Having a multiple monitor setup is one of the best ways to increase your screen real estate for work and play. But two horizontal monitors take up a lot of space, and that’s where vertical monitors come in. Adding the best vertical monitor for your setup can make your gaming, reading, coding, and editing more efficient and enjoyable.

Technically, almost any monitor can be a “vertical monitor” if you’re willing to replace the default stand. But that isn’t always a practical solution, so we’ve opted to only list monitors that come with pivoting stands by default. That way, you’re guaranteed a vertical monitor right out of the box. Let’s get to it.

Our Favorite Vertical Monitors

Beyond the pivoting stand requirement, we also decided to only list IPS monitors for their excellent color uniformity and viewing angles. Good viewing angles are essential, particularly with a vertical monitor setup. So, we’ve decided not to go for any TN or VA choices here.

1. Asus VG27AQ-G

The Asus VG27AQ-G can do a little bit of everything and a lot of gaming. This monitor has a high refresh rate and G-Sync for smooth motion without any annoying screen tearing for panoramic, portrait mode gaming. The 1 ms response time also ensures minimal ghosting. The features of this premium gaming monitor don’t end at entertainment, though.

The VG27AQ-G also has some great productivity features. The 99% sRGB coverage makes it a good option for photo editing and graphic design. In addition, Asus’ Eye Care blue light filtering can reduce eye fatigue during long coding, reading, or writing hours, especially at night.

Playing to the strengths of the VG27AQ-G means using it primarily for vertical, panoramic gaming. Or you could tilt this into horizontal orientation and use it as your dedicated gaming monitor when you’re done with work.

None of this stops you from using this purely as a vertical, productivity-focused monitor, mind you. That said, the cost is a bit harder to justify if you’re only looking to use this for work. But if you’re seeking a versatile, all-purpose vertical monitor perfect for work and play, this should be your number one choice.

2. ViewSonic XG2705-2K

The Asus VG27AQ-G is an excellent monitor overall, but you may not need its G-Sync Compatible feature if you’re using an AMD GPU. If you’re sticking to FreeSync and want a compelling alternative, look into the Viewsonic XG2705-2K.

The X2705-2K has a high refresh rate, fast response time, and a bezel-less design to make it suitable for panoramic gaming. The maximum refresh rate is slightly lower than the Asus at 144 Hz (vs. the Asus’ 165 Hz), but that’s not really an issue in our eyes.

For one, you’ll be hard-pressed to notice the 21 Hz difference. Secondly, 144 FPS at 1440p is already tricky enough in modern titles, so you’ll likely not even benefit from the extra refresh rate of the Asus.

Productivity-wise, the ViewSonic XG2705-2K is a wide gamut display covering 93% of the NTSC standard. This gives the monitor a lot more “pop” in the color department, which is brilliant for content consumption. However, it means that the XG2705-2K isn’t ideal for working on still images and videos designed for the sRGB standard.

It won’t be an issue for many users, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want to use this for more than just gaming and consuming content. Gamut issues aside, though, this is the best vertical gaming monitor on the list if you want to stick to Team Red.

3. LG 27UN850-W

The LG 27UN850-W isn’t cheap, but it justifies the price by being an excellent choice for work and productivity. The 4K resolution and IPS panel look great, and LG’s OnScreen software helps you fully utilize the 27UN850-W’s 4K resolution.

OnScreen is a multi-purpose tool for managing your display. Firstly, it lets you connect up to four devices to the monitor and divide your screen between all four inputs. The software also gives you several screen-splitting options for arranging multiple windows, as well as a picture-in-picture mode.

Dividing the screen up this way means that you can possibly get away with having this as your only monitor, even with multiple sources like a desktop and a laptop. It’s not quite as awesome as a dual- or triple- monitor setup, of course. But if you don’t have the space, OnScreen’s display management features might just come to your rescue.

Overall, the LG 27UN850-W’s combo of high pixel density and input (and window) handling make it a productivity powerhouse. It’s worth looking into if you need multiple programs open or have multiple devices you want to connect to a display for work.

4. Acer CB272 bmiprx

If you’re after a budget-friendly 27-inch monitor and aren’t too worried about gaming prowess, the Acer CB272 is worth investigating. It’s a no-frills monitor for sure, but it gets the basics right.

It has a “Zero Frame” design with minimal bezels, which will help you fit it snugly next to your primary monitor with minimal obstruction. There’s also Acer’s blue-light reduction mode, VisionCare, if you prefer a monitor-side control over software options.

You will have to make some compromises at this price point: the panel will look slightly blurry due to the combination of 1080p resolution and 27-inch screen size, and the 75 Hz refresh rate can’t compete with high-end monitors. But it’s not all bad: the 1 ms response time and AMD FreeSync support should still make it worthwhile for gaming, even if it’s far from the monitor’s specialty.

We would recommend a 24-inch monitor if cost is an issue, especially considering the blur issues highlighted earlier. But if you absolutely need a 27-inch monitor for roughly $150, then the Acer CB272 is the best vertical monitor for you.

5. LG 24GN650-B

The LG 24GN650-B is a great vertical monitor if you’re shopping for something in the 24-inch category. Its strong suit is definitely gaming, but there are a few non-gaming features to enjoy as well.

But let’s start with gaming first. The 144 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time are both must-haves for gaming in 2023. AMD FreeSync Premium support ensures smooth gaming no matter what your framerate. Whether you’re looking to game vertically or switch this to horizontal mode when you’re off the clock, the 24GN650-B will handle any games you throw at it.

This monitor’s thin bezel and fully adjustable stand are excellent features for a panoramic gaming setup. Smaller bezels will give you a more seamless look, and the adjustable stands make it easier to arrange multiple displays.

Aside from gaming, the 99% sRGB coverage and HDR 10 are welcome additions. This monitor’s brightness and color depth make it ideal for consuming all kinds of media. There are better choices for photo-specific work, but the LG Ultragear is the best 24-inch monitor overall as an overall package.

6. Asus ProArt Display PA248QV

The Asus ProARt Display PA248QV is an excellent purpose-built photo editing portrait monitor that lets you create and edit with impeccable color accuracy. The PA248QV covers 100% of the sRGB and Rec. 709 color spaces and ships pre-calibrated from the factory. It’s also CalMAN Verified, making this a perfect monitor for serious photo editors and artists.

Beyond the color accuracy, the PA248QV’s main selling point is its 1920 x 1200 display. This 16:10 aspect ratio makes it an excellent vertical monitor, as you get a bit of extra width that can come in handy in portrait mode. You’re not paying a huge premium for it either, which is great.

Beyond that, the PA248QV has convenient features like four USB 3.0 ports, which are useful if you regularly use USB devices over the course of a workday. It saves you from the minor extra hassle of buying a USB hub, which is always welcome.

You’re not giving up that much to get this level of convenience and color accuracy, either. Sure, the five-millisecond response time isn’t ideal, but you still get a 75-Hz refresh rate and FreeSync support. Neither are essential for content creation, but we wouldn’t turn either feature down.

Overall, the Asus PA248QV is an excellent vertical monitor for content creation. The perfect gamut coverage, pre-calibrated colors, and 16:10 aspect ratio all make it a no-brainer for photo and video professionals.

7. Samsung FT45

Samsung’s FT45 monitor isn’t an exciting product, but it has the right combination of ergonomics, price, and features to make it a solid option for everyday use as a vertical monitor.

We like the FT45’s included three-port USB hub (with two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port). That’s quite a rare feature on monitors at this price and very convenient if you regularly need to connect USB drives or external HDDs throughout your day.

It saves you from having to buy a USB hub, which is always welcome for reducing expenditure and desk clutter. The blue light-reducing eye saver mode and flicker-free display are also useful bonuses, helping to reduce eye strain during extended reading, writing, and coding hours.

While it’s not a huge issue, the FT45’s five-millisecond response time means that it’ll struggle with moving content, whether video or games. That’s not much of an issue as you’re unlikely to be using a vertical monitor for either, but it does make it a less versatile option than other 24-inch 1080p displays out there.

Beyond that, there’s not much to complain about with the Samsung FT45. It’s nothing too outstanding, but its healthy selection of video and USB ports make it a great vertical monitor for productivity and daily use.

8. Asus VG246H

The Asus VG246H isn’t the fanciest, most feature-laded monitor out there. But it has the basic features you need for a vertical monitor: an IPS panel for excellent viewing angles and a pivoting stand that lets you use it vertically right out of the box. It also has some useful gaming-friendly features, so it can double as a dedicated gaming monitor if you pivot it back into horizontal orientation.

Despite the sub-$170 price, you still get a 75 Hz, 1 ms display with AMD FreeSync support, which has become the bare minimum for a new panel these days. This isn’t a blazing-fast gaming display, but 75 Hz helps significantly with smoothness on the desktop and in daily use.

Asus markets the VG246H primarily as a gaming monitor, so you get several gaming-focused features here. These include Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur mode for reduced ghosting, Asus’ GamePlus “training” features (such as an on-screen crosshair), and Shadow Boost to raise black levels and improve visibility in dark areas.

You also get a low blue light mode, which will likely be more usable if you’re buying this as a secondary vertical monitor. While we usually use Windows’ built-in Night Light or programs like f.lux, having a monitor-level option can come in handy, too.

Like many budget monitors, the VG246H only comes with HDMI and VGA inputs. This isn’t a huge issue, but it could prove troublesome if you’re using HDMI for your other monitors and have run out of spare ports on your graphics card.

Beyond that minor issue, there’s really nothing much to complain about with the Asus VG246H. It won’t blow you away, but it’s a solid and reasonably-priced monitor if you need cheap monitor real estate.

Before You Buy

Fundamentally, finding a vertical monitor is much the same as finding a regular, horizontal monitor. But we think there are a few specs and topics worth discussing to help you make the best possible vertical monitor choice for your setup and needs.

Panel Types and Viewing Angles

Our list consists only of IPS monitors, and for a good reason. IPS has the best viewing angles and least contrast or color distortion, which helps a lot when rotating a monitor into a vertical orientation. They’re perfect for the job. VA panels will also work, but they generally perform worse than IPS panels here so they’re not as ideal.

The only panel type you want to avoid outright is TN. TN is an older panel technology that exhibits horrible color and contrast shifts when viewed at any angle other than dead-straight. Given you’re likely going to be looking up or down at the edges of your monitor, you’ll likely see some color shifts during day-to-day use.

If you’re using a vertical monitor for anything even remotely color-critical, the TN color shifts will render the monitor essentially unusable for work. You may be able to get away with one for spreadsheets or text, but we wouldn’t recommend it anyway given the relatively small price jump up to an IPS monitor.

What’s the Best Size for a Vertical Monitor?

We think 24- and 27-inch monitors work best as vertical monitors, which is why they’re the two monitor sizes on this list. You can make any size monitor work, really, as long as the stand is tall enough (or if you use a third-party mount). However, we feel that 24- and 27-inch monitors offer the best combination of price and screen real estate.

Since you’re unlikely to be using a single monitor with a vertical setup, these sizes ensure you get enough vertical real estate without taking up too much horizontal space next to your main monitor(s). This is especially useful if you’re using the default stands and not rocking a dual- or triple-monitor stand for all your monitors. Which, conveniently, brings us to our final topic.

Aftermarket Monitor Stands

Our list defines “vertical monitors” as ones with pivoting stands by default. But that means that any monitor is conceivably a “vertical” one, as long as you attach it to a stand that supports vertical pivoting.

So if you already have monitors or want to get one that doesn’t come with a pivoting stand, you can turn them into a vertical monitor with a third-party monitor stand. The only criterion is that the monitor has a VESA mount, as that’s the standard most (if not all) third-party stands use for attaching monitors.

You can go two ways with this. If you’re on a budget, you can probably get away with buying a stand for your vertical monitor while retaining your horizontal monitor’s default stand. There are quite a few options available that will do the job, such as this HUANUO stand:

If you’re feeling a bit more flush and want maximum flexibility for all of your monitors, you may want to check out dual- or triple-monitor stands. These will let you freely position, tilt, and rotate your monitors while creating a much cleaner look than having multiple stands on your desk. You can even go for wall-mounted monitor arms if you want a really clean desktop.

They’re pricier than a single stand and take a lot more time to set up, but we think they’re worth it if you’re serious about the multi-monitor life. If the setup we shared above appeals to you, this is the way to go.

Closing Thoughts

Choosing the best vertical monitor involves finding one that packs the right features within your budget. Look for high refresh rates and adaptive sync options if you’re after vertical monitors that’ll work in a gaming setup. The Asus VG27AQ-G is the perfect vertical monitor for that. But if you just need something for work or reading, one of our more budget options like the Asus VG246H will do the job perfectly.

While you’re on the hunt for a vertical display, why not take some time to familiarize yourself with some common monitor terminology and features? If terms like “IPS” and “refresh rate” are new to you, it’s worth researching them further before making a purchase. Our guides on IPS vs. TN displays and the benefits of 144 Hz refresh rates are a good place to start.