The best monitors for video editing bring color fidelity and high resolutions to your video projects.
When you're working with the best video editing software, the right monitor lets you really capture the world you envision - so you can be confident that everything on-screen matches the final release print. You’ll find a lot of cross-over with the best monitors for photo editing, as both are built to correctly and accurately display source footage, alongside any color correction work you may do.
We’ve tested, reviewed, and rated the best video editing monitors, exploring pixel density, color reproduction, panel display type, connectivity ports, HDR support, and more. These studio-grade screens will make it even easier to see what your audience sees, frame by frame.
As part of our video editing hardware review process and to help you find the right set-up for your workflow, we've also tested the best video editing computers, best video editing Macs, and best video editing laptops.
- Best Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives: Top video editors without the Creative Cloud subscription
The best monitors for video editing in 2023
The BenQ PD2725U is a clear choice for professional video editors, boasting 100% sRGB color accuracy, a vibrant 4K UHD resolution, and a sleek, slim bezel design that will complement any setup.
Professionals working with graphic design or video editing software will get a lot of use from the monitor’s dual view function. The feature lets you better organize screen space, letting you ‘split’ the screen to show different content on each side. Useful for previewing projects in a range of color spaces and screen sizes.
Connectivity-wise, BenQ PD2725U is fairly well-kitted, with HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. You’ll also find a built-in KVM switch for switching between computers without switching keyboard and mouse. The video editing monitor’s stand offers a good amount of flexibility, letting you adjust height, tilt, and pivot to find the best viewing angles.
Read our full BenQ PD2725U review
ASUS instantly made it on our list with this exquisite video editing monitor since it has a very large 32" screen size and 4K UHD resolution. However, don't just focus on size and resolution when choosing the best monitor for video editing. A good panel is equally important for video editing and buying the best IPS panel monitor that you can afford is crucial, and the rest is just a matter of taste.
It's true you can find a monitor of this size for less than half the price of this category (hello, BenQ), but we didn't include it as it uses a VA panel, which is problematic for color reproduction from different viewing angles. Compared to an IPS panel, a VA panel offers a better contrast ratio, but narrower viewing angles. Vertical viewing angles on VA panels can alter the color from top to bottom.
The Asus ProArt display lineup includes over a dozen models, and the PA329CV stands among the middle range with regards to pricing. It has a solid construction and a sober design plus great ergonomics. It is a great fit both as a single display or as a part of an expandable multi-monitor setup as it features a borderless design with no visible edges.
But it is the quality of its IPS panel that is its main selling point: it has 100% sRGB color space coverage along with Rec. 709 (the color space used for HDTV with a different gamma than sRGB). Its color accuracy is verified by Calman to be ΔE < 2. A delta value below two generally signifies more accurate colors, with anything below two considered indiscernible by humans. Additionally, it adheres to VESA HDR400, an industry-standard for ensuring the panel displays a minimum peak brightness of 400cd/m2.
It allows fine tuning brightness, contrast, color saturation and temperature, hue, gamma and other settings, but its presets will please most users, including sRGB, Rec. 701, DCI-P3, HDR, Reading Mode which is the low blue light mode to save your eyes, among others.
Instead of the legs that are commonly encountered with other big screen monitors of the same type, this monitor has a square foot stand. In this way, your computer or accessories can be placed nearer or atop the monitor base, and no space is wasted. With a desk clamp mounting bracket conveniently included, a full space optimization can be achieved by attaching it to the edge of any desk.
Its stand offers height, swivel adjustment, tilt of 23 to -5 degrees, and 90-degree pivot to switch it to portrait mode, making it ideal as a secondary monitor as well as for dual-monitor configurations (if you've got the space).
It has one DisplayPort input, two HDMI inputs, and a USB-C port for connectivity. It can act as a USB hub if you connect it via USB 3 and includes four USB 3.0 downstream ports, two with the rest of the connectors and two on the side, along the left edge. All around, a good selection of features for a great price. Hats off to ASUS.
The Apple Pro Display XDR looks expensive at first glance. After all, just the stand costs an extra $999, let alone the $4,999 base price of the display itself. And yet Apple is pitching it as something of a bargain. How so?
Well, the idea is that it's much cheaper than true reference-quality monitors that cost tens of thousands. And it is much cheaper. But is it as good? The simple answer is no. Instead of using a dual-LCD solution which allows the very best monitors to control lighting at a per-pixel level, the Apple Pro Display XDR opts for mini-LED backlighting with 576 zones of local dimming.
That delivers up to 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness, which is impressive. But even with 576 zones, the backlighting is relatively imprecise. To put a number on that, each zone is lighting up over 35,000 pixels.
If the Pro Display XDR's lighting precision doesn't make the full pro grade, it does have an otherwise very strong feature set. The 6,016 by 3,384 pixel native resolution provides enough space to view 4K at full resolution at the same time as toolbars, menus and timelines.
It also offers numerous reference mods to support a wide range of workflows, including P3-DCI, P3-D50, P3-D65 and many more, plus true 10-bit color. On the HDR side, there's HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG support.
As for connectivity, you get Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery to keep Macbooks charged, plus a brace of USB-C ports. Oh and of course it's built like no other display, beautiful machined from aluminum, like only Apple knows how. So, while the Pro Display XDR isn't quite the bargain that Apple implies, it's still an absolutely stellar display.
Even five years after its announcement, the model is still outstanding and astounding today. However, it continues to have a high price and little competition, perhaps because there isn’t a lot of 8K content available and everyone is still producing mostly 4K video content.
With the new breed of high-end smartphones already capable of 8K video recording, the flood of 8K content is likely to make other monitor manufacturers jump aboard the 8K monitor bandwagon.
The 32-inch size of this beast doesn't let it go unnoticed, even when it is turned off. From the outside, you get a pretty sturdy design and impressive construction as per usual with Dell, all wrapped up in stylish brushed aluminum. In addition to the great ergonomics -again another hallmark of Dell- it has support for height adjustment, tilt, pivot and portrait mode features.
Most IPS screens in this line up have a brightness of around 350 cd/m2, however, this one has a brightness of 400 cd/m2. Moreover, its contrast ratio also tops the list at 1300:1. The panel's color gamut is one of the best we have seen with 100% of sRGB, 100% of Adobe RGB, and 98% of DCI-P3.
Regarding connectivity, it includes two DisplayPort connections, a USB hub with one upstream and two downstream ports and an audio line out jack. If you're looking for an 8K monitor for video editing, look no further than this tech marvel.
Read our full Dell UltraSharp UP3218K review
If you're looking to break free from the 4K masses, the LG 40WP95C makes for an intriguing option. It's a 40-inch 5K2K monitor with 5,120 by 2,160 pixels. Think of it as a 32-inch 4K monitor with the panel widened out to 21:9 aspect.
That means you get the same pixel density as a 32-inch 4K display, but more desktop space. It's perfect for running video editing software side-by-side with editing notes or reference webpages. At 40 inches and with all those pixels, it really does deliver a rather glorious digital canvas, which makes getting work done so much more pleasant and ergonomic. Once you've tried a panel like this, going back to something like a 4K 27 incher does feel very restrictive.
Beyond pure resolution, the LG 40WP95C also offers a Nano IPS panel and so good, if not true professional grade, color accuracy. LG claims 98% coverage of the demanding DCI-P3 digital cinema gamut. That's certainly good enough for authoring web content, even if it's not exactly the stuff of feature film editing.
The LG 40WP95C also offers HDR support, though only of the most limited kind. It can process an HDR10 signal and render the colors correctly. But with a maximum brightness of 300 nits and no local dimming, this is absolutely not a true HDR display. Indeed, that 300 nit brightness can even be a limitation for SDR content creation, depending on ambient light level.
Another strong point is connectivity. Along with the usual DisplayPort and HDMI sockets (note that the HDMI ports top out at just 3,440 by 1,440 pixels, so aren't that useful), the 40WP95C includes Thunderbolt 4 with 96W of power delivery, plus a two-port USB-A hub.
For starters, that enables single-cable connectivity to laptops and Macbooks, allowing you to drive the display, keep your laptop charged and connect peripherals including keyboard, mouse and external storage devices. The 40WP95C also supports display daisy chaining. So with that single cable, you can also attach a second display running up to 4K at 60Hz.
All told, this is a very powerful tool for creating SDR content provided you don't require full professional grade color accuracy for mastering content.
Blending elegance and professionalism, the BenQ PD3220U is a well-rounded monitor for video editing.
During our testing, we liked the high-quality build and its attractive design. The solid metal base, in particular, is well-constructed, allowing smooth adjustments to the viewing angle. If you’re working on multiple computers, you’ll appreciate the built-in KVM switch to move between machines without changing keyboard and mouse.
The specs, too, are impressive. The crisp 4K resolution, high pixel density, wide color gamut provided a sharp and vibrant display. HDR capability, allowing for greater contrast between light and dark in images, was a real stand-out feature. We found it added depth and dimensionality for an immersive viewing experience. The 100% sRGB color gamut and 10-bit color depth produce vibrant, accurate colors, ideal for photo and video editing projects.
Read our full BenQ PD3220U review
The LG 27UL500 is one of the best monitors for video editing if you're working to a budget. It is also a good option for those who seek a dual-monitor setup without necessarily breaking the bank. The design is a bit basic and at first glance may appear clunky, however, once the dust settles, you will discover that its IPS display panel is of excellent quality, and its 27-inch size and UHD resolution make editing 4K video easy.
IPS panels from LG are known for their superior quality and this one is no exception. The display features bright colors, 4K resolution at 60Hz and 178 degrees of viewing angle. To reach its low cost, however, the stand is one of the things that had to be sacrificed.
The 27UL500 also features the same semicircle shaped stand that is found in many LG monitors, using it as a base, it can only tilt by a very short margin, - 5 degrees forward and 15 back. In spite of that, since it supports VESA mounts, you can attach it to a monitor arm or to a wall mount. Another area where price cutting can be seen is the brightness level: it has a peak brightness of 300 nits, which is reasonable, considering the cost of this product.
As per connectivity, it's basic: one DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a headphone jack.
Basically, this is a professional level monitor with HDR support and a wide Adobe RGB color gamut and a few tricks up its sleeve, all at a reasonable price -one fifth of the most expensive pro-level monitor in our line-up. Video editors will find several useful features in this device, including a hood, as well as precise factory calibration.
It's IPS panel has true 10-bit color depth and delivers accurate colors with 99% of the Adobe RGB color space and 100% of sRGB. It also has a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 178-degree viewing angles.
A mini-keyboard is plugged into the monitor using a mini-USB cable and contains hot keys. BenQ calls it the "Hotkey Puck". It has D-pad-style navigation arrows to move within the monitor's on-screen menus, and the OK button in its center. The outer circle of the Puck has three numeric hotkeys and one that opens the OSD menu.
Noteworthy are innovations like its Black and White mode and "GamutDuo" that lets you split the screen in half and see how the image would look in two different color spaces. Finally, it supports Picture in Picture (PIP) and Picture by Picture modes, which divide the screen into halves and display output from two different source devices simultaneously on both sides.
Connectivity is provided via the following ports: one DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0, one USB 3.0 upstream to its hub, two USB 3.0 downstream, and one USB 3.2 Type C with power delivery for charging and DP Alt mode for video.
Its hard plastic shading hood, which works in both landscape and portrait modes, is just the icing on the cake.
Read our full BenQ SW271C review
When working with video editing software, you can really benefit from the extra real estate that a wide 21:9 display offers. With video editors that use the timeline view like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro, horizontal display space is extremely important. Generally speaking, the bigger the monitor, the better.
It is for that reason that "5K2K" monitors are a godsend for editors of video as they provide the vertical resolution of a 4K with the horizontal resolution of a 5K monitor - all in a wide-screen format. The MSI Prestige PS341WU delivers stunning images with 5-120 by-2160 resolution at 60Hz for high color contrast and vibrant colors. Thanks to its LG nano IPS panel, it produces excellent image quality for content creation and design.
As well as a larger screen area, it has a higher pixel density, which translates into better image quality and sharpness. Furthermore, it has excellent connectivity, including a USB Type-C port with charging capabilities, a DisplayPort port as well as an HDMI port-the latter being limited by HDMI’s bandwidth at 3,840 by 2,160 at 60Hz.
It also has excellent color calibration and this model covers pretty much 100% of the sRGBb and Adobe RGB color spaces, as well as 98% of DCI-P3. This is short for Digital Cinema Initiatives - Protocol 3 and is a set of colors developed by the DCI and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) for standardizing the colors used in motion pictures. So, its 98% coverage of DCI P3 makes it a quite good professional monitor. It's true that as an IPS monitor it may show some backlight bleed when displaying a pure black screen, but for an IPS display this monitor has the least backlight bleed of any we’ve seen.
With regards to what you are getting at its current market prices, it is one of the best bargains out there in terms of ultrawide displays for video editing.
Read our full MSI Prestige PS341WU review
As a professional monitor, the Eizo ColorEdge CG319X is not suited to the aspiring user. In fact, it is only suitable for users who are already professionals. At 31.1 inches, it's bigger than other prosumer / aspiring pro offerings such as that of BenQ.
The color gamut of this monitor is exceptional, rendering 99% of Adobe RGB and 98% of DCI-P3 color spaces, the color space used by the American film industry, along with full coverage of the CMYK color spaces used by the printing industry. The display features a high contrast ratio of 1500:1 and 178 degree viewing angles.
Featured on the screen is a built-in calibrator located right at the top of the screen. Calibration takes place over a period of half an hour and during this period, you're able to use your monitor while it adjusts itself.
Included in the package is the ColorNavigator 7 color management software, which works with the Windows 10, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems.
Best video editing monitors: FAQs
How to choose the best monitors for video editing
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When choosing which video editing monitor is best for you, there are a few factors you'll want to take into account.
Color accuracy: Many professional content creators will have a clear idea of what they need in terms of color gamut coverage. But if you're not sure a reasonable entry-level rule of thumb is minimum 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut.
Size: A monitor for video editing should be large enough to provide a comfortable viewing area to accommodate the complex user interface of non-linear video editor applications during long work sessions. From 27 inches to 32 inches is a good, comfortable size range. Of special mention are the ultrawide monitors with a 16:9 screen ratio more optimised for video editing, those usually come in sizes above 34".
Aspect ratio: 16:9 widescreen suits most conventional video workflows. But ultrawide panels with aspect ratios of 21:9 and greater can be very handy, too. They allow you to view documents like scripts and editing notes in parallel with your video editing app of choice.
Resolution: The resolution of a monitor determines how many pixels you can see on the screen. Furthermore, the more pixels you can see in your video, the more detail you will be able to see on the video you are editing. What constitutes enough pixels will vary with your workflow. Ideally, your display will be higher resolution than the content you are creating. That allows you to view video at full resolution while also displaying menus and toolbars, like editing timelines, at the same time. If you're outputting in 1080p, for instance, a 1440p panel will be sufficient. If your target resolution is 4K, however, it gets a little more complicated. The choice of monitors beyond 4K is limited. Arguably, however, a 4K panel is a reasonable option for editing 4K video. Even windowed content is rendered in fairly high detail on a 4K panel, and you can view the final output at full resolution.
HDR support: By increasing both contrast and color ranges, HDR techniques expand the perception of depth in images. In HDR, the color intensity and contrast of your video are enhanced to make it more realistic to mimic the perception seen by the human eyes where the iris adapts constantly to the environment's changing luminance. While not a deal breaker, if your source material supports HDR, it would be important if your monitor supports it too.
Connectivity: Before purchasing a monitor, ensure that your computer supports the output types required by your display. For example, the Dell 8K monitor requires dual DisplayPort connections to operate at its maximum resolution. Check what connections your computer's video card provides: HDMI, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, or USB-C. Any monitor worthy of content creation duties is likely to have HDMI and DisplayPort, which is fine for connecting to a desktop PC. If you use a Mac and a laptop PC, however, USB-C is so useful as to be almost essential. It allows single-cable docking of both MacBooks and modern PC laptops, including power delivery and hooking up peripherals like keyboard, mouse and external storage. Once you've gone USB-C, you'll never want to go back to multiple cables for hooking up a laptop.
What are the different monitor panel types?
In terms of LCD display panels, nowadays there are three main types starting with TN (twisted nematic) which is the oldest and cheapest. Then we have Vertical Alignment (VA), In-Plane Switching (IPS), and OLED. Video editing is more efficient with IPS panels because of their ability to produce a wide gamut of colors. Motion-blurring is a problem with VA panels when displaying fast-paced footage, and OLED have better blacks but still have a high cost and other problems.
When using a monitor for video editing, brightness, contrast, and color gamut are the most important considerations. A monitor's color gamut refers to the possible range of colors it can display. Although all LCD monitors nowadays have good contrast ratios, brightness levels, and color gamuts, the IPS LCD panels have better viewing angles and support more colors than their TN predecessors.
Your monitor also must be calibrated properly if you want color accuracy.
How we test the best monitors for video editing
Long gone are the days of "Full HD" 1080P as a novelty. In this day and age anything below 4K (UHD - Ultra High Definition) is not a wise investment and your video editing monitor will get old very soon. If you don't already shoot video in 4K, soon you will -or will have to deal with 4K+ source material brought to you for editing. The trend towards 4K recording began some time ago with popular smartphones like the iPhone 7+, the Google Pixel XL, the Moto Z2 Play and the Samsung Galaxy S8. Get ready because 4K UHD video is here to stay.
Our choice of monitor sizes: In today's market, a 27-inch screen is a good entry-level monitor for serious video editing, since it does not sacrifice image detail at that display size. As for larger screens, 31", 32", and 34" are all equally good choices. We don't recommend monitors over 40 inches due to a large viewing distance and too much space required. We also included an ultrawide 34-inch monitor with the 5K2K resolution (5120 x 2160).
All IPS panels: Using those requirements, we compared the market options and selected the best 4K UHD monitors in a wide price range, all of which feature IPS panels, which are the most color accurate as compared to older technologies like TN and without the drawbacks of other types.
HDR explained: As a general rule, HDR10 is the most commonly used HDR standard. In our top picks, all but the Dell 8K support HDR, and two of them advertise HDR600 support, which ensures the display is HDR compatible with a peak brightness of 600 nits. Make sure you know which HDR standard your editing system supports.
As a result, we offer you a wide range of choices at price points to suit every possible video editing requirement within our established ranges of resolution, display size, and form factor.
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