We compared six monitor arms sold on Amazon Australia across gas-spring feel, weight rating, VESA fit and single vs dual setups. Here are the picks that lift your screen to eye level and actually hold their height.
How we picked the best monitor arms in Australia
A monitor arm is the cheapest ergonomic upgrade most desks can have. Getting your screen to eye level fixes the slouch that comes from looking down at a stand all day, and clearing the base off the desk gives you back a surprising amount of room. The catch is that arms vary a lot in how they hold a screen - the good ones glide to height and stay there for years, the cheap ones can sag and drift over time.
We compared six monitor arms sold on Amazon Australia, ranging from the ~$40 ErGear Single Monitor Arm up to the ~$227 Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm. We weighed up the spring mechanism, the weight and size rating, VESA fit, single versus dual capacity, the mounting method and built-in cable management. Below we explain each of those so you can match an arm to your exact screen, then give the verdict on which to buy.
Gas spring vs mechanical spring vs fixed height
The single biggest difference in feel between arms is the spring inside. There are three types. A gas spring (also called pneumatic) uses a sealed gas cylinder so the screen glides to any height with one finger and holds there - it is the premium feel, and it is what the ~$48 NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 and the ~$227 Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm use. A mechanical spring uses a metal coil spring instead; it is cheaper and cannot lose gas pressure over time, but adjustment takes a firmer hand. The ~$40 ErGear Single Monitor Arm and ~$59 WALI Single Monitor Arm GSDM001 use mechanical springs, and the ~$70 HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm uses an upgraded mechanical design it markets as longer-lasting than gas. A fixed-height mount does not move at all once set - none of our picks are fixed, because for a few dollars more a sprung arm is far more useful.
If you adjust your screen often - standing up, sharing it with someone, leaning back - pay for a gas spring. If you set it once and never touch it, a good mechanical arm like the BONTEC or HUANUO is perfectly fine and saves you money.
Check your VESA pattern: 75x75 or 100x100
Every arm here mounts to your monitor using the VESA standard - four threaded holes in a square on the back of the screen. The two common sizes are 75x75mm and 100x100mm (the numbers are the spacing between the holes in millimetres). The good news is that all six of our picks support both patterns, and the overwhelming majority of monitors use one or the other, so most people are covered without thinking about it.
There are two things to watch. First, very thin or very cheap monitors sometimes have no VESA holes at all, or use a slightly curved back - those need a VESA adapter plate, sold separately. Second, some monitors hide the VESA holes behind the original stand, so you remove the stand to reveal them. Before you buy, flip your monitor over and look for that square of four holes; if it is there, any arm on this list will fit it.
The critical check: your monitor's weight and size
This is the check people skip and then regret. Every arm has a weight rating and a screen-size range, and if your monitor is heavier or larger than the arm is rated for, the arm will sag and drift downward over time no matter how tight you set the tension. A cheap arm pushed past its limit is the number one cause of the dreaded slow droop.
Find your monitor's weight in its spec sheet (the screen weight without the stand) and match it to the arm. Most of our picks handle up to 9 kg, which covers nearly every 24-27 inch screen and many 32 inch ones. The ~$227 Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm goes furthest at 11.3 kg and up to 34 inch, which is why it is the pick for heavier or larger screens that lighter arms struggle to hold. Watch the lower limit too: the gas-spring NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 wants at least 2 kg, so a very light monitor can float upward on it. When in doubt, size up to an arm with headroom rather than buying one that sits right at its limit.
Single vs dual monitor arms
Decide this before anything else, because it changes the whole arm. A single arm holds one screen; a dual arm holds two side by side on one base. You cannot easily turn a single arm into a dual one later, so buy for the setup you actually want.
For one screen, the ~$40 ErGear Single Monitor Arm, ~$48 NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80, ~$59 WALI Single Monitor Arm GSDM001 and ~$227 Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm are your options, ranging from budget to gold standard. For two screens, the ~$42 BONTEC Dual Monitor Mount is the value choice with the biggest review base here, and the ~$70 HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm is the premium dual pick with a more solid build and an easier tension setup. One tip for dual setups: measure the combined width of both monitors and your desk depth, because two big screens on full extension need more room than people expect.
C-clamp vs grommet mounting
Every arm here attaches to the desk one of two ways, and both are included in the box. A C-clamp grips over the back edge of the desk - it is quick, needs no holes, and you can move it later, which makes it the default choice for most people. A grommet mount drops a bolt through a hole in the desk (either an existing cable hole or one you drill) and clamps from underneath - it is more solid and lower-profile, but permanent-ish and only worth it if your desk has a suitable hole or you do not mind drilling.
The thing to verify is your desk thickness. Each arm lists a clamp range - for example the WALI Single Monitor Arm GSDM001 fits a 7cm C-clamp or 5cm grommet, and the HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm is rated for wood desks 1.5-9cm thick. Measure the edge of your desk before buying so the clamp actually closes on it.
Cable management keeps the desk tidy
It is a small thing that makes a big visual difference. Every arm on this list has some form of built-in cable management - clips or channels along the arm that route your power and video cables down the pole instead of dangling across the desk. The ErGear Single Monitor Arm uses tool-free clips that open without a screwdriver, and the BONTEC Dual Monitor Mount and NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 hide the wiring along the arm. None of this affects performance, but once your screen is floating on an arm, loose cables are the only thing left spoiling the clean look, so it is worth threading them properly during install.
Why the Ergotron LX is the gold standard
If you have read other monitor-arm guides you will have seen the Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm at the top, and there is a reason every list anchors to it. It is the arm the cheaper ones are trying to imitate. The gas-spring motion is the smoothest of anything here, the 11.3 kg rating means it holds heavier screens that make budget arms droop, and the 10-year warranty is Ergotron telling you it does not expect this arm to ever sag.
At ~$227 it costs several times what the ~$40 ErGear Single Monitor Arm does, and for a light 24 inch screen you genuinely do not need it - a budget arm will do the job. But if your monitor is heavy, if you adjust it constantly, or if you simply want the one arm you buy once and never think about again, the Ergotron LX is worth the money. It is the difference between an arm that works and an arm you forget is even there.
Our verdict: which monitor arm should you buy?
For most people running two screens, the ~$42 BONTEC Dual Monitor Mount is the value sweet spot - two monitors, the largest review base here and a price under fifty dollars. For a single screen on a budget, the ~$40 ErGear Single Monitor Arm is the cheapest way to get one monitor up to eye level, and the ~$48 NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 adds a true gas-spring glide for only a few dollars more.
If you need height specifically, the ~$59 WALI Single Monitor Arm GSDM001 reaches the highest. If you want a premium dual setup that resists sag, the ~$70 HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm is the pick. And if you want the best single arm money can buy - the smoothest motion, the heaviest weight rating and a 10-year warranty - the ~$227 Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm is the gold standard. Whichever you choose, measure your monitor's weight and check for VESA holes first, because the right fit matters more than the brand.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my monitor will fit a monitor arm?
Check two things. First, flip the monitor over and look for four threaded holes in a square - that is the VESA mount, and it will be 75x75mm or 100x100mm, both of which every arm here supports. Second, find your monitor's weight (screen only, without the stand) and confirm it is within the arm's rating - most of our picks handle up to 9 kg and the Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm up to 11.3 kg. If both check out, the arm will fit.
What is the difference between a gas-spring and a mechanical-spring arm?
A gas spring uses a sealed gas cylinder so the screen glides to height with one finger and holds there - it is the premium feel, used by the NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 and the Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm. A mechanical spring uses a metal coil instead; it is cheaper and cannot lose gas pressure over time, but adjusting it takes a firmer hand. If you move your screen often, pay for gas; if you set and forget, a mechanical arm is fine.
Will a cheap monitor arm sag over time?
Only if you push it past its weight rating. The single biggest cause of an arm drooping is mounting a monitor heavier than the arm is rated for - the tension simply cannot hold it. Stay within the rating with a little headroom and even a budget arm like the ErGear Single Monitor Arm holds position well. If you want the most sag resistance, the HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm uses a long-life mechanical spring and the Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm backs its gas spring with a 10-year warranty.
Should I get a single or dual monitor arm?
Buy for the setup you actually want, because you cannot easily convert one to the other later. For one screen, the ErGear Single Monitor Arm, NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80, WALI Single Monitor Arm GSDM001 and Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm cover budget to premium. For two screens, the BONTEC Dual Monitor Mount is the value choice and the HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm is the premium dual pick.
What is the difference between C-clamp and grommet mounting?
A C-clamp grips over the back edge of your desk - quick, no holes, and movable, which suits most people. A grommet mount bolts through a hole in the desk and clamps underneath - more solid and lower-profile, but more permanent and only worth it if your desk has a suitable hole. Both are included in the box with every arm here; just measure your desk thickness against the arm's clamp range first.
Is the Ergotron LX worth the extra money?
For a light 24-27 inch screen, no - a budget arm like the ErGear Single Monitor Arm or the gas-spring NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 will do the job for a fraction of the price. The Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm earns its ~$227 if your monitor is heavy (it handles up to 11.3 kg and 34 inch), if you adjust your screen constantly and want the smoothest motion, or if you simply want the one arm you buy once and forget about, backed by a 10-year warranty.
Can I mount a 34-inch ultrawide on these arms?
Some of them, yes - check both the size and weight. The ErGear Single Monitor Arm is rated to 34 inch and the Ergotron LX Single Monitor Arm to 34 inch and 11.3 kg, which suits heavier ultrawides. The dual mounts (BONTEC Dual Monitor Mount and HUANUO FlowLift Pro Dual Monitor Arm) top out at 32 inch per screen, and the NB North Bayou Monitor Arm F80 and WALI Single Monitor Arm GSDM001 also cap at 32 inch. For a big ultrawide, the Ergotron LX is the safest fit because ultrawides are often heavier than they look.
