Understanding cockpit angle in multi-monitor setups

Cockpit angle refers to how monitors position around your viewing perspective to create an immersive, ergonomic workspace. This includes both the inward rotation of side-by-side monitors and the downward tilt of vertically stacked displays. Together, these adjustments wrap your screens around your natural field of vision, reducing head movement and eye strain during extended work sessions.

This article focuses specifically on the horizontal component: the degree to which you can angle monitors inward when positioning them side by side. 

When monitors sit side by side, cockpit angle measures how far each screen rotates inward from a straight-ahead position. Picture yourself seated at your desk: if both monitors face directly forward in a flat line, you have zero cockpit angle. As you rotate each monitor's outer edge backward (while keeping the inner edges as your pivot point), you increase the cockpit angle and create that characteristic wraparound effect.

We measure this rotation from your midline. A 20° cockpit angle means each monitor rotates 20° inward, creating a gentle arc that curves around your field of vision rather than forcing you to turn your head repeatedly between flat panels.

Your eyes focus most comfortably when screens sit perpendicular to your line of sight. When monitors remain flat and parallel, only the middle portions of each screen maintain this optimal viewing angle; the outer edges sit at increasingly oblique angles that force your eyes to refocus constantly as you scan across your workspace.

Angling monitors inward solves this geometric challenge. Both screens remain closer to perpendicular regardless of which section you're viewing, allowing you to maintain focus with less muscular effort and reduced eye fatigue. This matters equally whether you're a trader making split-second decisions, a designer working across multiple canvases, or a student spending hours researching across browser windows.

The mental component parallels the physical one. When your screens sit within your natural focal range without requiring constant head rotation, your brain can process information more efficiently; you're not fighting your environment to maintain concentration.

Here's where geometry becomes the limiting factor. Your monitor arm has a fixed length from its mounting point to where it connects to each monitor. As monitor width increases, the physical distance between the outer edges of your two monitors grows proportionally. Since those outer edges must swing backward to create your cockpit angle, wider monitors require more physical space to achieve the same rotation.

Think of it this way: a 27" monitor might measure 610mm (24") wide, while a 38" ultrawide could span 880mm (35") or more. That extra 270mm (11") per monitor means an additional 540mm (21") of total width your arm mechanism must accommodate when angling inward. At some point, the monitors either collide with each other, run into desk partitions or walls, or exceed the arm's mechanical range before reaching your target angle.

This is pure trigonometry. The wider your monitors, the less cockpit angle becomes achievable with any given arm configuration.

Further, your rear workspace affects this equation substantially. When you have open space behind your desk - instead of a wall or partition - monitor arms can extend their joints backward, positioning the monitors further from the mounting point. This rearward extension creates additional room for the outer edges to swing inward without collision, allowing greater cockpit angles even with wider monitors.

A partition or wall immediately behind your desk eliminates this flexibility. The arm joints can't move backward, so the monitors must rotate within a more constrained envelope. Two identical monitor arms mounted with identical screens will achieve markedly different cockpit angles depending on whether they have rear clearance or face an immediate obstruction. This environmental factor can be just as limiting as monitor width itself.

When specifying maximum monitor sizes for our arms, we previously set limits based on what size would still permit this 20° configuration. A mount rated for dual 27" monitors, for example, could achieve that full 20° angle with typical 27" panel widths.

We've now adjusted this guidance to give you more flexibility. For example, AWMS-2-D13 dual dynamic monitor arm was previously promoted as suitable for monitors up to 27" each. Our expanded guidance is that it supports monitors up to 38", acknowledging that many users willingly accept reduced cockpit angles in exchange for larger screen real estate. You might achieve little or even no cockpit with some 38" monitors, but that reduced angle may suit your workflow perfectly.

Our maximum monitor sizes are based on two same-size monitors in landscape orientation. 

The key consideration isn't whether you achieve exactly 20°; it's whether your specific setup delivers comfortable viewing for your needs. Several variables affect what's achievable in your environment:

• Your monitor's actual width matters more than its diagonal measurement. A 32" 16:9 monitor has different dimensions than a 32" 21:9 ultrawide; check your manufacturer specifications rather than relying on screen size alone.

• Your personal viewing distance and preferences ultimately determine what angle feels right. Someone working 500mm (20") from their screens has different geometric requirements than someone sitting 700mm (28") back.

• Your physical workspace creates boundaries. Desk partitions, walls, or adjacent furniture may prevent you from achieving maximum rotation regardless of your arm's theoretical capability.

• Your arm's mechanical design and adjustment range determine how far back you can pull the monitor joints. Some installations allow more rearward extension than others.

While cockpit angle focuses on geometric constraints and viewing comfort, your monitor arm also has maximum weight ratings that must be observed. Larger monitors typically weigh more; verify that your total monitor weight stays within your arm's rated capacity regardless of whether the physical dimensions permit your desired cockpit configuration. Weight, depth, and size all matter, but they're distinct considerations in the selection process.

Our expanded size guidance gives you room to configure your workspace according to your priorities. We include reference to the maximum suggested monitor size if cockpit angle matters most, and include the true maximum monitor size for instances where maximum screen real estate takes precedence. The larger monitors are viable with the caveat that achievable cockpit angle will decrease proportionally.

For complex installations or when you're uncertain about what your specific monitors will achieve, contact us directly. We can evaluate your exact dimensions, workspace constraints, and mount specifications to confirm what configuration will work for your environment.

The goal isn't hitting an arbitrary angle; it's creating a setup that lets you work comfortably and effectively across your screens for however long your day demands.