A gas spring monitor arm is one of the best ergonomic investments you can make for your workspace. By utilizing a pressurized gas cylinder to counterbalance the weight of your screen, these arms allow you to float your display effortlessly above your desk, reducing neck strain and freeing up valuable desk real estate. High-quality budget options, such as the Amazon Basics Gas Spring Single Monitor Arm (typically priced in the $25 to $30 range) or the Acer Single Monitor Mount (generally retailing between $30 and $35), make this technology highly accessible. However, setting up these mounts is not always a plug-and-play experience. If you do not know how to adjust tension on gas spring monitor arm setups properly, you risk damaging your expensive equipment.
If the tension is set too low, your monitor will slowly droop, eventually crashing into your desktop, straining connection ports, and ruining your viewing angle. Conversely, if the tension is adjusted too high, the gas spring will overpower the screen’s weight, causing the arm to snap violently upward. This sudden movement can tear the mount from your desk, crack your monitor screen, or even cause personal injury. Finding the sweet spot of tension ensures your monitor stays exactly where you put it, gliding smoothly with the touch of a finger.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date shown and are subject to change.
What You Need
Before you begin adjusting your monitor mount, gather the necessary tools and information. Having everything on hand will prevent accidental drops or stripped screws during the calibration process.
| Item | Why You Need It | Optional? |
|---|---|---|
| Allen Key (Hex Wrench) | Used to turn the tension adjustment bolt. This is typically a 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm wrench and is usually included in the monitor arm packaging. | No |
| Your Monitor | Provides the essential counterweight. You cannot calibrate the gas spring without the monitor securely attached to the VESA plate. | No |
| User Manual | Helps locate the specific tension screw on your model and details the maximum weight capacity. | Yes |
| Microfiber Cloth | Placed under the monitor screen during assembly or adjustment to prevent scratches if it contacts the desk. | Yes |
| A Helper | An extra set of hands to hold the monitor steady while you make fine adjustments to the hex screw. | Yes |
Step-by-Step
Calibrating a gas spring arm is a straightforward process of balancing the internal gas pressure with the downward force of gravity acting on your monitor. Follow these steps to complete the adjustment safely.
Step 1: Verify Your Monitor’s Weight (Time: 2 minutes)
Before making any physical adjustments, ensure your monitor falls within the weight limits of your specific arm. For example, the Amazon Basics Single Monitor Arm supports displays weighing between 4.4 and 15.4 pounds (fitting 15-to-27-inch screens). The Acer Single Monitor Mount is designed for larger 17-to-34-inch screens. If your monitor is too light, the arm will always rise; if it is too heavy, the arm will always sink, regardless of how much you adjust the tension.
Step 2: Mount the Monitor to the VESA Plate (Time: 5 minutes)
Securely attach your monitor to the VESA plate (standard sizes are 75x75mm or 100x100mm) using the provided screws. Do not attempt to adjust the tension of an empty monitor arm. Without the weight of the monitor, the arm is under high upward pressure and can swing upward with dangerous force when released from its shipping ties.
Step 3: Locate the Tension Adjustment Bolt (Time: 1 minute)
Examine the joints of your monitor arm. The primary tension adjustment bolt is almost always located at the main center elbow joint (the hinge that allows the arm to move up and down). Look for a recessed hexagonal screw head. Many manufacturers print small “+” (plus) and “-” (minus) symbols next to this screw to guide you.
Step 4: Hold the Arm Perfectly Horizontal (Time: 2 minutes)
To safely adjust the tension, push or pull the monitor arm down so that it sits completely horizontal (parallel to your desk surface). Holding the arm in this neutral position reduces physical stress on the internal gas cylinder and the adjustment screw, making it significantly easier to turn the Allen key without stripping the threads.
Step 5: Turn the Allen Key to Adjust Tension (Time: 5 minutes)
Insert your Allen key into the adjustment bolt. This is the core step in learning how to adjust tension on gas spring monitor arm mounts. Follow these directional rules to achieve the perfect balance:
- If the monitor drops or sinks: Turn the Allen key toward the “+” (plus) symbol, which is typically counter-clockwise. This compresses the internal gas spring, increasing its lifting capacity to match a heavier monitor.
- If the monitor rises or springs upward: Turn the Allen key toward the “-” (minus) symbol, which is typically clockwise. This decompresses the gas spring, reducing its lifting strength to match a lighter monitor.
Make full 360-degree rotations, testing the arm’s behavior after every 2 to 3 turns. It may take anywhere from 5 to 20 full rotations to find the correct balance point, especially if you are mounting a monitor near the upper or lower limits of the arm’s weight capacity.
Step 6: Perform the “Float” Test (Time: 2 minutes)
Once you feel the resistance change, gently release your grip on the monitor. Push the monitor up or down to various heights and let go. If it stays exactly where you leave it without drifting upward or drooping downward, your tension is perfectly calibrated. If it still drifts slightly, give the adjustment bolt one or two more half-turns in the appropriate direction until it remains perfectly stationary.
Mistakes to Avoid
While adjusting a gas spring arm is highly intuitive, minor mistakes can ruin your desk setup or damage your equipment. Keep these precautions in mind:
- Never use power tools: Always use a manual Allen key to adjust the tension. Using a drill or impact driver can instantly strip the hexagonal socket or crack the internal tension gear mechanism.
- Do not over-tighten or over-loosen: Stop turning the screw immediately if you feel sudden, heavy resistance. Forcing the screw past its built-in physical limits can break the internal cylinder housing or cause the adjustment bolt to fall completely out of the unit.
- Forgetting the tilt adjustment: Many users confuse overall arm height tension with screen tilt tension. If your screen is facing down toward your desk, you need to adjust the separate tilt joint located directly behind the VESA plate, not the main elbow joint.
- Ignoring cable slack: Always adjust your tension and test the full range of motion before routing your power and display cables through the arm’s built-in cable management channels. If the cables are too tight, they can pull on the ports when the arm is raised, damaging your monitor or computer.
How Often
For most standard home and office setups, adjusting your monitor arm is a “set-and-forget” task. You will only need to recalibrate the tension when you change your physical setup—such as upgrading to a larger screen, adding a heavy webcam or light bar to the top of your display, or swapping the arm to a different desk.
However, looking forward to workspaces in 2026, dynamic and flexible offices are becoming the norm. If you utilize a hot-desking system or share a workspace with family members who swap out their personal laptops or portable monitors daily, you may find yourself adjusting the tension more frequently. Additionally, extreme temperature changes in non-climate-controlled spaces (like a garage workshop or an attic office) can occasionally affect the density of the gas inside the cylinder, necessitating a minor half-turn adjustment at the change of the seasons.
When to Call a Pro or Replace
Gas spring arms rely on highly pressurized gas cylinders that are sealed permanently during manufacturing. Because of this high-pressure design, these cylinders are not user-serviceable. You should never attempt to disassemble the arm’s metal casing or puncture the gas spring chamber under any circumstances.
If you notice oil or grease leaking from the joints of your monitor arm, or if you hear a distinct hissing sound when adjusting the height, the internal seals have failed. Once the gas escapes, the arm will lose all lifting capacity and become unusable. Because entry-level and mid-range monitors arms are highly affordable, ranging from $25 to $35, attempting to repair a broken unit is neither safe nor cost-effective. If your arm fails to hold tension even after 30 full rotations of the adjustment screw, it is time to recycle the unit and purchase a replacement.
FAQ
Why does my monitor arm keep falling down?
If your monitor arm slowly drops to the desk, the tension of the internal gas spring is too weak to support the weight of your screen. To fix this, insert your Allen key into the elbow joint adjustment screw and turn it counter-clockwise (toward the plus sign) to increase the lifting force.
Which direction increases the gas spring tension?
On almost all major monitor arm brands, turning the adjustment bolt counter-clockwise (toward the “+” symbol) increases the tension, allowing the arm to support heavier monitors. Turning it clockwise (toward the “-” symbol) decreases the tension for lighter displays.
Can I adjust the tension before mounting my screen?
No, you should never adjust the tension on an unmounted arm. Without the weight of the monitor acting as a counterweight, the arm is locked under maximum upward pressure. Attempting to adjust it empty makes it incredibly difficult to turn the screw and can cause the arm to spring open dangerously.
How long do gas spring monitor arms typically last?
A quality gas spring monitor arm will typically last between 5 and 10 years of regular use. Over a decade of constant adjustments, the pressurized gas inside the cylinder may slowly slowly seep out, resulting in a gradual loss of lifting power that eventually requires a replacement arm.
