Laptops are great and all, but anyone who’s had to spend long hours working at one knows how fatiguing they can be. From stiff necks to carpal tunnel syndrome, there is no shortage of modern maladies looming in the cramped, hunched-over positions the laptop and desk forces on many of today’s humans. Keeping your laptop on your lap or your best lap desk can be great and all, but your bad posture is always going to get to you in the long run.
Now that the work-from-home life has turned into norm and people are choosing to work from home indefinitely in our *almost* post-COVID world, we’re looking for ways to stay healthy and productive in home offices, at kitchen tables and really anywhere at home where we can find peace and quiet. Laptops provide flexibility, but sometimes they need a little boost — to stay cool underneath and reach a height that’s more ergonomic. You know, the same way your best desktop computer does.
To relieve that strain and help avoid the pitfalls of the laptop, here are 21 of the best laptop stands for more comfortable computing.
1. Rain Design iLevel 2
This laptop stand is as easy to control as it is stylish. This laptop stand holds your portable 11-inch laptops all the way up to your hefty 15-inch machines. The slider in front adjusts the tilt. It’s really that simple. It’s plenty sturdy and looks great on your desk. If there’s any complaint it’s that it doesn’t raise your laptop as high as other stands, but that shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.
Buy: Rain Design iLevel 2 $51.99 (orig. $69.95) 26% OFF
2. MOFT Laptop Stand
This is one of the most unique and inventive laptop stands available. MOFT makes slim, lightweight, portable laptop stands built to be strong with little fabric and material — like this one. It sticks to the back of your laptop and can fold in and out whenever you wish to prop up your laptop. It’s thin, easy to apply and can swing into action whenever and wherever you need it to. Plus, it comes in a variety of attractive colors. including this space grey.
3. Grovemade Wood Laptop Riser
Grovemade always does it right. This handsome wood laptop riser is one of the best laptop stands if you’re looking to keep handsomeness in the forefront. It keeps your screen extra-high and tidy using a wooden base, aluminum holder and merino wool cushioning for laptop support. The back has a spot to loop your wires to diminish any messy wiring, keeping everything where it truly needs to be.
Buy: Grovemade Wood Laptop Riser $150.00
4. Nexstand Laptop Stand
The best part about the Nexstand is how small and portable it becomes when folded. It even comes with a nice little stand bag much like a bag for a folding camping chair. It only weighs eight ounces too so carrying it, breaking it out for use and putting it away is incredibly simple and convenient. It has several settings with over a foot of lift off the table. If any table surface you consider your workspace, you should consider the Nexstand to save your neck — literally.
Buy: Nexstand Laptop Stand $30.29
5. Monoprice Ultra Slim Sit-Stand Riser Desk Converter
If you want more of a flat platform riser, the MonoPrice Ultra Slim Stand fits the bill. Not only is it good for your laptop, but there’s enough surface area for an all-in-one style PC. This stand turns your “unable to do anything than be a desk,” desk into a standing one. It’s available in three finishes — black, aluminum and white, and can raise 15.7 inches off the ground.
Buy: Monoprice Ultra Slim Sit-Stand Riser Desk Converter $104.99
6. Sofia Plus Sam Oversized Memory Foam Lap Desk
Working from home often doesn’t mean sitting at a dedicated desk. Many of us will fire off a few emails from our couch or sitting up in our bed. There’s no shame in that, but it’s not the most ergonomic or comfortable way to work sometimes. The Sofia + Sam lap desk certainly helps. The bottom portion is memory foam so the desk rests comfortably on your legs while the top surface is hardwood and fits laptops and a mouse that’s up to 17 inches.
Buy: Sofia Plus Sam Oversized Memory Foam Lap Desk $43.96
7. Rain Design 10080 mBar Pro +
The mBar Pro + is ready when you need it and can essentially fold away when you don’t. This is great for anyone who travels often for work but prefers to have their laptop raised off the desktop. Speaking of, it doesn’t raise it a ton — only about half a foot — but it does include a convenient traveling sleeve and is so lightweight you probably won’t even notice it in your carrying bag.
Buy: Rain Design 10080 mBar Pro = $64.90
8. Vari Portable Laptop Standing Desk
This laptop stand is about as sturdy as they come. It can support up to 15 pounds — and if you’re carrying around a 15-pound laptop, please consider our reviews of the best small laptops because you need a new computer, stat. The stand can lift a solid foot from the tabletop turning your desk into a standing desk with this sturdy, anti-slip stand.
Buy: Vari Portable Laptop Standing Desk $125.00
9. Nulaxy Ergonomic Laptop Stand
This sturdy aluminum ergonomic laptop stand is one of the best available for many reasons. It’s compatible with laptops ranging in size from 10-15 inches and elevates the screen up six inches to eye level. This helps keep your posture straighter, eases tension on your neck, reduces back pain and eye strain all at once. It’s made of 5mm aluminum alloy and can be disassembled easily for compact storage at the end of the work day if your desk needs to become the kitchen table.
Buy: Nulaxy Laptop Stand $21.24 (orig. $26.99) 21% OFF
10. obVus Solutions Adjustable Laptop Tower Stand
This stand improves posture and comfort by being able to raise up off the desk 21 inches along with adjustable tilt, so you can position your laptop to be as comfortable as possible. When not in use, it sinks back down to collapse into a 2-inch platform off the desk. There’s even a cut-out area on the platform to let your computer breathe which helps with overheating. You can also spring $10 more and get the laptop stand with a phone stand option as well.
Buy: obVus Solutions Adjustable Laptop Tower Stand $64.99 (orig. $79.99) 19% OFF
11. Fluidstance Raise Laptop Stand
This brand specializes in making your workspace more comfortable, and their new desktop monitor riser does just that. One of our editors, Taylor Galla, got sent this riser to try out and vouches for its sleek, ergonomic design that not only frees up space on your desk but elevates your monitor the perfect amount. It has four silicone feet on the bottom that keep it very steady and it creates storage space underneath by being the perfect level of elevation above the desk. It’s also made of eco-friendly materials and comes ready to use with no assembly required.
It’s designed to pair with their Slope desktop whiteboard, which we’ve also covered on the site, if you’re interested in adding a writing surface as well.
Buy: Fluidstance Raise Laptop Stand $119.00
12. Boyata Laptop Stand
Made from sturdy aluminum, the Boyata laptop stand is great for those who want to express themselves in a world of color. Okay, well, there aren’t too many eye-popping — but there are at least some nice choices. This stand inclines in different angles to keep your laptop secure and study. It stays steady through in through to make sure your laptop won’t fall. It’s also vented on the platform to help keep your laptop from overheating.
Buy: Boyata Laptop Stand $29.99
13. Pyle Pro DJ-style Laptop Stand
The DJ-style Pyle Pro Laptop stand is designed to help party DJs multitask by creating an easy, functional place for a laptop to sit amongst other equipment. It should work as well in the office as it does in the club, unlike your dance moves.
Buy: Pyle Pro DJ-Style Laptop Stand $23.34
14. Lifelong Ergonomic Laptop Riser
Like the obVus Solutions laptop stand, this essentially turns your normal desk into a standing one by being able to lift your laptop up to 20 inches off the desk’s surface and tilt for maximum comfort. It too has a vent to keep your laptop from overheating while the vented platform supports laptops anywhere from 10 inches to 17 inches in size. So even if you have a big and hefty machine this stand can support it.
Buy: Lifelong Ergonomic Laptop Riser $69.99
15. Steklo Folding X-Stand
The adjustable and portable folding X-stand from Steklo is finished in a clean silver anodized finish to match your metal-bodied Macbook, Macbook Pro or Macbook Air. It also improves CPU cooling by boosting airflow. What more could you need?
Buy: Steklo Folding X-Stand $24.99
16. Kentevin Adjustable Laptop Stand
This adjustable laptop stand from Kentevin is height-adjustable between 5.5 inches and 7 inches and has non-slip rubber surface pads on the bottom to keep it in place. It’s compatible with laptops up to 15.6″ and is convenient to carry if you need to travel to a different work spot. The bottom has a rotatable turntable so you can turn your computer to share with others, and it has a smartphone bracket on the left side for dual viewing while you work. The stand also lifts your computer off of your desk which allows for adequate heat dissipation and better computer performance in general.
Buy: KENTEVIN Adjustable Laptop Stand $17.87
17. Bestand Store Aluminum Cooling Laptop Stand
This laptop stand is made of 7000 series aluminum alloy which gives it excellent corrosion resistance, hardness and wearable quality. It has a 66-pound bearing capacity which makes it excellent for heavy laptops as well as an ergonomic design that brings your computer up to eye level, easing neck tension. There are silicone pads on the top surface that keep your computer from slipping as well as on the bottom to hold the whole stand in place.
Buy: Bestand Aluminum Laptop Stand $37.98
18. Rain Design Laptop Stand
This laptop stand raises your computer to eye level at most tables and desks, helping to reduce back and neck strain. It also features aluminum heat sink construction and a handy cable organizer to keep your space clean and uncluttered.
Buy: Rain Design Laptop Stand $39.90 (orig. $49.90) 20% OFF
19. Vivo Swinging Arm Stand
The Vivo swinging desk-mountable arm stand clamps to your desk and is fully adjustable and articulateable. Great for artists, designers, engineers and anyone who has to glance at a laptop while keeping their desk free for other things, this arm can even “stand in” for some far costlier “standing desk” options.
Buy: Vivo Swinging Arm Stand $54.99
20. Samson Free Standing Laptop Stand
Think of this Samson laptop stand as a tripod for your laptop. Height adjustable, it lets you type while standing, something recent research suggests may have great health benefits. It kind of reminds us of those hi-tech desks that elevate when you no longer want to sit down — just at a much, much better price.
Buy: Samson Free Standing Laptop Stand $48.90
21. Amazon Basics Metal Computer Monitor Support Stand
If you want to keep it simple and affordable, this laptop stand raises your computer up 4.25″ — just enough to reach eye level and create some storage space underneath. It’s made of durable, strong metal with an enamel coating that prevents scratches. It can hold up to 40 pounds so everything from small laptops to large monitors shouldn’t be a problem.
Buy: Amazon Basics Metal Computer Monitor Support Stand $81.35
Best Laptops for College Students
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