The 8 Best Monitor Arms Under $100 for Desks and Walls, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: A gas-spring desk arm for monitors up to 35 inches and 24 pounds.

The Pholiten is a single desk arm with a gas spring that moves the screen up and down with a light push. It fits monitors from 17 to 35 inches and up to 24 pounds on 75 by 75 or 100 by 100 VESA patterns, and it switches between landscape and portrait orientation.

It ranks first because it carries the highest weight limit among the single desk arms and the widest size range, which means it fits the majority of monitors, including some ultrawides under 24 pounds. Against the Pivotix it offers a gas spring, which holds position more smoothly than a mechanical spring, but gives up the built-in cable management the Pivotix lists.

Buy it for a standard desk and a monitor in the 24 to 34 inch range. It sits in the under $30 price band, far under the budget. The caveat is that the listing gives no reach figure or clamp thickness, so measure your desk edge.

Fits

17 to 35 in, up to 24 lb

Lift

Gas spring

VESA

75 x 75, 100 x 100

Orientation

Landscape or portrait

Our verdict: A spring-assisted desk arm with built-in cable routing and a quick-release plate.

Pivotix uses a mechanical spring to assist height changes, with tilt, swivel and 360 degree rotation, and fits flat or curved screens from 17 to 32 inches up to 19.8 pounds. It has built-in cable routing, a C-clamp for desks 0.6 to 2.2 inches thick and a detachable VESA plate for quicker mounting.

It sits second because it lists a clamp range and cable management, which the Pholiten leaves out, but its weight limit is lower. The long reach lets you pull the screen toward you. It beats the monTEK wall arm for desks where wall drilling is a problem.

Buy it if you want a tidy desk and an easy install. It sits in the under $30 price band. The caveat is the 19.8 pound limit, which rules out heavy ultrawides.

Fits

17 to 32 in, up to 19.8 lb

Clamp

0.6 to 2.2 in desks

Lift

Mechanical spring

Extras

Cable routing, quick plate

Our verdict: A side-by-side dual arm with 31 inches of span and full tilt and swivel.

The ErGear dual stand holds two monitors up to 32 inches each, with a 31.22 inch arm span, a 16 inch pole, plus or minus 90 degree swivel, plus or minus 45 degree tilt and 360 degree rotation. It offers two installation options, clamp or grommet, with labeled hardware.

It ranks third because two screens need a stronger stand, and this one costs less than two single arms. It beats the stacked MOUNT PRO for desks that want side-by-side screens. The listing sets conditions for each monitor, so read size and weight limits before ordering.

Buy it if you run two screens next to each other. Its price band is $30 to $50. The caveat is that the pole stays on the desk, which uses surface area.

Screens

2, up to 32 in each

Span

31.22 in wide

Pole

16 in tall

Swivel

Plus or minus 90

Our verdict: A full-motion wall arm that retracts to 3.54 inches and extends to 20.47.

This ErGear wall arm fits 13 to 34 inch monitors up to 19.8 pounds on 75 or 100 mm VESA patterns. It retracts to 3.54 inches, extends to 20.47 inches, gives 12.2 inches of height adjustment, and tilts plus 80 and minus 50 degrees with plus or minus 90 swivel.

It ranks fourth because wall mounting clears the desk entirely, and its extension range is the largest of the wall arms here. It beats the monTEK on reach, but you must find studs or concrete. It sits behind the desk arms because installation takes drilling.

Buy it if desk space is tight and the wall has a stud behind it. Its price band is under $30.

Fits

13 to 34 in, up to 19.8 lb

Reach

3.54 to 20.47 in

Height range

12.2 in

Tilt

+80 to -50 degrees

Our verdict: A vertical dual arm with a 31 inch pole for one screen above the other.

The MOUNT PRO stacked stand puts one monitor above another on a 31 inch center pole, and holds up to 17.6 pounds per arm. It fits 13 to 32 inch screens, supports both C-clamp and grommet installation, and lets each screen tilt and swivel.

It ranks fifth because stacking suits a narrow set of workflows, such as coding or trading, and because 17.6 pounds per arm is a lower limit than the Pholiten's. It beats the side-by-side dual for narrow desks.

Buy it if desk width is the limit. Its price band is $30 to $50. The caveat is that the top monitor needs a neck tilt, so keep it for reference material.

Screens

2, stacked

Pole

31 in

Weight

17.6 lb per arm

Mount

C-clamp or grommet

Our verdict: A spring-loaded wall arm with 90 degree tilt and a quick-release plate.

The monTEK is a full-motion wall arm for 17 to 32 inch screens up to 19.8 pounds on VESA 75 or 100. It tilts plus or minus 90 degrees, swivels 180 degrees, rotates 360 and retracts when idle, with a quick-release VESA plate. It is made of steel and aluminum.

It ranks sixth because it offers a bigger tilt range than the ErGear wall arm, but its listing is less specific on reach. The listing warns against mounting to drywall alone, which is the right advice for any arm.

Buy it if you want spring-assisted motion on a wall. Its price band is $30 to $50.

Fits

17 to 32 in, up to 19.8 lb

Tilt

Plus or minus 90

Swivel

180 degrees

Wall

Studs, brick, concrete

Our verdict: A steel wall arm that holds ultrawide screens up to 49 inches and 44 pounds.

VIVO's wall arm supports ultrawide monitors up to 49 inches and 44 pounds on VESA 75 and 100 patterns. It collapses flat against the wall and extends 10.5 inches, with plus 5 to minus 12 degrees of tilt, plus or minus 45 degrees of swivel and plus or minus 3 degrees of leveling. It has built-in cable management.

It ranks seventh because its motion range is limited. It is the only arm here that carries a heavy ultrawide, and at the under $30 price band that is unusual.

Buy it for a big ultrawide on a stud wall. Skip it if you want much motion.

Fits

Up to 49 in, 44 lb

Reach

Up to 10.5 in

Tilt

+5 to -12 degrees

Swivel

Plus or minus 45

Our verdict: A full-motion wall arm listed with a 20000 cycle test claim.

The MOUNT PRO wall mount fits 13 to 32 inch screens on VESA 75 and 100, with plus 90 to minus 45 degree tilt, 180 swivel and 360 rotation. The listing claims a 20000 cycle test, and says it fits wood stud and concrete walls.

It ranks last because the listing gives no weight limit, and the reach is not specific. It is solid but less detailed than the ErGear wall arm.

Buy it if you want a plain wall arm. Its price band is $30 to $50.

Fits

13 to 32 in

Tilt

+90 to -45 degrees

Swivel

180 degrees

Test claim

20000 cycles