A whole spectrum of choice: The best monitors for home colour grading

Colour grading is a fine art; your projects deserve the right equipment. In this article, we rank the best monitors you can buy (for a decent price) in 2024.

The importance of having the correct equipment for colour grading cannot be overstated, even though “grey mush” seems to be the tone of choice among big-budget films. Even the best monitors for photo editing might not have the right tools for your work. Having a monitor designed to accurately represent your work, whether it be in DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro, can help elevate your work as an editor to the next level.

The best monitors for colour grading at a glance

• Best overall: BenQ SW272U 4K Photographer Monitor - View on Amazon

• Best budget: ASUS ProArt Display PA279CV Monitor - View on Amazon

• Best gamut: Flanders Scientific DM231 Professional Monitor - View on FSI

• Best professional: EIZO ColorEdge CS2740 4K UHD Monitor - View on Wex

The importance of having an accurate monitor when grading cannot be overstated. Many colourists describe the moment they moved up to a calibrated monitor as life-changing, and the difference is felt in the final product. The colourist's task is to allow the whole camera team’s work to shine. After all, what use is a brilliantly shot battle scene when you can’t see what’s happening (looking at you Game of Thrones).

Even professionals argue it’s a rabbit hole when it comes to colour grading. Monitors recommended by colourists can vary from £500 to up to £30,000. Each price point brings additional features, better panels, higher nits, wider colour space, and a clearer picture. For many people looking for a reliable monitor for their home setup, the options we’ve found will work perfectly and won’t dent your bank account

You can find our recommendations below, vetted by our team of experts using testimonies from industry professionals.

Buyers guide to colour grading monitors

Essential features of a colour grading monitor

Some essential features for an accurate colour grade aren’t always clearly advertised. Even top-spec monitors must be calibrated regularly to maintain an accurate colour representation. The monitor can be calibrated, but often you’ll need to invest in an external calibration device like the Calibrite ColorChecker to work with your monitor to help you accurately and quickly calibrate to the correct colour output.

Some monitors come factory-calibrated, but it’s a good professional practice to calibrate them yourself. Every editor is different however, so take the time to find out what works best for you.

What is colour space?

Colour space can be tricky to get your head around, even for editors. It is the mathematical spectrum of colour that can be displayed and assigned values to. There are several spaces, the most well-known of which are sRGB, ProPhoto RGB, and Adobe RGB. Many monitors advertise these as the colour spaces they support since they typically cover the widest spectrum of colour. You must match colour spaces across your equipment, from camera to monitor to software, to ensure they correctly assign all colours.

4K and higher resolution monitors

The resolution of the monitor depends on the type of footage you typically work with. If you’re only ever editing 1080p footage, a 4K monitor is not going to make the footage any sharper. If you wanted to opt for a cheaper monitor now to match the type of footage you’re working with, that could be a good way to save money. However, if you work with higher resolutions or even just want to future-proof your setup, then it might be worth going for a 4K model.

HDR and wide colour gamut monitors

An HDR (high dynamic range) monitor is able to show a large range of colours, from very dark to very light, with better accuracy than most other monitors. Similarly, if a monitor advertises a high gamut range you can expect a wide colour spectrum. If you have extra money to splash on a monitor, this is where it should go, however, it can be a bit pricey to access. Some HDR monitors are in the “professional” budget range, with the added caveat of needing a playback card to output to your monitor.

Monitor calibration for accurate colour representation

Even monitors that come factory-calibrated can need correction over time. After a few hundred hours of editing, many manufacturers recommend that you do your own calibration. To do that, you’ll need a calibration device and software to go alongside it, both of which can mean an additional cost. Professional-level brand Eizo recommends that the calibration should have a white colour temperature of 5000k so you’re getting the most accurate representation of the colours on the screen.

Cost vs. performance

When it comes to colour grading, it should never be the last thing on the to-do list when editing. If you’re a beginner colourist, aiming for something cheaper should be the best bet; however, there aren’t many monitors worth their salt south of £500. As any editor will tell you, colour accuracy is a rabbit hole, so our guide is aimed at those just entering the industry. That being said, it’s sometimes better to wait till you can afford the slightly more expensive option, as in the long run, it’ll serve you far better as you progress in your career.

User setup and environment

If you want to be a colourist, you can’t be afraid of the dark. To reduce the possibility of light pollution affecting your perception of colour, the darker the room the better. Avoiding overly warm/cool lights is key, meaning daylight bulbs (6500k) would be best. Speaking of lights, it’s best to have a “bias light” to help reduce eye strain in the long run by illuminating the back of your monitor. The importance of comfort whilst working hours at a time on a project cannot be overstated, especially the desk and chair you’ll be using, so don't forget to check out the best office desk and best support chair for long editing sessions recommended by us.

Olivia Sheed is a Tech Writer and Reviewer with What’s The Best. Here she writes reviews, how-to guides and articles across a range of topics, but primarily technology.

Her interests align with “anything nerdy.” An avid fan of TTRPGs, board games, miniature painting, and video games. Outside of that, she loves to discuss horror films, campy classics such as those from Hammer Film Productions in the 70s are her favourite for a comfy watch. An avid hiker, she visits the Lake District often, for both walking and wild swimming.

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