Need an affordable and reliable monitor for business and office-related work?
In this buying guide, you will find the best PC monitors for reading documents, productivity, spreadsheets, Excel and other similar tasks.
We’ve selected various options, so you can pick your best office monitor according to your budget and preference.
Additionally, you can visit our best photo and video editing monitors, best portable monitors, best USB-C monitors and best monitors for multi-display setups buyer’s guides for more specific selections.
Type | Monitor | Size | Resolution | Panel | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Budget Office Monitors | 15.6” | 1920x1080 | IPS | ||
24” | 1920x1080 | IPS | |||
27” | 2560x1440 | IPS | |||
27” | 3840x2160 | IPS | |||
Best Mid-Range Office Monitors | 29” | 2560x1080 | IPS | ||
32” | 3840x2160 | IPS | |||
34” | 3440x1440 | VA | |||
Best High-End Office Monitors | 28” | 2560x2880 | IPS | ||
38” | 3840x1600 | IPS | |||
43” | 3840x2160 | IPS | |||
49” | 5120x1440 | VA |
Note that all monitors in this list have flicker-free backlights and integrated low-blue light filters. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about eye fatigue, headaches and eye strain caused by looking at the screen for extended periods.
But that’s not all, each display offers medium to high pixel density i.e., pixel-per-inch ratio, which will ensure you get plenty of screen space to work with as well as sharp and crisp picture quality.
As you can see, almost all monitors feature an IPS panel, meaning that you’ll get the widest viewing angles and the most accurate and consistent colors.
For more information on what specs to look out for, visit our comprehensive monitor buyer’s guide. As long as you stick to our guidelines, we guarantee that you’ll find the best computer monitor for your office-related tasks.
You can view our changelogs for this buying guide at the end of this article.
Best Budget Office Monitors
Looking for a cheap monitor that’s actually good and reliable? No problem, the following monitors offer remarkable value for the price and they are more than good enough for work.
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Crisp picture quality
The Cons:
- None
About The Monitor
The Arzopa S1 Table is a 15.6″ 1080p IPS portable monitor that’s powered via a USB-C port. It’s ideal as a secondary monitor for your laptop when you have to work on the go.
Image Quality
This portable monitor is based on an IPS panel with a peak brightness of 300-nits, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, a pixel density of 141 PPI (pixels per inch), 60Hz, 178° viewing angles and 1080p resolution.
Overall, it’s the best portable monitor for the money as you get crystal-clear image quality with wide viewing angles and vibrant colors.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for something similar, you can visit our best portable monitors buyer’s guide for more portable displays, including models with built-in batteries, modern designs, etc.
Design & Connectivity
The Arzopa S1 is quite lightweight, weighing only 1.7 lbs (770g).
Connectivity options include two USB-C ports, mini HDMI, dual built-in speakers and a headphone jack.
The Pros:
- Ergonomic design with thin bezels
- Good picture quality
- Built-in speakers, 100Hz
The Cons:
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The Acer SH242Y Ebmihx is the best 24″ IPS 1080p monitor for the money. Due to its ergonomic design, affordable price and very thin bezels, it’s also the best monitor for multi-display setups on a budget.
Image Quality
Based on an IPS panel with a 250-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio, 178° wide viewing angles, 1080p resolution and 8-bit color depth, the Acer SH242Y Ebmihx monitor offers exceptional picture quality for the price.
In addition, it has a high 100Hz refresh rate that provides you with noticeably smoother motion in comparison to 60-75Hz displays. The best part is that the Acer SH242Y Ebmihx is not more expensive than the lower refresh rate models.
In fact, at this price range, you won’t be able to find a monitor with better image quality and performance.
Design & Connectivity
The Acer SH242Y Ebmihx has a height adjustable stand (up to 80mm) with -5°/15° tilt, 360° swivel and 75x75mm (only 2 holes) VESA mount compatibility as well.
Connectivity options include HDMI 1.4, VGA, dual 1W built-in speakers and a headphone jack. There’s also a version of this monitor with USB-C (65W PD), the Acer SH242Y Ebmihux.
Alternatives
- HP 24mh – with 90° pivot and DisplayPort input; 75Hz
- 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
- Acer CB242Y – with a fully ergonomic stand (including 360° swivel) and FreeSync, but no DisplayPort input
- Sceptre E248W-FW100T – VA panel, tilt-only, DisplayPort, VRR up to 100Hz
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut
- High pixel density
- 100Hz refresh rate
The Cons:
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
- Tilt-only stand
About The Monitor
If you want a larger 27″ sized screen, the KTC H27T13 is the most affordable 1440p model.
Image Quality
Even though it’s the cheapest 27″ 1440p display you can get, the KTC H27T13 has a high 100Hz refresh rate, which provides you with smoother motion clarity. The jump from 60-75Hz is most noticeable in games, but you can also feel it during everyday use, such as scrolling through web pages and moving your cursor around.
Additionally, the monitor has a wide 123% sRGB color gamut volume, resulting in more vibrant colors, while the peak brightness is decent at 300-nits and you get a bit better than average contrast ratio for an IPS panel of 1,300:1.
You also get VRR support up to 100Hz for tear-free gameplay.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but it’s sturdy and can be detached so that the screen can be mounted on a third-party stand via the 100x100mm VESA pattern.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.2 and a headphone jack.
Alternatives
- KTC H24T27 – 24″ 1440p 100Hz IPS version of this monitor
In case the KTC H27T13 is not available, check out the MSI MP275Q and the Acer SB272UE as alternatives, though they lack a wide color gamut.
The Pros:
- Excellent value for the price
- High pixel density and accurate colors
The Cons:
- Tilt-only stand
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The Sceptre U275W-UPT is the most cost-efficient 4K monitor, yet it features an IPS panel with striking color quality and offers plenty of additional features.
Overall, it’s the best 4K monitor on a budget.
Image Quality
Based on an IPS panel with 10-bit color support, a 99% sRGB color gamut and 4K UHD resolution, the monitor delivers eye-catching details and sharpness thanks to its high pixel density of 163 PPI.
However, many will find that 27″-28″ monitors are too small for 4K UHD as you have to scale your interface for tiny items such as text to be easily readable.
In turn, this gives you sharper details at the cost of less screen space, which is why we don’t recommend 4K monitors for productivity — but for graphic designers and the like.
Besides having to sacrifice screen space for details by scaling, you may run into additional issues as certain applications have poor or no scaling support at all.
Unfortunately, there’s no AMD FreeSync support.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is tilt-only, but the screen is VESA mount compatible (100x100mm). Connectivity options include two HDMI 1.4 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, DisplayPort 1.2, built-in 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.
For ~$240, you can also get the MSI G281UV with a slightly larger 28″ screen and a wide 90% DCI-P3 color gamut.
The Samsung ViewFinity S61B with a 27″ 1440p 75Hz IPS panel can sometimes be found on sale for $150.
For more 4K monitors, visit our dedicated best 4K monitor buyer’s guide.
Best Mid-Range Office Monitors
Can you afford something a bit pricier? Then, the following models offer extra features and higher resolutions which can be beneficial for your work.
The Pros:
- Plenty of screen space
- Rich and precise colors
- Additional gaming features such as FreeSync and MBR up to 100Hz
The Cons:
- Tilt-only design
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The LG 29WQ600 is the best cheap ultra-wide workstation monitor for the money.
Image Quality
Ultrawide monitors have an aspect ratio of 21:9 as opposed to regular 16:9 widescreen displays.
And what does this mean for you? It means that you get extra horizontal workspace, which is ideal for audio and video editing as you get a wider view of your timelines.
Additionally, the LG 29WQ600 has an IPS panel with 99% sRGB color gamut, which makes it adequate for amateurs and entry-level photographers/designers as well. Further, thanks to its 2560×1080 screen resolution, you get a decent pixel density of 96 PPI, which makes for sufficient workspace and detail clarity.
Features
Using the On-Screen Control feature, you can tweak most of the OSD (On-Screen Display) settings in a desktop application, including Screen Split, which allows you to split the screen in different layouts and snap application windows to the desired certain part of the screen.
Moreover, the LG 29WQ600 productivity monitor also offers lots of gaming features, including FreeSync, which provides a variable refresh rate up to 100Hz for a tearing-free gaming experience if you have a compatible graphics card.
Lastly, the monitor supports HDR10 though it is software-enabled only, so you don’t get a notable boost in image quality for HDR content, but you also don’t pay extra due to this feature. For more information, visit our HDR for monitors article.
Check out our full LG 29WQ600 review for more information.
Design & Connectivity
The LG 29WQ600 design consists of very thin bezels though there is a 1cm black border around the edge of the screen.
At first, the monitor may seem a bit odd as if it’s too wide for its height since it is as tall as a regular 23″ monitor, but you’ll quickly get used to it and cherish the extra horizontal screen space.
At the back of the monitor, you will find HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode), a headphone jack and dual 7W built-in speakers. Also, there’s a 100x100mm pattern for VESA mounting, but the design is tilt-only.
Sceptre U325W-UPT
Best Value 32″ 4K Monitor For Office Work
Size: 32”
Resolution: 3840×2160
Panel: IPS
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut and viewing angles
- Affordable 32″ 4K display
- High pixel density
The Cons:
- Tilt-only stand
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The Sceptre U325W-UPT is one of the cheapest 32″ 4K monitors available, yet it features an IPS panel with a wide color gamut.
Image Quality
With a 32″ 4K monitor, you get even more screen space in comparison to 27″ 4K models as you don’t have to use scaling (some users might prefer 125%). So, you get plenty of screen real estate with sharp details and text!
The Sceptre U325W-UPT monitor is based on an IPS panel, providing you with 178° wide viewing angles and 90% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage.
It has a peak brightness of 250-nits, meaning that it can get more than bright enough under normal lighting conditions, but if you’re in a room with plenty of light without any blinders, the screen might be too dark for you even at its highest brightness setting.
It also supports AMD FreeSync up to 70Hz.
Design & Connectivity
The monitor has a tilt-only stand, but the screen is VESA mount compatible via the 100x100mm pattern.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 inputs, two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, a headphone jack and dual 2W integrated speakers.
Alternatives
The next cheapest 32″ 4K IPS monitor is the LG 32UP83A with a USB-C port (60W Power Delivery).
Alternatively, consider getting a VA model, such as the Samsung M70B with built-in Tizen smart OS or the LG 32UL500.
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio and pixel density
- Plenty of features, including FreeSync up to 100Hz
- Inexpensive
The Cons:
- Tilt-only stand
About The Monitor
34″ 3440×1440 ultrawide monitors provide the perfect screen size/resolution ratio for productivity, and the Samsung S50GC is the most cost-efficient model out there.
Image Quality
A 34″ 3440×1440 monitor is the same height as a 27″ display, and it offers a slightly higher pixel density (109.68 PPI) than a 27″ 1440p display (108.79), so scaling isn’t necessary. So, you can look at it as a 27″ 1440p monitor that’s ~33% wider.
The Samsung S50GC monitor has a flat VA panel with a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks, the standard sRGB color gamut and a decent peak brightness of 300-nits.
The ultrawide aspect ratio provides you with extra horizontal screen space that’s especially useful for audio/video editing and multitasking with numerous spreadsheets and windows open.
Additionally, compatible games and movies shot at the 21:9 aspect ratio provide you with a more cinematic viewing experience with an extended field of view.
The Samsung S50GC supports AMD FreeSync up to 100Hz for tear-free gameplay, as well as Picture in Picture/Picture by Picture. It also has basic HDR10 support.
Design & Connectivity
The stand is tilt-only, but it’s 100x100mm VESA mount compatible. Connectivity options include DP 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports and a headphone jack.
Alternatives
If you have a laptop that supports USB-C PD and/or want a model with an IPS panel, check out the LG 34WQ73A with 75Hz.
In case you want an IPS model with a higher refresh rate, check out the Sceptre E345W-QUT with a 34″ 3440×1440 100Hz flat-screen IPS panel for $280 or the Gigabyte M34WQ with 144Hz.
As for the higher refresh rate curved VA models, we recommend the Gigabyte G34WQCA.
Best High-End Office Monitors
Want the absolute best monitor for business? The following monitors are going to provide you with the latest features, as well as plenty of screen space and sharp details for a fair price.
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut
- Factory calibrated
- Ergonomic design with plenty of connectivity options, including RJ45, USB-C 90W PD, KVM and webcam
The Cons:
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The Innocn 28C1Q is a 28″ 2560×2880 ‘vertical’ monitor with a 16:18 aspect ratio, ideal for those who need more vertical screen real estate than horizontal – or just want a great secondary display.
Image Quality
There are a lot of reasons to consider this display instead of manually rotating a regular 16:9 monitor into a portrait position.
First of all, the panel of this monitor was developed with this intention in mind, so it has a regular RGB subpixel layout, whereas with a rotated 16:9 display, you also get a rotated subpixel layout that results in noticeable fringing on small text and fine details.
Further, this form factor is a bit wider and short than a rotated 16:9 display of a similar screen size would be, which makes it a lot easier to use. You also get a high pixel density of roughly 138 PPI (similar to that of 32″ 4K displays), resulting in plenty of screen space and sharp details.
On top of that, the Innocn 28C1Q uses a high quality Nano IPS panel by LG with a wide 98% DCI-P3 gamut coverage for vibrant colors, Delta E < 2 factory calibration, an sRGB emulation mode, dithered 10-bit color depth, a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 300-nit peak brightness.
There’s also an integrated sensor that can dynamically adjust screen brightness according to ambient lighting.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 60mm height adjustment, +/- 45° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 90° pivot.
Connectivity options are abundant and include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with DP Alt Mode and 90W PD, a dual-USB 3.0 hub, RJ45 and a headphone jack. There’s also a detachable 2.0 MP webcam with a microphone, integrated speakers and built-in KVM functionality (PiP/PbP modes supported too).
Alternatives
LG offers two models as well. However, they are more expensive and don’t have as many features, such as the Ethernet port and webcam.
- LG 28MQ750 – with an ergnomic stand
- LG 28MQ780 – with a desk mount
Acer CB382CUR
Best 38″ Value UltraWide Monitor For Productivity
Size: 38”
Resolution: 3840×1600
Panel: IPS
The Pros:
- Wide color gamut
- Factory calibrated
- FreeSync up to 75Hz
- Ergonomic design with plenty of connectivity options, including USB-C 90W PD and KVM
The Cons:
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
Want an even bigger ultrawide monitor with an even larger screen and better color reproduction? The Acer CB382CUR is the cheapest 38″ ultrawide monitor you can get and it offers excellent image quality!
NOTE
We only recommend this monitor if you can find it on sale for ~$750. For $900, you can actually get the Dell AW3821DW with a higher 144Hz refresh rate.
Image Quality
The Acer CB382CUR is a 38″ ultrawide monitor with a screen resolution of 3840×1600 (UWQHD+) pixels. So, you’re getting the same pixel density as a 34″ 3440×1440 display offers, but a larger screen as well.
It has a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, excellent Delta E < 2 factory calibration, a decent peak brightness of 300-nits and a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1.
The monitor also supports VRR up to 75Hz, as well as PiP/PbP.
Design & Connectivity
Turning to the connectivity, you’ll find DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack, USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 90W PD), a quad-USB 3.0 hub, dual 7W integrated speakers and KVM.
The stand offers -5°/35° tilt, +/- 180° swivel and height adjustment up to 100mm, while the screen is VESA mount compatible (100x100mm) and has a 2300R curvature for added immersion.
Alternatives
There are also 34″ and 40″ ultrawide models with a higher 5120×2160 resolution, such as the MSI PS341WU and the LG 40WP95C, but they are a lot more expensive. We only recommend them if you need their premium features and/or wider color gamut for color-critical work.
The Pros:
- Accurate colors, high pixel density
- Built-in Smart features
- Rich connectivity options, including USB-C with 65W PD
The Cons:
- BGR subpixel layout
- IPS glow and mediocre contrast ratio (as expected from this panel technology)
About The Monitor
The LG 43SQ700S is the most cost-efficient 43″ 4K monitor available for office work. However, for most people, a 43″ monitor is simply too big for basic office use.
Image Quality
Basically, with the LG 43SQ700S, you get four 22″ 1080p displays in a 2×2 grid!
But it gets better: 4K UHD looks incredibly sharp even on a 43″ screen with a pixel density of 103 pixels per inch, which means that no scaling is necessary.
The monitor has an IPS panel with full sRGB gamut coverage, 10-bit color depth, a 300-nit peak brightness and a contrast ratio of 1,000:1.
Keep in mind that all 43″ monitors use a BGR layout instead of the regular RGB. This makes the text appear a bit blurry at 100% scaling, but there are ways to alleviate this.
The monitor features LG’s webOS with plenty of smart features, such as Mirroring, AirPlay 2, streaming apps, voice assistance and more.
Design & Connectivity
The design is tilt-only and not VESA mount compatible.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB type C port (DP 1.4 Alt Mode and 65W PD), dual 10W integrated speakers, three USB 2.0 downstream ports, WiFi and Bluetooth.
Alternatives
- Samsung M70B – 43″ 4K 60Hz monitor based on a VA panel and Samsung’s TizenOS
Samsung S95UA
Best Value 32:9 Monitor For Office Work & Gaming
Size: 49”
Resolution: 5120×1440
Panel: VA
The Pros:
- High contrast ratio and pixel density
- Wide color gamut
- Plenty of features
- Ergonomic stand and rich connectivity options, including KVM, RJ45 and USB-C (90W PD)
The Cons:
- Moderate ghosting in darker scenes in fast-paced games
- Limited to 60Hz over USB-C
About The Monitor
Looking for an even wider display? The Samsung S49A950 is an excellent 32:9 ‘super’ ultrawide monitor for office-related work, content consumption, gaming and a lot more!
Even though it’s mostly gamers who are interested in this display due to its 120Hz refresh rate (over DisplayPort only), it’s actually one of the most cost-efficient 49″ 5120×1440 monitors overall.
Image Quality
Simply put: this monitor is equivalent to two 27″ 1440p monitors put side by side, but without the bezels in between them. Of course, just getting two 27″ QHD monitors would be much more affordable and you would get the same amount of screen real estate.
With the Samsung S95UA, you get a more seamless viewing experience, which is particularly useful for video editing as you get an excellent view of your timelines.
Panel-related specifications include a 400-nit peak brightness, a 3,000:1 static contrast ratio, 10-bit color depth and a wide 95% DCI-P3 color gamut.
Design & Connectivity
The stand is sturdy and versatile with up to 120mm height adjustment, -4°/17° tilt, +/- 15° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.
Connectivity options DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, a headphone jack, three downstream USB 3.0 ports, RJ45 and USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD), built-in speakers and an integrated KVM switch.
Alternatives
For gamers, we recommend getting the newer Samsung Odyssey G9 model with a higher 240Hz refresh rate, a faster 1ms GtG response time speed and a more aggressive 1000R curvature. You can also get the OLED G9 or the Neo G9 with proper HDR support.
If you do color-critical work, you should get an IPS version, such as the LG 49WQ95C or the Dell U4924DW, but they are more expensive.
Conclusion
Have you found your best PC monitor for office work? If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments below.
Overall, we recommend the Sceptre U275W or the Acer SH242YE as the best monitors for dual setup (or multiple) when it comes to productivity on a budget.
In case you don’t want multiple monitors or if your work involves audio/video editing, ultrawide displays such as the Samsung S50GC and the Acer CB382CUR are outstanding workstation monitors that will certainly make your job both easier and more enjoyable.
Updates +
- September 13, 2024:
– Added the KTC H27T13. - August 5, 2024:
– Added the Innocn 28C1Q. - November 7, 2023:
– Replaced the G-STORY GSW56FM with the Arzopa S1, the HP 24mh with the Acer SH242YE, the Samsung M70A with the Sceptre U325W-UPT, the Samsung SJW55 with the S50GC, the LG 38WN75C with the Acer CB382CUR and the Samsung M70A 43″ with the LG 43SQ700S. - March 23, 2023:
– Removed the BenQ EW3270ZL.
– Replaced the Philips 278E1A with the Sceptre U275W-UPT. - November 22, 2022:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - September 24, 2022:
– Replaced the LG 29WP60G with the LG 29WQ600. - May 8, 2022:
– Replaced the Samsung CRG9 with the Samsung S95UA. - April 29, 2022:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available. - February 18, 2022:
– Replaced the LG 32UN650 with Samsung 32M70A, the LG 43UN700 with Samsung 43M70A, the LG 34WN80C with Samsung S34J55W, and the LG 49WL95C with Samsung CRG9. These VA models are cheaper yet more than good enough for office use unless you’re dealing with color-critical work, in which case the mentioned LG’s IPS models are included as alternatives. - February 17, 2022:
– Replaced the LG 29WK600 with the newer 29WP60G model, and the ViewSonic VP3881 with the LG 38WN75C. - November 26, 2021:
– Checked up on the guide to ensure that our picks are still the best options available.
– Replaced the AOC I1659FWUX with the G-Story GSW56FM. - April 15, 2021
– Added the new Dell C3422WE as a premium alternative to the LG 34WN80C. - February 17, 2021
– Replaced the ASUS PA278QV with the LG 27QN600.
– Removed the AOC Q3279VWFD8.
– Replaced the BenQ PD3200U with the LG 32UN650.
– Replaced the LG 43UD79 with the LG 43UN700.