Investing in quality hardware is a must for every trader. While some traders work with their laptops, many prefer a desktop computer with one or several monitors. So if you are looking to purchase a monitor for your trading setup, you might be wondering what you should look for as you compare different options. What makes a great stock trading monitor? What size works best?
In this post, we are going to answer these questions and show you how to choose a trading monitor that fits your needs.
Why Do Traders Use Multiple Monitors?
First of all, let’s answer this common question.
When you think of trading, chances are you picturing a person working in front of one, two, or even multiple displays. The reason a trader may need several monitors is that oftentimes there is so much information they need to keep track of that a single monitor can’t properly display it all.
If the text and numbers are too small, you can misread them and make wrong decisions. You may also have to constantly switch between different tabs and windows, which consumes time and scatters your attention. So using two or several monitors helps keep all the information organized and available at a glance.
Typically, each trading monitor will be used for a specific task. To illustrate, you can use one monitor to look at your charts, and another to listen to financial news and respond to emails. Likewise, you can have one monitor that shows your trading platform while the others display different charts and software.
How Many Monitors Do You Need for Trading?
Trading with one monitor is definitely possible — especially if you are just starting out, but you may find yourself switching back and forth between tabs which can be irritating. So using multiple monitors
While there is no specific number that works for everyone, you can estimate how many monitors you need based on your trading needs and goals. Here is what you should consider to figure out the right number:
- The number of assets you want to track
- The number of trading tools and software you want to display separately
- The space in your trading desk
Many traders use two, three, or four monitors. Some others have up to eight monitors. If you are not sure how many monitors you should buy, start small with two monitors and keep using them until you start feeling that you’re not trading smoothly.
How to Choose a Trading Monitor
Now that we have established why you might need several monitors, let’s review the criteria you need to consider when shopping for a trading monitor.
1. Screen size
How large do you want your monitor to be? It depends largely on personal preference, but your monitor should have a size of at least 20 inches. A larger screen can display more information contained within charts and trading tools.
2. Screen resolution
Screen resolution is the most important factor to consider when buying a trading monitor. Even a normal-sized monitor can work well for trading if the resolution is high.
You need a monitor with high resolution — at least 1920 x 1080 pixels — to properly display text, charts, numbers, charts, all the other information you need to trade. A screen with low resolution will strain your eyes and cause you to misread information. Any monitor with Full HD resolution or higher will work great for trading.
3. Eye protection
Modern screens produce blue light that can cause eye strain and sleep issues. As a trader, you spend several hours in front of your monitor, so it should have a blue light filter. This filter drastically reduces the blue light emitted, thus protecting your eyes.
The good news is most brands make monitors with blue light filters. So make sure that whatever monitor you are interested in has a blue light filter.
4. Ergonomics
An ergonomic monitor is a monitor with adjustable components. In other words, you can adjust the height as well as tilt and pivot the monitor to keep you in a comfortable and healthy position. An adjustable monitor is also convenient when you want to position it in a way that fits with the other monitors in your setup.
Note that some monitors lack adjustable components but are compatible with VESA mounts which let you adjust them any way you want.
Final Thoughts
Using several trading monitors can help you keep all the information you need organized and easily accessible so you can trade smoothly and smartly. Whether you want to use one or multiple monitors, you need to look for monitors with sufficient size, high resolution, a blue light filter, and ergonomic design. Be sure to keep these criteria in mind as you invest in your trading setup.
