The best monitor size for office work depends on your specific professional needs and work habits. For example, a 24-inch monitor is a perfect choice for most office workers whose profession is not related to any visual arts.
That is what I have worked on for more than 10 years. The resolution is up to date and the color clarity is great.
A 24-inch monitor will also allow you to view at least 2 web pages at once, but it is not too large so as to interfere with the comfort of your office desk.
When choosing a monitor for office use, you should consider the dimensions of the desktop because one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to monitors and office work so let’s take a closer look.
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What size monitor is best for office work
A 24-inch monitor will be sufficient for the majority of tasks performed by office workers.
Most people find a standard-sized desktop monitor of 23 to 24 inches perfectly comfortable, and it will be a good compromise between price and size.
Of course, the right monitor size for office work will depend on your professional needs but with a 24-inch monitor you can comfortably do the following task:
- Browse the Internet to research information
- Use social media platforms for work
- Watch videos and presentations
- Have video calls with 4 or 5 people
- Open documents/spreadsheets and edit them
- Browse for images and edit them
- Use business communication platforms
- Use project management system
Also, a 24-inch monitor is wide enough to allow you to show 2 windows stacked or side by side.
This is especially useful if you are watching a video and taking notes at the same time or if you are researching and writing text at the same time.
Personally, I have used a 24-inch monitor for the better part of my career.
I actually would prefer a wider monitor, at least 27 inches but I have never asked my employer because it is more expensive and it wouldn’t really help me to do my job better.
Besides, it would stand out in the office where the rest of my colleagues are and I wouldn’t want them to think I am getting some sort of special treatment.
24 or 27-inch monitor for office work?
When it comes to office work, my personal pick and the one I’m currently using is the Dell P2419H 24-inch monitor because it allows you to do the majority of office work tasks comfortably.
Also, it is a good choice if you don’t have a lot of desk space available.
For a more affordable option with similar features, I would recommend the Philips 246E9QDSB or the BenQ GW2480T. Both are commonly used for office work.
But if you need to watch a lot of things at once, then a 24-inch monitor might not be enough.
However, if you have the space, and most importantly, if your profession benefits from it, you might want to opt for a larger monitor.
This is where the BenQ 27-inch monitors come into consideration. Here are some of its uses and advantages:
- You will be able to have 3 windows stacked or shown side-by-side and it will be workable.
- If the nature of your work requires some form of multitasking, then the extra visual space will be of help.
- Graphic designers, photographers, and video editors will also find these large screens useful.
The high resolution and clarity make them ideal for work within visual mediums and other professional tasks that simply require more viewing space.
After all, larger monitors tend to have more detail and sharpness.
Also, consider that the Apple iMac, which is usually the go-to choice of graphic designers, videographers, and visual artists, comes in 24 and 27 inches, with the 27-inch usually being the preferable choice.
So I would say that it all comes down to your professional needs, preferences, and work habits.
27 or 32-inch monitor for work?
A 27-inch monitor is usually going to be more than enough for most types of office work. Visual artists also often work on 27-inch monitors.
But what can be done when you need more space, right? Then you can consider the 32-inch option. Here is what you should consider:
- You will be able to have 4 or maybe even more windows and programs open at the same time.
- The larger monitor takes up more space on your desk, so make sure it will fit comfortably.
- With a larger screen, you might want to take it a bit further away from your eyes, so consider the space once again.
- Some things can look fuzzy on a 32-inch display, so you better have a deeper desk.
In my experience, going for a bigger monitor is not always the best choice. Don’t forget that you have one more option, and that is simply having a second monitor on your desk.
This brings me to the next point.
Best dual monitor size for office work
Sometimes you don’t need a bigger screen. What you really need is a second monitor. Here is what you need to consider.
- How are the monitors going to be displayed – side by side or stacked?
- Is the space that you have available on your desk enough?
- Is it possible to get the same model monitors (for aesthetic and symmetric reasons)?
Most of the dual or even triple monitor settings that I have seen are with either 24 or 27-inch monitors. But a 32-inch setting is not entirely out of the question.
It all depends on what type of work you do and if your setting allows you to be as efficient as possible.
But if you are wondering between getting a bigger monitor or simply adding a second monitor, then you might want to go for the dual-monitor setting.
A survey of 1,000 people by Jon Peddie Research concluded that working with 2 monitors increased productivity by 42%. On another note, achieving flow state and speeding up time at work is another great way to be more productive.
How to choose a monitor for home office
If you are working from home and you need a monitor, consider your professional needs and the space that you have available.
Here are my recommendations on how to choose a monitor for working from home:
- For basic knowledge work and office tasks, you will be just fine with a 24-inch monitor.
- If visualization is important for your work, opt for a 27-inch monitor.
- Since you are at home, if you’d like to also watch movies and play games on your work monitor, then get a 27-inch monitor that supports 4K.
- Opt for a 32-inch only if the nature of your work requires it and you have enough space and depth to properly situate the monitor (at least 4 feet from your face).
Protip: Make sure your internet speed at home fits your needs to make good use of your new monitor.
Key takeaways
- The best monitor size for most types of office work is 24 inches.
- Monitors of 27 inches are also great. You can open more windows/applications.
- The 32-inch monitors are useful only to professionals who really benefit from the extra space.
- Sometimes a dual-monitor setting is more useful than opting for a bigger screen.
- Some surveys suggest that two monitors used for work can significantly boost productivity.
- The 24 and 27-inch monitors are usually perfect for people who work from home.
- Are you also considering to get a new office chair?