How do I arrange my Gaming Desk with Two Monitors?
What’s the only thing better than one monitor? Two monitors. In a world where ‘bigger is better is seemingly most peoples’ motto, it was only a matter of time until ‘more is merrier’ took over.
Did I just make that up? Possibly.
Whatever the case, unlike an unnecessarily large car or cup of coffee, using two monitors will help you to be more productive, to work faster and generally makes life easier. Whether you’re working, fueling your passion project or half-working while watching your favourite podcast on Youtube, two monitors make it easier to have multiple tabs, projects and videos open at once without cluttering your digital workspace.
However, for most of us (just me?) There isn’t an abundance of space on our desk that is just calling for another monitor to fill it. Sure, it might be incredibly helpful to be able to work on two monitors at once, but is it worth having to fold your shoulders in on yourself and not be able to move your arms at your desk?
This article will take you through the most common questions and problems when looking to purchase a second monitor for your desk and give you the necessary information and advice to make an informed decision.
Is it right for you? Do you have the correct desk? What size monitor should you get? All this and more are answered below.
What size desk is best for two monitors?
There are a few things that need to be answered before the question above can be answered. Everyone’s desk situation is different, thus there is no quick yes or no answer.
Do you use a PC or laptop? Where does the PC sit? On your Desk or the ground?
How you keep your desk is just as important as the size of it. You don’t want to rearrange your entire work life just to add a secondary monitor. That would defeat the entire purpose of boosting productivity and easing workflow because you’d be out at sea and sitting at a cluttered desk with no space.
To cover any size of monitors, it is recommended that your desk is at least 63 inches wide, with a depth of at least 24 inches. These dimensions will leave you with enough space to feel comfortable, while still giving you the best experience with two large 27-inch monitors.
The smaller your monitors, the smaller the desk can be while if you have unlimited space for a giant desk, you could purchase two 35-inch monitors and live like a king or queen.
Take a look at the guide below to see whether your desk and potential monitor sizes are compatible.
| Monitor Size (Inches) | Minimum Desk Size | Recommended Desk Size |
| 20-22 | 45 x 24 | 58 x 28 (Or Bigger) |
| 23-24 | 50 x 24 | 63 x 28 (Or Bigger) |
| 25-27 | 55 x 24 | 63 x 28 (Or Bigger) |
| 28-30 | 62 x 24 | 78 x 28 (Or Bigger) |
Can a 40-inch desk fit two monitors?
The answer is yes… if that’s all that is on it.
A 40-inch desk is on the smaller side for any duties, let alone to fit two monitors, a keyboard, and a mouse on it. However, if this is all you have at hand and two monitors are necessary, you can certainly use a 40-inch desk to fit two monitors.
It just might not be the most comfortable experience you have ever encountered.
If you have a desk that is smaller than 40-inches and are looking to advance your monitor set-up, there are a few options before you move house to find more room for a bigger desk.
Here are some nifty gadgets to help you save room and make the most out of your new two-monitor system.
This nifty little stand is a lifesaver for anyone looking to save room on their desk while retaining their two monitors.
Something as simple as a shelf to put your monitors on, elevating them above the rest of your desk and leaving space in between can be the difference between a comfortable desk experience and an unpleasant one.
While it’s recommended you purchase a stand or platform that is made for monitors, any sturdy shelf will do. Just make certain that you’ll be able to store knick-knacks, notes, equipment and stationary underneath it.
This allows you to have everything you need on your desk ready to be used, while only taking up the same amount of space as the monitors would have originally.
Hate the idea of having yet another thing on top of your desk with the Monitor stand? Well, say hello to the monitor arm.
Clipping onto the back of your desk, this arm will hold your monitor aloft in mid-air, meaning absolutely no desk space will be taken up by your monitor. Leaving plenty of room for your keyboard, calendar, notebook and, most importantly, the huge mug of coffee that you spill daily.
Trust me, as someone who has to rearrange their desk almost daily, I know how good the above scenario sounds. Nevertheless, it gets even better. The whole point of this article is to advise you on how to arrange your desk with two monitors, right?
While a monitor arm is useful, saving you space by only having one monitor on the actual desk, it’s still not as life-changing as it could be. Thankfully, dual monitor arms exist.
For less than $100, both your newly purchased secondary monitor and your primary can sit safely in mid-air, leaving you with plenty of desk space for multiple mugs you forget to wash up and pens you constantly lose.
How deep should a desk be for two monitors?
The last thing anyone wants is to have their monitor two inches from their face. Unfortunately, with a desk any shallower than 20 inches, it’s going to be hard to use one monitor of significant size, let alone two monitors.
If most of your work is done on a laptop, meaning you don’t need a keyboard or mouse, then perhaps it could work. Using (and typing) on your laptop which acts as one monitor, while your secondary monitor sits back and to the side so you can easily read it.
However, in terms of productivity and practicality, the recommended depth of a desk that you are planning on placing two monitors is 24-inches at the very least, with 28-inches being the preferred depth.
Should my desk face a wall?
Yes…or no. How do you use your desk?
If there is an outlet, window or piece of equipment near or on the wall that you need or want to be near when using your desk, then there is no further exploration needed.
However, there are a few different things to look at when asking how or where you should place your desk. Let’s go through some of them to find the answer for your specific desk, room and mindset.
Firstly, the placement of your desk is determined by the size of the room it will be going in. If the desk will be situated in a 2×2 study, then your options are limited. However, if it’s going to be in a rumpus room the size of a football field, you have a few decisions to make.
The fact is, you are limited by the space your desk is in. If there is another furniture, like couches or cabinets in the desk room, then you are limited by the options available around them.
If you have a large study, you may want to place your desk in the centre of the room and place furniture to the side and back of it. If your space is smaller, sitting it in front of the window allows you a view that isn’t a plain wall and allows some sun to hit your skin during the day.
One significant thing to consider when selecting where to place your desk is where your power outlet is. Sure, extension cords exist and they work just fine, but the preference is to not have a cord going from one side of the room to the other so you can charge your laptop.
So, should your desk face a wall? Only you can answer that.
What is a floating Desk?
Unfortunately, a floating desk cannot float. Science isn’t there just yet.
However, the purpose is still the same and if saving space is the aim, there is not a much better option on the market. A floating desk is a desk that is mounted on your wall, able to be folded up against the wall and out again as you need.
Standing desks are all the rage these days. Though they do tend to take up quite a large amount of space and if your workspace is limited, the last thing you need is an even bigger desk.
Often ‘desks’ like these are used to hold plants, photographs and other knick knacks that would take up considerable amounts of space on a regular shelf or table. The premise is the same. There is no doubt that sitting at your desk all day while you work is bad for your back and overall health. While a floating desk might not be the best option to work for hours on end, as a secondary option for a few hours a day when you need to stand, it is far more cost-effective and space-saving than a standing desk.
If you’re looking to save space and stand while you work, or have the option to, then the floating desk could be an option for you.
What is the process for setting up my monitor vertically?
Level up your gaming setup with a vertically oriented monitor! Here’s what you need to do:
- Find a monitor stand or mount that’s a perfect match for your gaming monitor and supports the vertical position.
- Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and assemble your stand or mount with ease.
- Secure your gaming monitor to the back of the stand or mount.
- Place your gaming monitor in a vertical stance on your desk for an immersive gaming experience.
- Give it a good tightening with screws or adjust any knobs for a solid hold during intense gaming sessions.
Pro tip: Not all gaming monitors are designed to stand tall. Before making a purchase, make sure to check your monitor’s specifications to ensure it supports a vertical orientation for the ultimate gaming setup.
Final Verdict
Arranging your gaming desk with two monitors can enhance your gaming experience and improve your multitasking abilities. To achieve this setup, you will need two monitors and monitor stands or mounts that support vertical orientation. Choose stands or mounts that fit your monitors, assemble them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, attach them to the back of the monitors, place the monitors in an upright position on your desk, and tighten any screws or adjust any knobs to secure the monitors in place. With a well-arranged gaming desk with two monitors, you can take your gaming to the next level and increase your productivity.
Max Delaney is a Journalism student at Macquarie University, joining Gadget User in 2022 and reporting on a variety of topics. Only early in his career, Max is excited to write guides, reviews and more to help you make informed purchases!