Laptop stand or second monitor? Setting up a small desk

The problem both solve

A laptop's screen and keyboard are joined. Cornell University's ergonomics guidance puts it plainly: if the keyboard is in the right position for you, the screen is not. Typing on a laptop at a desk means looking down at the screen; raising the screen means the keyboard is too high.

Cornell's advice depends on how much you use the laptop:

• Occasional use (short sessions): accept some neck bending to keep your wrists comfortable.
• Main computer (hours a day): raise the screen so you can see it without bending your neck, and use a separate keyboard and mouse.

Both a laptop stand and an external monitor do the second job. They differ in space, screen size and setup.

Side by side

Option 1: a laptop stand

A stand lifts the laptop so the top of its screen sits closer to eye level. Mayo Clinic's guidance is the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, and the screen about an arm's length away. Most small stands do not lift a laptop quite that high for an average adult, but even a few inches helps.

Once the laptop is raised, its keyboard is too high to type on, so you need:

• a separate keyboard, placed in front of you so wrists and forearms are in line, as Mayo Clinic suggests, and
• a separate mouse, next to the keyboard.

Cornell mentions connecting them directly to the laptop or through a docking station; wireless sets avoid extra cables on a small desk.

What to look for in a stand: stable on the desk without wobbling when you touch the screen, adjustable height, and an open frame so the laptop can cool.

Good choice when: your desk is shallow, you move between rooms, or one screen is enough for your work.

Option 2: an external monitor

A monitor gives you a much bigger screen at the right height and distance. OSHA's monitor guidance is to place the monitor directly in front of you at least 20 inches away, with the top of the screen at or below eye level.

You can use it two ways:

• Monitor only: close the laptop (or set it aside on a stand) and work on the big screen with a keyboard and mouse.
• Monitor plus laptop screen: keep the laptop open beside the monitor as a second screen, ideally raised on a stand so both are at a similar height.

Space: OSHA's desk guidance ties desk depth to viewing distance, saying the desk should let you place the monitor directly in front of you at least 20 inches away. A monitor on its own stand takes 8 to 10 inches of depth before you add a keyboard, so a 24-inch-deep desk is the practical minimum. On a shallower desk, a monitor arm moves the screen back over the desk's rear edge.

Good choice when: you work with many windows, spreadsheets or design files, or spend most of the day at the desk.

Which is better on a small desk?

Setting up either one

1. Set your chair first, then the keyboard height: hands at or slightly below elbow level. See how to adjust an office chair.
2. Place the screen about an arm's length away with the top at or slightly below eye level. See how far your monitor should be.
3. Two screens: put the one you use most directly in front of you and the other beside it, angled in, at the same height.
4. Light: keep bright windows to the side of the screen rather than behind it or directly in front; see lighting a room with no window for lamp placement.
5. Cables: run the monitor's power and video cable to a single surge protector under the desk; see power strips and surge protectors.

Doing both

Many people end up with both: a stand for the laptop and a monitor beside it. On a small desk, that usually means a 24-inch monitor on an arm and the laptop on a stand to one side, with a compact keyboard in front. Check the total width: a 24-inch monitor is about 21 to 22 inches wide and a 14-inch laptop about 12 to 13 inches, so allow at least 36 inches of desk width. Our desk size guide has a fuller table.

Cost of setup, roughly

A stand, keyboard and mouse together usually cost far less than a monitor, and all three move with you to a new desk. A monitor costs more and may need an arm on a small desk, but it is a bigger change to how you work. Many people start with the stand and add a monitor later.

Is a stack of books as good as a stand? For height, yes, as long as it is stable and lets the laptop vent. A stand is easier to adjust and less likely to slide.

Do I need a docking station? Not usually. Many laptops connect to a monitor with one USB-C cable that also carries power. Check your laptop's ports and the monitor's inputs.

What size monitor fits a small desk? A 24-inch monitor suits most small desks. A 27-inch screen needs more distance, which usually means a deeper desk or an arm.