Do you have a large monitor that is constantly at risk of being knocked off your desk? If so, you need to take steps to secure it in place. A large monitor can be expensive to replace, and it’s important to make sure it is safe from accidents. In this article, we will discuss several methods on how to secure a monitor to your desk and other information that you can use.
Pick The Right Mount
Your monitor can be mounted in different ways, which can change how you use it and how you set it up. Your monitor must be VESA-compatible for you to be able to use third-party mounts. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) decides how monitors, TVs, and other display devices should be mounted. The good news is that most modern monitors are compatible with VESA. Check for mounting holes on the back of your monitor, which is usually its steel frame, to see if it can be mounted. Sometimes, these holes are hidden behind the stand that is already there. Take the standoff your monitor or look up its VESA compatibility online.
Monitors that are smaller, less expensive, thin, or have a curved back are not likely to be VESA compatible. Even though you will need to buy an adapter, you can still mount these monitors.
The next step is to choose the amount you want.
Freestanding Mounts
This is the cheapest alternative to the usual monitor stand. The monitor mount is put on the desk and attached to the monitor. Without screws or clamps, these mounts are only held in place by their own weight. Still, these are very flexible and a big step up from the original stand for the monitor. On many freestanding mounts, you can change the height, panning, viewing angle, and orientation of the screen from landscape to portrait.
Side-Clamp Mounts
The monitor is held in place on the edge of the desk by clamped to a pole or riser with a side-clamp mount. This eliminates a lot of room on the desk while retaining the mobility and adaptability of a standalone mount. There are several different types of side-clamp mounting systems. The most common issue with side-clamp mounts is that they don’t fit on every workstation. Older, boxier workstations often lack the proper edge for these attachments, but contemporary computer and task desks do not.
Through-The-Desk Mounts
The most sturdy types of desk mounting are these semi-permanent ones, which require you to drill or use an existing hole in your workstation (like the cable management grommets found in some office desks). Although this may limit your alternatives, desk mount options have the greatest weight capacity while minimizing desk clutter. If you have several monitors, some people prefer through-the-desk mounts because they are more versatile.
Wall Mounts
These monitor mounts look the cleanest of all the options, getting rid of all the clutter on your desk. For these mounts to work, you have to find the studs in your walls and drill into them, which isn’t always possible in rental homes and offices. Your desk might not be next to a wall at all. This talk is mostly about desktop mounts. Check out our page on how to put a wall mount up.
No matter which mounts you choose, pay attention to the ratings and choose a mount that is right for the weight and size of your monitor.
Installing A Clamp Mount
You’ll need a Phillips-head screwdriver, but the mounting kit should come with all the other tools, parts, and accessories you’ll need.
- Put the bracket on the base of the mounting arm. Check that each screw is in the right place and is tightened all the way.
- Use the screws that came with the clamp to fasten it to the bracket.
- Turn the knob counterclockwise to open the clamp. After putting the mount where you want it, turn the knob counterclockwise to tighten the clamp. Tighten the clamp until it holds, but don’t make it too tight. If the clamp is too tight, it could hurt your desk.
- Use the screws and washers to connect the monitor to the back mounting plate. Make sure that the arrow on the plate points up.
- Put the plate for the monitor on the arm of the mount. If you have more than one monitor, repeat the steps for each additional monitor.
- Change the tension on the arm of the gas spring to get the best angle. The spring arm of the monitor keeps the balance of the monitor. If your screen is too dark, the arm may slowly raise it. If your monitor is too heavy, the arm may go down. The spring is stretched when it comes out of the box. The screw to change the tension is at the elbow joint. To make a change, push down on the arm and loosen the screw. Turn it clockwise to loosen lighter weight monitors and counterclockwise to tighten heavier weight monitors. This may take some practice the first few times you use the mount, but once it’s set up right, it will make a huge difference. To find out more, please watch our video tutorial.
Installing A Through-the-Desk Mount
This section has several steps that are the same as the ones in the clamping mount. The most significant difference is the absence of a clamp.
- Put the screw that holds the mounting bracket into the bottom of the mounting arm. It should be easy to find the support screw.
- Put the foam pads on the bracket with double-sided tape. This gives your desk some padding and support and keeps it from getting dents.
- If your desk already has a hole, like the holes for cable management that are common in office desks, you don’t need to do anything else. If your desk doesn’t have a screw or you want to move your mount, you’ll need to use a drill bit that’s a little bigger than the screw to make a hole in your desk.
- Put the screw in, and then use the washer and knob to tighten it. Just tighten the mount enough to keep it from moving. There shouldn’t be any shaking.
- Attach the mounting plate to your monitor, then slide it onto the arm of the mount and adjust the tension of the gas spring.
Adjust Height And Viewing Angle
Ergonomics can make you feel better and keep you healthy after a long day at the computer. With a monitor that is mounted, it’s easy to make changes on the spot.
The screen should be between 20 and 28 inches (about the length of your arm) from your face. The top of the screen should be at or just below eye level. This will give you a 15-degree downward view. You should also tilt the monitor about 20 degrees. If you’re using a laptop with two monitors, you might want to buy a laptop stand so that both screens are at the same height.
Change how you stand and sit, as well as how your monitor looks. You should have both feet and thighs flat on the ground. This might mean you need to buy a footrest. Set up your armrests so you can rest your arms on them and let your shoulders hang loose. The keyboard should be just below the height of your elbows, and your wrists shouldn’t touch the desk.
It may seem hard to set up a monitor mount, but it’s actually much simpler and easier than it looks. Mounting your monitor can help you work better and be more comfortable.
Final Thoughts
So, to recap, by following these simple steps you can easily and securely attach your monitor to your desk. Make sure that the screws are tight enough so that the monitor will not move around, but do not over-tighten as this could damage both the monitor and the desk.
