Monitor Arm vs Monitor Riser for Small Desks
Honesty note: we haven't tested these products ourselves. We only recommend things backed by an independent review or real owner reports, and we link every source. Prices change constantly, so use the buttons to check today's price.
Both raise your screen. Which one fits depends on your desk, your monitor and how much you move the screen around. Wirecutter's monitor-arm guide covers both, and we lean on it heavily here (Wirecutter).
Quick answer
| Riser | Arm | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | None, just place it | Clamp to desk edge |
| Movement | Height only | Height, side to side, forward/back, rotate |
| Needs VESA holes | No | Yes |
| Desk space | Uses a footprint, with storage underneath | Frees the space under the screen |
Get a riser if…
…your monitor has no VESA holes, your desk has no clean edge to clamp, or you only need more height. Wirecutter says a riser is for people who only need to lift the screen, not move it sideways or closer (Wirecutter).
Pick: Amazon Basics Adjustable Monitor Riser
Wirecutter's top stand pick: supports 22 lb, 16.1 x 11 inches, three heights (2.87, 4.25 or 4.9 inches), and it didn't wobble or slide in their tests (Wirecutter).
Check current price on AmazonGet an arm if…
…you want the screen to float, push it back when you need the desk, or share it. Wirecutter notes an arm makes it easy to move the screen side to side, forward and back, or rotate it (Wirecutter).
Pick: Amazon Basics Single Monitor Arm
- Wirecutter says it's nearly identical to the Ergotron LX Pro, but with a 1-year warranty versus 10 years (Wirecutter).
- Specs (manual): up to 32" and 5–25 lb; VESA 75/100; clamp fits desks 0.4–2.4" thick (manual).
- Not everyone is happy: one r/StandingDesk owner returned theirs over stiff joints and chipped paint (r/StandingDesk).
Measure before you buy (from Wirecutter)
- Look up your monitor's weight.
- Measure from desktop to eye level.
- Check that your monitor has VESA holes (arm only).
- Measure your desktop thickness (arm only).
Small-desk catch: Wirecutter notes an arm needs about 1 inch of clearance at the back of the desk, and at its most compact it still brings the screen about 5 inches toward you. That was measured on their top pick, the Herman Miller Jarvis (Wirecutter).
Putting it all together? See the small-room desk setup guide.
Sources
- Wirecutter – The Best Monitor Arms (updated March 2026)
- Amazon Basics arm manual (PDF)
- r/StandingDesk – monitor arm complaints
- Amazon product listings linked above (specs as listed, October 2026)