Apple Intelligence is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!
📢 Newsroom Update
Apple unveils the new iMac with M4, supercharged by Apple Intelligence and available in fresh colors. Learn more >
Apple unveils the new iMac with M4, supercharged by Apple Intelligence and available in fresh colors. Learn more >
📢 Newsroom Update
Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >
Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >
Hi everyone,
I've just ordered the new iMac with VESA adapter attached, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the distance between the adapter and the top of the screen? I'm looking to buy a monitor arm and want to make sure I get one that will raise it to the required height. Mind you, I'm not 7 feet tall, so my guess is that will still be most of them.
Thanks in advance.
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
I've visited a lot of Apple stores and resellers and never saw a VESA iMac displayed. That may be quite a quest.
Depending on the level of precision you need, there may be a workaround using simple photogrammetry and the dimensions of the standard M1 iMac case. These are easy to find in stores and measure, and then derive an approximate VESA bracket position from ratios an Apple image provides.
First the all-important assumptions to embrace. Assuming:
then you can approximate the position of the VESA bracket on the case. This is the image I found; the green markups are mine:
Again, this is NOT a precise method yet should still be accurate to a millimeter or a bit more IF the above assumptions hold true.
In the image, "a" is the total height of the case alone. "b" is the distance from the top of the case to the centerline of the VESA bracket, the dimension I believe you are seeking.
So grab a tape measure and head to any store with regular M1 iMacs on display. Measure dimension "a" that I've marked in the image.
I've done the fiddly bits for you. Using an engineering scale and dial calipers I measured two dimensions in the image at large size displayed on a 27-inch iMac 5K. Then I established a ratio between b and a.
When you have a measured value for a the formula is simple:
b = 0.755 a
Example: if a is 380mm, b is 287mm
This is not engineering precision but it should be close.
I've visited a lot of Apple stores and resellers and never saw a VESA iMac displayed. That may be quite a quest.
Depending on the level of precision you need, there may be a workaround using simple photogrammetry and the dimensions of the standard M1 iMac case. These are easy to find in stores and measure, and then derive an approximate VESA bracket position from ratios an Apple image provides.
First the all-important assumptions to embrace. Assuming:
then you can approximate the position of the VESA bracket on the case. This is the image I found; the green markups are mine:
Again, this is NOT a precise method yet should still be accurate to a millimeter or a bit more IF the above assumptions hold true.
In the image, "a" is the total height of the case alone. "b" is the distance from the top of the case to the centerline of the VESA bracket, the dimension I believe you are seeking.
So grab a tape measure and head to any store with regular M1 iMacs on display. Measure dimension "a" that I've marked in the image.
I've done the fiddly bits for you. Using an engineering scale and dial calipers I measured two dimensions in the image at large size displayed on a 27-inch iMac 5K. Then I established a ratio between b and a.
When you have a measured value for a the formula is simple:
b = 0.755 a
Example: if a is 380mm, b is 287mm
This is not engineering precision but it should be close.
We are not Apple, and they don't publish that distance information. You can contact Apple Support with the link in the top right corner of this page, and Apple-badged staff may have that information available. Or you can go back to the 24-inch iMac buy page and click on the chat with an Apple specialist to see if they know that distance info.
Of course, you may get lucky here and someone that already has a 24-inch VESA mounted to an articulating display arm may have an answer for you.
I know you're not Apple (did anything in my original post suggest I thought you were?), and I am aware the distance information is not published. That's why I asked - I was hoping someone may have the same iMac and would be able to provide an answer. I have already contacted Apple support and they don't know either, so I asked here. I'm surprised the info isn't available as it would be useful when setting up a static monitor arm/deciding between arms with different maximum heights.
I have spent nearly two hours trawling the webs for this distance information and so far nothing. I have seen dimensions of width, and from the bottom of the stand to the top of the iMac, but not just the height of the iMac body itself. If I had that, I might be able to correlate the location of the VESA mount and its distance from the top of the body.
The local Apple Store does not have one of these mounted to an arm either.
Mate, thanks again! You've gone above and beyond to try to find an answer. I rang Apple support the other day and asked them, but they had no idea. I looked at one at JB Hi Fi today and assumed the stand was attached around about where the middle of the VESA mount is, going on the pics I've seen. Measuring with my eyes, I thought maybe the top of the screen is around 25-30cm from the stand, but I'm not sure if that would be right. I may have to front up at Apple with a tape measure and do my best, or see if the bigger Brisbane City store has one on an arm.
At the end of the day, it probably doesn't make too much difference as I assume most monitor arms I buy will do the job when it comes to positioning the screen where I want it, but this is my first VESA mounted computer, and I have a lot of time on my hands waiting for the iMac to arrive. I have just found out the standing desk converter I bought only folds down completely with the monitor arm sold by that company, and it is just a post with the arm on it - its maximum height is 40cm, not one of the fancier, multi-sectioned arms that extends higher up. I have measured the distance between my arms at the keyboard and my eyes (as I said, I have a LOT of time on my hands), and I don't think that will be high enough to not be looking downward all the time, so I may have to go with an arm that doesn't allow the desk to lay fully flat, but without working out this iMac measurement, it's hard to say.
While taking a break from working this out, I looked at the price of thunderbolt 3 hubs and nearly passed out.
No promises, but digging deeper among my peers to see about that measurement.
Thanks mate! And sorry if I came back a bit hard with my reply before...I took a quick glance and fired off a reply without giving it much thought.
Thank you so much for taking the time to work this out for me! I am just looking for an approximation so
I can work out which monitor arms will do the job, so this is perfect.
Thanks again!
Thanks, Allan.
New 24" iMac with VESA - Distance to Top of Screen?
