Best Monitors for Working From Home
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Quick Picks at a Glance
| Product | Best For | Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Dell UltraSharp U2725QE | Best overall | Check Price |
| Dell UltraSharp U3225QE | One big 32-inch screen | Check Price |
| Dell S2725QS | 4K on a budget | Check Price |
| LG 34WQ75C-B | Ultrawide instead of two screens | Check Price |
| ASUS ProArt PA279CRV | Photo and design work | Check Price |
| Dell SE2725HM | Cheapest upgrade from a laptop | Check Price |
My top pick: Dell UltraSharp U2725QE. Sharp 4K text, one cable to your laptop for video, data and charging, and a stand that actually adjusts. It’s the monitor I’d buy for a full-time home office.
If you’re still working off a laptop screen, an external monitor is the single biggest upgrade you can make. Bigger than the chair. Bigger than the desk. You stare at it all day, so it’s worth getting right.
For most people the sweet spot is a 27-inch screen. 1440p is good, 4K is better for text, and a USB-C port that charges your laptop over the same cable is the feature I’d least want to give up.
The picks
Dell UltraSharp U2725QE: best overall
Sharp 27-inch 4K panel, excellent contrast for an IPS screen, and a Thunderbolt/USB-C hub built in so one cable handles your laptop’s display, peripherals and charging. The stand goes up, down, tilts and swivels. It’s not cheap, but this is the kind of monitor you keep for five or six years.
Dell UltraSharp U3225QE: for one big screen
Same idea, 32 inches. PCWorld calls it the best home office monitor overall, and if you’ve got the desk depth for it, I get why. It works as a full laptop dock, and one big 4K screen is easier on your neck than two smaller ones side by side.
Dell S2725QS: 4K on a budget
You get a sharp 27-inch 4K picture for a lot less than the UltraSharps. The trade-off is fewer ports and no fancy USB-C dock. If you’re connecting with HDMI anyway, it’s a great deal.
LG 34WQ75C-B: the ultrawide pick
A curved 34-inch ultrawide is basically two monitors with no bezel down the middle. Great for spreadsheets, timelines and keeping a call open next to your work. It needs a deep desk and probably a monitor arm.
ASUS ProArt PA279CRV: for design and photo work
If color accuracy actually matters to your job, get a monitor that comes calibrated from the factory. This one does, it’s 4K, and it charges your laptop over USB-C. Overkill for email. Perfect for creatives.
Dell SE2725HM: cheapest worthwhile upgrade
A basic 27-inch 1080p screen. Text isn’t as crisp as 1440p or 4K at this size, I won’t pretend otherwise. But it’s cheap and it’s a massive step up from hunching over a 14-inch laptop.
What to look for
Resolution. At 27 inches, 1440p is the minimum I’d be happy with and 4K is noticeably nicer for reading all day.
USB-C with charging. One cable from your laptop to the monitor, done. Check the wattage is enough for your laptop.
A stand that adjusts. Height adjustment is the big one. If your monitor doesn’t have it, put it on an arm (here are the best monitor arms).
Lighting. A monitor light bar cuts glare and eye strain more than any screen setting will.
FAQ
What size monitor is best for working from home?
27 inches works for most desks and most people. Go 32 inches or an ultrawide if you’ve got a deep desk and want more room to spread out.
Is 4K worth it for office work?
For reading text all day, yes. Letters look noticeably sharper at 27 inches. 1440p is a good middle ground if you want to save money.
Do I need USB-C on my monitor?
It’s not required, but it’s great. One cable charges your laptop and carries video and data, which keeps your desk much tidier.
One big monitor or two smaller ones?
One big screen or an ultrawide is easier on your neck since you’re not turning to a second screen. Two monitors are fine if you keep your main one straight ahead.
