Dual monitors vs. Single monitor: Which is better?

Having two monitors has become fairly common with the increasing number of applications that users have to work on or view simultaneously. The question that arises in this situation is having two monitors the best solution for worker productivity, efficiency and comfort? Let’s look at the factors for and against having two monitors.

The purpose of having two monitors is so workers don’t have to repeatedly toggle between applications on one monitor. The time it takes to toggle between applications adds up to a significant amount of wasted time when calculated over weeks, months and years. It also takes more cognitive effort to switch from one application to another and potentially to remember what was on one application and transfer that to another. The disadvantages to two monitors in viewing them are on the body, specifically the eyes and the neck. It is inevitable that the neck/head will repeatedly rotate from side to side, albeit in a same range of motion, to view each monitor. This has the potential to cause eye strain as they have to adjust repeatedly as well. The potential amount of neck and eye strain depends on the size of the monitors, whether both are the same size and how they are positioned.

The alternative to having two monitors is having one monitor that is a larger size (≥22”). A larger monitor allows two applications to be displayed simultaneously, side by side. Having everything on one monitor eliminates the potential for neck or eye strain due that can occur when alternating between two monitors. One larger monitor results in the same increase in productivity and efficiency as dual monitors. The other advantages to one monitor are that it will take up less desk space (work space) and saves money as buying one monitor is cheaper than buying two.

In summary it is my professional recommendation that a single larger monitor is preferred over two monitors for the following reasons:

Increased comfort for the neck and eyes
More desk space
Less cost