Hunching over a laptop screen for hours on end can lead to serious problems, like back pain and bad posture. Like the best standing desks, laptop stands help build an ergonomically correct desk setup by raising the laptop screen to the ideal height to avoid slumping when using it. The best laptop stands also offer other benefits, like improved airflow, a comfortable typing experience, and a much cleaner setup than balancing a laptop over a sack of old books.

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The perfect laptop stand depends on a few things, including design, adjustability, portability, and durability. The stand should, at a minimum, be sturdy enough to support most 13-inch to 17-inch laptops and also offer decent elevation from the desk. At Game ZXC, we've cut through many of the available laptop stands to find the top picks for different users, including the best stands for a desk, working on the bed, and even highly portable ones for travel.

Game ZXC's Picks For The Best Laptop Stands In 2024

The BoYata Laptop Stand.
Best Overall Laptop Stand
BoYata Laptop Stand

The BoYata Laptop Stand has everything users need in a laptop stand. It's made with sturdy material, offers multiple height and angle adjustments, has a heat vent for additional cooling, and excellent silicone pads to keep your laptop secure and steady when typing. It can also support large laptops, making it ideal for anyone looking for a high-quality laptop stand for a desk.

Color
Silver
Brand
BoYata
Compatability
11- to 17.3-inch laptops
Adjustments
Height, Tilt
Pros
  • Made with durable aluminum alloy
  • Multiple height and angle adjustments
  • Available in five colors
Cons
  • Can be a little hard to adjust

Laptop stands come in many shapes and sizes, but we found the BoYata Laptop Stand to offer the perfect balance between form and function. The stand is made with a sturdy and durable aluminum alloy that allows it to support bigger laptops up to 17 inches and 33 pounds in weight, which is well within the range of most notebooks and gaming laptops. But what makes it the best laptop stand for most people is its range of adjustments.

When collapsed, the BoYata Laptop Stand offers around 2 inches of elevation, and it can extend up to 8 inches from the desk, offering a generous amount of height adjustment for an ergonomic setup. Its Z-type design also allows users to tilt the laptop to find the ideal viewing and typing position. While the hinges may be a little hard to adjust, especially with one hand, they're designed to ensure exceptional stability when typing directly on the laptop.

BoYata wrapped up the excellent design with a cool-to-the-touch finish that screams a premium product. The stand is also available in a choice of five colors, allowing users to match it to their laptops or tablets. Add in the ventilation cutout and anti-slip silicone padding, and users have the perfect stand to raise any laptop to eye level.

The Besign LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand holding a MacBook.
Best Budget Laptop Stand
Besign LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand

The Besign LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand is an affordable, but surprisingly solid and durable laptop stand. Although it doesn't offer any form of height adjustment, it more than makes up for it with a stable typing experience while raising your laptop to a perfect viewing angle without breaking the bank.

Color
Silver
Brand
Besign
Compatability
10- to 15.6-inch laptops
Adjustments
Fixed height
Pros
  • Sturdy and durable design
  • Detachable design for travel
  • Open design for unrestricted airflow and cooling
Cons
  • Not height-adjustable

For those on a tight budget who still want a durable and stable laptop stand, the Besign LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand is a great option. There are many variations of this stand available from other brands, but most of them are either too flimsy to be useful or sit too low on the desk. The Besign LS03 is made of durable aluminum, making it strong enough for laptops up to 15 inches. With a maximum weight limit of 8.8 pounds, it can hold even the heaviest gaming laptops.

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The Besign LS03 raises a laptop roughly 6 inches off the desk, which is enough to bring a laptop to eye level for most people. However, it's a fixed-height stand, meaning users have no option to adjust the height or elevation. While it may seem like a deal-breaker for some, this design offers excellent stability when typing directly on the laptop compared to most adjustable stands. Additionally, users can detach the stand to occupy less space when traveling.

If you're looking for a height-adjustable stand, the BoYata Laptop Stand and Nulaxy Telescopic 360 Rotating Laptop Stand are better alternatives, but you cannot go wrong with the Besign LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand if you're on a tight budget or prefer typing directly on a laptop instead of an external keyboard.

Two Nulaxy Telescopic 360 Rotating Laptop Stands side by side with one holding a MacBook.
Best Adjustable Laptop Stand
Nulaxy Telescopic 360 Rotating Laptop Stand
$60 $70 Save $10

This laptop offers the most adjustability for users, allowing them to adjust height, tilt, and even rotate the laptop to the ideal, most ergonomic angle every time. It also extends up to 20 inches, making it ideal for tall users or standing desks.

Color
Gray
Brand
Nulaxy
Compatability
10- to 17-inch laptops
Adjustments
Height, Tilt, Swivel
Pros
  • Height extendable up to 20 inches
  • Sturdy and stable, even at higher settings
  • Available in four fun colors
Cons
  • No swivel lock

In addition to its fully adjustable design, the Nulaxy Telescopic 360 Rotating Laptop Stand is one of the tallest laptop stands, going from about 2 inches to 20 inches when fully extended. This allows it to meet the ergonomic needs of most people while opening up other possibilities, like using your laptop while standing to boost productivity and health. The metal construction also makes it feel like a premium product and sturdy enough for beefy 17-inch laptops.

While the Nulaxy stand offers impressive adjustability, its one drawback is the lack of a locking mechanism for the rotating base. However, this may not be a major concern for everyone, as the base has significant resistance to it, preventing any free movement. Still, if you prioritize a locking mechanism, the Ugreen adjustable stand offers a good alternative. It's well-built and durable, but it requires slightly more effort to adjust compared to the Nulaxy stand.

OMOTON Docking Station LD01
Best Vertical Laptop Stand
OMOTON Docking Station LD01

The OMOTON Docking Station LD01 holds a laptop vertically, making it ideal for those using an external monitor and setup or users looking to reclaim some precious desk real estate.

Color
Black
Brand
OMOTON
Compatability
10- to 17-inch laptops
Adjustments
None
Pros
  • Clean and durable design
  • Colors to match your laptop
  • Excellent airflow
Cons
  • Cannot use laptop screen or keyboard while on the stand

The OMOTON Docking Station LD01 is a little different from the rest of the laptop stands in that it's designed for those using an external monitor and keyboard. While most laptop stands allow access to the laptop screen and keyboard, this model holds the laptop upright with the lid closed (clamshell mode for MacBooks). That way, users can keep a laptop out of the way in a clean and professional manner while freeing up a lot of valuable desk space.

This laptop stand (or variations of it) is a popular design choice for tech influencer desk setups, known for creating a clean and aesthetic look. The OMOTON Docking Station LD01 stands out from other vertical stands for its excellent quality at a budget-friendly price. It has a solid aluminum build quality and adjustable width that accommodates laptops of all sizes, from thin and light notebooks to 17-inch gaming powerhouses.

The vertical design, however, is not for everyone. If you need to use your laptop's screen or keyboard, a compact option like the Besign LS03 will work better in this case. But for users with an external monitor and keyboard or those looking to free up some space on the desk, the OMOTON Docking Station LD01 is the last piece of the puzzle for your setup.

iVoler Adjustable Laptop Stand
Best Portable Laptop Stand
iVoler Adjustable Laptop Stand

Need a travel-friendly option? The iVoler Adjustable Laptop Stand folds down for easy storage in your bag. Plus, it offers multiple height adjustments for an ergonomic laptop setup on the go.

Color
Silver
Brand
iVoler
Compatability
10- to 15.6-inch laptops
Adjustments
Height
Pros
  • Foldable and portable design
  • Multiple height adjustments
  • Sturdy and stable
Cons
  • It can be wobbly with heavy 17-inch laptops

If you carry your laptop to work or need a laptop stand to use while traveling, iVoler's Adjustable Laptop Stand is a compact and sturdy option that can easily fit in a bag for use on the go. It weighs less than a pound, is simple to set up, and supports most laptops, but what really makes it stand out is its collapsible design. It can fold down into a stick to take up less space in a backpack or laptop bag, making it a perfect portable option.

Adjusting the laptop's height is straightforward. The stand has six drilled holes that allow users to select the ideal height and angle of the laptop's screen and keyboard. The only downside is that the bottom of the laptop remains in a fixed position, so selecting a higher height setting might put the laptop's keyboard at an uncomfortable typing angle. Overall, it's a solid, travel-friendly stand, and the anodized aluminum not only makes it sturdy and durable, but also gives it a premium look and feel.

Nnewvante Laptop Lap Desk
Best Laptop Stand For Bed
Nnewvante Laptop Lap Desk
$49 $57 Save $8

Unlike most laptop stands designed for desk use, the Nnewvante Laptop Stand is perfect for when you want to work from the comfort of your bed or sofa. It has an adjustable holder for a laptop and a flat surface for your mouse, coffee cup, notebook, or other small accessory.

Color
Bamboo
Brand
Nnewvante
Compatability
10- to 15.6-inch laptops
Adjustments
Height
Pros
  • Adjustable height
  • High-quality bamboo build quality and finish
  • Extra space and storage for desk essentials
Cons
  • Not available in other colors

This bamboo laptop tray from Nnewvante is perfect for the lazy days when you don't feel like getting out of bed or want to work from the comfort of your sofa. It might not be as adjustable as some dedicated laptop stands, but it offers enough adjustability to promote good posture. The legs are 8.5 inches tall and can extend to about 13 inches. In addition, users can tilt the dedicated laptop holder at different angles to find the perfect viewing and typing position.

The laptop holder is accompanied by a small flat surface on the right, ideal for a mouse, notebook, or even a cup of coffee. An additional sliding drawer provides storage for small essentials like pens and USB cables. When not working, this versatile tray can also be used for breakfast in bed, reading a book, or even arts and crafts projects. If you're using a gaming computer or need a laptop tray with cooling, there's an alternative version with a built-in fan.

Kootek Laptop Cooling Pad
Best Cooling Laptop Stand
Kootek Laptop Cooling Pad

The Kootek Laptop Cooling Pad is an excellent pick if your laptop gets very hot during regular use. It has five effective fans that do an incredible job cooling down your laptop, and offers six height settings to raise the laptop to eye level.

Color
Black
Brand
Kootek
Compatability
12- to 17-inch laptops
Adjustments
Height
Pros
  • Effective cooling
  • Quiet fans
  • Offers six height levels
Cons
  • No off switch for the LEDs

Regular laptop stands can improve airflow, but if you use your laptop for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, a high-quality cooling pad offers superior cooling to maintain optimal performance. The Kootek Laptop Cooling Pad stands out for its competitive price and ergonomic design. It offers six height levels, allowing users to raise their laptop between 1.5 and 5.75 inches to find the ideal height for a comfortable setup.

For cooling, the Kootek pad is terrific. Five cooling fans work together to keep your laptop running cool even in the most intense gaming sessions. Unlike other cooling pads, the fans in this model run quietly, so you can use it in an office or at the coffee shop without distracting others. It also has two switches to control the fans, giving users total control over the amount of cooling they need.

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The only downside is that the LEDs cannot be turned off, but unless you regularly work during the night, this won't be a deal-breaker. The Kootek cooling pad comes with blue LEDs, but there's also another variant with red LEDs. Both models have a fully adjustable height and are powered via USB.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Laptop Stands

There is no shortage of laptop stands, but not all are useful. When buying a laptop stand, consider the following factors:

Adjustability

Being able to adjust the height and angle of your laptop is the most important factor when buying a laptop stand. Laptop stands with a fixed height tend to be affordable and offer a more stable typing experience, but they are not versatile.

Adjustable stands allow you to experiment with different settings to find the perfect height for maintaining good posture and reducing neck and back strain. They can also adapt to different setups, which can be beneficial if you frequently switch between workspaces.

Portability

Are you always on the road with your laptop and want something to use on your next trip? If yes, then a foldable stand like the iVoler Adjustable Laptop Stand is the best option for you. These stands are often lightweight and can fold down into a compact package that takes up less space in a backpack or laptop bag.

Durability

When choosing a laptop stand, you want it to be sturdy enough to support your laptop without wobbling and remain stable when typing. Laptop stands made with durable materials like aluminum or aluminum alloy excel in this department. Avoid any laptop made with plastic, unless you're using it with a very lightweight laptop.

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FAQ

Q: Are laptop stands a good idea?

Yes, laptop stands are a great addition to any desk setup, as they offer a simple and affordable way to create an ergonomic workspace. By raising your laptop to eye level, laptop stands help prevent neck and back pain caused by hunching over the screen for long periods of time.

Q: What is the best height for a laptop stand?

There isn't a single best height for a laptop stand, as it depends on a few factors, like your height and the height of your chair and desk. However, to find the ideal height that works for you, ensure the laptop stand can raise the top of the laptop's screen to eye level or as close as possible. This allows you to maintain an upright posture and prevent Hunched Over Laptop Syndrome (HOLS).

Q: Do laptop stands help with cooling?

Yes, laptop stands can help a laptop stay cooler by lifting it off the desk, creating space for better air circulation around the bottom and sides, where most laptops have vents. This improves heat dissipation and prevents overheating.