I have people ask me almost every day, How many monitors should I use for trading? And it's really an interesting question because what I've learned over time is that it's a very personal decision.
I think what it really boils down to is what you are most comfortable with. For me, I like having all of my mission-critical windows open because for me it's a lot less clicking around.
Reduce Click Strokes
If you have ever tried to trade on a laptop, you know how frustrating it is to constantly find your app, chart, or order window down in the taskbar.
In other words, it's a lot less of something that I call click strokes. I have to admit, I'm a bit of a screen space junkie myself. I use 6 monitors. This allows me to have Trading View, TradeStation, and Kraken open all the time, and I can still keep an eye on Bloomberg Business Channel, open emails, and chat with my team on Slack.
And I can do all of this without having to search in the damn task bar for each individual application. I can do this in very few clicks of the mouse, and this is where the benefit is. Having everything open at the same time and visually choosing where you want to be. You move the mouse cursor to where you want to be.
Multiple Monitors Upgrade
If you are only used to using one or two monitors now and you're thinking about upgrading, I would recommend starting with four monitors and working your way up to six or eight over time if you're so inclined.
An array of four monitors with two monitors over two is very efficient, and it fits beautifully on any desk.
TV vs. Monitor
Another similar question I get from traders all the time. Can’t I just use a large 50-inch HD TV? You know those ones you see at Walmart for $300? Well, the short answer is no.
The biggest difference between a TV and a monitor is that TVs are designed for you to sit eight feet back or more. If you own one of these TVs, try getting up really close to the screen, like a foot and a half away, and take a good look at it.
If you take a good look at the TV, you'll see it's very, very grainy. The pixels on these TVs are much bigger, which gives them that grainy appearance up close. And again, that's because they're designed for you to watch them from eight feet back.
Computer monitors, on the other hand, have a much greater and tighter pixel density, so you get a much higher definition and picture even sitting very close up.
And if you put four of these 1920 x 1080 resolution high-definition monitors with two monitors over two. Essentially what you have is one huge 4K monitor with incredible pixel density. So, the multiple HD monitors provide a much higher definition picture sitting very, very close.
Check Out Our Guide
If you haven't already, please feel free to download our Complete Guide to Trading Computers here. My only goal is to help you optimize your trading experience so be sure to connect with us for more tips!
Blog Article Updated April 29, 2025.
