It takes a particular kind of display to be among the best monitors for video editing. That’s because there’s little room for error if video editors want to create great work. Having the proper colour support, accurate colour accuracy, and a high contrast ratio is vital for your project to be represented accurately when viewed on other mediums and devices. In addition, particular factors that wouldn’t give a casual user pause are crucial, such as backlighting.

You’ve probably invested quite a bit of cash into having a great computer with plenty of high-end components. And, you’ve probably invested in the best video editing software or best video editing apps. So, regardless of whether you’re a professional or just starting out, you don’t want the actual display to be the weak link in your creative process. The more professional-looking you want your work to be, the more particular you need to be with that monitor. That means having a minimum colour gamut of 95% DCI-P3 and colour accuracy of delta E < 2 to start.

Dynamic range is also a crucial factor. You’ll want a brighter display with better contrast as well as HDR support, primarily if you shoot in HDR. And, most media created these days comes in a higher resolution, so having something that can display the resolutions you need is also a factor to consider. Not to mention, having one in a higher resolution like 4K also means having more screen real estate to spread out your various apps, windows, and editing tools. To help you on your path to finding the best monitors for video editing, we have a range of options below, some of which also show up on our guide to the best 4K monitors.

To fully round out your setup, check out our guide for the best headphones for video editing. If you do a lot of work in the field using an Apple laptop, consider the one for the best MacBook for video editing. And you might want to check out the best touchscreen monitors and the best portable monitors as well.

The best monitors for video editing available now

Dell somehow finds that sweet spot between fantastic performance, valuable features, and a reasonable price tag with many of its products. And, the Dell Ultrasharp U3219Q is such a great example of that balance that it sits at the top of our buying guide. Thanks to its large, but not too large, 32-inch panel, it’s an easy display to work on as well. You get that 4K resolution to keep things sharp, the kind of colour coverage you need for video editing – specifically, 99 per cent sRGB, 95 per cent DCI-P3, and Rec. 709 colour support – and an adequate, if not mind-blowing, DisplayHDR 400.

While the HDR support could be better, and the brightness will leave the pickiest editors looking at other (and more expensive) options, it’s still a fantastic choice. Add in features like a USB hub to connect all your essential peripherals and a price that is very reasonable for creative-oriented monitors, and you end up with a display that will satisfy most video editors.

While most displays made with content creators and editors in mind cost double, triple, and sometimes quadruple what most general use monitors cost, the LG 32UK550 offers an excellent alternative for those on a budget. Part of that has to do with using a VA panel, which keeps costs low while still offering a reasonably satisfying viewing experience. In some ways, using a VA panel works to this monitor’s advantage since it provides a great contrast ratio and particularly strong black levels.

And, though it’s on the budget side of things, it provides quite a bit of screen real estate, thanks to its 32-inch panel and UHD resolution. As a result, working on projects is a breeze. You also get HDR support, even if it’s just HDR10, 300 nits of brightness, and, most importantly, a colour coverage of 95% DCI-P3.

Some of the heavy hitters on this list might come with better specs, particularly regarding colour accuracy. And, you won’t find the increasingly crucial USB-C port or a USB hub here. But, this no-frills option is still a strong contender, especially if you don’t have a big budget. 

MSI might be a big name in gaming, but that doesn’t mean the company cannot churn out a high-quality product that will satisfy content creators and video editors. The enormous and superb MSI Prestige PS341WU ultrawide monitor is ideal for creative work, from its 5K2K resolution to a feature set that lends itself perfectly to a creative workflow.

Its 5120 x 2160 resolution allows you to run and work on your 4K projects at full size while still having real-time access to all your editing tools. You don’t want to have to stop and search through all your tools every time you want to make a tweak, after all. Even productivity work becomes more seamless thanks to all that extra space. But, of course, none of that matters if the panel can’t adequately represent your work. Thankfully, its 98% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB colour coverage, 600 nits of brightness, and DisplayHDR 600 is more than enough for you to hone in on the details of your projects. And, it comes with all the ports you could need, from USB-C, DisplayPort, and HDMI connectivity to a USB hub for a more streamlined setup.

It does suffer a little when it comes to its build quality and design compared to its rivals, but it’s still a fantastic choice, especially if you need that ultrawide panel. If you can spend the money on a panel like this, you’ll be happy with this.

The Eizo ColorEdge CG319X is designed for people doing pro work with no scope for errors. This is demonstrated everywhere from its range of broadcast and cinema presets – including Rec. 2020 and DCI-P3 with 98% colour coverage – to its DCI 4K resolution, which is slightly wider than the Ultra HD standard.

That 4096×2160 resolution is ideal if the camera you’re using records in this format, since it means you can check the original footage at 1:1 pixels, no matter what format you might switch it to during editing. The display isn’t especially bright, but it still supports HLG HDR – you just won’t see the full scale of the the video’s brightness. 

Perhaps most importantly, it has a self-calibration system built-in, with sensor automatically checking its accuracy periodically, and correcting any issues without any involvement from you. You spend less time checking the screen and more time fine-tuning your footage. See our Eizo ColorEdge CG319X review for more why we rate this monitor so highly.

Novice and casual filmmakers and vloggers will appreciate the value the LG 32UN880 offers. It’s among the most affordable 4K monitors out there that offer 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage, HDR10 support, and brilliant picture quality, as well as a decently sized screen. It also comes with USB-C connectivity and a hub for all your video editing tools. 

However, it isn’t just for beginners. Experienced editors looking for a more versatile setup will appreciate its extremely flexible mount and stand. Its C-Clamp and One Click Mount combo not only offers a more minimalist setup but also allows the monitor to move virtually whichever way you want. It lets you extend up to 180mm, adjust the height up to 130mm, tilt up and down 25 degrees, and pivot up to 90 degrees. The arm also swivels up to 280 degrees, which comes in handy especially when you’re in a studio setup.

We only wish that it’s brighter and has better HDR support to meet the exacting demands of pro-level filmmakers. However, the LG 32UN880 certainly has its place in the video editing world.

If you want a 4K video-editing monitor with pro-level image quality and features specifically for creative use, but for a more affordable price, the BenQ PD3200U is excellent. The design is more basic than the expensive options here, but that’s fine, because your money is going where you need it: on the 32-inch Ultra HD display and its strong image quality. 

The PD3200U includes some specific display profiles that are great for video editing, including dedicated animation and darkroom modes. Its colour accuracy is excellent without calibration, so it can save you time as well as money. 

This is the best monitor for video editing if you’re working with 8K or 6K footage and need a way to view it at full 1:1-pixel quality. We’re not exactly swimming in 8K display options so far, but the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K makes sure that if you do get one, you’re getting an absolutely top-tier screen in so many ways. It’s about more than just the resolution – you also get 100% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709, and 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage.

Connectivity is a little weaker – with no HDMI 2.1 port, the only connections for 8K support are the dual DisplayPort connectors, and there’s no USB-C at all – but if you’re pushing that many pixels, you’re probably used to the idea that it’s a bit of a hassle. And at 32 inches, it’s a perfectly workable size too, despite the ridiculous number of pixels.

The BenQ EX3501R is a great video-editing monitor despite its main job being for gaming. With strong colour reproduction that includes 100% sRGB support, plus support for HDR10 over HDMI too, it does double-duty well. That said, its average brightness of 300 nits, means you won’t be dazzled by HDR brightness – still, BenQ describes it as a ‘video enjoyment monitor’, and it has the chops for that overall. 

Even better – it’s an ultrawide curved screen, which means you get extra width for your editing tools alongside full-height video playback, and being curved makes it all visible in a way that’s easy on the eyes. And at 2.35:1, it’s proportioned for cinemascope films, so playing them back fills the display. A USB-C port provides welcome easy connectivity, and though the 100Hz refresh rate won’t be important for video editing mostly, it’s nice if you want to get some gaming in too.

You don’t need to exclusively film footage in HDR to take advantage of a true HDR display, but you do need to be a proper pro to justify getting one. HDR displays aren’t the cheapest, and the Asus ProArt PA32UCG-K’s steep price tag proves this. However, if you do have deep pockets, its DisplayHDR 1400 and 1,600 nits of peak brightness will blow you away. 

Making it all the more worth your money is its Delta E < 1 colour difference and extensive colour space – apart from its 100%sRGB and 99.5% Adobe RGB, it also boasts 98% DCI-P3 and 85% Rec.2020 gamuts. The panel itself utilises smaller LEDs that offer 1152 local dimming zones for higher contrast and deep blacks. There’s plenty of input ports on hand as well, allowing you to spread out and really immerse yourself in your creative process. And, naturally, that 4K resolution takes care of displaying impeccable details.

This isn’t for novice and budget video editors, but professional designers and content creators would be wise to invest.

Apple’s 6K display is a beast, aiming to be closer to a monitor in the pro film production sense, rather than a monitor in the ‘computer screen’ sense we’ve been using it here. It’s intended to give you as close to perfect playback as you can get for the money (and, bear in mind, it’s a lot of money). You’ve got a resolution of 6016 x 3384, which is enough for many 6K formats (though not quite the 6K full frame recording of a RED camera). Added to that is an incredible HDR peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits, with a typical brightness of 1,000 nits – and there are 576 individual dimming zones for backlight control, so contrast will be simply colossal.

In terms of colours, there are specific reference modes for DCI P3, sRGB, NTSC, BT.709, and many more. That includes a reference mode for ‘Apple display’, which will make it match a MacBook Pro for brightness, so you get a consistent look if you have them side by side. There’s the option of a nanotexture effect on the screen to reduce reflectivity as low as it goes for monitors like this, too.

It comes with one Thunderbolt 3 port (meaning it can go at the end of a Thunderbolt chain, but can’t be a Thunderbolt hub), plus three USB-C ports for connecting accessories. The downside to all this is that it’s extremely expensive, and the price our widgets are pulling in here are just for the display… the official stand costs a further £949/$999/AU$1,699. You can also get a VESA mount adapter, if you prefer.

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