Best Monitor Stands Under $35 (2026)

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Best Monitor Stands Under $35

Quick Verdict

Buy the Amazon Basics Single Monitor Arm. It's the only sub-$35 option that gets the stand off your desk and puts the screen where your eyes actually are, so stop shopping.

Skip it if your monitor has no VESA holes or weighs more than about 17 pounds. In that case the riser below is your answer.

Check Amazon Basics Monitor Arm on Amazon

Quick Comparison

1. Amazon Basics Single Monitor Arm: The Best One For Most Desks

Check Amazon Basics Monitor Arm on Amazon

A monitor arm is the only real fix for a screen that's too low. Stands and risers move the screen up a fixed amount. An arm lets you put it where you want it, then swing it aside when you don't need it. The Amazon Basics arm clamps to the desk edge, so the monitor's bulky base disappears and you get that space back.

It isn't a premium arm, and nobody should pretend otherwise. Buyers describe it as functional rather than rock-solid. It handles a typical 24-inch monitor fine, but expect some bounce if you type hard on a flimsy desk. At this price, that's an acceptable trade. It supports 75×75 and 100×100 mm VESA patterns, takes up to roughly 17.6 pounds, and gives you around 14 to 20 inches of height.

What we like:

• Frees the entire footprint of the stand, which matters on small desks
• Height and positioning you can actually change
• Clamp mounting with no drilling
• Cheapest way to get arm-style flexibility

Honest caveats:

• The 17.6-pound limit rules out big or heavy monitors
• Not the stiffest arm on the market; expect some wobble
• Needs a desk edge that suits a clamp, so check yours first
• Requires VESA holes on the back of your monitor

Bottom line: The best of the three if your monitor and desk are compatible, and for most people they are.

2. VIVO Single Monitor Desk Stand (STAND-V001E): The No-Clamp Compromise

Check VIVO STAND-V001E on Amazon

This is the pick when you want adjustability but can't or won't clamp anything to your desk. It's a freestanding pole stand that bolts to the VESA mount on the back of your monitor. VIVO has a solid reputation in budget mounting, and this model shows why. The height range is roughly 15.7 to 19.7 inches, with tilt about 15 degrees each way. That's enough to kill glare without stacking books under the monitor.

The base is compact, around 10 inches square, so it takes up less room than a riser. VESA attachment is also more secure than a monitor sitting loose on a platform. It supports up to about 22 pounds, a little more than the Amazon Basics arm.

The catch is that it's still a stand. The base stays on your desk, so you don't get the space back the way you do with an arm. Maximum height tops out near 20 inches, which suits most seated setups but may fall short for tall users. There's also no USB pass-through, so don't buy it expecting extra ports.

What we like:

• Real height range plus tilt
• Small base for a freestanding stand
• Secure VESA attachment
• Higher weight limit than the arm

Honest caveats:

• Needs VESA holes. Some all-in-ones and curved displays don't have them
• Doesn't reclaim desk space
• No USB pass-through
• Height ceiling may not suit tall users

Bottom line: A sensible middle ground for people who want flexibility without clamping to the desk.

3. HUANUO Monitor Stand Riser With Storage: Dumb, Cheap, And Honest

Check HUANUO Monitor Stand Riser on Amazon

The riser has no moving parts, and that is its entire appeal. You take it out of the box, set it on the desk, and put your monitor on top. It lifts the screen about 5 inches and adds two open compartments underneath, which is handy for sliding a keyboard out of the way or hiding a notebook and cables. The surface is MDF with a PVC leather finish, in black or white.

Buyers generally find it stable with a 24 to 27-inch monitor. No VESA holes needed, which makes it the safe choice for monitors that won't take an arm. The top platform is around 23.6 by 9 inches, so check your desk depth before you order.

The problem is that you're locked into that fixed 5-inch raise. If it's too tall or too short for your seated eye level, there's nothing to adjust. Some owners love it; others find it doesn't fit their setup. And because the monitor simply rests on top, an awkward base design may not sit flat.

What we like:

• Useful storage under the platform
• Tool-free, effortless setup
• Works with any monitor, VESA or not
• Very low cost

Honest caveats:

• No height adjustment whatsoever
• Wide footprint swallows small desks
• Fixed raise won't suit everyone's ergonomics
• Monitors with odd bases may not sit stable

Bottom line: Right if you already know 5 inches works for you. Wrong if you need to dial anything in.

Final Verdict

Get the Amazon Basics arm. It fixes the real problem, a screen that's too low and a desk that's too cluttered, in a way the other two can't. Check your monitor's VESA holes and weight first, and if it passes, you're done.

If you can't clamp to your desk, the VIVO stand is the next best choice. If your monitor has no VESA mount, or you simply want storage and zero setup, the HUANUO riser does a modest job honestly.

One last thing: a monitor stand won't rescue a bad seat. If your chair is the real problem, start with the HON Ignition 2.0.

Check Amazon Basics Monitor Arm on Amazon