You might think the best monitors for programming could really be any old displays. After all, surely you don't need anything fancy to stare at syntax, variables and data structures for hours on end? Technically that's somewhat true – but there's a lot more to it.
As we know from years of testing, having one of the best monitors for coding can radically improve your workflow. The right programming monitor can present data in a crisp, attractive way, offer plenty of ports for your various devices, and offer programmer-friendly features like anti-glare texture or a 3:2 aspect ratio.
My top pick is the BenQ RD280U, a programmer-specific display, but there are plenty more options below. Or, if you'd prefer an all-in-one, check out our guides to the best laptops for programming and best MacBooks for programming.
Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine, he now regularly contributes to Creative Bloq about all things tech.
Best monitor for programming overall
Our top choice is a no-brainer if you want a monitor for programming and programming only. BenQ is fond of producing monitors for niche or specific use cases, and the BenQ RD280U is its 4K tilt towards programmers. It's designed entirely for people who want a dedicated monitor for their programming and nothing else. So, the anti-glare coating and eye care features make marathon sessions a little punishing, the dark modes look great, and the 3:2 aspect ratio offers more vertical real estate than the average, in a way that's useful for – you guessed it – programmers.
It's plentifully adjustable, it offers front-facing controls, and its selection of ports is generous. In our review, we did observe the various cutbacks that make it a lot less appealing to anyone who isn't planning to use it to code all day. The 60 Hz refresh rate and low contrast make gaming a non-starter, and it's not much cop for photo or video editing either. The thing is, though, that gamers and editors have literally dozens of great monitors to choose from. This one is for programmers, and it is an exemplary success in that respect – especially for the price, which is rather reasonable as far as a pro monitor goes.
See our BenQ RD280U review for more information.
"Everything from the aspect ratio and the screen coating to the display modes and contrast is geared squarely and exclusively at a single demographic. Programmers, this one's just for you."
Best curved monitor for programmers
The PD in AOC AGON PD34 stands for Porsche Design, and it shows. Fom the silver branding across the bottom bezel to the V-shaped stand and illuminated rear logo, this is a monitor that wants to be noticed. It's a shift for AOC, a brand better known for accessibly priced esports gear, and it works. At 34 inches with a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution and a gentle 1800R curve, there's enough screen that you can work close to the edges without the curve becoming a distraction, whether you're tiling code windows or laying out a design.
The colour accuracy is genuinely impressive for a monitor with gaming DNA, measuring 97.4% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3 and 112% sRGB in our tests, alongside a peak brightness of nearly 1,000 nits. The 240Hz refresh rate is overkill for programming, but if you're a gamer you'll love it. The main trade-off is size and price: at 9.1kg with a chunky stand, it needs real desk space, and it's a premium purchase you're partly paying for the badge on.
See our full AOC AGON PD34 review for more details.
"Cars and monitors don't often cross over this well: the AGON PD34 proves a curved gaming screen can hold its own for colour-critical work too."
Best programmers monitor for content creation
The BenQ PD3225U is an outstanding monitor – as long as your needs stretch beyond pure programming (and if they don't, the BenQ RD280U in our number 1 spot really should be the optimal choice). This is a monitor that's great if your working repertoire also includes visual work like design or photography – to that end, it boasts excellent colour coverage. In our testing it managed 100% of SRGB and 94% P3, plus 85% of AdobeRGB. The level of Pantone-accurate colour calibration is unnecessary for anyone who doesn't work in these fields, but if you do, this $800-$1000 monitor is a sound investment.
Programmers will likely be pleased to see the generous selection of ports included in the BenQ PD3225U. As well as the usual HDMI and DisplayPort, you also get a built-in USB hub and Thunderbolt connectivity. Its 400-nit brightness isn't the most luminous on the market – realistically it's going to be fine in the vast majority of lighting situations, but if you for whatever reason are going to need an extra-bright monitor, it might be best to look at one of the other options on our list. It's also worth noting that this monitor delivers 4K resolution on a 31.5-inch panel, which for our money delivers the kind of sharp, high-detailed visuals that hits the sweet spot for a comfortable coding experience.
See our full BenQ PD322OU review for more details.
"If your needs don’t stretch to Pantone-certified wizardry, you’re probably better off with something cheaper. If you do need excellent colour accuracy, it will be a convenient addition to your desk."
Best mid-range monitor for programming
Sitting down in front of a 3:2 monitor after years of 16:9 is a strange feeling, though not an unpleasant one. The RD280UG's image height matches that of a 32-inch, 16:9 display, and BenQ says this gives you an extra seven lines of code on screen at once. It's a very well-built screen too, with smooth adjustments, easy switching between landscape and portrait, and a neat MoonHalo ambient light on the back that's a nice touch if you're working in a dim room.
Connectivity leans hard into convenience: a single USB-C cable carries 90W of power, video and data to the monitor's built-in hub, alongside HDMI and DisplayPort for desktop machines, and there's a USB KVM for switching between multiple computers. The IPS panel covers close to the full DCI-P3 gamut at 350 nits, which is plenty for its intended use, and the 120Hz refresh rate is a genuinely welcome bonus over most programming-focused screens. At $759 / £599, it's not outrageously priced, though you can find larger 4K 16:9 monitors for less if the 3:2 shape isn't a priority for you.
See our full BenQ RD280UG review for more details.
"It's built for coders first, but graphic designers and photographers should give it a look too: that taller shape has real advantages beyond the terminal window"
Best 3:2 monitor for programmers
Huawei’s spiffy offering, the Huawei MateView, is undeniably sleek and brilliantly designed. For example, it keeps its super neat, incredibly thin design while still offering an impressive selection of ports by utilising its stand. Just as impressive are its specs that include 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage, up to DeltaE<1 colour accuracy, 500 nits of brightness, and HDR 400. Of course, being a USB-C monitor, it also boasts a USB-C port that supports data and video transfer as well as up to 65W Power Delivery.
The one thing that makes it an ideal monitor for programming, however, is its 3:2 aspect ratio – something that isn’t common with PC monitors. When we tested it out for our Huawei MateView review, we found the 3:2 aspect ratio to be excellent for productivity as that extra vertical space allows a panel to display more lines of text, which means you won’t have to scroll as much when dealing with extremely long documents. That makes this one a boon to programmers, coders and web designers.
Bear in mind that while it's plentifully available in Europe, the Huawei MateView is harder to get hold of in the US, and may require import – which will cost more.
Read our full Huawei MateView review for the complete lowdown.
"The MateView is worth the money if you’re after a stylish, high-performing, high-res monitor – with a 3:2 aspect ratio that's great for programming."
Best budget monitor for programmers
Dell has a habit of making monitors that just work, in almost any setting, and the P2725HE (marketed as the Dell 27 USB-C® Hub Monitor) continues that trend. Setup is about as simple as it gets: plug in the included USB-C cable, and video, data and 90W of charging power all travel down a single lead. For programmers who move between a laptop and a desk setup, that's a big time-saver, and the daisy-chaining support means you can add a second display without hunting for extra ports.
The 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 99% sRGB coverage and TÜV-certified eye comfort features (including reduced blue light via ComfortView Plus) make it comfortable for long coding sessions, even if the 1,920 x 1,080 resolution means it can't match the sharpness of the pricier, higher-resolution screens elsewhere on this list. The stand is fully adjustable too, with height, tilt, swivel and a 90-degree pivot into portrait mode; handy if you like to see more of a file at once without buying a 3:2 screen.
How to choose the best monitors for programming
There are some important considerations to bear in mind when buying a monitor for coding. Firstly, there's the matter of size. You'll want a screen that is large enough that you're not forced to strain to see, but not so big that you feel uneasy working on it. A huge monitor that looms over you can be uncomfortable, although that can be remedied with curved screens, which avoid you having to strain your neck to see all parts of the screen.
Another important factor is resolution. The higher the resolution, the more room you have to work, and text can look sharper too. However, ultra-high resolutions can leave text looking very small, which again is uncomfortable, although on both macOS and Windows 10, you can tweak the scaling of text so that it's more comfortable to read on high-resolution monitors.
One thing that's worth thinking about is which type of screen to go for – IPS or OLED. The essential difference is that IPS screens use a backlight, while OLED screens are illuminated via the individual pixels. An OLED screen is probably not ideal for programmers as they run the risk of burn-in – a static image becoming permanently marked on the screen if it is left there for too long. IPS panels are generally a better bet.
Ergonomics are important too. The best monitors for programming are easily adjustable, offering a good range of movement. You might also like a monitor that can be rotated to portrait orientation. Other features to look out for include blue light filtering and flicker reduction, which help take the strain off your eyes. Some monitors also offer automatic brightness adjustment, which fine-tunes the display to suit the ambient light of your setting, again helping to avoid eyestrain. It might also be worth looking at the best monitor stands to ensure you get your setup just right.
How we test the best monitors for programming
We have chosen the best monitors for programmers based on our writers' experiences when carrying our our own hands-on tests and reviews. We've looked out for things that will be particularly useful for programmers, such as anti-glare coating and eye-care features that make it easier to look at text on a black screen for long periods, as programmers are required to do.
When reviewing monitors, we conduct benchmark tests to check brightness and contrast levels, colour coverage, accuracy and uniformity. We use the monitors over several days in real-life use cases. As well as the quality of the display itself, we also evaluate build, ergonomics, connectivity and price. We then seek to identify the best monitor for different needs and budgets.
The best monitors for programming: FAQs
Are 4K monitors suitable for programming?
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When you’re coding, a monitor’s resolution will not factor in quite the way it would with other content creators. Having access to stunning graphics, at least for work, doesn’t hold the same priority as being able to work in comfort. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore UHD or 4K monitors when looking for that next display.
UHD displays do offer one particular benefit to coders over their lower-res counterparts. That higher resolution provides more screen real estate and allows you to fit more windows on your screen while working. If anything, that higher resolution allows a more streamlined workflow.
How big should my monitor be for programming?
A display’s size depends largely on how you work and what your setup is like. If you plan on sitting further back, you’ll want to use a larger monitor so you can see everything clearly. But, if you work in more cramped quarters, you’ll want to have the entire display within your field of vision. And, that means downsizing. Otherwise, you’ll end up moving your eyes and neck to the point of discomfort.
Is a curved screen good for programming?
Choosing between a flat or curved panel is mostly a matter of preference. Flat panels lend themselves much better to multi-display setups, with some of them can rotate 90 degrees to use in portrait mode.
If you’re planning on sitting a little closer to your monitor, a curved monitor might be better, especially if you don’t plan on adding a second panel. The curvature gives you a more immersive viewing experience, letting you see the corners of the screen without having to refocus on different parts of the screen. That curved design will also alleviate eye fatigue and strain.
Why do coders use vertical monitors?
When you use a vertical monitor, you’re able to read and skim through much larger portions of your work at once. Since lines of code don’t get very long, the width of a monitor doesn’t come into play when writing or reading through your code the way it does for photo or video editing work. So, turning a monitor into portrait mode makes the best use of your screen space. Of course, you’ll want to pair that with a monitor in landscape mode to see the results.
