Using a monitor in a vertical orientation can be helpful if you have a multi-monitor setup, like if you want to use one screen vertically next to your main display. Most monitors on the market aren't specifically designed for use in a vertical orientation; instead, they have stands that allow the screen to rotate vertically. Although you can use pretty much any monitor in a vertical orientation with a proper mount, for this article, we only consider displays that can rotate vertically with the proprietary stand, ensuring you don't have to worry about any extra expenses.
Besides whether or not the stand can rotate into portrait mode, you have to consider other factors to ensure a monitor has good performance for what you need. Thinking about your budget is a good place to start, as there are options available at different price points. Having a high resolution for sharp text clarity is also important, but remember that programs don't render text as well in portrait mode, so the text clarity isn't as sharp as in a landscape orientation. That said, the difference is hard to tell unless you really look for it.
We've bought and tested more than 325 monitors, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best monitors for vertical use. Also, see our recommendations for the best office monitors, the best monitors for dual setup, and the best portable monitors.
The best vertical monitor that we've tested is the Dell S2722QC. It's an office-oriented, 27-inch 4k monitor that has sharp text clarity. It has everything you'd want in a vertical monitor, as its stand allows you to rotate the screen into portrait mode either clockwise or counterclockwise, which is useful as you can choose which side you want its inputs to face. It also offers all other common ergonomic adjustments, including swivel, height, and tilt adjustments. Its wide viewing angles are great as you'll see a consistent image from the sides, which is ideal if you aren't directly facing the monitor.
It has some productivity features thanks to its USB hub, which includes a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery. This means you can display a video signal from your laptop and charge it using a single cable, as long as your laptop doesn't require too much power. However, if you want a 4k monitor with higher power delivery, the Dell U2723QE is a great option that has an even bigger USB hub, but it costs more, so it may be too much if you aren't using it as your main monitor.
If you find the 27-inch screen of the Dell S2722QC too big to use in a vertical orientation, there are some good 24-inch models you can get. The smaller screens are better if you have limited desk space, and if that's what you're interested in, then check out the Dell P2423D. Unlike many monitors in this size range, it has a 1440p resolution, so while the pixel density is lower than the 4k screen of the S2722QC, text is still very sharp. It also comes with an extremely ergonomic stand, making it easy to adjust, and it has a few useful features.
It has four USB-A ports to which you can connect your devices, but because it doesn't have a USB-C port like the S2722QC, you can't charge your laptop directly from the monitor. Besides that, it's pretty basic as it doesn't even support HDR, so if that's important to you, it's better to use it as a secondary monitor and get a primary monitor with better HDR performance.
If you're looking for the best monitor for vertical use and are on a budget, consider the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV. Although both the Dell S2722QC and the Dell P2423D are low-cost monitors, the ASUS is usually cheaper. It has the same 1440p resolution as the P2423D, but because of the bigger screen, it has lower pixel density and worse text clarity. On the plus side, it has an extremely ergonomic stand, so you can adjust it as you prefer while you're working. It's also a good choice for office use in a bright room as it gets bright enough to fight glare, and it has very good reflection handling.
It has fewer features than the S2722QC, but it has a USB hub with four USB-A ports like the P2423D. If you do want something with a few more perks, like a DisplayPort output for daisy chaining, the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV is a great alternative that performs similarly, but it tends to cost more than the PA278QV.
Should you want something simple and cheap, look into the Dell P2425H, which you can get for a low cost directly from Dell's website. It's smaller and has a lower resolution than the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV, so images are less detailed, but the text clarity is still decent. It doesn't get as bright as the ASUS either, so you need to use it in a dim or dark room, but the reflection handling is good.
That said, it has features most entry-level monitors don't have, like the extremely ergonomic stand that you can easily rotate into portrait mode. It even has a USB hub that includes three USB-A ports and a USB-C port, making it easy to connect your devices, like a mouse and keyboard, directly to the monitor. However, the USB-C port doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode like on higher-end monitors, so you can't display video signals from it.
Aug 29, 2024: We removed the Dell U2723QE and the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV to better represent what people need with a vertical monitor. Because of that, we renamed the Dell S2722QC to 'Best Vertical Monitor.' We also replaced the ASUS ProArt Display PA278CV with the ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV because it's cheaper and added the Dell P2425H as the 'Best Cheap Monitor'. In Notable Mentions, we removed the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the Dell U3223QE and added the ASUS VG246H to reflect the changes to the recommendation.
Jun 06, 2024: Replaced the ASUS VG246H with the Dell P2423D and renamed the category from 'Best Cheap' to 'Best 24-Inch,' as the ASUS is harder to find and the Dell is newly reviewed.
Apr 16, 2024: Verified our picks for accuracy and consistency.
Feb 13, 2024: Added the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range' monitor to give another option and for consistency with other recommendations; added the Dell S2721QS to Notable Mentions.
Dec 12, 2023: Replaced the INNOCN 27M2V and the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx with the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV in Notable Mentions because of availability.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best portrait monitors that are currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price, and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all our reviews of monitors that can rotate vertically. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.