The best monitor for office work should have a good balance of size, resolution, and ergonomics. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a monitor for office work:
- Size: A larger monitor can improve productivity by allowing for more screen real estate, but it can also take up more desk space. A 24-27 inch monitor is a good size for most office work.
- Resolution: A higher resolution monitor can provide more detail and clarity, which is useful for reading small text or working with images. A resolution of 1920×1080 or higher is recommended.
- Ergonomics: A monitor with adjustable height, tilt, and swivel can help reduce eye and neck strain, which is important for long hours of office work.
Ultimately, the best monitor for office work will depend on individual preferences and needs, but these options provide a good starting point for comparison.
Related: Best Dual Monitor Stand – 6 Options For All Monitor Sizes
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How to Pick a PC Monitor Size
If you’re looking for the best monitors for home office use, keep a few things in mind. First, you’ll want to ensure the monitor is large enough to work on comfortably. Second, you’ll want to choose a monitor with a high resolution so you can see everything. And finally, you’ll want to pick a monitor with good ergonomics so you can stay comfortable while working.
Related: How to Use a Laptop as A Monitor? Follow These Easy Steps
Here are our picks for the best monitors for home office use
1. Dell UltraSharp U2715H 27-Inch LED Monitor: This monitor is an excellent option if you need a large screen to work on. It has a 27-inch display and a resolution of 2560×1440. It has good ergonomics, a height-adjustable stand, and a tilt/swivel base.
2. BenQ PD2700Q 27-inch QHD 1440p IPS Monitor: This monitor is a good choice if you want an IPS display. It has a 27-inch display and a resolution of 2560×1440. It has good ergonomics, a height-adjustable stand, and a tilt/swivel base.
3. LG 34WL500-B 34″ 21:9 UltraWide Full HD HDR10 IPS LED Monitor: This monitor is an excellent option if you want a large, ultrawide screen. It has a 34-inch display and a resolution of 3440×1440. It also has good ergonomics, a height-adjustable stand and a tilt/swivel base.
These are our picks for the 3 best monitors for home office use. If you need a large screen to work on, we recommend the Dell UltraSharp U2715H. If you want an IPS display, we recommend the BenQ PD2700Q 27-inch QHD. And if you want a large, ultrawide screen, we recommend the LG 34WL500-B 34″ 21:9 UltraWide. Whichever monitor you choose, ensure it has good ergonomics so you can stay comfortable while working.
There is no one perfect size for home office monitors. The monitor you should consider buying fits ideally on your desk, and also offers a widescreen real estate. I have a separate article on the best curved monitors for office work.
How to choose your home office monitor?
20-inch work monitors were commonplace back a few years ago. You can now go bigger as more recent computer monitors are thinner and more adaptable to home office spaces. Unless you have limited space at home, your choice is endless. We highly recommend choosing computer monitors that are 22 inches or bigger.
The majority of home office workers will start their selection at 24 inches. Many 24-inch monitors are priced at $100 or less. Many home office professionals now opt for monitors that stretch 27 inches diagonally. If you are in design and technology, you’ll probably want a 30+-inch monitor.
If you want to go extreme, or if your computer monitor is also used for entertainment, there are 50-inch computer monitors you can choose from. These giant-screen monitors look fantastic and feature multiple smaller-sized monitors without a bezel splitting them down the middle.
Computer monitors more extensive than 30 inches are more expensive and can be impractical for everyday office work. In addition, people who prefer to go wide will find it challenging to find media that can be displayed close to their ideal or native resolutions. It can result in images looking stretched or framed in black.
Given these details, we highly recommend buying a computer monitor between 24 and 30 inches as they certainly accomplish the job for most home office workers. A computer monitor within this size range can optimize modern resolutions and color clarity.
The main selling point of these monitors nowadays is that they are reasonably priced.
How to Choose the Best Resolution and Screen Type
Size is only one of the factors that you need to consider when buying PC monitors for home use. You also need to take into consideration the screen type. The best monitors feature LCD screens that make use of LED technology. These monitors are typically slim with added energy-saving features.
A vital element of a computer monitor is resolution. 1080p resolution, once the gold standard, is a mere baseline today. If you don’t mind spending extra for excellent resolution, we recommend you choose among models that feature 1440p, 2k, 4k, or 5k resolutions.
It is also equally important to remember that screen resolution should not be the sole criterion when buying a home office monitor. In some cases, too high a resolution on small screens can be disturbing since it shrinks all the images down, forcing users to enlarge everything for more comfortable reading.
What Other Computer Monitor Features and Specifications Should I Consider?
Other aspects of a computer’s display that contribute to excellent image and visual output should also be assessed and evaluated when buying monitors for home office use. Remember that some of these features are not as important as the size, resolution, and screen type, so it’s best not only to base your decision on these elements.
That being said, here is the list of features you should assess before making your purchase:
• Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio is the term used to describe the relationship between the width and height of an image. It is usually expressed as a ratio, such as 4:3 or 16:9.
The aspect ratio of an image determines how the image will be displayed on a screen. For example, a 4:3 aspect ratio means that the image’s width will be four times its height. A 16:9 aspect ratio means that the image’s width will be sixteen times its height.
For desktop home office monitors, we highly recommend choosing a model with a 21:9 aspect ratio, as this offers plenty of content and is perfect for office-related tasks. Another great option is 16:10, which provides a slightly greater vertical display that is excellent for looking at multiple documents simultaneously.
• Brightness Level
A monitor Brightness Level is the level of brightness of the display. It can be adjusted to make the screen readable in different lighting conditions. A high brightness level is suitable for working in well-lit areas, while a lower level can help reduce eye strain in dimmer conditions. You can adjust the brightness level in the Display Settings menu of your computer’s control panel.
The standard brightness for monitors is around 300 cd/m2. You may need a monitor with extra brightness if your desktop is located in a well-lit room or installed next to large windows. So long as the brightness level reaches 250 cd/m2, your monitor will be ideal for extended viewing without risking eye strain.
• Contrast Ratio
Choose a monitor with a higher contrast ratio (1000:1) as colors will be more differentiated.
The contrast ratio measures the difference in luminance between the brightest white and the darkest black that the monitor can display. A higher contrast ratio means the monitor can display more shades of gray, resulting in better detail and image quality. The ideal contrast ratio is infinity, but most monitors have a contrast ratio of around 1000:1.
Most LCD monitors have a backlight, which makes them capable of displaying a more comprehensive range of luminance values than CRT monitors.
However, the backlight creates a fixed brightness level for all pixels, so it cannot display true black (0 nits). This limits the LCD’s native contrast ratio to around 100:1.
Some LCDs use dynamic backlighting to improve their contrast ratio by dimming the backlight behind dark areas of the image. This can boost the contrast ratio to around 1000:1 or more. OLED monitors do not have a backlight, so they can display true black (0 nits) and achieve an infinite contrast ratio.
However, OLEDs are still prone to image retention and screen burn-in, so they may not be ideal for applications that require extended periods of continuous image display.
• High Dynamic Range
High dynamic range monitors are becoming increasingly popular for photography and video editing, as they provide greater detail and clarity than standard monitors. HDR monitors offer a wider color gamut, higher contrast ratio, and lower input lag, making them ideal for those who want the best image quality.
When choosing an HDR monitor, it is essential to consider the type of panel used and the refresh rate and resolution. IPS panels are typically the best for photographers, as they offer accurate colors and wide viewing angles. However, TN panels can be a good choice for gamers or those who need a faster refresh rate. 4K resolution is typically the best for photography, as it offers more detail than lower resolutions.
However, 1080p HDR monitors are also available and can be a good choice for budget-conscious shoppers. When choosing an HDR monitor, it is essential to consider the type of panel used and the refresh rate and resolution.
If your monitor lacks the brightness level needed to optimize HDR features, the overall visual output won’t be that much improved. Long story short, HDR should not be the main selling point when choosing your home office monitor.
• Refresh Rate
A monitor’s refresh rate is the number of times per second the images on your screen are updated. A higher refresh rate means a smoother image, while a lower refresh rate can result in a choppier image. Most monitors have a refresh rate of 60 Hz, but some gaming monitors can have refresh rates of up to 240 Hz and more. Unless you are using your monitor for gaming, I don’t think it is worth choosing a monitor over 120hz.
• Viewing Angle
The viewing angle of a monitor is the angle at which the image on the screen can be seen clearly. The ideal viewing angle is directly in front of the monitor, at a distance of about two feet. However, monitors can be viewed from various angles, depending on their design.
Some monitors have wide viewing angles, while others have narrow viewing angles. Viewing angle is essential when choosing a monitor, as it can affect how well you can see the screen from different positions. A wide viewing angle is essential if you plan to use your monitor in various locations or have multiple people using it at different angles. You should choose a model with a 170-degree viewing angle. However, a narrow viewing angle may be acceptable if you only use your monitor in one location and don’t need to share it with others. When choosing a monitor, consider its viewing angle to ensure it meets your needs.
1 comment
After many years of using an 12×18 inch monitor, I replaced it with a 22 ” monitor (the smallest that Staples had). I was limited in width because of book shelves. If I could haveccomodated a larger monitor, I would have bought it on the advice of family since I am 89 and consult family with more knowledge and experience. However, I much prefer the smaller monitor for office, emails, YouTube, etc. I think it is a hassle to have to move the cursor far away from the the 8 1/2″ site that I am am focusing on. Do you have any idea of the size that is best for the focus of the eyes when you are not using the full width of the monitor for anything other than a narrow area of the monitor?
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