The Best Computer Monitors for Work in 2024

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For a better monitor that lets you or your employees get more done in a day, you want a display that offers the specific features you need at the right size, native resolution, and price. Looking for all that? Well, you've come to the right place. PCMag has independently reviewed monitors of all shapes, sizes, and sorts since the 1980s, subjecting each model to our rigorous benchmarks and experiential testing. We evaluate all monitors with industry-standard equipment and software to quantify basic panel traits, and assess hands-on factors that include design, connectivity, menu usability, and stand adjustability. Read on for our labs-tested favorites—our current overall top pick for most business users is the HP E27m G4 QHD USB-C Conferencing Monitor—followed by the buying basics you should know when shopping for a work-ready display. We've also included a detailed spec breakout of our top choices in a handy chart format.

Most businesses operate within a strict capital budget, so spending your money wisely is important. A basic 24-inch monitor can cost between $90 and $150. If you require more screen real estate, a basic 27-inch panel will cost between $120 and $220.

If you want to replace a dual-monitor setup with a single display, consider going with an ultrawide monitor. For as little as $200 to $250 to start, you can get a 34-inch ultrawide panel that lets you easily view several windows side by side. For those who have the room (and cash) to spare, 43-inch ultrawide business models generally start at about $500, while gigantic, sprawling 49-inch models start at around $800.

A subset of ultrawide models support taking in multiple input sources and viewing them side by side onscreen, or via insets. Not all ultrawides support simultaneous display from more than one source; look for monitors that support PbP ("picture by picture")—in which the screens from each source are displayed side-by-side—or PiP ("picture in picture"), in which video from one source runs in an inset box on the screen showing content from the other source. Bear in mind that displaying multiple video sources onscreen at the same time is not a given; you have to look for that feature if you need it.

Also, note that the screens on most new panels larger than 30 inches are concave, with the left and right edges curving slightly toward the user. These curved monitors provide a more immersive experience than flat panels and reduce distortion at the screen's edges.

As always, be prepared to spend more for monitors with high-end, high-resolution panels and features such as height-adjustable and pivoting stands, or picture-in-picture functionality. For example, a decent 27-inch Wide Quad High-Definition (WQHD) monitor will cost you at least $150, while 34-inch Ultra High-Definition (UHD) or 4K displays with all the trimmings start at about $350. Fortunately, you don't have to spend big bucks for a sizable midrange UHD monitor; plenty of 27-inch models are available for around $300 if you shop wisely. And you can likely get by with a native resolution much lower than UHD. (More on that in a moment.)

While working with a big screen is always nice, it's not always practical or cost-effective, depending on your budget and available workspace. A 24-inch widescreen (the smallest size of mainstream desktop monitor we cover, or recommend), starting at about $90 is a good fit for users who need to have more than one window open at any given time but have limited space. If there's room (and budget), a 27-inch screen (starting at about $120) is even better for multitasking, while a 34-inch ultra-wide panel ($300 and up) is a space-saving alternative to a dual-monitor setup.

Which Panel Technology Is Best in a Business Monitor?

The most common monitor panel technologies relevant for business use are in-plane switching (IPS), vertical alignment (VA), and twisted nematic (TN).

IPS excels at accurate color and grayscale performance and delivers wide off-center viewing angles, while VA is known for exceptional contrast. Though they are occasionally used on business models, TN panels are best known for their gaming-friendly attributes: high refresh rates and fast response times. On the whole, TN panels used to be the least expensive to produce of the three, but now that they're closer in price, TN panels for business use have largely been superseded by VA and (especially) IPS ones.

IPS has largely become the default choice for mainstream business displays, and you should have no qualms about opting for IPS barring specialized content-creation concerns. A recent IPS variant, IPS Black, offers far better contrast than traditional IPS panels thanks to its ability to render deep black tones. Other less-common panel technologies include patterned vertical alignment (PVA), multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA), indium-gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), and the emerging technologies of full area local dimming (FALD) and mini LED. The latter two promise exceptional color accuracy and high contrast ratios through their ability to control small groups of LEDs at the back of the panel.

Last, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology, which has been used in TVs, smartphones, tablets, gaming monitors and consoles, and most recently, a few laptops, is slowly entering the business monitor arena. OLED panels provide excellent contrast and color coverage, but their price has been an obstacle to taking hold in the market. They have only recently become a factor in stand-alone business monitors; you'll most likely find them in graphic design environments.

What Screen Resolution to Get in a Business Monitor?

These days, nearly every monitor can display content in high definition—specifically, what's known as full HD or 1080p resolution, meaning 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. You may find some aging, dirt-cheap displays that peak at 1,366 by 768 pixels or 1,440 by 720 pixels; give them a hard pass.

For basic office use, 1080p resolution should suffice in a monitor up to 27 inches in panel size. You can also find roomy 32-inch-class monitors with 1080p native resolution, and they are perfectly fine for everyday use. However, 1080p may look a tad coarse at that screen size to discriminating eyes, especially for displaying fine text.

Users who work with detailed images or large spreadsheets may want to go with a WQHD monitor, which offers a 2,560-by-1,440-pixel resolution, typically at a diagonal screen measurement of 27 to 32 inches. (This resolution is also called "1440p.") Some ultrawide variants of this resolution go up to 49 inches in size with 5,120-by-1,440-pixel resolution, which is excellent for multitaskers, who will be able to keep several windows open onscreen, side by side, at once, or stretch a spreadsheet out. Ultrawide models are an excellent alternative to a multi-monitor array.

UHD resolution, also known as 4K (3,840 by 2,160 pixels), is a boon to graphic designers and photographers. UHD monitors are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 24 inches up. However, for everyday productivity use, UHD is mostly practical only at sizes of 32 inches and up. Multi-windowing at 4K and smaller screen sizes will tend to lead to some relatively small text.

What Ports and Features to Look for in a Business Monitor?

As is usually the case with features, the more you get, the more you'll pay. A display with a highly adjustable ergonomic stand—one that not only lets you adjust tilt, height, and swivel but also pivots between landscape and portrait orientations—will cost a good deal more than a display with only a tilt adjustment.

The same goes for ports. You might still see the occasional DVI or VGA port, but your monitor should connect to your PC via an HDMI cable or a DisplayPort cable. (Indeed, one of these interfaces is generally necessary for resolutions above 1080p.) A growing number of monitors add USB Type-C ports with DisplayPort functionality, which, with a properly equipped client PC or laptop, can let you push the video signal over this interface.

Some monitors have USB hubs that let you plug USB thumb drives or other devices into more convenient ports on the monitor instead of reaching around the back of your PC; such a display will have both a USB upstream port (for connecting the monitor and computer) and one or more USB downstream ports (for thumb drives and other peripherals). Don't confuse these USB ports, however, with USB-C video-signal connectivity.

On USB Type-C-capable monitors, sometimes that same connection can act as the video-signal carrier and the data conduit, and often can supply power to run or charge your computer as well. You'll want to look at the specs or product description carefully for details on that. These kinds of functionality are often dubbed "DisplayPort over USB" and "USB Power Delivery (PD)," respectively.

Some monitors, especially Mac-friendly ones, have Thunderbolt ports. Many of these are Thunderbolt 3, but we are also seeing some with Thunderbolt 4. They offer a speedy connection when paired with a computer with Thunderbolt ports, which includes recent Macs and some Intel-CPU (but not AMD-based) machines. You can identify a Thunderbolt port by its lightning-bolt icon; check the computer's specs if you're not sure. A Thunderbolt port is physically the same as a USB-C port, but there is no guarantee that a Thunderbolt monitor will work as fully intended if connected to a non-Thunderbolt-supporting USB-C port. You pay a premium for monitors with Thunderbolt ports, so be sure you can use such a connection before investing in a Thunderbolt display.

If you spend excessive time in front of a screen, you may want to consider a model that offers a "low blue light" setting that can help reduce eyestrain and fatigue. And if you require accurate colors, look for a monitor with an extensive menu of image settings and color palettes.

We generally test each business monitor in three color spaces: sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3. sRGB is the de facto color standard for web-based photos and numerous other purposes, and is the most generally practical and applicable of the three. Adobe RGB has a much wider color gamut than sRGB, but it is mainly used for select graphic arts purposes such as print photography. Last, DCI-P3 is a color space designed for cinema video and is used mostly by videographers and filmmakers. A few high-end models come with a built-in or separate color-calibration hardware tool, but third-party calibration solutions are also available. For ordinary productivity work, that's not needed. (See more about how we test monitors.)

Built-in speakers can reclaim valuable desktop workspace, but the ones in monitors, especially business-oriented panels, are typically underpowered and tinny-sounding. (And they are often not needed; in an open-plan office, employees will likely have to resort to headsets to avoid annoying their colleagues.) The same goes for built-in webcams, which are much less common. They can be useful for videoconferencing, but you'll want to be sure you need them before springing for the extra cost.

If you plan to use wall-mounting kits or articulating arms to conserve desk space, be sure the monitors are equipped with VESA-compliant mounting brackets or holes. Last, look for a three-year warranty, at minimum, covering parts, labor, and backlighting.

Ready to Buy the Best Business Monitor for You or Your Team?

To get you started, we've listed some of our top-rated business monitors in a variety of sizes and price points. Also, be sure to check out our overall monitor favorites for a broader selection that includes entertainment panels, and our sub-selection of portable monitors if you need a small panel you can take on the go.