Best Single Monitor Arms 2026: 10 Compared (14 Sources)

What are the best single monitor arms in 2026?

Background, first written March 2026. The current picks, with dated prices, are in the table above.

Summary

A single monitor arm clamps to the desk edge or bolts through a grommet hole and holds one screen on a spring or gas spring, so you can raise, lower, pull, push and turn it and free the desk underneath. The guides that put arms on real desks agree on a short list but not on its order. Wirecutter, which assessed 25 arms, and Tom's Guide both name the Herman Miller Jarvis Single Monitor Arm the best overall [src1, src3]. PCWorld, whose guide does not include the Jarvis, names the Ergotron LX Pro its best single-monitor arm, and Wirecutter, which picks the LX Pro for larger or heavier monitors, found little difference between the two in smoothness, range and sturdiness [src2, src1]. The LX Pro takes bigger and heavier screens: up to 34 inches and 22 pounds, against the Jarvis's 32 inches and 19.8 pounds, Wirecutter notes [src1].

At the low end, PCWorld and BTOD both pick the HUANUO FlowLift Single Monitor Mount (SS6): three screws to install and a gas spring that held PCWorld's 32-inch test panels with ease, but cable covers that hold few wires and, in BTOD's words, a clamp and grommet that feel light duty [src2, src4]. For heavy screens and ultrawides up to 49 inches, the Ergotron HX is PCWorld's best heavy-duty arm; BTOD calls its HX HD the best built and ran a 49-inch ultrawide on it. The HX's 20 lb minimum rules out light monitors [src2, src4, src11]. For the smoothest movement, Wirecutter and Work While Walking point to the Ergotron Trace, whose screen travels in a straight vertical line instead of arcing on an elbow [src1, src6].

This refresh changes the order. The Jarvis moves to the top because two of the guides name it best overall; the LX Pro, this card's previous top pick, keeps a named role for larger monitors. The HUANUO SS6 replaces the North Bayou F80 as the budget pick: PCWorld and BTOD both pick the HUANUO, and in BTOD's earlier test of five cheap Amazon arms BTOD judged the HUANUO worth the extra $5 over the North Bayou [src2, src4, src5]. The Ergotron HX, this card's previous heavy-duty pick, is now listed as also tested: PCWorld is the only guide we read that tested the configuration this card links, the Standard Pivot in polished aluminum, while the arm BTOD links is the HX HD, with the HD Pivot, in white [src2, src4]. Four arms this card used to list are gone. We found no hands-on test of the VIVO STAND-V001O or the Dell MSA20 in the guides we read: the VIVO single arm that Wirecutter and BTOD tested is a different model, the STAND-V001, which Wirecutter found harder to set up than its picks, with fewer angles covered [src1, src5]. No guide we read recommends the Amazon Basics gas-spring arm: Tom's Guide's budget pick is a different Amazon Basics stand, rated for screens up to 30 inches, and Wirecutter prefers the Ergotron LX Pro's 10-year warranty to the one year Amazon gives the Amazon Basics single-monitor arm it compares it with [src3, src1]. The Humanscale M8 left because the Humanscale arm PCWorld tested is the M8.1, whose price it found "hard to justify" against the Ergotron HX, and Humanscale says the M8.1 was to be discontinued by the end of Q1 2026 in favour of the M8 Pro [src2, src13]. Of the other arms the guides tested, the Herman Miller Flo is added as also tested, with PCWorld's premium pick and Wirecutter's dissent side by side [src2, src1]. The HUANUO TitanLift, BTOD's best-value heavy-duty arm, is not listed: PCWorld tested it as model HNSS48 outside its picks and recommends it only on sale for about $20 less than rivals such as the MSI MAG MT201, and the two outlets rate it differently, 40 lb in PCWorld's text and 44 lb in BTOD's, so we could not establish that they tested the same version, or confirm a listing to link [src2, src4].

Top 10 Models Compared

The Price column is filled from our latest check of the listing each row links; the Jarvis and Flo rows give Herman Miller's own price, and a dash means we have no current price. Weight ranges give the arm's minimum and maximum load; the clamp column gives the desk thickness the clamp fits.

Best for Each Use Case

Top Pick: Herman Miller Jarvis Single Monitor Arm — See at Herman Miller

Wirecutter assessed 25 monitor arms and chose the Jarvis: "It moves smoothly into a wide range of positions and angles, holds monitors up to 32 inches in size steadily and securely, and is easy to set up." It lists the arm for 13-32-inch monitors of 2.2-19.8 lb and desks 0.4-3.5 inches thick; it has a 13-inch vertical range that lifts the centre of the VESA mount to 19.8 inches above the desk, extends 24 inches side to side and 23.8 inches forward, and pans 360 degrees, and it had the slimmest base of any arm Wirecutter tested, with a storage slot for the hex key. Wirecutter's complaints: it was slightly harder to set up than the Ergotron LX Pro and hard to set up alone, it wobbled more with a large monitor extended far out, its slim base and clamp threatened to shift when the monitor was swivelled 360 degrees, tilting takes more force than raising, and the cable-management pieces feel cheap. Wirecutter also cites a buyer whom customer support told that a curved monitor, or one shifted too far forward, lowers the weight the arm can support [src1]. Tom's Guide, which names it the best monitor arm overall, set it up in "around 20 minutes or so" with clamp and grommet hardware in the box, found the cable management easy to use and its range of motion large, but says it is not for big ultrawides and costs more than many rivals [src3]. Herman Miller sells it under the Fully brand and says it "Holds most 13"–32" monitors weighing up to 19 pounds", with a 13.2-inch height range and a 10-year warranty; Tom's Guide's spec box gives a 5-year warranty, so go by the store page. When we checked Herman Miller's US store on 2026-10-15, the arm without laptop tray was $195 in all three colours, with the white one in stock and the black and silver ones on backorder [src7].

Best for Larger Monitors: Ergotron LX Pro — Check price

PCWorld's best single-monitor arm: "The Ergotron LX Pro is a practical, effective, easy-to-use monitor arm." Its desk clamp has a handhold that tightens without tools, the arm's two sections slip into place, and the wide clamp spreads the force so it is less likely to damage a weaker desk. It holds monitors up to 34 inches and 22 lb, lifts 13 inches, tilts 85 degrees and turns a full 360; cables run through channels under detachable cladding, and the warranty is 10 years. PCWorld says it fixes its gripes about the older Ergotron LX, with a more compact base and a better look, and its only downgrade is the lower maximum weight, which PCWorld calls "unlikely to matter, as 32-inch and 34-inch monitors usually weigh 15 pounds or less" [src2]. Wirecutter picks it for monitors larger or heavier than the Jarvis takes: "If you have a 34-inch monitor or one that weighs up to 22 pounds, the Ergotron LX Pro Desk Monitor Arm will work just as well as our top pick." It "found little difference" between the two in smoothness of motion, range of positions and sturdiness; the LX Pro extends about 2 inches further forward, which helps on desks deeper than 30 inches, and was slightly easier to install. Its flaw: the tension screw is recessed behind the monitor and can be hard to reach. Wirecutter recommends the LX Pro Tall Pole version, which this card does not link, for people over 6 feet [src1]. Ergotron gives a 4 lb minimum load, a clamp for desks 0.4-2.4 inches thick, and a parts list with no grommet mount, and warns that a display deeper than 3.6 inches may reduce the arm's capacity [src9].

Best Budget: HUANUO FlowLift Single Monitor Mount (SS6) — Check price

PCWorld calls the Huanuo HNSS6 "easily our go-to recommendation for shoppers looking to buy the least expensive monitor arm that can still fulfill its job": three screws to install, a clamp whose spacing adjusts without removing screws, and a gas spring that supported panels up to 32 inches and 12 lb "with ease." Its weak points are finicky cable covers that hold few wires and a gas spring that can lose its potency over time, and PCWorld found it harder to set up and adjust than the Ergotron LX [src2]. BTOD ranks the same Amazon listing its best budget arm, noting a five-year warranty and pivot and tilt parts beefed up since its previous review, but a clamp and grommet that feel light duty [src4]. In an earlier BTOD test of five cheap Amazon arms (the article is dated 2026-06-02, but its photos date from February 2023, so the arm it tested may predate those upgrades), it held a larger monitor tilted forward without sinking back, and BTOD judged it worth the extra $5 over the North Bayou for its cable management, its hold at the pivot and its documented warranty [src5]. HUANUO rates the SS6 for 13-32-inch screens up to 19.8 lb and desks 0.59-3.54 inches thick, with a warranty of up to five years, and listed it at $49.99 direct on 2026-10-15 [src8]. BTOD's write-up gives 17-32-inch screens and a lower 14.3 lb maximum, so leave a margin with a heavy 32-inch screen [src4].

Smoothest Movement: Ergotron Trace — Check price

Wirecutter suggests the Trace "for the absolute smoothest adjustment": it "moved more effortlessly, both vertically and horizontally, than the Herman Miller Jarvis Single Monitor Arm and the other monitor arms we tested," was the easiest to raise, lower or swivel to share the screen, and has a wider column to reduce wobbling. Against that, it costs significantly more than Wirecutter's picks, takes more desk space, and wraps its cable management around the front of the arm [src1]. Work While Walking's lab test explains why it feels different: "The constant-force, straight vertical motion of the Ergotron Trace eliminates the arcing motion that most conventional ergonomic monitor arms exhibit," so the screen stays centred on the keyboard when you move between sitting and standing, and it is "better than any other monitor arm we've ever tested in terms of ease of movement for sharing screens with collaborators, by a mile." It also damps vibration, which suits standing and treadmill desks, but "It doesn't reach as high or extend as far as other arms we've reviewed" [src6]. Ergotron gives 6.5-21.5 lb, screens up to 38 inches, 11 inches of lift, a clamp for desks up to 2.55 inches thick, a grommet clamp kit sold separately and a 15-year warranty [src12].

Also Tested: Ergotron HX (PCWorld's best heavy-duty arm) — Check price

PCWorld's best heavy-duty single-monitor arm, and "an entirely different monitor arm" from the LX: rated for 42 lb and 49-inch screens, it "easily handled" a 32-inch widescreen and a 38-inch ultrawide of roughly 15 and 20 lb, and its larger moving parts "felt extremely smooth." It lifts 11.5 inches, tilts 75 degrees and swivels 180, less range than the LX, and PCWorld finds it "a bit…much in a home office setup" [src2]. BTOD tested a different configuration: the arm it links is the HX HD, which Amazon listed with the HD Pivot, in white, when we checked on 2026-10-15, and BTOD describes a matte finish, where this card links the Standard Pivot in polished aluminum. BTOD calls its HX HD the best built and ran a 49-inch ultrawide on it, but the spring in that arm's monitor head was so strong that it tipped BTOD's 42-inch OLED upward and could not be loosened enough, and its Velcro cable ties feel cheap for the price; BTOD notes it carries a 10-year warranty, like the Humanscale M10, "for almost 40% less" [src4]. Ergotron gives the HX a 20 lb minimum, VESA 200x100 and 200x200 support as well as 75 and 100, a clamp for desks 0.4-2.6 inches thick with a grommet mount in the box, and says ultra-curved monitors 8 to 12 inches deep need the separate HX Heavy-Duty Tilt Pivot (98-540-216) [src11]. It is listed as also tested because PCWorld is the only guide we read that tested the configuration this card links.

Also Tested: Ergotron LX (Tom's Guide's best simple arm) — Check price

Tom's Guide's best simple arm: "If you want a monitor arm that steps things up a little in overall build and features, the Ergotron LX Desk Monitor Arm is worth considering." It takes monitors up to 34 inches, lifts 13 inches, has more adjustments than the Jarvis and a few more minutes of setup, and carries a 10-year warranty; Tom's Guide's one complaint is that it is expensive for what you get [src3]. PCWorld, which calls the LX the LX Pro's predecessor, says "We already liked the Ergotron LX, but the LX Pro is a great upgrade"; the only downgrade it finds in the LX Pro is the LX's higher 25 lb maximum [src2]. Ergotron rates it 7-25 lb but notes that above 20 lb the vertical range may drop by up to 4.5 inches; the clamp fits desks 0.4-2.4 inches thick and a grommet mount is in the box, except with the white model [src10]. It is listed as also tested because PCWorld, which tested both, prefers the LX Pro.

Also Tested: MSI MAG MT201 (PCWorld's budget pick) — Check price

PCWorld's best budget single-monitor arm, rated for 49-inch screens and 44 lb; its spring tension handled the 32-inch monitors PCWorld had on hand. Setup takes 15 to 20 minutes with many screws, several adjustments need an Allen key, and the build is plastic cladding over a metal frame, but the arm felt sturdy and has a quick-release VESA mount. PCWorld calls it "the minimum viable monitor arm," with a $99.99 MSRP and Amazon prices that often run $60 to $80 [src2]. It is not ranked because PCWorld is the only guide we read that tested it.

Also Tested: Mount-It Single Monitor Desk Mount (Wirecutter's budget pick) — Check price

Wirecutter's budget pick is "just as easy to set up as our other picks," and "swinging the monitor around or changing its height was easier than with any of our other picks"; its spring supported Wirecutter's 10-pound monitor easily. It is limited to 32-inch monitors of 17.6 lb or less, "the weakest of our picks" (Wirecutter's spec list gives 2.2-17.8 lb and desks 0.4-3.3 inches thick); it was the most prone to wobble when the desk was bumped, much of its housing is hollow plastic that feels cheap, and its cable-door clips are fiddly. Wirecutter reports a 10-year warranty, which it calls "the longest warranty we've seen" for a model this inexpensive [src1]. It is not ranked because Wirecutter is the only guide we read that tested it.

Also Tested: North Bayou F80 (BTOD's cheap-arm test) — Check price

BTOD tested the North Bayou, priced at $29.90, among five cheap Amazon arms and found it "the nicest-looking arm out of all the products I tested": a clamp and grommet base like the HUANUO's, a mix of plastic, steel and aluminum, and a rating of 4.4 to 19.8 lb for 17-30-inch monitors. It held BTOD's 27-inch and 30-inch monitors, but a 30-inch screen turned to portrait tended to sink back upright, the upper cable clip was flimsy, and stability dropped when the arm was fully extended or carried a 32-inch monitor [src5]. Wirecutter considered testing the F80 but did not, finding its vertical range limited "at just 9 inches" [src1]. It is not ranked: BTOD is the only guide we read that tested it, and BTOD judged the HUANUO worth the extra $5. The listing we link is the one BTOD and Wirecutter link; Amazon listed it as out of stock when we checked on 2026-10-15.

Also Tested: Herman Miller Flo (PCWorld's best premium arm) — See at Herman Miller

PCWorld's best premium single-monitor arm: easy to set up and use, with a clamp that is "more refined and requires fewer screws" than others it tested and a VESA mount it calls excellent, a simple clip that can be pre-mounted to the monitor. It offers 13.3 inches of vertical adjustment, 80 degrees of tilt and 360 degrees of swivel and rotation, much like the Ergotron LX, but "The Flo's operation is smoother, however: I found I could adjust a monitor's height with a mere nudge." It is rated for monitors from 7 to 20 lb, so some heavier models will not fit, and carries a 12-year warranty; PCWorld calls it "a smoother, more appealing monitor arm, and worth the upgrade if you want form with your function" [src2]. Wirecutter disagrees: it tested the Flo Monitor Support in a previous round, found it difficult to set up and adjust, and says "we don't trust this mount with a valuable monitor": its desk clamp "wasn't sturdy even when fully tightened," and its mounting plate is plastic instead of metal [src1]. When we checked Herman Miller's US store on 2026-10-15, the Flo Monitor Support was $305, with its default configuration (surface clamp, silver) listed as ready to ship, and a 12-year warranty [src14]. It is not ranked because the two guides we read that tested it disagree.

Key Market Trends (2026)

• PCWorld's 2026-09-04 update names the LX Pro its best single-monitor arm: its single-arm picks are the Ergotron LX Pro (best overall), the MSI MAG MT201 (budget), the Huanuo HNSS6 (under $50), the Herman Miller Flo (premium), the Ergotron HX (heavy duty) and the Humanscale M2.1 (with a built-in dock). [src2]
• BTOD's 2026-09-25 tier list puts the Ergotron HX in its top tier: listed second (the configuration it links is the HX HD), behind the Humanscale M10, at a price BTOD says dropped from around $400 to $327 since its previous list. [src4]
• Humanscale replaced the M8.1: Humanscale says the M8.1 was to be discontinued by the end of Q1 2026, and that its successor, the M8 Pro, supports 9 to 50 lb, "up to 79 percent more weight than earlier generations." [src13]
• The guides disagree about cheap Amazon arms: PCWorld encourages shoppers to avoid them, saying "A few arms in the $35 to $50 range use a gas piston, but it's often a wimpy example barely sufficient for holding a 27-inch monitor" [src2]; BTOD found that all five arms it bought held a 27-inch monitor reliably, though it warns that "Cheap spring mechanisms fail within a year" [src5].

Important Caveats

• Weight ranges have a floor, not just a ceiling. Ergotron rates the LX Pro from 4 lb, the Trace from 6.5 lb, the LX from 7 lb and the HX from 20 lb; a monitor lighter than an arm's minimum drifts upward however you set the tension. Weigh the monitor without its stand — that is the number the arm carries. [src9, src10, src11, src12]
• Depth and curve reduce what an arm can hold. Ergotron says a display deeper than 3.6 inches may reduce the LX Pro's and Trace's capacity and one deeper than 8 inches the HX's, and recommends the HX Heavy-Duty Tilt Pivot (98-540-216) for 28-42 lb displays 6-12 inches deep. [src9, src12, src11]
• Check your desk before the arm. Of the clamp limits we could source, the narrowest are the Ergotron LX Pro's and LX's (2.4 inches, per Ergotron) and the widest the Jarvis's (3.5 inches, per Wirecutter) and the HUANUO SS6's (3.54 inches, per HUANUO). The Jarvis, LX, HX, HUANUO and North Bayou come with a grommet mount; the LX Pro's parts list has none, and the Trace's grommet kit is sold separately. [src1, src3, src4, src5, src8, src9, src10, src11, src12]
• The sources disagree on some numbers. HUANUO rates the SS6 for 13-32-inch screens up to 19.8 lb while BTOD gives 17-32 inches and 14.3 lb. For the Jarvis, Herman Miller gives up to 19 lb in one place and 20 lb in another and Wirecutter 19.8 lb; Herman Miller and Wirecutter's review text give a 10-year warranty, while Wirecutter's pick summary says 15 years and Tom's Guide's spec box 5. Wirecutter gives the Mount-It 17.6 lb in its text and 17.8 lb in its spec list. Work While Walking's 2023 review gives the Trace a 6.5-26 lb range where Ergotron now gives 6.5-21.5 lb. We give both where they differ. [src4, src8, src7, src1, src3, src6, src12]
• Gas springs can weaken. PCWorld notes, of the HUANUO, that gas springs can lose their potency over time; BTOD found the cheap Amazon arms worked for a 27-inch monitor but warns that cheap spring mechanisms fail within a year. [src2, src5]
• This is not medical advice. Monitor height and viewing distance guidance here follows general computer-workstation ergonomics practice; if you have persistent neck, shoulder, or eye pain, see a clinician or a qualified ergonomics assessor rather than treating an equipment change as a remedy.