Once you've worked on two screens, one feels cramped. Email sits on the left, the thing you're actually working on sits on the right, and you stop shuffling windows all day. The good news is that it's usually a 10-minute job, and most of what you need is probably already on your desk.
At a glance
A desktop PC almost always has two video outputs, so you just plug a monitor into each. A laptop needs one more piece: either its HDMI port plus a USB-C port that carries video, or a dock that runs both screens from one cable. Two matching 24-inch Full HD monitors are the easiest and best-value setup, and a dual arm keeps the desk clear.
Check your ports first
Start by looking at what your computer can actually drive. Business desktops and mini PCs usually have two or three DisplayPort or HDMI sockets on the back, which is all you need. Laptops are where it gets fiddly, because a USB-C port only carries video if it supports DisplayPort. Look for a small DisplayPort logo or a lightning bolt (Thunderbolt) next to the port. If there's no symbol, the laptop's spec sheet will say.
One catch worth knowing about: MacBooks with a standard M1 or M2 chip only run one external monitor on their own. They can still run two, but you'll need a DisplayLink dock to do it, which we'll get to.
Picking a dock
If your laptop goes back and forth between the couch and the desk, a dock is what makes the setup feel effortless. One cable from the laptop, and both monitors, the keyboard, the network and the charger all connect at once. The rule is simple: match the dock to the laptop if you can, and use a universal dock if you can't.
| Your laptop | Dock to look at | Examples we stock |
|---|---|---|
| Dell with USB-C | Dell USB-C dock | WD19, WD19S, WD15 (K17A) |
| Dell with Thunderbolt | Dell Thunderbolt dock | WD19TB |
| HP | HP USB-C or Thunderbolt dock | HP USB-C G5, Thunderbolt Dock G2 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad | ThinkPad USB-C dock | 40A9, 40AF, 40AS |
| Anything else, or a Mac | DisplayLink universal dock | Dell D6000, Targus DOCK190, Alogic DX2 |
DisplayLink docks send video over USB, so they work with almost any laptop with USB-C or USB 3. They need a free driver from DisplayLink, which takes a couple of minutes to install. They're great for office work and video calls, but for gaming or fast-moving video a brand-matched dock is smoother. Also check the dock's charging wattage covers your laptop. Most office laptops are happy with 65W, while workstations need more. You'll find all of them in our docking stations range.
What size monitors
For most people, two 24-inch Full HD screens are the sweet spot. They're sharp enough for spreadsheets and documents, they sit comfortably side by side on a desk about 110cm wide, and they cost the least. If you spend the day in big spreadsheets or design work, two 27-inch QHD screens give you noticeably more room, though you'll want around 125cm of desk.
There's also a third option that's easy to overlook. A single 34-inch ultrawide gives you roughly the space of two screens without the bezel down the middle, and it only needs one cable. Whichever way you go, try to buy a matching pair. Mixing a Full HD and a QHD screen works, but windows jump in size as you drag them across, which gets old quickly. Our dual monitor bundles come as matched pairs for that reason, or you can pick two from the monitors range.
Arms and stands
The stands that come with business monitors are fine, but they take up a lot of desk and rarely line up at the same height. A dual monitor arm clamps to the back of the desk, lifts both screens to eye level and lets you angle them together, so the whole setup feels more like one big screen. Before you buy, check both monitors have VESA mounting holes on the back (nearly all business monitors do) and that they're within the arm's weight limit. Have a look at our monitor arms and stands.
A few things that trip people up
The most common one is assuming every USB-C port does video, so check that first. The second is pairing a dock with the wrong brand of laptop. A Dell dock on an HP laptop may only show one screen or refuse to charge, which is exactly the situation a universal dock is for. And don't forget cables: you'll need one per screen, with the right plug at each end.
From our desk: in an office where people carry different laptops, put a DisplayLink dock on every desk. Anyone can sit down, plug in one cable and get both screens, whatever brand they're using.
So, what should you buy?
If you're on a desktop, two matching 24-inch monitors and a dual arm will do it. On a laptop, add a dock that matches the brand, or a DisplayLink dock if you have a Mac or a mix of laptops. Every monitor and dock we sell is professionally tested and cleaned, with a 1-year warranty, 14-day returns and free shipping on most orders. Start with our dual monitor setups.
