Dual monitor setup: what you need and how to connect two screens
Two screens are one of the cheapest productivity upgrades there is, but whether they work depends on your computer's ports as much as the monitors. Here is what a dual monitor setup needs, how to connect it to a desktop, Windows laptop or MacBook, and the picks reviewers recommend.
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Essential
Two matching monitors
The same size and resolution make windows move cleanly between screens. 27-inch 1440p is the sweet spot for work; two 24-inch screens fit smaller desks.
Top pick: Dell UltraSharp U3225QE · Full list: Best monitors for work
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Essential
A dual monitor arm
Frees desk space, lines both screens up at the same height and angle, and lets you swing one into portrait for documents or code. Check your monitors have VESA mounts.
Top pick: Ergotron LX Dual Side-by-Side Arm · Full list: Best dual monitor arms
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Essential
A docking station (laptops)
One cable to the laptop carries both screens, charging and accessories. Check the dock supports two displays on your specific laptop, especially a MacBook.
Top pick: CalDigit TS5 Plus · Full list: Best docking stations for two monitors
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A MacBook dock (Mac laptops)
Some MacBooks drive only one external display natively; docks that use DisplayLink get around that. Our MacBook dock guide covers which do.
Top pick: CalDigit TS5 Plus · Full list: Best docking stations for MacBook
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Upgrade
A desk deep enough
Two screens want about 120 cm (48 in) of width and enough depth to sit at arm's length from them.
Top pick: AODK L-Shaped Desk 53″ · Full list: Best home office desks
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How to set it up
Check your computer's outputs
Count the video outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C or Thunderbolt ports that support display output. A desktop graphics card usually has three or four. Many laptops need a dock for a second external screen.
Connect both monitors
Use DisplayPort or HDMI from a desktop, or a USB-C/Thunderbolt dock from a laptop. Use the cable that supports your monitor's resolution and refresh rate, such as HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4 for 4K at 60 Hz.
Extend the desktop
On Windows, open Settings > System > Display, choose 'Extend these displays', then drag the screens to match their real positions. On a Mac, open System Settings > Displays and arrange them the same way.
Position them for your neck
Put your main screen straight ahead and the second to one side, or set both symmetrically if you use them equally. Keep the tops at or slightly below eye level and both at roughly arm's length.
Check refresh rates
Windows sometimes defaults a new screen to 60 Hz. Set each to its highest rate in Advanced display settings, then confirm with our refresh rate test.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a dock that only mirrors the same picture to both screens on a Mac.
- Mixing very different resolutions, which makes windows jump in size between screens.
- Placing the gap between two monitors directly in front of you when you mainly use one.
- Using an old HDMI cable that caps a high-refresh monitor at 60 Hz.
Questions
What do I need for a dual monitor setup?
Two monitors, a free video output for each (or a dock that supplies them), the right cables, and ideally a dual monitor arm. Laptops usually need a docking station or a USB-C port with display output for the second screen.
Can I use two monitors with a laptop?
Usually yes, through the laptop's HDMI and USB-C or Thunderbolt ports or a docking station. Check that the USB-C port supports display output; not all of them do.
Can a MacBook run two external monitors?
It depends on the chip. Base M1 and M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch Pro models drive one external display natively, while Pro and Max chips and newer base chips support more. DisplayLink docks can add screens to models that are limited.
What cables do I need for two monitors?
Whatever matches your computer's outputs and the monitors' inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI or USB-C. For high refresh rates or 4K, use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 cables that support the mode you want.
Should both monitors be the same?
It is not required, but the same model or at least the same size and resolution makes scaling, color and window movement consistent.
We don't test products ourselves: each pick is the one independent reviewers recommend most in our matching buying guide, and changes as their recommendations do.