Getting Compatible with VESA Compatibility

After weeks of research and shopping, you’ve finally located the perfect display. Stunning borderless design, ultra-wide screen, and a hi-def resolution make picking out every detail a breeze next time you’re catching up on Game of Thrones. You remind yourself you’ll use it for work too, of course - spreadsheets never looked so good. Sure, the stand is pretty ugly, but you’re not worried, because you’re fixed up with a sleek and stylish display arm. And while you’re attaching this technological beauty to the support that will free your monitor from the clutches of a garish stand, it soon becomes very clear: they don’t fit.

Enter: VESA. The wonderful standard of display mounting that can oh-so-quickly turn your favorite monitor into a mounting nightmare. Deciphering the quirks of your monitor and mounting apparatus can cause quite a few headaches if you’re not prepared, or even familiar with it. But how do you know what goes with what, or even what all these numbers mean?

VESA, or Video Electronics Standards Association, is the commonly used term to describe the size of mounting bracket an individual display is compatible with. Other, less popular names for the standard include FDMI (Flat Display Mounting Interface), or MIS (VESA Mounting Interface Standard). The size of mounting bracket is determined by the space in millimeters (mm) between holes at the rear of the display. These often look like 100mm x 100mm, 300mm x 100mm, or sometimes MIS-D, depending on the manufacturer. Most monitors use a 100mm x 100mm mount, while some ultra-wide and larger displays use a combination of 100mm, 200mm, and even 300mm sizing.

If you can’t locate the make and model of your display, measuring the mounts may be necessary. To measure the exact space, first find the distance between the center of the top left hole, and the center of the top right hole. This is the first measurement. Next, measure from the center of the top left hole to the center of the bottom left hole. This is the second measurement. Once completed, you’ll have a measurement similar to 75mm x 75mm, or 100mm x 100mm. While nearly all manufacturers today adhere to the standard, presentation of it is entirely up to them! A stand, or back panel may need to be removed to reveal the VESA mounting holes. Luckily, nearly all display manufacturers list the VESA compatibility of their display in the product’s specifications, saving you from pulling out your ruler every time. A quick glance through the product book either online or in hand will get you the size you need!

Some displays, such as iMacs, or older monitors, will require an adapter to allow the proprietary connection beneath the stand to fit on a display mount. And for monitors that simply don’t play along, a non-VESA bracket can save the day. If you’re unsure which type of converter you need, or if your monitor is even VESA compatible, the best way to find out is just to ask! Our team of experts here are happy to match the right monitor arm to your display. Let your monitors soar, clear up your desk space, and enjoy the flexibility of a display arm, simply by getting compatible with VESA.