixel density than the SB220Q, but you will still get sharp and vivid text as well as plenty of screen real estate.
Since you can pivot the monitor’s screen into the portrait position, the HP 24mh is also great for photographers and programmers.
Features
The HP 24mh monitor offers additional features, such as Black Stretch for better visibility in darker scenes, a low blue-light filter and various picture presets. Sadly, AMD FreeSync is not supported.
Design & Connectivity
Moving on, the monitor has thin bezels and a slim design with versatile ergonomics including up to 100mm height adjustment, -5°/23° tilt, 90° pivot and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility, but no swivel to the left/right.
Connectivity includes DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, VGA and dual 2W integrated speakers.
Alternatives
- ASUS VA24DQ – with DisplayPort and FreeSync up to 75Hz, allowing you to use VRR with compatible NVIDIA GPUs. However, it has a tilt-only stand
- BenQ GW2480 – with ambient light sensor
- AOC 24B2XH – no FreeSync
- Sceptre E248W-19203R, Acer SB241YA – VA panel, tilt-only, no DP, FreeSync up to 75Hz
We don’t recommend 27″ 1080p monitors as they have low pixel density, so text won’t be as clear – yet they’re more expensive than the 24″ sized models. We recommend getting a 27″ 1440p monitor if you want a larger screen.
For gamers, we also recommend high refresh rate gaming monitors.
For instance, the Gigabyte G24F-2 goes for ~$160 and offers a height-adjustable stand, a USB hub, a variable refresh rate up to 180Hz and a wide DCI-P3 gamut coverage for more vibrant colors.
Best 1440p Monitors For Dual Setup
1440p or 2560×1440 gives you 1.77 times as many pixels as 1080p or 1920×1080. In practice, this gives you more screen space and more vivid details.
LG 27QN600
Best For Dual 27-Inch Monitor Setups
Size: 27”
Resolution: 2560×1440
Panel: IPS
VESA: Yes
Ports: 2xHDMI, DP
The Pros:
- Plenty of screen space, sharp details
- VESA mount compatibility
- Rich connectivity options
- Dual Controller feature
The Cons:
- Tilt-only design
About The Monitor
On a 27″ 1440p monitor, you hit the sweet spot between screen real estate and detail clarity; you get a lot of screen space without having to scale the picture.
Although the LG 27QN600 is advertised as a gaming monitor, it’s also the most cost-efficient 27″ 1440p display for productivity/office-related tasks.
Image Quality
Just like the previous monitors, the LG 27QN600 features an IPS panel with accurate and consistent colors. It has the standard ~99% sRGB color gamut, a strong 350-nit peak brightness, wide 178° viewing angles and a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1.
Due to its higher resolution, you will be able to have two browsers next to each other and comfortably view both contents on a single screen.
Features
The LG 27QN600 supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-75Hz VRR range and, since it has a DisplayPort input, you will be able to use FreeSync with compatible NVIDIA cards as it’s G-SYNC compatible (even though it’s not certified as such by NVIDIA).
It also offers HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, but due to its limited contrast ratio, brightness and color gamut, HDR content won’t get any better. The display can just accept and display the HDR10 signal. This is expected at this price range.
Other features include Black Stabilizer and various picture presets, as well as advanced image adjustment tools, such as four gamma modes and 6-axis hue/saturation.
Additionally, the monitor supports Dual Controller, which allows you to connect two different PCs to the screen, and control both of them via a single set of keyboard and mouse.
Design & Connectivity
The LG 27QN600 monitor has a tilt-only design (-5°/20°), but it’s VESA mount compatible (100x100mm), while the bezels are ultra-thin, making it a good option for multi-monitor setups.
Connectivity options include two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort 1.2 input — all of which support FreeSync and 2560×1440 up to 75Hz. You’ll also find a headphone jack.
Alternatives
The LG 27QN600 is also available as a 32″ sized variant, the LG 32QN600.
However, a 32″ 1440p monitor has the same pixel density as 24″ 1080p displays, so you won’t have as sharp details. Moreover, most people find dual 32″ monitor setups too big for productivity work.
If you plan on doing color-critical work, we recommend checking out the ASUS PA278QV 1440p 75Hz IPS model with Delta E < 2 factory calibration and a fully ergonomic stand, though it’s more expensive (~$300).
Gamers can also find high refresh rate 27″ 1440p displays at a similar price (or even cheaper on sale), such as the HP X27q and the Acer XV272UV.
Sceptre U275W-UPT
Budget 4K Monitor For Dual Setup
Size: 27”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Panel: IPS
VESA: Yes
Ports: 3xHDMI, DP
The Pros:
- High pixel density
- VESA mount compatibility
- Rich connectivity options, built-in speakers
The Cons:
- Tilt-only design
About The Monitor
Nowadays, you can even find affordable 4K monitors. In fact, the Sceptre U275W-UPT is actually cheaper than the LG 27QN600!
Image Quality
4K UHD looks incredibly sharp on 27″ sized screens thanks to the high pixel density of 163 PPI. This also means that you’ll have to use scaling in order to make small text readable.
As a result, depending on the amount of scaling, you get around the same amount of screen real estate as you would with the LG 27QN600, but with a lot sharper text!
Some applications don’t scale well, which can cause issues with the interface being either too small or too big. Luckily, most applications nowadays work just fine, but if you’re using older software, be sure to check how it handles scaling.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need a graphics card that can output two 4K displays. While this might be an issue with older cards, even entry-level newer GPUs can handle two or more 4K monitors.
So, if you’re not worried about scaling and have a modern GPU, the Sceptre U275W-UPT is a better option than the LG 27QN600.
Other specifications are similar and include a 350-nit peak brightness, 99% sRGB color gamut and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio. The Sceptre U275W goes up to 70Hz, but doesn’t support AMD FreeSync.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is sturdy, but it’s tilt-only. Luckily, the screen is VESA mount compatible via the 100x100mm pattern.
Connectivity options include DP 1.2, one HDMI 2.0 port with 4K 60Hz support, two HDMI 1.4 ports (limited to 4K 30Hz), integrated speakers and a headphone jack.
Alternatives
In case the Sceptre U275W is not available, check out the Philips 278E1A, the Dell S2721QS (ergonomic stand) and LG’s 27UK580 (ergo stand) and other models.
Which Dual Monitor Setup Is Right For Me?
When buying a monitor or two for a multiple monitor setup, there are certain things you should take into consideration, the first one being — do you really need a dual monitor setup?
Let’s say your work involves having multiple office applications open at the same time while researching with several tabs open in the browser.
In this case, getting an extra monitor will help you out more than any other PC component upgrade.
Compatibility
First, make sure that your graphics card supports dual monitor setups. Most older GPUs do, but some don’t support triple display setups, so make sure to check your graphics card capabilities.
Naturally, also ensure that your GPU offers the same ports as the monitors you want, unless you plan on purchasing extra VGA-DVI, DVI-HDMI, DisplayPort-HDMI, etc. converters/adapters.
You don’t need any extra multi-monitor tools or software as both Windows and Mac offer easy and user-friendly adjustments and configuration.
Best Size For Dual Monitors
Keep in mind that a bigger screen is not always better. First of all, a big monitor should have a proportionally high resolution if you wish to have a lot of screen space and clear, easily readable text.
That’s why we didn’t include monitors with low pixel density. For instance, 27″ 1080p monitors have a low pixel density which results in smudgy text, making 24″ 1080p monitors a much better (yet cheaper) choice.
Besides the pixel density, you should also take into account the total screen size of all monitors in the setup.
For instance, if you get three 27″ 1440p monitors and place them side by side, you might find that you have to move your head left-right too often and that a smaller 24″ monitor setup would’ve suited you better.
UltraWide Monitor vs Dual Monitor Setup
Not sure whether you should get two 24″-27″ monitors or a single ultrawide display?
Well, a dual monitor setup will provide you with more screen real estate than a 21:9 ultrawide monitor, and overall better results for productivity.
However, if your work involves audio or video editing, an ultrawide display is a better choice as you get more horizontal space for video timelines and audio editing, arranging, etc.
Ideally, for video editing, you should get an ultrawide display and a good secondary monitor for previewing your work.
For gaming, we recommend an ultrawide monitor instead of a multi-monitor setup.
Picture Uniformity Across Multiple Displays
Another thing to keep in mind is that even if you buy two or three identical monitors for a multi-monitor setup, they may not have an identical image quality out of the box.
Since each panel is at least slightly different, you will likely need to calibrate the brightness, contrast, and color settings if you want an identical picture quality on both displays, which can be pretty frustrating and time-consuming.
In some cases, you may not be able to get perfect results without professional calibration tools. If you are sensitive to this, you might want to consider just getting a good ultra-wide monitor.
Conclusion
Overall, the HP 24mh offers everything you need to boost your productivity and two or three 24″ 1080p monitors will suffice for most people.
If you can afford something pricier, the Sceptre U275W-UPT and the LG 27QN600 will provide you with considerably more screen space.
Have you found your perfect monitor for a multi-monitor setup? Feel free to leave any questions you might have in the comments below.
Changelog +
- March 23, 2022:
– Added the Sceptre U275W-UPT. - November 22, 2022:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - February 22, 2022:
– Replaced the Acer V227Q with SB220Q.
– Added more alternatives to the HP 24mh due to fluctuating prices. - November 22, 2021:
– Replaced the Acer SB220Q with the Acer V227Q and the Acer CB242Y with the HP 24mh. - August 4, 2021:
– Updated the article to include more alternatives. - April 23, 2021:
– Major rewrite for better readability. - February 23, 2021:
– Replaced the AOPEN 27ML1U with the LG 27QN600.
– Removed the Dell S2718D and the AOC Q3279VWFD8.