If you're looking for a gaming monitor under $300, there are plenty of options to choose from. While you won't get all of the premium features or performance of higher-end monitors, they're still great for gaming. Some do have great perks, though, like Mini LED backlighting for good picture quality, but those are rare, and most models prioritize sharp motion handling over good picture quality. You can find options in this price range in different sizes, including 24 to 32-inch displays.
They're also available in different resolutions and refresh rates, including high refresh rates for a smooth feel. Besides the refresh rate and resolution, there are a few things to consider when looking for a gaming monitor. Those with a fast response time have minimal motion blur, so this is another factor to consider for the best gaming experience. Having low input lag also results in a responsive feel, but that's the case with most monitors anyways.
We've bought and tested more than 400 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best gaming monitors under $300. See our recommendations for the best monitors under $200, the best budget and cheap gaming monitors, and, if you don't mind spending more, the best monitors under $500.
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 Gaming Monitor Under $300
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440The best gaming monitor under $300 is the AOC Q27G3XMN. It's a unique monitor with more features and better performance than similarly priced displays. It has Mini LED local dimming, which is something mainly more expensive monitors have. This helps the monitor improve its already excellent native contrast ratio by further deepening blacks, which is great if you want to use it in a dark room. It also displays bright highlights that pop in HDR, and colors are vivid.
In terms of gaming, it has a high 180Hz refresh rate and supports FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It also has a quick response time, but there's black smearing with fast-moving objects in dark scenes. It's even good for console gaming as it supports most signals. However, without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it can't take full advantage of consoles, but that's the case with most budget gaming monitors. If you can't find it available, a similar monitor to this is the AOC Q27G40XMN, which is only sold in the US. It performs similarly, and has a few advantages, like its better local dimming feature with more zones. However, it has worse ergonomics and a slower response time.
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Best Cheap Gaming Monitor Under $300
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize24"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1920 x 1080If you're on a tight budget and want a cheap monitor that costs less than the AOC Q27G3XMN, then look into the Dell SE2426HGS. While it has a 24-inch, 1080p screen, it differs from the AOC because it lacks Mini LED backlighting and has much worse HDR picture quality. This is because it can't display the same deep, inky blacks with bright highlights and vivid colors. However, this is what you have to expect from such a cheap monitor. While it's not as bright as the AOC, it's still fine if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around as it has good brightness.
That said, it's a decent choice if you need a PC gaming monitor. A benefit is that it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate than the AOC, leading to a smoother feel. Plus, its response time remains fairly consistent across its refresh rate range, resulting in minimal motion blur with no black smearing in dark scenes. It also has low input lag for a responsive feel. Plus, it supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing, and unlike other entry-level monitors, it even supports VRR with a PS5.
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Best 32-Inch Gaming Monitor Under $300
PC GamingConsole GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize32"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440Should you find the 24-inch Dell SE2426HGS or the 27-inch AOC Q27G3XMN too small, there are some cost-friendly 32-inch monitors you can get, but these usually aren't as good as smaller displays. They at least offer a more immersive gaming feel thanks to their larger screen. If that's what you want, look into the Dell Alienware AW3225DM. It has the same 1440p resolution as the AOC, but because of its larger size and lower pixel density, images and text aren't as sharp. Despite having a high native contrast ratio, it also has worse picture quality than the AOC because it has a terrible local dimming feature that only turns on in HDR and results in haloing around bright objects against dark backgrounds. That said, it's fine for gaming outside of HDR because it doesn't use this local dimming feature.
It's a good gaming monitor with a 180Hz refresh rate and support for FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility. While it has a low input lag for a responsive feel, the main downside of using it for gaming is that it has smearing behind fast-moving objects in dark scenes. This is something to consider if you play fast-paced games, in which case you may want to go for the SE2426HGS if you want smoother motion handling.
Notable Mentions
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Dell Alienware AW2725DM:
The Dell Alienware AW2725DM is an entry-level gaming monitor with a 27-inch, 1440p screen, like the AOC Q27G3XMN. The Dell has less black smearing in dark scenes. However, the downside is that it has worse HDR picture quality because it doesn't have Mini LED backlighting.
See our review -
LG 24GS65F-B:
The LG 24GS65F-B is a cheap 24-inch gaming monitor that competes with the Dell SE2426HGS. The LG has some advantages, like the fact that it gets brighter. However, it has a lower refresh rate and costs more than the Dell.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW3425DWM:
The Dell Alienware AW3425DWM is an ultrawide gaming monitor that's useful if you find the 16:9 aspect ratio of the Dell Alienware AW3225DM too narrow. It's worth getting when it's on sale for under $300 as it performs similarly to the AW3225DM, but it usually costs more.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 13, 2026:
We removed the ViewSonic XG2431 as it's hard to find, and we replaced the LG 24GS65F-B with the Dell SE2426HGS, which has a higher refresh rate. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS with the LG 24GS65F-B to better reflect the current market.
Apr 22, 2026:
In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell G2524H and the MSI G274QPF-QD, and we added the Dell Alienware AW2725DM.
Jan 27, 2026:
We verified that all the recommended monitors are still available to purchase, and we updated the text for clarity throughout.
Oct 14, 2025:
We replaced the Dell G2524H with the LG 24GS65F-B, which is cheaper, and we replaced the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B with the newer Dell Alienware AW3225DM. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the Dell S3422DWG and the AOC 24G15N with the Dell Alienware AW3425DWM, the MSI G274QPF-QD, and the G2524H.
Jun 12, 2025:
We removed the Dell Alienware AW2724DM as it's hard to find and renamed the Dell G2524H to the 'Best Cheap Monitor.' We also removed the Dell S3422DWG because it's over $300 and added the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B as the 'Best 32-Inch Monitor.' In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B and replaced the 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B with the S3422DWG.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best gaming monitors under $300 that are currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people. 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 our reviews for monitors around $300. 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.