The best laptop stands are a game-changer for anyone who spends hours on end hunched over their laptop. Say goodbye to uncomfortable setups and hello to a more ergonomic and posture-friendly workspace.
Slouching over your laptop for extended periods can put unnecessary strain on your neck and shoulders, leading to aches and pains. A fantastic laptop stand can be your ergonomic hero, helping you maintain a healthy posture and keeping those neck and shoulder woes at bay.
TL;DR – These are the Best Laptops Stands for Desks:
- Rain Design mStand
- Griffin Elevator Laptop Stand
- Roost Laptop Stand
- Nnewvante Laptop Stand
- Ergotron WorkFit-T Standing Desk Converter
- VIVO Single Laptop Notebook Desk Mount Stand
- ElfAnt Laptop Stand
- Omoton Vertical Laptop Stand Holder
- Razer Laptop Stand Chroma V2
- MOFT Laptop Stand
The beauty of laptop stands lies in their versatility. Whether you prefer using your laptop solo, pairing it with an external keyboard and mouse, or even if you're a fan of working from the comfort of your bed, there's a laptop stand out there tailored just for you.
Whether you’re looking for adjustable heights and angles to find that perfect viewing position or you need a portable stand that you can easily toss in your bag and take with you on the go, there are a wide range of options available.
The Best Laptop Stands For Desks
1. Rain Design mStand
Best Minimalist Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Durable
- Keeps laptops cool
Cons:
- Fairly heavy
To keep things simple and functional, the mStand by Rain Design is the way to go. It’s built strong using a single, solid piece of aluminum to hold even the most weighty laptops with depths less than 10.4 inches. That sturdy aluminum tray also acts as a heatsink, helping to pull heat from your machine to keep your internals running smooth.
Of course, the mStand’s main purpose is lifting your screen, which it does, raising it 5.9 inches for a more ergonomic view. It doesn’t stop there, your desk space will be tidier thanks to a two-inch cable management hole to run your power and wired accessories, and you can stash your keyboard in the lower section when you’re done typing. Best of all, you can snag it for under $50 in one of four different colors that match the sleek stylings of the Macbook.
2. Griffin Elevator Laptop Stand
Best Budget Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Affordable
- Simple and sleek design
Cons:
- Large
You don’t need to spend big to find a quality laptop stand. Just look at the Griffin Elevator Laptop Stand. For $50, you can hoist your display up 5.5 inches rather than hunching over and annihilating your posture. The design is simple and sleek, fitting any space and almost any laptop up to 17 inches.
The Griffin Elevator Laptop Stand features two sturdy aluminum arms with anti-slip rubber bands to keep your machine from falling when you accidentally bump the table. Despite this contraption appearing rather large, you can actually take apart the stand when traveling or working from different locations by removing the plastic bar holding the two sides together. It’ll also help keep your machine cooler than sitting on a desk, as there’s more airflow.
3. Roost Laptop Stand
Best Portable Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Laptop won’t slide
- High adjustability
Cons:
- Limited to thin laptops
Roost started as a crowd-funded Kickstarter project, and this newer iteration benefits from lessons learned while making the original. This compact stand looks fairly simple, as there is no tray for the laptop, but instead, clever "pivot clips" clamp down on your device. That means the computer won’t slide around, though the clip design limits you to laptops .75 inches thick or less (not including the lid).
You get more adjustability with the Roost than other stands, as it lets your machine sit as low as 6 inches off the table or as high as 14 inches with a few preset angles to make for easy positioning. It also features a lightweight plastic build but is still rock-solid and well-balanced in use. And when it’s time to pack up, the stand collapses to 13 inches long and 1.25 inches wide, while a carrying sleeve makes for easy portability.
4. Nnewvante Laptop Stand
Best Bedstand Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Solid construction
- Smaller side surface
Cons:
- Heavier than most
Sometimes working from your bed is the way to go. And if that’s your jam, you’ll need a sturdy laptop stand that’s going to fit over you while you crawl out of your slumber. The Nnewvante Laptop Stand is made from solid bamboo construction, which does make it on the heavier side, but ensures it’s stable when placed on your bed. But, thanks to the non-slip feet, you can also place this on a desk or other surface too.
The adjustable height is great for laptops, tablets, and other devices. And the cute side surface is ideal for your morning coffee (just don’t spill it on your laptop). There’s even a handy drawer on the side for your cables, pens, or whatever else you want to hide away.
5. Ergotron WorkFit-T Standing Desk Converter
Best Standing Desk Workstation Laptop Stand
Pros:
- Ideal for standing users
- Large surface area
Cons:
- Not very portable
Sitting at a desk all day isn’t the healthiest, and that’s where a standing desk comes into play, significantly improving the ergonomics of your setup. But if you’ve already got a desk you love and don’t want to invest in a new one, the Ergotron WorkFit-T Standing Desk Converter is your solution. This oversized laptop stand sits on your desk, supporting up to 40 pounds and offering a large surface area, letting it house a laptop and even a second monitor.
That’s just the start because the two-tier design lets you place a full-size keyboard and mouse underneath. It’s spring-loaded, so when you’re ready to stand up, your workstation smoothly elevates with ease up to 20 inches high. And when you’ve got the Ergotron folded flat, the top tier is raised five inches, making it an ideal laptop stand for sitting in an office chair.
6. VIVO Single Laptop Notebook Desk Mount Stand
Best Clamping Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Mountable
- Affordable
Cons:
- Looks kind of ugly
Want a completely clear desk space? Your best option is to mount your laptop on a pole-and-clamp that hangs off the corner of your desk. VIVO’s Single Laptop Notebook Desk Mount Stand is a solid and affordable option. It rocks a rigid clamp and simple steel pole with an arm that holds a 14-by-12-inch ventilated laptop tray, keeping your desk surface open. It also includes a monitor bracket to hang a gaming monitor instead.
There’s no need to drill holes or damage the desk during installation, as the pole clamps onto it and includes pads to avoid scratching the surface. You also get a grommet mount. From there, you can mount the VIVo’s arm from desk height to about 17 inches higher, though adjustments require an Allen wrench. Once configured, that arm swings around the pole 360 degrees, and the laptop tray’s angle is adjustable.
7. ElfAnt Laptop Stand
Best Adjustable Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Better viewing angles
- Portable
Cons:
- Only suitable for flat surfaces
You don’t always work from the same table and chair combo, so an adjustable option like the ElfAnt Laptop Stand comes in handy. It offers a range of heights from 2.75 to 12.6 inches, letting you find the best viewing angles from any location. The sturdy aluminum frame even supports up to 15 pounds and holds up to 17-inch laptops, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a machine this stand can’t handle.
If you travel a bunch for work, the ElfAnt Laptop Stand is incredibly portable thanks to its fold-up design and lightweight build. It uses a series of aluminum bars with hinges and a scissor mechanism, letting it fold up to just 11 by 4.33 inches for ultimate portability. With all that metal, you’re probably worried about your laptop getting scratched or sliding around, but silicone pads placed along the frame prevent that issue.
8. Omoton Vertical Laptop Stand Holder
Best Vertical Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- Not height adjustable
- Useful for thin laptops and tablets
Cons:
- Not suitable for everyone
So, you’ve got a solid hub connecting your laptop to a monitor or two along with a keyboard and a mouse, so you might not need the laptop’s own built-in display, keyboard, or trackpad. That’s when you can streamline your desk setup with the Omoton Vertical Laptop Stand Holder. It situates your laptop vertically, like a super-thin tower desktop, letting you clear up desk space.
Omoton’s stand is built sturdy thanks to an anodized aluminum alloy frame with a wide base for extra stability. Laptop models measuring 0.55 inches thick to chunkier options up to 2.71 inches slot right in, as you can adjust the size of the holder using an included screwdriver. Inside is a silicone surface to keep your device in place and prevent scratches, while the bottom also features a silicone grip to stop your setup from sliding around.
9. Razer Laptop Stand Chroma V2
Best RGB Laptop Stand for Desk
Pros:
- All the lights
- USB hub
Cons:
- Not height adjustable
The Razer Laptop Stand Chroma V2 does more than raise your laptop because it’s also a highly capable hub full of RGB lighting. To start, there’s a sturdy aluminum frame to prop your device up at an 18-degree angle—unfortunately, there’s no other height adjustability. And taking your setup a step further is a flashy adjustable RGB strip on the front edge of the stand, letting you play around with lighting effects and patterns.
As we mentioned, this option is more than just a stand, as there’s a USB hub available for use with compatible laptops. You get two USB-A ports for extra peripherals alongside video outputs over HDMI and USB-C. You can connect two dual displays up to 1440p/60Hz or a single 4K or 5K monitor. And one USB-C port even supports pass-through charging.
10. MOFT Laptop Stand
Best Laptop Stand for Travel
Pros:
- Thin and lightweight
- Durable
Cons:
- Not suitable for bigger laptops
While many laptop stands can be handy for making your laptop more usable at home, not all are as ready to travel as your laptop, leaving you without a stand option when you’re on the go. Luckily, the MOFT Laptop Stand easily slides into your bag with its ultra-thin, ultra-light design. It weighs less than a fifth of a pound and is only 3mm thick.
This stand is essentially a sheet of sturdy PU and fiberglass that adheres to the base of your laptop but goes almost undetected, acting like a natural appendage to your device. Using a series of folds, it lifts the laptop's rear two or three inches for a better viewing angle. Somehow, the MOFT manages to hold laptops up to 15.6 inches and supports up to 11 pounds, proving this stand is durable while adding such little bulk.
How to Pick the Best Laptop Stands
If you’re ready to give your laptop (and yourself!) the VIP treatment it deserves, choosing the best laptop stand is a fantastic way to boost your comfort, improve your posture, and take your workspace to the next level.
Before even considering what type of stand you’ll need, think about where you'll be using your laptop stand the most. Are you working from your home office hero, a coffee shop, or are you a digital nomad on the move? Knowing your work environment will help you decide whether you need a portable, lightweight stand or a more sturdy, stationary option.
The whole point of a laptop stand is to improve your posture and reduce strain on your neck and shoulders, right? Look for stands with adjustable height and angle settings to find the perfect ergonomic position that suits your height and seating arrangement.
Most importantly, you’ll need to make sure the laptop stand you choose is compatible with your laptop's size and weight. Whether you're rocking a compact ultrabook or a larger gaming laptop, there's a stand out there that's just the right fit for your device.
Some laptop stands come with extra features like built-in USB ports, cable management solutions, or cooling fans to prevent your laptop from overheating. Consider what additional features might enhance your user experience and make your workday more enjoyable.
Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone who loves to binge-watch your favorite shows from bed, a quality laptop stand can make a world of difference in your daily life.
FAQs
Are Laptop Stands a Good Idea?
Laptop stands allow you to adjust the viewing angle of your laptop, making for a more ergonomic experience. If you’re working from a desk, couch, or even your bed, a laptop stand can make all the difference.
Why Do People Put Their Laptop on a Stand?
Laptop stands raise your laptop so you don’t have to bend or twist your neck in awkward positions to view the screen. If you’re squinting to see the screen or adjusting yourself in an uncomfortable position, it might be time to think about getting a laptop stand.
Are Laptop Stands Good for Your Neck?
A laptop stand raises your laptop screen to eye level. This not only offers better ergonomics, but also allows you to work for longer without experiencing discomfort.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
