One of the most common monitor sizes is 27 inches. An advantage of this size is that it isn't so big that it's overwhelming on your desk. It also offers enough screen real estate to place two windows side by side, especially compared to smaller screens. There's a wide range of 27-inch monitors available with various resolutions, refresh rates, panel types, and features, catering to different usages. These monitors are also available at different price points, so you can find one that fits your budget.
Most 27-inch monitors are good enough for everyday use, and many even include gaming features like HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of the latest graphics cards and gaming consoles. That said, if you don't need gaming features and prefer something for productivity, many models offer extras like USB hubs to connect different devices and ergonomic stands, which are useful for sharing your screen with people next to you. Plus, high resolution and pixel density help ensure sharp text clarity. Although there's no perfect solution for everyone, you should consider what you need your monitor for.
We've bought and tested over 415 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 27-inch monitors you can buy. Also, check out our recommendations for the best 27-inch gaming monitors, the best work monitors if you need something for productivity, and, if you want other sizes, the best monitor sizes for gaming. You can also learn more about 27- vs 32-inch monitors.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best 27-Inch Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingBrightnessResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The best 27-inch monitor we've tested is the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. Although it's designed for gaming, it's versatile for a range of uses thanks to its fantastic picture quality. It has an OLED panel that has no haloing around bright objects against dark backgrounds. It displays deep blacks in a dark room, but blacks look purple in bright rooms, so you need to use it in a dark room for the best picture quality. Besides that, small highlights also get bright enough to pop for a vivid viewing experience in HDR when watching content or gaming, though larger highlights are more muted. Plus, the monitor has fantastic motion handling, so fast-moving objects look very crisp.
Fortunately, it has features to enhance productivity, including a 4k resolution that makes text look sharp. It delivers up to 90W of power to a laptop over USB-C, which is enough to keep most laptops fully charged when you're using them. There's a KVM switch, which lets you switch between sources and use the same keyboard and mouse with both. It also comes with an ergonomic stand and a wide viewing angle, which helps if you need to share the screen with someone next to you. However, it's not something you should get only for work, as it risks burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time. That said, this is less of a concern if you change up what you do, like playing games when you aren't working.
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Best Upper Mid-Range 27-Inch Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingBrightnessResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you find the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM too expensive or don't want an OLED for work, considering its risk of burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, check out the Dell U2725QE. It's another 4k option, but a main difference with the ASUS is that this monitor has worse picture quality. Despite having a decent native contrast ratio, blacks look gray against bright highlights. It also has a terrible edge-lit local dimming feature that only turns on in HDR and causes haloing around bright objects in dark backgrounds. This means it's not recommended for playing games or watching HDR content. It at least has good accuracy before any calibration in SDR, which helps if you're a content creator, and it's bright enough to fight glare in most well-lit rooms.
Instead of focusing on high-refresh-rate gaming and incredible motion handling, this monitor offers many perks to boost your productivity. This includes a large USB hub with five USB-A and five USB-C ports, so you can connect a wide range of devices directly to the monitor. It also supports Thunderbolt 4 with 140W of power delivery, which is ideal if you have a power-hungry laptop that requires Thunderbolt, like a MacBook. Similar to the ASUS, it even has a KVM switch to easily change between sources and use the same devices.
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Best Mid-Range 27-Inch Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingBrightnessResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If the Dell U2725QE is still out of your budget, and you want something versatile at a lower cost, check out the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx instead. Although it has the same 4k resolution as the Dell, it differs in several ways. For example, it has fewer USB ports and doesn't support Thunderbolt over USB-C. That said, it's useful for work, as it still has a small USB hub with DisplayPort Alt Mode instead and 90W of power delivery over USB-C. This means you can still connect your laptop and charge it with a single cable, but at reduced power and slower data transfer speeds. Like the Dell, it even has a KVM switch, which is helpful if you want to connect more than one computer to the monitor.
It has advantages over the Dell when it comes to gaming. It has a higher native 160Hz refresh rate and better motion handling, so there's less blur behind fast-moving objects. It even has a dual-mode feature to boost it to a 320Hz refresh rate with a lower 1080p resolution, which helps if you like playing different types of games. Plus, it delivers good HDR picture quality thanks to its Mini LED backlighting with fairly deep blacks and bright highlights, but there's black crush that mutes details in dark scenes. You can't use its local dimming outside of HDR, so blacks look gray, and it has worse SDR picture quality.
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Best Lower Mid-Range 27-Inch Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingBrightnessResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you want to save some money without necessarily getting a budget monitor, look into the Dell S2725QC instead. It's a 4k display like the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, so it displays the same sharp text and has similar productivity-focused features. It has a USB hub and 65W of power delivery to charge many work laptops, but it doesn't have a KVM switch. This is a downside if you want to connect more than one computer to the monitor. It also has worse picture quality than the Acer because it lacks local dimming and has a low contrast ratio, making blacks look gray. This means it's a bad choice for HDR, which is to be expected at this price point. However, its picture quality is similar outside of HDR since you can't use the Acer monitor's local dimming with those signals.
Although this model is meant for office work, it includes some gaming features that make it versatile. It has a 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. So, you can use it with a modern gaming console with 4k signals up to 120Hz, but it has worse motion handling than the Acer. If you don't need these gaming features and prefer an extra USB port and higher power delivery for more power-hungry laptops, you can also check out the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. It's another great 4k work monitor that offers better color accuracy for content creation, but it costs more.
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Best Budget 27-Inch Monitor
OfficeEditingPC GamingConsole GamingBrightnessResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureColor AccuracySize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you're on a tight budget, then check out the AOC Q27G3XMN. It's a step down from the Dell S2725QC in terms of features, as it lacks any USB ports. You can't connect devices directly to the monitor, and it also has a lower 1440p resolution, so images and text aren't as sharp and detailed. This means it's worse for work, but that's what you have to expect from a budget monitor. Instead, it has some gaming features, like a 180Hz max refresh rate, so it's a good choice if you're a casual gamer.
What makes it better than most other 27-inch budget monitors is its Mini LED backlighting, which works quite well. This helps it display deep blacks in dark scenes, and it also gets very bright. This means highlights pop, and it easily fights glare, which is useful if you want a monitor for work or watching your favorite content in well-lit spaces. However, it has some black smearing with fast-moving content in dark scenes, like in fast-paced games. You may want to consider the KOORUI S2721PM if you want to avoid this black smearing. However, it has a lower contrast ratio, so it doesn't display the same deep blacks as the AOC.
Notable Mentions
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Dell Alienware AW2725Q:
The Dell Alienware AW2725Q is a 4k QD-OLED that's a lower-cost alternative to the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It performs very similarly in many ways. However, it's less accurate in HDR and doesn't have the ASUS monitor's extra features, like DisplayPort 2.1 bandwidth and a KVM switch.
See our review -
LG 27GM950B-B:
The LG 27GM950B-B is a high-end 5k gaming monitor with Mini LED backlighting. It delivers sharper text and gets brighter than the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. The LG is a good alternative if you don't want the burn-in risk of an OLED, but it has worse motion handling than the ASUS.
See our review -
MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M:
The MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M is a mid-range Mini LED monitor that competes directly with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx, and performs similarly for the most part. The MSI is a good alternative if you want to use its local dimming in SDR. However, it costs more than the Acer.
See our review -
Dell S2725QS:
The Dell S2725QS is a lower-end model than the Dell S2725QC, which performs similarly but lacks USB ports. The S2725QS costs less, so it's a good alternative if you don't need the extra ports.
See our review -
MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV:
The MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV is a low-cost 1440p model with Mini LED backlighting, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. The MSI has a few extra perks, like a faster 300Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. However, the MSI costs more, so it's only worth getting if you're willing to stretch your budget.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 09, 2026:
We removed the Dell S2725DC from the cheap category because it's priced similarly to the budget pick. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, and we added the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M and the MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV to better represent the current market.
Aug 14, 2026:
We replaced the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx as it's cheaper for nearly the same performance. We also added the KOORUI S2721PM to the Notable Mentions.
Jun 26, 2026:
We replaced the KOORUI S2741LM, which is hard to find, with the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the LG 27GX970B-B with the LG 27GM950B-B, which gets brighter and has a higher resolution.
May 05, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG with the Dell U2725QE, which has better work-focused features. We also replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx with the KOORUI S2741LM for consistency with other recommendations. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell Alienware AW2725DF and added the XG27ACDNG and the XV275K.
Apr 02, 2026:
We replaced the MSI G274QPF-QD, which is hard to find, with the Dell S2725DC as the 'Best Cheap 27-Inch Monitor.' In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GX790A-B and added the LG 27GX790B-B and the Dell Alienware AW2725DF.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 27-inch monitors currently available in the United States. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. The rating is based on our review, visitor feedback, and price. For example, two monitors may perform the same, but the cheaper one will be recommended. We also consider availability, as we don't recommend a monitor that's hard to find.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of our 27-inch monitor reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the metrics that fare worse are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.