Monitor Buying Guide

How to Choose a Monitor — Size, Resolution & Connections Explained

Buying a monitor can feel confusing when you are faced with a wall of specifications — screen sizes, resolution numbers, panel types, refresh rates and connection types. This guide explains what each one means in plain English so you can choose the right monitor for your needs and budget without getting lost in the detail.

What Size Monitor Do I Need?

Monitor size is measured diagonally from corner to corner. Here is a practical guide to which size suits which situation:

Screen Size	Best For	Notes
21.5 inch	Basic office use, small desks, tight budgets	Compact and cost-effective. Fine for emails, documents and everyday tasks.
24 inch	Office use, home offices, most everyday tasks	The most popular size for a reason — a comfortable balance of screen space and desk footprint.
27 inch	Larger desks, creative work, dual-purpose use	More screen space for multitasking. Best with 1440p resolution at this size.
32 inch+	Creative professionals, large desks, video work	A significant desk presence — make sure you have the space before buying.

For most home offices and business desks, a 24 inch Full HD monitor is the practical sweet spot

It provides a comfortable amount of screen space for everyday tasks, sits neatly on most desks and is available at very reasonable prices. If your desk is large or you regularly work with multiple windows open at once, consider stepping up to 27 inches.

What Resolution Should I Choose?

Resolution refers to the number of pixels on screen — more pixels means a sharper, more detailed image. The most common resolutions you will see are:

Resolution	Also Known As	Best For
1920 x 1080	Full HD / 1080p	Everyday office use, home offices, general use up to 24 inches
2560 x 1440	QHD / 1440p / 2K	27 inch screens, creative work, anyone wanting a sharper image
3840 x 2160	4K / UHD	Video editing, photo work, large screens where detail matters

For most home and business users, Full HD (1080p) is perfectly adequate up to 24 inches. On a 27 inch screen at close range, 1080p can start to look slightly soft — 1440p is a better choice at that size. 4K monitors deliver the sharpest image but require a more capable graphics card and are best suited to creative professionals or larger screens.

What Connection Types Do I Need?

Before buying a monitor, check what display outputs your computer has. The most common connection types are:

HDMI

The most common connection type. Found on almost all modern monitors, computers, laptops and graphics cards. Supports Full HD and 4K depending on the HDMI version. A safe default choice for most setups.

DisplayPort

Common on desktop PCs and gaming monitors. Supports higher refresh rates and resolutions than standard HDMI. Preferred for gaming setups and professional use where the highest quality connection matters.

USB-C

Found on many modern laptops. Some USB-C ports support video output (DisplayPort Alt Mode) which means you can connect a monitor directly via USB-C — often also delivering power to the laptop at the same time.

VGA

An older analogue connection type found on older computers and monitors. If your computer only has VGA output, you may need a VGA to HDMI adapter. IT Done Right stocks cables and adapters if needed.

DVI

Older than HDMI but still found on some desktop PCs and monitors. Carries video only — no audio. An adapter may be needed if your computer and monitor have different connection types.

Not sure what connections your computer has?

Look at the back or side of your computer or laptop for the ports available. If you are unsure, contact IT Done Right with your computer model and we can advise which monitor connections will work for your setup.

What Is Refresh Rate and Do I Need a High One?

Refresh rate is measured in Hz and refers to how many times per second the screen updates the image. Here is a simple guide:

60Hz — standard for office use, emails, documents and general home use. Perfectly adequate for most people.
75Hz — a slight step up from 60Hz. Noticeably smoother scrolling. A good choice at no significant extra cost.
100Hz / 144Hz — noticeably smoother for gaming, video and fast-moving content. Worth it for gaming or anyone who notices motion blur.
165Hz+ — primarily for competitive gaming where every frame counts. Not necessary for office or home general use.

For office use and home working, 60Hz or 75Hz is all you need. If you also use your computer for gaming or find motion blur noticeable, a 100Hz or 144Hz monitor is worth the modest extra cost.

What Is Panel Type — IPS, VA or TN?

Most monitors in the IT Done Right shop will be IPS or VA panels — TN panels are older and less common in new monitors. Here is a quick summary:

IPS (In-Plane Switching) — excellent colour accuracy and wide viewing angles. The best all-round choice for office use, creative work and general home use.
VA (Vertical Alignment) — better contrast ratios than IPS, making dark scenes look deeper. Good for video and media consumption. Slightly narrower viewing angles than IPS.
TN (Twisted Nematic) — older technology, lower colour quality and poor viewing angles. Only worth considering for competitive gaming where the lowest possible response time is the priority.

Can I Use Two Monitors?

Yes — a dual monitor setup is one of the most effective productivity upgrades you can make. Having two screens lets you keep emails or a reference document open on one screen while working on the other, without constantly switching between windows. Most modern desktop computers support dual monitors. Many laptops do too, though you may need a USB-C dock or adapter depending on the available ports. If you are unsure whether your computer supports dual monitors, contact IT Done Right and we can check for you.

Browse Monitors at IT Done Right

IT Done Right stocks a practical range of monitors for home offices, business desks and everyday use, delivered across Basildon, Essex and the UK. Browse the monitors category to see what is currently available, or get in touch if you need advice before ordering.

Not sure which monitor is right for your setup?

Get in touch with IT Done Right before ordering. Based in Basildon, Essex — happy to help home users and businesses across the UK choose the right display.

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