Start with permission and construction
A clamp grips an accessible edge. A grommet attachment passes through a suitable opening in the desktop and secures from below. Neither option is automatically appropriate for every surface. Check both the mount instructions and the desk manufacturer's guidance.
If you rent the furniture, share the workspace, or cannot alter the desk, record those restrictions first. An existing cable opening may look useful but still have the wrong size, location, or surrounding structure for a mount.
Compare the access requirements
A clamp needs unobstructed space where its contact surfaces meet the desk and where its mechanism is tightened. A grommet attachment needs access beneath its opening. Drawers and crossbars can block either method.
Make a side-by-side note of the installation drawing, permitted tabletop thickness, opening dimensions where relevant, and the nearby obstructions. Do not compare only the dimensions shown in a storefront title. Variants in the same product family may include different attachment kits.
Avoid solving one obstruction by creating another
Moving a mounting point can change the arm's useful reach, screen alignment, and cable path. Check those consequences on a plan of the desk before deciding that a different attachment solves the problem.
If neither attachment is suitable, consider keeping the original stand or using a freestanding option whose footprint and load requirements suit the desk. Drilling or adapting hardware without confirmed suitability is not a shortcut. The useful purchase is the one whose complete installation requirements you can satisfy.
About this guide
Worked examples are illustrative calculations, not measurements from product testing. Follow the instructions for your exact equipment. Read our research and correction policy.