Monitor prices range from $100 to $800 depending on screen size, resolution, and refresh rate

A basic monitor costs between $100 and $200. Mid-range monitors run $200 to $400. High-end gaming or professional monitors can exceed $500, with some specialty displays reaching $800 or more. The price you pay depends on what you actually use the monitor for—a straightforward 24-inch screen for email and web browsing costs far less than a 4K ultrawide designed for video editing or competitive gaming.

Screen size is the biggest price driver. A 21-inch monitor is cheaper than a 27-inch one from the same manufacturer. Resolution matters too: a 1080p display costs less than a 1440p or 4K display. Refresh rate (measured in hertz, or Hz) also affects price—a standard 60 Hz monitor is cheaper than a 144 Hz gaming monitor. Panel type, brightness, color accuracy, and extra ports add cost as well.

Key Takeaways

  • Budget monitors for basic computer work start around $100 to $150 for a 24-inch 1080p display.
  • Mid-range 27-inch monitors with 1440p resolution typically cost $250 to $350 and suit most home and office use.
  • Gaming monitors with 144 Hz or higher refresh rates run $300 to $500 depending on size and resolution.
  • Professional monitors for photo or video work cost $400 to $800 because they require precise color accuracy and wider viewing angles.
  • Ultrawide monitors (34 inches or larger) usually cost $400 to $700 due to their larger panel size and specialized use.

Budget monitors: $100 to $200

A basic 24-inch monitor with 1080p resolution (1920 × 1080 pixels) costs $100 to $150. These work well for everyday tasks like email, web browsing, spreadsheets, and document editing. They typically have a 60 Hz refresh rate, which is standard for non-gaming use. Brightness is usually 250 candelas per square meter (cd/m²), which is adequate for indoor office lighting.

At the higher end of this range ($150 to $200), you might find a 27-inch 1080p monitor or a 24-inch 1440p display. These offer more screen space or sharper text without jumping into the mid-range price bracket. Look for monitors with an IPS panel if you plan to view the screen from an angle—IPS panels maintain color accuracy better than TN (twisted nematic) panels when you're not looking straight at them.

Mid-range monitors: $200 to $400

A 27-inch monitor with 1440p resolution typically costs $250 to $350. This is the most common choice for home offices and general computing because the larger screen gives you more workspace without making text too small to read comfortably. The 1440p resolution is sharp enough that individual pixels are hard to see at normal viewing distance. Most mid-range monitors at this price have a 60 Hz refresh rate and an IPS panel.

At $300 to $400, you can find 27-inch 1440p monitors with better brightness (300+ cd/m²), USB-C ports for charging laptops, or built-in speakers. Some include a height-adjustable stand that lets you move the screen up and down without buying a separate arm. A few models in this range start to include higher refresh rates (75 or 100 Hz), though true gaming monitors begin above this price point.

Gaming monitors: $300 to $600

Gaming monitors prioritize refresh rate and response time over resolution. A 24-inch 1080p monitor with 144 Hz refresh rate costs $250 to $350. A 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor with 144 Hz runs $350 to $500. These higher refresh rates reduce motion blur and input lag, which matter in fast-paced games like first-person shooters and fighting games.

Response time—how quickly a pixel changes color—is listed in milliseconds (ms). Gaming monitors typically advertise 1 ms response time, while standard office monitors are 5 ms or higher. At $500 to $600, you can find 27-inch 1440p monitors with 165 or 240 Hz refresh rates, or 32-inch 4K monitors with 60 Hz. Curved gaming monitors, which wrap slightly around your field of view, usually cost $50 to $100 more than flat models of the same specs.

Professional monitors: $400 to $1000

Photo editors, video producers, and graphic designers need monitors with accurate color reproduction. A 27-inch professional monitor with 99% Adobe RGB color coverage costs $400 to $600. These displays have wider viewing angles than gaming monitors, higher brightness (usually 350+ cd/m²), and factory calibration to may support colors are true. Many include a hood to reduce glare and ambient light interference.

Larger professional monitors (32 inches) or those with wider color gamuts (DCI-P3 or Rec. 2020) cost $600 to $1000. Some include built-in colorimeters that automatically recalibrate the display over time. If you work with video in HDR (high dynamic range), expect to pay at the top of this range because HDR monitors require higher peak brightness and more precise tone mapping.

Ultrawide and specialty monitors: $400 to $800

An ultrawide monitor stretches to 34 inches or wider, giving you the horizontal space of two standard monitors side by side. A 34-inch ultrawide with 3440 × 1440 resolution costs $400 to $600. These suit traders, programmers, and video editors who benefit from extra horizontal space. A 49-inch dual-screen ultrawide (essentially two 27-inch monitors merged into one) costs $700 to $900.

Portable monitors—small screens designed to connect to laptops via USB-C or HDMI—cost $150 to $400 depending on size and resolution. A 15-inch portable 1080p monitor runs $150 to $250. A 17-inch 1440p portable monitor costs $300 to $400. These are useful for travel or extending your workspace when you're away from a desk, but they are not replacements for a primary monitor because of their small size and limited brightness.

What affects monitor price the most

Screen size is the primary cost factor. A 24-inch monitor is cheaper than a 27-inch from the same brand and with the same specs. A 32-inch costs significantly more because the panel itself is larger and more expensive to manufacture.

Resolution is the second major factor. 1080p is the cheapest, 1440p is mid-range, and 4K is expensive. Moving from 1440p to 4K at the same screen size typically adds $100 to $200 to the price. 4K monitors are less common in smaller sizes (under 27 inches) because the pixels become too small to see the benefit.

Refresh rate matters most for gaming. A 60 Hz monitor is standard and cheapest. A 144 Hz monitor costs $50 to $150 more. A 240 Hz monitor adds another $100 to $200. For office work, the difference between 60 Hz and 144 Hz is invisible, so paying extra for high refresh rate is unnecessary.

Panel type affects price and viewing angle. IPS panels cost more than TN panels but have better color accuracy and wider viewing angles. VA panels fall between the two. For gaming, TN panels are acceptable because you sit directly in front of the screen. For photo work or shared viewing, IPS is worth the extra cost.

Additional features like USB-C charging, built-in speakers, height-adjustable stands, and factory calibration add $50 to $200 to the base price. A monitor with a USB-C port that charges your laptop while displaying video is convenient but costs more than a basic HDMI-only model.

How to decide what to spend

If you work at a desk for 8+ hours a day, spending $250 to $350 on a 27-inch 1440p monitor is a reasonable investment because you use it constantly. If you use your computer a few hours a week, a $100 to $150 budget monitor is fine. If you play competitive games, the $300 to $500 range for a 144 Hz monitor is worth it because refresh rate directly affects your performance. If you edit photos or video professionally, $500 to $800 for a color-accurate monitor is necessary to do the work correctly.

Consider your current monitor's problems before buying. If your screen is too small, buy a larger one. If text looks blurry, upgrade to higher resolution. If you feel eye strain after long sessions, a monitor with higher brightness and better color accuracy may help. If you have no specific complaint, a mid-range 27-inch 1440p monitor solves most problems without overspending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 4K monitor worth the extra cost?

For most people, no. A 1440p monitor at 27 inches has sharp enough text and images that the difference is hard to see. 4K becomes noticeable at 32 inches or larger, where the extra pixels prevent individual dots from being visible. If you edit 4K video or work with very large spreadsheets, 4K is useful. Otherwise, the $200 to $300 premium over 1440p is not necessary.

Do I need a gaming monitor if I don't play games?

No. Gaming monitors cost more because of their high refresh rate and fast response time, which only matter in fast-paced games. For office work, web browsing, and video watching, a standard 60 Hz monitor is identical in real-world use. Save the money and buy a larger or higher-resolution standard monitor instead.

What's the difference between a monitor and a TV?

TVs are larger and sit farther away, so they use lower resolution (usually 1080p or 4K) at a distance where you can't see individual pixels. Monitors are smaller and closer, so they need higher pixel density to look sharp. TVs also have higher input lag (delay between pressing a button and seeing the result), which is fine for watching but bad for gaming or detailed work. A TV can work as a monitor in a pinch, but a monitor is not a good TV.

Should I buy a curved monitor?

Curved monitors wrap slightly around your field of view and can reduce eye strain on very large screens (32 inches or larger). For standard 24 or 27-inch monitors, the curve makes little difference and adds $50 to $100 to the price. Curved monitors are most useful for ultrawide displays where the curve helps your eyes track across the full width without moving your head.

Can I use an old monitor with a new computer?

Usually yes, as long as the monitor has a port your computer supports. Most modern computers have HDMI or USB-C video output. Older monitors may have DVI or VGA ports, which require an adapter (usually $10 to $20). If your old monitor still works and displays clearly, reusing it saves money. If it's dim, blurry, or has dead pixels, replacing it is worth the cost.