Two of the most overlooked home office upgrades are also among the most practical: a monitor privacy filter and a proper monitor arm. The filter stops colleagues, housemates or cafe neighbours seeing your screen. The arm fixes the posture problems that come from staring at a monitor sitting flat on a desk.
This guide covers both, with clear recommendations at different price points.
Monitor Privacy Filters: What They Do and Who Needs One
A privacy screen filter is a thin film or panel that fits over your monitor. When viewed from straight ahead, the image is clear. From an angle – typically more than 30 degrees to either side – the screen appears dark to anyone looking.
You need one if you:
– Work in a shared house or open-plan flat where others can see your screen
– Work in coffee shops or co-working spaces with sensitive client or financial data
– Regularly handle confidential work documents at home
– Travel for work and use your laptop in public
You can skip it if you:
– Work in a private room with no visitors
– Only use your monitor for general browsing and media
Privacy Filter Types
Framed filters (clip-on or magnetic): A rigid panel that mounts to the front of your monitor. These are easy to attach and remove and do not affect the monitor itself. Best for most users.
Adhesive films: Applied directly to the screen surface. Better optical quality and no chance of falling off, but permanent. Not ideal if you share a monitor.
Built-in privacy screens: Some monitor manufacturers now offer screens with built-in privacy technology (Dell has an EMD filter option). The most seamless solution but premium priced.
The Best Monitor Privacy Filters in 2026
1. Kensington FP Privacy Screen – Best Overall
Kensington’s FP series is the market standard for good reason. Available in sizes from 19 to 32 inches, the filter provides a 60-degree viewing angle restriction – clear from directly in front, dark from the side.
The filter fits via a magnetic strip that attaches to your monitor’s bezel, making it easy to remove when you do not need privacy. Optical quality is very good: minimal colour distortion when viewed straight on.
Price: $40-70 depending on screen size
Compatibility: Wide range of screen sizes; check your diagonal measurement and aspect ratio (16:9 or widescreen) before ordering
Best for: Most home office users, laptop users needing occasional privacy
What we like: Easy on/off, good optical clarity, widely available
Worth knowing: Slight reduction in overall brightness – turn monitor brightness up by 20-30% to compensate
2. 3M Privacy Filter – Best for Maximum Privacy
3M pioneered monitor privacy filters and their current generation provides tighter viewing angle restriction than most competitors. The blackout effect at angles greater than 30 degrees is more complete than the Kensington, making it the better choice for genuinely sensitive environments.
The downside is price – 3M filters cost more than comparable Kensington models. But for security-sensitive work (finance, legal, healthcare), the extra cost is worth it.
Price: $55-90 depending on size
Best for: Finance, legal or healthcare professionals, those handling sensitive data regularly
What we like: Tightest privacy angle, well-established brand, good filter quality
Worth knowing: Pricier than alternatives; brilliant black back panel doubles as a screen protector when removed
3. Vikli Privacy Screen Filter – Best Budget Option
For occasional use or those who want to try a privacy filter without the premium price, Vikli offers solid performance at roughly half the cost of Kensington or 3M. The privacy effect is slightly less complete at extreme angles, but more than adequate for home working environments.
Comes in a wide range of sizes including ultrawide options.
Price: $19-35
Best for: Casual use, home working, those on a budget
What we like: Affordable, wide size selection including ultrawide, decent privacy effect
Worth knowing: Optical quality is slightly below premium options; anti-glare coating is not as refined
Monitor Arms and Portrait Stands: Why They Matter
Most monitors arrive on height-adjustable stands, but the adjustment range is limited. A monitor arm – a mechanical arm that clamps to your desk – lets you position your screen precisely: the right height, the right angle, the right distance from your chair.
The ergonomic target: top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, screen at arm’s length from your face, tilted back 10-20 degrees.
A portrait monitor stand is a monitor arm or stand that allows you to rotate your screen 90 degrees to portrait orientation – useful for coding, reading long documents or using two monitors where one handles vertical content.
The Best Monitor Mounts and Arms in 2026
1. VIVO Single Monitor Arm – Best Budget Single Arm
VIVO makes the most popular monitor arms on Amazon US, and the single monitor arm offers the best combination of value and quality at this price point. C-clamp attachment fits most desks, the arm handles monitors up to 27 inches and 7 kg, and it supports both landscape and portrait orientations.
Installation takes about 15 minutes. The gas spring mechanism holds position smoothly once set.
Price: Around $30-40
Compatibility: Monitors up to 27 inches, VESA 75×75 or 100×100 mount
Best for: Single monitor home office users wanting their first monitor arm
What we like: Affordable, very easy to install, supports portrait rotation
Worth knowing: Not designed for monitors over 27 inches or heavier curved screens
2. VIVO Dual Monitor Mount – Best for Two Screens
The VIVO dual monitor mount holds two screens on a single desk clamp – a significant desk space saver if you run two monitors. Each arm adjusts independently for height, tilt and angle. The dual arm handles monitors up to 27 inches on each side.
This is consistently one of the best-selling dual monitor solutions in the US at this price point, and for good reason – it works well straight out of the box.
Price: Around $55-65
Compatibility: Two monitors up to 27 inches each, VESA mount required
Best for: Dual monitor home office setups, productive workstations
What we like: Frees up significant desk space, independent arm adjustment, popular with good track record
Worth knowing: Works best with monitors of similar size and weight on each arm
3. Ergotron LX Desk Mount Arm – Best Premium Single Arm
If you want the smoothest, highest-quality single monitor arm available, Ergotron’s LX is the benchmark. The counterbalancing mechanism is more refined than budget alternatives – it holds position precisely and adjusts with one hand. Also ships with a USB hub option for easier cable management.
Recommended for those using premium ultrawide monitors where a cheaper arm would feel inadequate.
Price: Around $110-130
Compatibility: Monitors up to 34 inches and 11 kg, VESA 75×75 or 100×100
Best for: Ultrawide monitors, those who want the best
What we like: Outstanding build quality, smooth adjustment, excellent cable management, 10-year warranty
Worth knowing: Premium price – justified for heavy or large monitors but overkill for a basic 24-inch
4. Ergotron LX Tall Pole – Best for Standing Desks and Portrait Use
The tall pole version of the Ergotron LX adds extra vertical range – useful if you work standing at a sit-stand desk and need the monitor high enough for comfortable viewing while standing. Also excellent for portrait-orientation setups where extra height is needed for the rotated screen.
Price: Around $150-150
Best for: Sit-stand desk users, portrait orientation setups, tall users
Setting Up Your Monitor Correctly
Once you have a monitor arm installed:
Height: Top of screen should be at or just below eye level when sitting with correct posture. Most people need to raise their monitor significantly from its default stand position.
Distance: About an arm’s length (50-70 cm). If you find yourself leaning in to read, either move the monitor closer or increase the font size in your OS settings.
Tilt: Tilt the screen back about 10-15 degrees so you are looking slightly downward at the screen centre. This reduces neck strain.
Portrait rotation: If using a monitor in portrait (vertical) orientation for coding or reading, rotate via the monitor’s OSD menu first, then physically rotate the arm. Update your OS display settings to match.
FAQ
Do privacy filters affect screen quality?
There is a slight reduction in brightness and a marginal colour shift on all filter types. The best filters (Kensington, 3M) minimise this. Increase monitor brightness by 20-30% after fitting to compensate.
What VESA mount do I need?
Check your monitor’s manual or the back of the monitor itself. Most monitors use 75×75 mm or 100×100 mm VESA patterns. Both VIVO and Ergotron arms support both standards.
Can I use a privacy filter with a monitor arm?
Yes. Fit the arm first, then attach the privacy filter as you normally would. Magnetic clip-on filters work best with arms as they can be removed easily when repositioning.
Will a monitor arm hold a curved ultrawide?
Check the weight limit carefully – curved ultrawides are heavier than flat screens. VIVO arms top out at around 7 kg per arm, while Ergotron LX handles up to 11 kg. Most 34-inch curved ultrawides are 6-9 kg.
Final Verdict
For a privacy filter: Kensington FP is the right choice for most home workers. Step up to the 3M if your work demands maximum privacy. Both outperform cheap unbranded alternatives significantly.
For a monitor arm: VIVO is the clear value winner for single or dual setups. The Ergotron LX is worth the premium price if you have a large or heavy monitor, or if you want something built to last a decade without adjustment issues.
