Your monitor height might be the quiet reason your neck aches by the afternoon. Set it too low and you look down all day; too high and you crane up. Getting it right takes two minutes and makes a real difference to your comfort. Here is exactly how high your monitor should be.
The simple rule
The top of your screen should sit at or just below eye level, and about an arm's length away. When you look at the centre of the screen, your eyes should drop slightly, without you bending your neck. That keeps your head balanced over your shoulders instead of tipping forward.
How to get there
- Laptop: a laptop screen is always too low on its own. Raise it with a laptop stand and add an external keyboard.
- Monitor: raise it on a stand or arm until the top is at eye level.
- Bifocals: if you wear them, set the screen a little lower so you are not tilting your head back to read.
Frequently asked questions
Should the monitor be at eye level or lower?
The top of the screen at or just below eye level is ideal, so your gaze drops slightly to the centre without bending your neck.
How far should my screen be?
About an arm's length away, adjusted so text is comfortable to read.
Keep reading
The Complete Ergonomic Desk Setup Guide
The full setup, step by step.
Tech Neck
Fix the strain from looking down.
Raise your screen with ArcosGear
Next steps for your desk setup
Monitor height is one of the fastest desk upgrades, especially if you work from a laptop.
