Buying Guide

The Best Monitor Stand Risers

Six risers, from plain platforms to dual-width drawers.

By , PC Hardware Editor

12 min read6 products evaluated

A desk setup with a keyboard, mouse and headset beside a monitor
Illustrative image

A riser lifts a monitor without a VESA mount. These six range from single platforms to dual-width drawers.

Load and height come from each listing.

Quick Picks

Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.

Our Picks

Best Steel Platform1 of 6

HUANUO Monitor Riser with Vented Metal Platform

HUANUO's riser has a vented steel platform and a 44 lb limit.

Best for

Heavy screens.

Skip if

If budget leads, the WALI riser was cheaper at our last price check.
HUANUO Monitor Riser with Vented Metal Platform

Why we like it

It also suits a laptop or printer. Its perforated steel platform lifts a monitor by about 4 inches and lets a laptop breathe. At 14.57 inches wide it suits a single screen.

It assembles in about two minutes, and the space underneath stores a keyboard or papers. Its solid steel plate holds monitors, laptops and printers. At 3.94 inches tall it raises the screen a modest amount, which suits shorter desks.

On load rating it ties with the Canyora riser and the WALI riser at 44 lbs. You get a 14.94 in steel plate platform here, which sets it apart from the OPNICE 2-tier and its a 2-tier platform. Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the HUANUO riser's platform before ordering. When we checked, only the WALI riser cost less, and the Canyora riser cost more.

Key specs

Load
44 lbs
Platform
14.94 in steel plate

Pros

  • Holds up to 44 lbs
  • Vented steel platform
  • 44 lb limit
  • Room for a laptop or printer

Cons

  • Costs more than the WALI riser at the time of writing

Best Height Settings2 of 6

Canyora Monitor Stand Riser with 3 Heights

Canyora's riser has three height settings and a 44 lb limit.

Best for

Eye-level tuning.

Skip if

If budget leads, the WALI riser was cheaper at our last price check.
Canyora Monitor Stand Riser with 3 Heights

Why we like it

It suits a single monitor. It assembles in under 30 seconds, and 150 ventilation holes keep a laptop or PC cool. It can also work as a floor shelf.

It matches the HUANUO riser and the WALI riser on load rating (44 lbs). You get a 3 settings height here, which sets it apart from the WALI riser and its an adjustable height. Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the Canyora riser's platform before ordering. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper HUANUO riser and the pricier Amazon Basics riser, at the time of writing.

Key specs

Load
44 lbs
Height
3 settings

Pros

  • Holds up to 44 lbs
  • Three height settings
  • 44 lb limit

Cons

  • Costs more than the WALI riser at the time of writing

Best Adjustable Basic3 of 6

Amazon Basics Height Adjustable Monitor Stand Riser

Amazon Basics' riser adjusts in height and offers a 22 lb limit.

Best for

Single screens.

Skip if

Skip it if load rating matters most to you; the HUANUO riser offers 44 lbs.
Amazon Basics Height Adjustable Monitor Stand Riser

Why we like it

The platform is about 11 inches deep at the center. Its ABS riser holds up to 22 lbs and sits on non-skid feet. It is light enough to move between desks.

On load rating it trails the group at 22 lbs, while the HUANUO riser is rated for 44 lbs. Like the WALI riser, it has an adjustable height, while the Canyora riser uses a 3 settings height. Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the Amazon Basics riser's platform before ordering.

You also get this: 22 lb limit. It was priced above the Canyora riser and below the OPNICE 2-tier at the time of writing.

Key specs

Load
22 lbs
Height
Adjustable

Pros

  • Adjustable height
  • 22 lb limit
  • Platform about 11 inches deep at the center

Cons

  • Load rating trails the HUANUO riser (44 lbs)
  • Costs more than the WALI riser at the time of writing

Best Budget4 of 6

WALI Adjustable Computer Monitor Stand

WALI's adjustable stand offers a 44 lb (20 kg) limit.

Best for

Tight budgets.

Skip if

Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
WALI Adjustable Computer Monitor Stand

Why we like it

Its 14.6 by 9.3 inch shelf raises a screen by 4.5, 5.3 or 6.1 inches. The vented shelf also works for a laptop or printer. It assembles without tools, and the space underneath holds a keyboard or notebooks.

The black finish suits most desks. It matches the HUANUO riser and the Canyora riser on load rating (44 lbs). It shares an adjustable height with the Amazon Basics riser; the Canyora riser goes with a 3 settings height.

You also get the lowest price among the risers here. Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the WALI riser's platform before ordering. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the HUANUO riser was the next step up.

Key specs

Load
44 lbs
Height
Adjustable

Pros

  • Holds up to 44 lbs
  • 44 lb (20 kg) limit
  • Adjustable height
  • The lowest price among the risers here

Best Dual Drawer5 of 6

gianotter Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer

gianotter's dual riser adds a drawer and two magnetic pen holders.

Best for

Two screens.

Skip if

The maker gives no load rating, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
gianotter Dual Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer

Why we like it

It spans two monitors or a monitor and a laptop. It needs no assembly and has a drawer, and it raises two monitors to eye level. No other pick in this guide offers a dual platform; compare the HUANUO riser, which has a 14.94 in steel plate platform.

Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the gianotter riser's platform before ordering. The gianotter riser's drawer needs clearance in front, so keep the keyboard slightly forward. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the OPNICE 2-tier. Buyers who need a confirmed load rating should compare it with the HUANUO riser, which is rated for 44 lbs.

Key specs

Platform
Dual
Storage
Drawer, 2 pen holders

Pros

  • Built-in drawer
  • Two magnetic pen holders
  • Dual-width platform

Cons

  • No published load rating
  • Costs more than the WALI riser at the time of writing

Best Two-Tier6 of 6

OPNICE 2-Tier Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer

OPNICE's two-tier riser adds a drawer and two hanging pen holders.

Best for

Small desks.

Skip if

Pass if a published load rating matters; this one has none.
OPNICE 2-Tier Monitor Stand Riser with Drawer

Why we like it

The second tier holds small items. It adds a second tier of storage under the monitor, and OPNICE offers a 100-day return window. A 2-tier platform is unique to it among these picks, while the gianotter riser uses a dual platform.

Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the OPNICE 2-tier's platform before ordering. The OPNICE 2-tier's drawer needs clearance in front, so keep the keyboard slightly forward. It was priced above the Amazon Basics riser and below the gianotter riser at the time of writing. There is no published load rating figure, whereas the HUANUO riser is rated for 44 lbs.

Key specs

Platform
2-tier
Storage
Drawer, 2 pen holders

Pros

  • Built-in drawer
  • Two-tier platform
  • Two hanging pen holders

Cons

  • No published load rating
  • Costs more than the WALI riser at the time of writing

How We Chose These Monitor Stand Risers

Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.

A gas-spring monitor arm mounted to the back of a monitor
A gas-spring monitor arm mounted to the back of a monitor
How these picks were ranked
We lined up six monitor risers on load rating, height, platform and storage as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 6 picks leave out load rating.
Where the specs have gaps
The gianotter riser and the OPNICE 2-tier give no load rating; the HUANUO riser, the gianotter riser and the OPNICE 2-tier give no height.
Price range
From the WALI riser to the gianotter riser, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.

What to Look for in a Monitor Stand Riser

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. How much load rating you need

    Here load rating runs from 22 lbs on the Amazon Basics riser to 44 lbs on the HUANUO riser, a 100% spread. The HUANUO riser is the pick for load rating. The gianotter riser and the OPNICE 2-tier give no load rating figure, so 4 of 6 picks are compared here.

  2. Platform

    The HUANUO riser lists 14.94 in steel plate; the gianotter riser lists dual; the OPNICE 2-tier lists 2-tier. Sort out platform before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 1, 1 and 1.

    A desk with two monitors and a monitor light bar
    A desk with two monitors and a monitor light bar
  3. Setup checks

    Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the HUANUO riser's platform before ordering. Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the Amazon Basics riser's platform before ordering. Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the OPNICE 2-tier's platform before ordering.

  4. Extras that separate them

    The WALI riser: adjustable height. The gianotter riser: two magnetic pen holders. The OPNICE 2-tier: a drawer.

    A monitor light bar above two monitors on a wooden desk
    A monitor light bar above two monitors on a wooden desk
  5. How much to spend

    All 6 sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, from the WALI riser at the low end to the gianotter riser at the top, so decide on features first.

How to Choose a Monitor Stand Riser

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Heavy screensHUANUO riserA vented steel platform rated for 44 lb
Eye-level tuningCanyora riserThree height settings and a 44 lb limit
Single screensAmazon Basics riserAdjustable height
Tight budgetsWALI riserA 44 lb limit at the lowest price here
Two screensgianotter riserA dual platform with a drawer
Small desksOPNICE 2-tierA two-tier platform with a drawer

Scroll sideways to see every column.

A light bar and two monitors on arms above a keyboard
A light bar and two monitors on arms above a keyboard

Key specs side by side

The HUANUO riser leads on load rating at 44 lbs, ahead of the Canyora riser at 44 lbs. "Not listed" marks load rating where the gianotter riser and the OPNICE 2-tier leave the figure out.

Monitor RiserLoadHeightPlatformStorage
HUANUO riser44 lbsNot listed14.94 in steel plateNot listed
Canyora riser44 lbs3 settingsNot listedNot listed
Amazon Basics riser22 lbsAdjustableNot listedNot listed
WALI riser44 lbsAdjustableNot listedNot listed
gianotter riserNot listedNot listedDualDrawer, 2 pen holders
OPNICE 2-tierNot listedNot listed2-tierDrawer, 2 pen holders

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Frequently Asked Questions

A monitor on an arm on a desk lit purple
A monitor on an arm on a desk lit purple

Why is the Canyora riser our Best Height Settings pick?

It carries the badge for three height settings and a 44 lb limit. It suits eye-level tuning.

Do the Canyora riser and the Amazon Basics riser differ on height?

The Canyora riser uses 3 settings; the Amazon Basics riser and the WALI riser use Adjustable. The HUANUO riser, the gianotter riser and the OPNICE 2-tier have no height listed, so 3 of 6 picks are covered here.

Will the Amazon Basics riser work with my setup?

Measure your monitor stand's footprint against the Amazon Basics riser's platform before ordering. In this guide it ranks third of 6, as our Best Adjustable Basic pick, and fourth of 4 on load rating (22 lbs).

What extras do the HUANUO riser and the Canyora riser include?

The HUANUO riser: a vented steel platform. The Canyora riser: three height settings. The Amazon Basics riser: adjustable height.

Who should choose the HUANUO riser?

The HUANUO riser carries our Best Steel Platform label for a vented steel platform rated for 44 lb. It ranks first of 6 here and sat in the under $50 tier at our last price check; it suits heavy screens.

Bottom Line

HUANUO's steel riser is the pick for a vented 44 lb platform. Canyora adds three heights, and gianotter's dual riser adds a drawer.

About the author

PC Hardware Editor

Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.

Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility

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