The best monitor setup for data-heavy work
Ad accounts, analytics dashboards, spreadsheets with forty columns: modern marketing is a game played on screens. The right monitor setup lets you see the whole board at once. Here is how to choose one without drowning in specifications.
Why screen space pays for itself
Every time you switch between windows, you lose a moment of focus. One switch costs nothing, but a day of performance marketing can involve hundreds: from the ad platform to the analytics tool, to the spreadsheet, back to the ad platform, across to a landing page. More screen space means more of those windows stay visible at once, and you spend your attention on the numbers rather than on finding them.
It also changes how you work. When a campaign report sits next to the live account, patterns jump out that you would miss flicking between tabs. That is why screen space is usually the first upgrade we would make for anyone who works with data, ahead of a faster computer. It is also why our own desk runs several screens side by side.
Resolution and size: the numbers that matter
Resolution tells you how many pixels a screen has; size tells you how big they are. The combination decides how much fits on the screen and how sharp the text looks.
| Size and resolution | What it is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 24-inch, 1080p | Perfectly usable, but cramped as a main screen | A second screen |
| 27-inch, 1440p | Comfortable text with no scaling, room for two windows side by side | Most people's main screen |
| 27-inch, 4K | About the same working space as 1440p once text is scaled, but noticeably crisper | Reading small figures all day |
| 32-inch, 4K | More space than 27-inch 1440p, with very sharp text | A single main screen on a deep desk |
| 34-inch ultrawide, 3440 by 1440 | A 27-inch 1440p screen with an extra third added to the width | Wide spreadsheets and long date ranges |
| 49-inch super ultrawide, 5120 by 1440 | Two 27-inch 1440p screens joined with no gap | Wide desks and lots of windows, at the cost of some head turning |
One ultrawide or two monitors?
This is the question we hear most, and there is no single right answer.
An ultrawide gives you one continuous canvas. Wide spreadsheets and long date ranges fit without breaking across a bezel, there is only one cable and one stand, and it looks tidy. The downsides are that window management takes a little effort, because your operating system's snapping tools need setting up or an extra utility, and screen sharing on calls can show far more than you intended.
Two monitors are flexible. You can turn one on its side for documents and long web pages, use different sizes, and replace one without replacing both. Sharing a single screen on a call is easy and safe. The downside is the gap in the middle, which means you generally treat one screen as your main focus and the other as a reference.
If your work is mostly wide tables and dashboards, lean towards an ultrawide. If you juggle distinct tasks, such as writing in one window while referring to research in another, two screens tend to suit better.
Panel types: IPS, VA and OLED
The panel is the technology that makes the picture, and each type has a character.
IPS panels offer accurate colour and look the same from any angle, which makes them the default choice for office work and anything involving design. VA panels have deeper blacks and better contrast but can smear slightly when you scroll quickly. OLED panels look stunning, with perfect blacks and vivid colour, but there is one caveat for data work: OLED screens can suffer from burn-in when the same static image sits on the screen for hours, day after day. Taskbars, toolbars and fixed dashboard layouts are exactly that kind of image. Modern OLED monitors include protective features and warranties have improved, but for a screen that will mostly show spreadsheets, IPS remains the safer bet.
Also consider the finish. Matte screens diffuse reflections from windows and lamps, while glossy screens look punchier but act a little like a mirror in a bright room.
Refresh rate: nice, not necessary
Refresh rate is how many times a second the screen updates. Gaming monitors push this very high, but for office work, 60Hz is perfectly usable. A 100Hz or 120Hz screen does make scrolling through long spreadsheets and web pages feel smoother, and many office monitors now offer it as standard. Treat it as a pleasant bonus rather than a deciding factor.
USB-C and the single-cable desk
If you work on a laptop, look for a monitor with USB-C and power delivery. One cable carries the picture, charges the laptop and connects any USB devices plugged into the monitor, so docking at your desk becomes a single click. Check the power figure: 65W suits most thin laptops, while larger machines may need 90W or more.
Some monitors also include a KVM switch, which lets one keyboard and mouse control two computers through the monitor. If you have a work laptop and a home desktop, that alone can justify the purchase.
One warning for Mac users: check how many external displays your exact model supports. Older MacBook Air models drive only one external screen, and Macs do not support the DisplayPort feature some Windows laptops use to run several monitors from a single cable.
Ranges worth shortlisting
Rather than chase model numbers, which change every year, look at these ranges:
- Dell UltraSharp. Reliable office monitors with excellent USB-C hub features, a long-standing favourite in offices.
- LG UltraWide and UltraFine. A strong selection of ultrawide screens and Mac-friendly 4K and 5K options.
- BenQ. Productivity ranges with eye-care features and models designed with coding and long reading sessions in mind.
- Samsung ViewFinity. High-resolution office monitors, including some unusual sizes.
- ASUS ProArt. For anyone who also does colour-critical design or photo work.
Mount it properly
A monitor arm is one of the best upgrades for any desk. It lets you set the exact height and distance, clears the space under the screen and makes it easy to swing the display aside when you need the desk. Check three things: the monitor's VESA mounting pattern (most use 100 by 100mm), the arm's weight rating against your monitor's weight without its stand, and the thickness of your desk if the arm clamps on. Ultrawides are heavy, so buy an arm rated with plenty of headroom.
Set it up for comfort
Once your screens are in place, a few minutes of adjustment saves a lot of discomfort. Set the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level and roughly an arm's length away. With two monitors, put the one you use most directly in front of you and angle the second towards you. With an ultrawide, a gentle curve helps keep the edges at a similar distance from your eyes.
Match the brightness to the room rather than leaving it at the factory setting, which is usually far too bright for an indoor office. Our guide to setting up a home office that fits you covers posture and eye strain in more detail.
Our recommendations by type of work
- Analysts and media buyers. A 34-inch ultrawide, or two 27-inch 4K screens if you like a portrait display for reports.
- Writers and content teams. One 27-inch 4K screen plus a second screen turned to portrait for long documents.
- Founders who do a bit of everything. A 32-inch 4K screen with USB-C, which handles every task well with a single cable.
- People who travel. A slim portable USB-C monitor that fits in a laptop bag, which turns a hotel desk into a two-screen office.
Our advice
For data-heavy work, screen space is productivity. Choose the size and resolution that fit your desk and your eyes, favour IPS for long days of spreadsheets, get USB-C if you use a laptop and put the whole thing on a proper arm. If you are kitting out the rest of your workspace at the same time, start with the essential tech every home business needs.