How High Should Your Monitor Be? Ergonomic Insights For Your Ideal Desk Setup

July 09, 2025

Whether you’re setting up your first work-from-home office or simply refining your workspace, it’s never too late to make ergonomic changes. Especially because the smallest details can have a surprisingly big impact on your health, productivity, and overall well-being. Don’t overlook the small stuff — like your monitor height.

Many people who report low-back pain, eye strain, and general aches while working could benefit from paying attention to their monitor height. Something as simple as moving your monitor up or down a few inches could improve your workflow, boost your mood, and decrease discomfort.

Ready to reap the benefits of a proper monitor height? Keep reading for the lowdown on how to set up your ideal monitor height, common mistakes, and why it makes a difference.

The Science of Ergonomic Monitor Height

It’s estimated the average remote employee looks at a screen for 13 hours per day. That’s a lot of screen time! While we’d all benefit from more screen-free living, often it’s just not feasible. So it’s critical to make sure that the time that you spend with your screen is as healthy as possible.

One surefire way to set yourself up for success is to make sure your ergonomic monitor height is correct. That way, your body will maintain a natural and neutral position — and you’ll prevent shoulder-slouching, tilting, slumping, and all the contouring that happens when your body is in less than an ideal position.

Sitting at a desk with a proper ergonomic monitor height setup can help you a) avoid back, neck, or shoulder pain and injuries, b) improve your posture, productivity, and mood, and c) keep eye strain to a minimum, which can relieve headaches and help support your vision.

How to Get a Proper Monitor Height: a Guide

What’s the ideal monitor height? The rule of thumb is the top third of your screen should be at eye-level. Why? This will keep your body in a natural, neutral, and feel-good position. You want your head to be upright and your screen at eye-level, so you’re not tilting up or down.

Here’s a breakdown of how to check that you have a proper monitor height:

1. Go To Your Workspace And Look Straight Ahead

What do you see? If the answer is your wall, a painting, your TV, or anything other than your computer, you’re due for an update to your monitor height ergonomics.

2. Lift Or Lower Your Monitor To Eye Level

Your eyes should be looking at the top third of your screen or ever so slightly below. To see the middle of the monitor, you should have to look slightly down — this will help you avoid tilting your neck up or down. You can easily achieve this with monitor and laptop stands or by shifting your ergonomic chair up or down.

3. Keep Monitor About An Arm’s Length Distance Away

In addition to perfecting your ergonomic monitor height, be sure it’s about an arm’s length away. Generally, larger screens will require more distance. This will encourage your head to stay in a neutral position.

Tip: Even if you’ve mastered monitor height ergonomics, it’s crucial to move throughout the day. Take breaks, do desk exercises, and do your best not to stay stagnant for too long. Here are a few more ideas to get started.

Common Mistakes in Monitor Placement

To help make sure that you have a proper monitor height, let’s look at a few of the most common layout mistakes — and solutions.

Mistake #1: Monitor Is Too Low

If you work on a laptop and don’t use a stand, it’s safe to say you don’t have an ideal monitor height. Even if you don’t use a laptop, it’s common for monitors to be too low if you aren’t intentionally setting them up with ergonomics in mind.

Solution: Invest in a monitor and laptop stand to keep things elevated. If you love to work on a cozy couch, take a look at this 4-function table that can be used on a sofa, desk, or anywhere.

Mistake #2: Monitor Is Too High

While it’s more likely that your monitor is too low, you also don’t want to be straining your eyes to see a screen too far above you or cranking your neck up.

Solution: Lower your monitor with a monitor arm that will position your screen exactly where you want it. Also, consider adjusting your chair height.

Mistake #3: Monitor Is Too Close (Or Far)

Now that we’ve covered the ups and downs, don’t overlook how far away your monitor is from you. Generally, it’s ideal for your monitor to be about an arm’s length away from you — or at least 20 inches from your eyes.

Solution: If possible, invest in a roomy ergonomic desk setup so you have breathing room to shift your desk to suit you best.

Some of the (Many!) Benefits of Optimal Ergonomic Monitor Height

Now that we’ve doled out advice on how to set up a proper monitor height, here are the top eight benefits of making sure your monitor is at the correct height.

Prevents lower and upper back pain
Alleviates discomfort in your neck
Reduces eye strain (helps reduce headaches and supports vision)
Improves posture
Enhances productivity and focus
Reduces long-term disorders and musculoskeletal injuries
Boosts mood and overall well-being
Lowers risk of certain chronic health conditions

The Best Ergonomic Essentials to Get Your Monitor Exactly Where You Want It

Ready to reap the rewards that come when you have an ideal monitor height? We’re ready with helpful tools to keep your screen up, your spine happy and healthy, and your workspace in the sweet spot between ergonomic and intuitive.

Ergotron LX Dual Monitor Arm: Fully adjustable, this monitor arm makes it easy to position two monitors wherever you want, reducing neck pain and fatigue.
Elements Monitor Stand: A subtle solution, this monitor stand elevates your monitor on a minimalist shelf that does the job with aesthetic finesse.
FluidStance Raise Monitor Stand: This monitor stand provides a happy and elevated home for your monitor that integrates with the Slope whiteboard.
Artifox Lift Desk: This monitor stand not only lifts your screen, but it also features organization compartments for a laptop, papers, folders, and other essentials. Pair it with the Artifox Mini Shelf for the ultimate ergonomic desk setup.

Bonus: An elevated computer setup will protect your screen in the case of those dreaded coffee and water spills.

Overall: Ergonomic Monitor Height Makes a Difference

Scientific studies have shown that ergonomics play a huge role in our health, work, and well-being — so take control to make your workspace healthier and more ergonomic, starting with adjusting your ergonomic desk setup to have a proper monitor height.

From laptop stands to organization must-haves, browse our collection of ergonomic office accessories that can make a world of difference in your work — and your life.