Among full-time employees in the U.S., 1 in 4 work entirely from home, according to a Gallup poll. Work-from-home arrangements have their benefits, but there are also downsides: For instance, you may have to purchase your own monitor if you want to work from home. Home office monitors are available in a variety of styles and prices, and the most affordable models start at just $100.
In addition to our picks for the best home office monitors, we’ve included information on what specs and features to look for when choosing a monitor. For even more monitor recommendations, check out our roundup of the best monitors in every category.
Also related: Best monitors for Xbox Series X & Series S 2023
1. Dell U3223QE – Best home office monitor
Pros
- IPS Black panel fulfills its promise
- Accurate color with wide gamut
- High brightness in SDR
- USB-C hub with 90 watts of power
Cons
- Edges of display are noticeably bright
- HDR performance disappoints
- Only a 60Hz panel
If you plan to use the Dell U3223QE for a decade or more, you won’t be disappointed.
In addition to having superb image quality, this 32-inch 4K monitor features IPS Black panels that deliver roughly twice the contrast ratio of traditional IPS panels, providing a richer, more detailed image. In addition to being extremely bright, the monitor has a maximum brightness of over 450 nits. The color performance is top-notch as well, covering 99 percent of the DCI-P3 color space with precise color accuracy.
Connectivity is also a plus for home office owners. It has USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and can charge devices up to 95 watts. When connected over USB-C, the monitor acts as a feature-rich hub with not only USB-A ports but also ethernet and DisplayPort-out. If you do not already have a USB-C dock or hub, this monitor may be a good replacement.
Additionally, it is ergonomically designed and has significant height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, as well as the ability to pivot 90 degrees for portrait usage.
Consider the Dell U2723QE if the Dell U3223QE is too large or expensive. The 27-inch 4K monitor offers similar features at a fraction of the price.
Also related: Best monitors for Xbox Series X & Series S 2023
2. Sceptre 4K IPS 27″ 3840 x 2160 UHD Monitor– Best 1440p home office monitor
Pros
- Attractive and robust design
- Four video inputs including USB-C
- Great color performance
- High motion clarity at 144Hz and 165Hz
Cons
- Limited image quality adjustment
- Speakers not included
- HDR mode is barebones
Canvas 27Q from NZXT is one of the best mid-range monitors on this list. It offers attractive image quality without breaking the bank.
There is a nice boost in clarity over 1080p with the Canvas 27Q, which has a 27-inch screen with 1440p resolution that will provide a nice boost in clarity. It’s also pretty bright at maximum brightness, reaching nearly 380 nits.
Unlike most monitors, this one doesn’t come with a stand: It’s an add-on $40. The USB-C port serves as a hub for two USB-A ports. In addition to height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, the stand is sturdy and feels solid. A monitor arm is also available for $100.
With a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz and AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync support for smooth motion, the Canvas 27Q is ideal for gaming after work.
It retails for $339.99, but it’s often discounted to $249.99. With the $40 stand, the total price comes to $289.99. That’s a great deal considering the monitor’s image quality and many features.
Also related: Best monitors for Xbox Series X & Series S 2023
3. Acer K242HYL – Best budget home office monitor
Pros
- Attractive color accuracy and gamut
- Acceptable sharpness for a 1080p display
- Avoids motion clarity pitfalls
- Menu system is easy to use
Cons
- Barebones design
- No height adjustment on stand
- Only one HDMI, no DisplayPort
- Power LED is very bright
Want a basic home office monitor that can handle most tasks at a very low price? The Acer K242HYL is it. For a monitor in this price range, Acer’s K242HYL is a 24-inch, 1080p monitor. Image clarity isn’t as sharp as a premium 4K monitor, but it’s okay. In addition to the 300nits maximum brightness, the K242HYL supports nearly 98 percent of the sRGB gamut, which isn’t record breaking, but it’s good for a budget monitor.
Despite the monitor’s low price, it does not feature a height-adjustable stand. You can add a third-party monitor stand using the VESA monitor stand mount. Video connectivity is limited to one HDMI and one VGA. It also features AMD FreeSync support for smooth gaming and a slightly improved 75Hz refresh rate. For just $99.99, the Acer K242HYL is a great deal. While it may not be the most capable monitor on this list, it is more than adequate for editing documents, doing accounting, managing projects, and video conferencing.
Also related: Best monitors for Xbox Series X & Series S 2023
4. Asus ProArt PA279CV – Best 4K home office monitor
ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV 27” 4K HDR UHD (3840 x 2160) Monitor, IPS, 100% sRGB/Rec. 709, ΔE
Pros
- Accurate image
- High maximum brightness
- Menu settings allow calibration
- Has USB-C with 65 watts Power Delivery
- Competitive price
Cons
- Unimpressive design
- Luminance uniformity could be better
- HDR is bright but otherwise falls short
With the ProArt PA279CV, Asus delivers many of the same advantages as its top pick, the Dell U3223QE, at a much lower price. ProArt PA279CV is a 27-inch 4K monitor with excellent image clarity and over 400 nits maximum brightness. The NZXT Canvas 27Q’s color gamut is narrower than that of the ProArt PA279CV, but it covers the entire sRGB color space, which is more than enough for the home office.
USB-C ports with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and Power Delivery support 65 watts are available on this monitor. Four additional USB-A ports can be connected to the USB-C port, which acts as a hub. You can adjust the height, swivel, and tilt of the stand to find the best viewing position. For a 4K monitor with USB-C, this is a good value for $449.99. If you want to get the benefits of a premium 4K monitor for a good price, the Asus PA279CV is an appealing option.
5. Acer Vero BR277 – Best econ-friendly home office monitor
Pros
- Good contrast ratio
- Solid build quality
- Accurate, realistic color
- Uses recyclable plastics, packaging also recyclable
Cons
- Below-average sharpness
- Limited color gamut
- No single standout feature
Considering your home office’s environmental impact? You should. E-waste is estimated to be 53.6 megatons per year and is growing. The Vero BR277 is not going to solve this problem alone. But it tries. In addition to other Acer Vero products, the BR277 is partially made of post-consumer recycled plastics. Despite what you might think, these plastics are durable. Furthermore, they are visually interesting due to their unique flecked appearance.
I wouldn’t care how the monitor is built if it were junk—thankfully, it’s quite good. This is a 27-inch 1080p monitor with a maximum brightness of just over 300 nits. Color accuracy and contrast are good, but the monitor’s color gamut is only 97 percent of sRGB. With its ergonomic stand, it can be adjusted for height, swivel, and tilt, which results in a bright, pleasant, and realistic image. A maximum refresh rate of 75Hz is also available for smooth gaming using AMD FreeSync.
With a MSRP of $249.99, this monitor is currently available for as little as $169.99. It is a great deal for a home office monitor with a good image quality and height-adjustable stand. The 24-inch model from Acer is also $129.99, so it is even less expensive.
What to look for in a home office monitor
A great home office monitor has a high maximum brightness, clear images, and vibrant colors. A height-adjustable stand helps with ergonomics, and multiple connectivity options make it easy to use multiple devices simultaneously.
Resolution matters, but 1080p is still fine
A 4K monitor is the best option in most situations due to its sharper image and its ability to make small fonts easier to read. Most 4K monitors, however, cost over $300. For a mid-range monitor, a 27-inch 4K monitor has a pixel density of 163 pixels per inch. 1440p resolution is less popular. While not quite as sharp as 4K, 1440p is a noticeable upgrade over 1080p. 27-inch 1440p monitors have a pixel density of 108 pixels per inch.
Budget monitors with 1080p resolution are still a good choice. It’s not as sharp as 4K, so video may look a bit soft and small fonts may be difficult to read, but it’s still adequate for hundreds of tasks at home. The pixel density of a 27-inch 1080p monitor is 81.
When it comes to brightness, more is more
A home office monitor should have a high level of brightness.
It’s not necessary for office monitors to be bright: 200 nits is fine. However, a home office will be brighter and have less light control than a corporate cubicle, so a maximum brightness of 300 nits, or better, will be ideal. If the brightness appears too bright, it can always be turned down, but, of course, the reverse is not true.
Make sure you understand connectivity
The monitor you buy should support the video output found on your PC. Desktop computers typically offer both DisplayPort and HDMI, while laptops usually only offer HDMI. The ports on your PC can be identified using our guide to display cables. Budget monitors sometimes support older connections, such as VGA and DVI, but these are not found on new computers.
For home office use, HDMI and DisplayPort both work equally well. You only need one video connection between your PC and your monitor.
USB-C isn’t a must-have, but it’s useful
An alternative to HDMI and DisplayPort, USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode integrates a DisplayPort connection into the familiar USB-C port, now found on a growing number of devices (and soon to be required by European law).
With a USB-C to DisplayPort cable adapter, you can still connect a DisplayPort monitor to high-end laptops like the Dell XPS 13 Plus, but this is a clunky solution.
In contrast to HDMI and DisplayPort, USB-C supports Power Delivery, which makes docking the laptop easier with thin-and-light laptops. A few USB-C monitors, such as the Dell U3223QE, have integrated USB-C hubs that can be connected to multiple USB-A ports, Ethernet, and DisplayPort. Here’s what we know about USB-C hub monitors.
How we test monitors
Each PCWorld monitor review is based on hundreds of hours of testing conducted by a team of PCWorld staff members and freelance writers.
SpyderXElite is a color calibration tool we use to calibrate monitors. With these objective metrics, we can compare dozens of monitors simultaneously and eliminate bias. They provide objective measurements of brightness, contrast, color accuracy, color temperature, gamma, and color gamut, among others.