What to Look for in a Laptop Stand
When shopping for a laptop stand, think about how and where you’ll use it, and how much you’re willing to spend. Here’s what you need to consider:
Do you need portability? If you commute or like to work from a coffee shop, opt for a foldable laptop stand that fits in your bag. Some models even double as cases, like Moft’s Carry Sleeve.
Material preferences? Laptop stands come in a variety of materials—aluminum, steel, plastic, wood, etc. Aluminum models are generally lightweight and excellent for heat dissipation. Steel stands are sturdier but heavier, and plastic tends to be more affordable but also wobblier. If aesthetics matter, some wooden models like Grovemade’s Walnut Stand or Oakywood Laptop Stand add a bit more warmth and polish to your space.
How adjustable? Everyone’s workspace is different, and everybody is different, so most people benefit from an adjustable stand that lets you tweak your setup. If you’re using a sit-stand desk, you’ll want a stand that accommodates both modes. Some stands can even act as sit-stand desk converters, so you don’t have to purchase a new stand-up desk.
Do you use an external keyboard and mouse? If not, go for a sturdier stand. Portable laptop stands tend to be lightweight and wobbly if you’re typing directly on the laptop. Note: The right keyboard and ergonomic mouse can prevent muscle strain.
Extra features? Some stands come with extras like built-in cable management and compartments for storage. Be ready to spend a little more, though.
Do Laptop Stands Improve Posture?
Yes, they can. Working on a laptop atop a desk for long periods can form really poor posture habits. Because of the height of the laptop screen, your neck will always crane down, and you’ll find yourself hunching over or slouching to get more comfortable. The goal is to get the height of the laptop screen as close to eye level as possible. While an office chair or standing desk can lift the height of your laptop screen, that’ll mess with the angle of your elbows and wrists, which is also an ergonomic faux pas.
Should You Use a Laptop Stand Without an External Keyboard?
Probably not. While you certainly can use the keyboard or touchpad of your laptop in a pinch while it’s elevated on a laptop stand, it’s not the best ergonomic decision. All the experts I’ve spoken to have told me that you want to keep your arm at close to a 90 degree angle as possible, allowing you to use your mouse and keyboard in a more natural position. So, yes, if you’re using a laptop stand, you’ll also want to get an external mouse and keyboard.
Why Use a Vertical Laptop Stand?
By no means are vertical laptop stands required. However, they are a nice way of saving space on your desk if you have a nice monitor and don’t plan to use the laptop screen. Because you can now connect your laptop to a monitor with the screen closed, it’s a handy way to store your laptop vertically and free up space. A standard horizontal laptop stand is for when you want to use your laptop display in a dual-screen setup, paired with an external monitor. Vertical laptop stands tend to be very simple little products, so just make sure it fits your laptop and looks nice on your desk—something like the Coreminded Vertical Laptop Stand I mentioned above.
More Laptop Stands to Consider
We’ve tested well over 25 different laptop stands at this point, and while we stand by the recommendations above, there are a few unique use cases that the following laptop stands do a great job of addressing.
Courtesy of Branch
Branch Adjustable Laptop Stand for $65: This used to be our top pick. It’s one of the most well-rounded options out there. Although it bares a lot of resemblance to the AmazonBasics model, the addition of wood certainly gives this a nicer look. Ultimately, I prefer the Native Union model from my recent testing, but the Branch stand remains a beautiful option.
Rain Design mBar Pro+ for $58: Despite its thin aluminum frame, this simple Rain Design stand is solid. Don’t worry about it buckling while you type away in your living room or office or at the airport. The fixed height raises your laptop 5.5 inches, and it folds up to just 9.5 x 6 inches—small enough to go into any bag that fits your tablet or laptop. I also appreciate that it comes with a svelte carrying sleeve for easy packing. Bonus: It weighs less than a pound. —Boutayna Chokrane
Nnewvante Laptop Desk for $61: I work from home, and some days I just can’t leave my bed in the morning or make it off the couch after lunch. The Nnewvante, which is also in our Home Office Gear guide, is a great stand for those lazier days. You can also potentially put it on your desk for a low-maintenance sit-stand desk converter. —Boutayna Chokrane
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Coreminded Vertical Laptop Stand for $35: Storing your laptop vertically is a great space-saving solution, a newer option made possible by single-cable USB-C connections, which frees up and cleans up your desk. There are tons of options out there, but I enjoyed using the Coreminded Adjustable Vertical Laptop Stand. It’s made from solid oak (there’s a darker walnut, too), while the interior is lined with felt to prevent scratching.
Grovemade Walnut Laptop Stand for $200: Branch’s stand is beautiful, but if you want something even more luxe and made from real wood, go with Grovemade’s Walnut Laptop Stand. It’s made of solid walnut, hand-sanded, and finished with vegetable-based oil. You just have to shell out for it. WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu recommends it in his Home Office Gear guide, saying it’s best suited for a desk or table to make room for a separate keyboard and mouse (though you can use it on a couch, too). We also like Grovemade’s Walnut Laptop Riser ($200) and the Desk Shelf ($180 for medium). All the products come in other wood options, too.
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Photograph: Medea Giordano
Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk for $180: Logitech has mastered the office on the go. Its bestseller, the Casa Pop-Up Desk (9/10, WIRED Recommends), is about the size of a small textbook when closed, so it should be able to fit in a laptop backpack or tote bag. Open it up and access a full setup: a Bluetooth keyboard, trackpad, a USB-C charger, and a stand for your laptop. The accessories are pretty standard but function well for working from a coffee shop or even from home if you don’t want to spring for an entire desk setup. I tested the pink, which is very cutesy. —Boutayna Chokrane
FluidStance Lift Laptop Stand for $79: FluidStance’s Lift Stand is a magnetic whiteboard that doubles as a surface for jotting notes and to-dos. The steel build won’t budge or buckle, and built-in notches help manage cables. It’s not foldable, so I would leave this at home. Bonus: The Lift is made in the US from mostly recycled steel. —Boutayna Chokrane
Laptop Stands to Avoid
Amazon is filled with laptop stands, many of which come from companies you may not have heard of. While some of these are higher quality, we’ve come across a few with serious problems.
Tonmom Laptop Stand: When something costs under $10, you can’t have high expectations. I liked the idea of an extremely portable laptop stand—something you could take on a plane or to a coffee shop. And this one had tons of good reviews on Amazon. While the Tonmom Laptop Stand does fold down to something you could toss in a backpack (and comes with a nice velvet bag), it feels very wobbly. It has so many free-floating parts that I never felt like my laptop was safe. It could easily slide out if something bumped it while the laptop is secured.
Gogoonike Laptop Stand: I tried this one as an even cheaper alternative to the Amazon Basics model, but it fails on many levels. I like that it’s not as tight as the Amazon Basics stand, meaning it’s easier to adjust while still feeling firm. But that’s where my compliments end. My unit came with nicks and faded paint all along the edge of the metal base. My guess is that this wear and tear will only get worse over time. The most egregious failure was that my unit wouldn’t sit completely flat on the table, as it uses cheap pads on the bottom rather than proper silicone feet. A laptop stand that doesn’t sit flat on a table is a big problem.
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