7 Best Budget Monitors for Graphic Design

When buying a budget monitor for graphic design, you need to know what to look for.

We have found some of the best monitors for your graphic work, along with the exact reasons we believe they are fantastic options.

Let’s take a look at the monitors now, and see if we can pinpoint the one that is the best for your personal use case.

Who Should Get This

The obvious answer here is a working, professional graphic designer. If you are currently working in the field, and need a new monitor either in your home or at the office, these will all be great for that.

The other person these monitors would be great for are video editors.

If you are a professional editor or an online content creator, you want to make sure you get the best colors in your videos possible.

Given these all have great color, they will be excellent for this task.

Best Budget Monitor for Graphic Design: Our Picks

All of the monitors outlined in the following section are affordable, reliable, and work perfectly for graphic design.

1. Dell Ultrasharp U2415

• Best for: Overall
• Key Features: Wide, anti-glare display. Multiple viewing angles. Minimalistic design and advanced coloration. 
• Size: 24 inches
• Resolution: 1920 x 1200
• sRGB: 99 percent

Dell has long been known as one of the best computer makers on Earth, and their Ultrasharp U2415 shows why. This monitor comes with an incredibly crisp display that features 1920 x 1200 resolution, 99 percent sRGB, as well as full anti-glare technology.

On top of that, it’s well built, and has a clean, minimalistic look. You can easily put it into any space and it will fit right in. The aspect ratio is solid, and there is a wide range of viewing angles that allow you to work from wherever you need.

The only downside to this monitor is that the ports, while plentiful, are not easy to access. It’s a small complaint, but the entire rig could be a bit more ergonomically designed. 

2. Philips 276E9QDSB

• Best for: Power
• Key Features: Bright, matte finish. 27-inch display. Excellent resolution. Large, sturdy design. Quick refresh rate.
• Size: 27 inches
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• sRGB: 124 percent

Philips is not the first thing that springs to mind when it comes to computer monitors, but this model is amazing for graphic designers who want something that looks good. The 27-inch display is excellent, as is the sRGB rating and amazing resolution. The matte finish is great too.

The larger screen makes a big difference compared to similar models, and the ultra-narrow border gives the entire package a nice model look. That’s then backed up by a 4-year warranty, which gives you plenty of protection and peace of mind down the line.

The coloration could be a bit more vivid, and the quality control on the resolution can be lacking at times. However, it’s hard to find such a strong graphic designer option at such an affordable price.

3. BenQ BL2420PT

• Best for: Vertical
• Key Features: Vivid color and large display. Sharp image. 60 Hz refresh rate. 709 color space and adjustable stand.
• Size: 24 inches
• Resolution: 2560 x 1440
• sRGB: 100 percent

If you’re someone who loves options, this BenQ monitor is worth a long look. It’s a vertical monitor that enables you to use it as both a traditional setup and as an up and down option. That shifts up the workspace, making it a great choice for graphic designers.

The monitor is plenty large, clocking in at 24 inches, and has both anti-flicker and low blue light technology. The 100 sRGB rating means all of the colors pop when you’re doing work, and the superior 3D lines add an extra dimension to any and all of your projects.

The only downside to this monitor is that it’s a bit limited when it comes to changes in resolution. It looks extremely sharp in horizontal mode, but 1080p is the max it hits in vertical. 

4. ViewSonic VP2468

• Best for: Versatility
• Key Features: Bright, glossy finish. Ultimate color accuracy. Flexible connectivity. High resolution and adjustable design.
• Size: 24 inches
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• sRGB: 100 percent

If you’re in the market for a flexible graphic design monitor, check out the VP2468. From ViewSonic, this model allows you to work or view the screen exactly as you want thanks to the handy stand that can tilt, swivel, and pivot. It’s fully height adjustable as well.

Beyond that, the display is 24-inches across and looks great due to the 1080p resolution. Add on the 100 percent sRGB alongside the tough construction and sharp colors, and you get a monitor that can do it all.

If this monitor has one drawback, it’s the design. The menu and control buttons are on the back, which can make accessing them more annoying than it should be. It’s not a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind if you want to do a dual-monitor setup. 

5. LG 27UL850

• Best for: Resolution
• Key Features: 60 Hz refresh rate. VESA displayHDR 400. Bright, 27-inch display. 4k UHD HDR. 
• Size: 27 inches
• Resolution: 3840 x 2160
• sRGB: 99 percent

The LG 27UL850 is an excellent affordable monitor that utilizes a 60 Hz refresh rate, bright 27-inch display, and a 99 sRGB color gamut to bring everything on the screen to life. That, alongside the crisp resolution and thin bezel, makes it great for graphic design.

The device utilizes a USB type-c connection and has an adjustable stand that you can pivot and tilt to your heart’s content. That works seamlessly with the great viewing angles to give you the most comfortable user experience. The Radeon FreeSync and On-Screen Control are great too.

As long as you’re ok with the lack of a Thunderbolt 3 port and don’t mind the unreliable USB hub, you’ll get a lot out of this option.

6. Samsung FHD Flat Monitor

• Best for: Gaming
• Key Features: 75 Hz refresh rate.  Eco-saving screen. Flicker free technology. Amd Radeon free sync. Wide viewing panel.
• Size: 27 inches
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Refresh Rate: 75 Hz

If you’re a graphic designer who wants a dual-use monitor, this flat option from Samsung gives you the ability to both work and relax in one space. Its superior graphics and vivid resolution make it excellent for design, while the strong specs allow it to run plenty of games.

Another great bonus here is the Flicker Free and eye saver mode, both of which actively work to cut down on blue light emissions and keep your retinas safe. The wide viewing angle (178 degrees) and eco-saving technology are two more premium aspects.

The biggest drawback here is the monitor has no adjustability. That’s not an issue for users who like where it sits, but it does limit the versatility when compared to similar options.

7. HP M27ha

• Best for: Display
• Key Features: Full HD display with IPS panel. WIde viewing angles. Sharp color and resolution. VESA compatibility. Ample ports.
• Size: 27 inches
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz

The HP M27ha is a thin monitor with a fully optimized screen that won’t break the bank. The full HD display, complete with an IPS panel, delivers 27-inches of bright, stunning colors no matter what you’re working on. The ultra-wide viewing angles are great too.

To better help you work for long periods of time, the monitor comes with a fully adjustable stand, 3-sided micro-edge display, as well as an HP low blue light software. It’s comfortable to use and is incredibly easy on your eyes.

This monitor serves a lot of purposes, but it’s not the most user-friendly option on the market. You have to do a bit of extra work to get everything together, but it’s definitely worth it when it’s all said and done.

How to Choose a Budget Monitor for Graphic Design

Resolution

If you are looking at a budget monitor, you absolutely do not want to get a resolution lower than 1080p. There is a chance you can find a budget 1440p monitor, but 1080p is good enough for most graphic design tasks.

Color

Having proper color reproduction on your monitor could be the difference between a happy and unhappy client. Getting the highest percentage of sRGB color will ensure that your monitor can reproduce colors as accurately as possible.

Size

In most cases, 24-inch monitors will be a good size if you are on a budget. If you get lucky, you can find a 27-inch monitor on a deal, but you should be shopping in the 24-inch range.

Conclusion

The monitors above are all great options, and any of them will be great choices for the graphic designer on a budget.

If you don’t have hundreds and hundreds of dollars, but still are looking for monitors with good color accuracy for your graphic design, you can’t go wrong with whichever one of them you pick.