Trading Desk Setup: How to Build a Desk That Helps You Trade

A good trading desk setup lets you see your charts, orders and news at a glance, keeps you comfortable through a long session and removes anything that pulls your attention away from the plan. The photos online with eight screens and a wall of lights look impressive, but most profitable setups are simpler than that. This guide walks through each part of a trading desk setup, in the order that matters most.

Digital download The Edge Journal: Trading Journal Spreadsheet Works in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers. Instant download. $9.00 USDGet the journal

Start with how you trade

Your style decides your desk. A day trader watching several tickers through the open needs more screen space than a swing trader who checks charts twice a day, and a long term investor may need nothing more than a laptop and a quiet corner.

Write down what you actually look at during a session, such as a main chart, a watchlist, an order window and a news feed. That list tells you how much screen space you need far better than any setup photo.

How many monitors does a trading desk need?

For most active traders, two or three monitors are plenty. One screen holds the main chart, a second holds the order window and watchlist, and an optional third carries news or a second timeframe.

More screens are not automatically better, because every extra screen is another place your eyes can wander mid trade. Many traders find one large ultrawide monitor easier than several small ones, since it gives the same space without the bezels in the middle.

Monitor position and distance

Put your main screen directly in front of you rather than off to one side. OSHA's guidance on computer monitors recommends placing the monitor at least 20 inches away with the top line of the screen at or below eye level.

A monitor arm makes this much easier. It lets you set the height and angle of each screen exactly, frees up desk space underneath and costs less than a new monitor.

The chair and the desk

You will spend hours in the chair, so it is the one item worth buying properly. Look for adjustable height, armrests and support for your lower back, then set it so your feet sit flat and your forearms rest level with the desk.

For the desk itself, depth matters more than width. A deeper desk lets screens sit further back, which is easier on the eyes and leaves room for a keyboard, a notebook and your phone.

Lighting, sound and focus

• Lighting. Avoid a bright window directly behind your screens. A soft lamp or a light bar on top of the monitor reduces eye strain in the early morning and late evening.
• Sound. Noise cancelling headphones help during busy moments such as the open, earnings calls and economic data releases.
• A large desk mat. It keeps the mouse smooth, protects the desk and makes a cluttered setup look deliberate.
• Your phone. Keep it on the desk for price alerts, face down otherwise, so it does not become a second, noisier trading screen.

Cables, computer and a backup plan

Run cables through a tray under the desk so nothing pulls when you move a screen. A computer that only runs your trading platform and a browser stays faster and avoids pop ups at the wrong moment.

Keep your broker’s phone app signed in as a backup, so a dropped internet connection never leaves you unable to close a position. It is the cheapest insurance on the whole desk.

The part most setups forget: a trading journal

Screens show you the market, but they do not show you your own habits. A trading journal is where you record every trade and review what is working, which matters more to your results than another monitor. Our guide on how to keep a trading journal covers what to record, and if you trade options there is a separate guide to an options trading journal.

If you want one ready to use, The Edge Journal is a $9 trading journal spreadsheet for Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers that works out your expectancy, the cost of your mistakes and whether your edge is intraday or overnight.

A simple trading desk setup by budget

• Starter. A laptop plus one external monitor on an arm, a comfortable chair and a trading journal.
• Active trader. Two monitors or one ultrawide on an arm, a supportive chair, a desk mat, a light bar and headphones.
• Full setup. Three monitors, a deep desk, an adjustable chair, good lighting, and a dedicated computer that is only used for trading.

Shopping for a trader rather than for yourself? Our guides to gifts for day traders and our gifts for traders collection have ideas at every budget.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best trading desk setup for beginners?

A laptop with one external monitor, a comfortable chair and a trading journal is enough to start. Add screens only when you know what you need to see at the same time.

How many monitors do day traders use?

Most day traders use two or three. One shows the main chart, one shows orders and the watchlist, and an optional third carries news or another timeframe.

Is an ultrawide monitor good for trading?

Yes, for many traders. One ultrawide gives the space of two screens without a bezel in the middle, which suits side by side charts.

How far should trading monitors be from your eyes?

OSHA recommends at least 20 inches, with the top of the screen at or below eye level, which is a good starting point for any desk.

Phone case Buy the Dip Phone Case for Traders and Investors Printed for your exact model after you order. $32.99 USDChoose your model