Using two monitors in your setup offers many benefits for multitasking. Some brands and retailers sell two-in-one monitor bundles, but those are usually cheap displays that aren't special. So, if your budget allows for it, getting two units of a better model is the best way to go. While you can choose any size you prefer, 24- and 27-inch screens are commonly used in a dual setup, as larger displays can occupy too much space. Other factors impact the screen's performance in a multi-display setup, like its viewing angle and ergonomics, which help if you don't view the monitor from directly in front.
Before buying anything, you'll want to think about how to set up dual monitors. Most modern computers don't have issues outputting two signals at once. It's easiest if your computer or laptop has two video outputs or if you have a dock with multiple video outputs. That said, if your PC only has one output and you don't have an adapter, then one of the monitors you purchase needs to support daisy chaining to a secondary screen.
We've bought and tested over 380 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best secondary monitor. See our recommendations for the best USB-C monitors and the best vertical monitors. However, if you think a dual monitor setup isn't right for you, it may be worth looking for the best ultrawide monitors instead.
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 Monitor For Dual Setup
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessErgonomicsSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160See all our test resultsDaisy ChainingThe best monitor for dual setup that we've tested is the Dell U2725QE. It's a high-end 4k monitor with a ton of features, including a large USB hub. What makes it such a great choice for a multi-monitor setup is that it includes both Thunderbolt and DisplayPort video outputs. This means you can connect up to two monitors directly to this one. It's something you can use as a central hub in your multi-monitor setup, thanks to these, and you won't need to spend extra on an external video dock.
Besides that, it has five total USB-C ports and five USB-A ports, so you can connect all kinds of devices to it. It also has a KVM switch, making it easy to switch between computers and use the same devices on both. Besides its feature-filled hub, it has good picture quality with a high 4k resolution that results in sharp image and text clarity. It also gets bright enough to fight glare in most rooms, and its wide viewing angle keeps the image consistent even when you aren't viewing it directly from the front. Plus, it comes with an extremely ergonomic stand, making it very easy to adjust in your setup.
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Best Mid-Range Monitor For Dual Setup
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessErgonomicsSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160See all our test resultsDaisy ChainingIf you don't have the budget for the Dell U2725QE, or simply don't need all its premium perks, then consider a lower-end option, like the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. The main trade-off for getting this model at a lower cost is that it has fewer features than the Dell. It has fewer USB ports and no KVM switch, so it's not as convenient to use if you want to connect two computers to it and switch between them frequently. However, it has useful perks, such as a DisplayPort output for daisy chaining. Plus, one of its USB-C ports supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery, so it can charge your laptop and display an image from it with one cable.
Despite the differences in features, it has a similar picture quality to the Dell, as it's another 4k, 27-inch display. Text looks sharp, visibility isn't an issue in most well-lit rooms, and it has a wide viewing angle that's useful if you're viewing the display from the sides. Plus, it has picture modes for content creators using different color spaces, including up to Rec. 2020, and it's very accurate in its sRGB mode.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Monitor For Dual Setup
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessErgonomicsSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate120 HzNative Resolution3840 x 2160See all our test resultsDaisy ChainingIf you want a more cost-friendly alternative without giving up much in picture quality, then check out the Dell S2725QC. It's similar enough to the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV as it's another 4k, 27-inch option with similar picture quality. It has good brightness, a wide viewing angle, and colors are accurate before calibration. However, it doesn't have as many picture modes for various color spaces as the ASUS. That said, the biggest difference between this monitor and the ASUS is that it doesn't have any video outputs, so you can't daisy-chain a second monitor to this one. Due to this, you have to have a dock or make sure your computer has enough video ports to connect two monitors.
Despite not having video outputs, this monitor also has a small USB hub. It includes two USB-A and two USB-C ports, one of which supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W of power delivery to charge a laptop. However, unlike higher-end monitors, it doesn't have a KVM switch. If you don't need this USB hub, you can also check out the cheaper Dell S2725QS, which performs similarly but has fewer features.
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Best Budget Monitor For Dual Setup
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessErgonomicsSize27"Panel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate144 HzNative Resolution2560 x 1440See all our test resultsDaisy ChainingIf you're on a budget and find that the Dell S2725QC is still too expensive or you can't find it on sale, then the Dell S2725DC is a great choice as a budget monitor. It's different from the S2725QC because it has a lower 1440p resolution. While this means that text doesn't look as sharp, there are a few advantages to using a lower-resolution display, as it's less demanding on your computer.
Like the S2725QC, it doesn't have a video output for daisy chaining, so your computer needs to have two video outputs, or you have to have an external dock. Besides that, it comes with a very ergonomic stand, has a wide viewing angle, gets fairly bright, and the screen coating reduces glare well. Although it doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode, colors are still accurate before calibration. Plus, it has the same number of USB ports as the S2725QC, so you can quickly connect a laptop over USB-C or other devices over USB-A.
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Best Cheap Monitor For Dual Setup
OfficeEditingSDR PictureHDR PictureColor AccuracySDR BrightnessErgonomicsSize24"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate100 HzNative Resolution1920 x 1080See all our test resultsDaisy ChainingShould you be looking for the best secondary monitor at a cheap price, or even if you need to buy a bunch for your office space, then check out the Dell P2425H. It's a step down in performance from the Dell S2725DC because it has a lower 1080p resolution, so it has worse text clarity, and it doesn't get as bright either. It also has a smaller screen, which you may prefer for a multi-monitor setup because having two of them side by side takes up less screen space than larger monitors.
It actually has a few more features than you'd normally find on an entry-level work monitor. Besides its ergonomic stand, it also comes with a USB hub that includes three USB-A ports and a USB-C port. However, unlike higher-end monitors, the USB-C port doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode, so you can't use it to display a video signal from your laptop. It's meant for data transfer or charging small devices with 15W of power delivery.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV:
The ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV is a premium work monitor with a higher 5k resolution than the Dell U2725QE. This is something to consider if you want the higher pixel density, but two 5k monitors may be too demanding on your computer.
See our review -
Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx:
The Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx is a mid-range 4k monitor with better HDR picture quality than the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV thanks to its Mini LED backlighting. However, it doesn't have a video output, and it has a smaller USB hub than the ASUS.
See our review -
AOC Q27G3XMN:
The AOC Q27G3XMN is a budget-friendly 1440p monitor with better picture quality than the Dell S2725DC. It's a good monitor if you care about having better picture quality. However, it's not as good for productivity because it has a narrow viewing angle.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS:
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is an entry-level 1440p monitor that competes with the Dell S2725DC. It's something to consider over the Dell if you're a gamer, as it has better motion handling. That said, the ASUS has lower power delivery over USB-C.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 12, 2026:
We replaced the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS with the Dell S2725DC for consistency with other recommendations. We also replaced the MSI G274QPF-QD with the XG27ACS in the Notable Mentions.
Jan 27, 2026:
We verified that all recommended monitors are available and added the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx to the Notable Mentions.
Oct 09, 2025:
We added the Dell S2725QC as the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Dual Monitor' to give another option, and we replaced the Dell P2423D with the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS, which is easier to find. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell S2722QC and the Dell U2723QE and added the MSI G274QPF-QD, the ASUS ProArt Display PA27JCV, and the AOC Q27G3XMN.
May 30, 2025:
We added the Dell U2725QE as the 'Best Monitor' because it has a ton of features, and renamed the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV as the 'Best Mid-Range Monitor.' We also moved the Dell S2722QC to the Notable Mentions and replaced the Dell S2721QS with the Dell U2723QE in the Notable Mentions.
Feb 19, 2025:
We introduced a new format to the article and overhauled the recommended monitors to reflect this. We replaced the Dell S2721QS with the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV as it has extra features. We removed the Dell G2724D because it's hard to find and renamed the Dell P2423D as 'Best Budget Monitor.' We also added the Dell S2722QC as the 'Best Mid-Range Monitor.' We added the Dell S2721QS and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for dual setup. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. The 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 of our monitor reviews. 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.