The Best Laptop Stands to Save Your Achin’ Neck
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Best Overall
Branch Adjustable Laptop Stand
The Most Portable Stand
Rain Design mBar Pro+
A Portable Office
Casa Pop-Up Desk
A Place For Note-Taking
FluidStance Lift Laptop Riser
Still balancing your laptop on a stack of old books? It’s time to upgrade. Having the right laptop stand can make life more comfortable, so you can stop craning your neck while you work. The best stands raise your laptop’s screen (or external monitor!) close to eye level, which is better for maintaining a healthy posture. Some can even fit into a backpack for easy travel or switch configurations from sitting to standing. These are our favorites.
Need more options for your home office? Read our guide to work-from-home gear.
Updated July 2024: We’ve added the FluidStance Lift Laptop Stand and Arlo Skye Lap Desk.
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Peripherals Are Important
Snagging one of the laptop stands below is one of many ways you can improve your posture when sitting at a desk for long periods. You can also connect your laptop to a separate second computer monitor. You’ll be able to multitask more easily with two screens, and you won’t have to strain your neck as much.
Some of these laptop stands are best paired with a separate keyboard and mouse. These peripherals mean you can set your laptop farther away and at various heights, and you won’t need to stretch your arms in awkward ways to type. The right mouse can prevent muscle strain and wrist problems, so check out the picks in our Best Keyboards and Best Gaming Mouse guides. (You don’t need to be a gamer to use a gaming mouse!)
How to Pick
We recommend several different types of laptop stands. To figure out which one is for you, first you’ll have to determine how you want to use it, then you can decide on price and aesthetics.
- Do you need something portable? There are stands that collapse down and fold to easily fit in a bag. Some even double as cases, like Moft’s Carry Sleeve.
- Do you want to raise, lower, or angle your computer? Look for an adjustable stand like our top pick from Branch, with hinged legs and top. Just need one height? Go with something like the Grovemade Walnut Laptop Stand.
- Is this for a laptop or your monitor too? For the latter, you’ll need something bigger with a fixed height, like the Superjare Dual Monitor Stand Riser.
- Will you use a separate keyboard and mouse? If not, you need a stand that’s strong and stable like Branch’s. Some can wobble a bit while typing on them.
- Want to stand sometimes too? Some of the adjustable picks may allow for standing, depending on your height, but there are also sit-stand converters so you don’t need a whole new desk. Our favorite is no longer available, so we’re looking for a new top pick now.
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Photograph: Branch
Best Overall
Branch Adjustable Laptop Stand
Branch’s stand quickly became one of my favorites. It raises laptops from 2 to 7(ish) inches, and can be easily adjusted to any angle you need. It’s sturdy, so it stays at your set height and doesn’t bounce around if you work directly on your laptop.
The base and legs are aluminum, but this stand has a pretty wood top (made from medium-density fiberboard). It costs just $65, which is cheaper than most stands on this list and all of the wood ones. It’s not terribly bulky, but we have more minimal stand options if you need to take it with you and have limited bag space.
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Photograph: Rain Design
The Most Portable Stand
Rain Design mBar Pro+
Despite being made of thin aluminum, this simple Rain Design stand is sturdy. Type away without worrying about it buckling, and take it from your office to your living room or a coffee shop. It’s a set height, raising a laptop about 5 inches at an angle. My colleague now has two of these, so he doesn’t have to worry about toting it back and forth between home and the office—but you can, because it folds up to just 9.5 x 6 inches, so it fits into any bag you’d also put a laptop in. It also weighs less than a pound.
The mBar Pro Plus holds 9.7-inch (and up!) iPads if placed horizontally. There’s also the mBar stand ($25), which raises a laptop 3 inches and doesn’t fold up, and the mBar Pro ($55), which raises it the same amount but folds.
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Photograph: Logitech
A Portable Office
Casa Pop-Up Desk
Logitech has mastered the office on the go. Its Casa Pop-Up Desk (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is about the size of a small textbook when closed, so it should easily fit in a laptop backpack or tote bag. Open it and take out the Bluetooth keyboard and track pad and configure the case into a stand. A portable workstation!
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 tried the pink, which is very cute. Hopefully they offer more fun colors eventually. To play with the settings, like pointer speed or keyboard shortcuts, you’ll need to download Logi Options+.
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Photograph: Medea Giordano
A Place For Note-Taking
FluidStance Lift Laptop Riser
FluidStance’s Lift stand raises your laptop to a comfortable level and gives you a place to write. The entire thing is a magnetic whiteboard, so you can jot down important notes or list that day’s meetings and to-dos. The front 11½ by 6 inches is where you’ll likely write the most (otherwise it would be covered by your computer). The Lift is made from sturdy steel, so it won’t budge or buckle, and strategic notches keep cables in order.
I love to physically write things out rather than rely on a digital to-do list, but sometimes it’s wasteful if it’s not something you’ll need a paper copy of long-term. It’s also nice to have everything right there in your face. You can’t fold it up and put it in a bag, but it is a solid desk companion. The Lift is also made in the USA using majority-recycled steel.
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Photograph: Superjare
A Cheap Stand for a Monitor or Laptop
Superjare Dual Monitor Stand Riser
I used this Superjare laptop stand on and off for a few years, and it held up well. It’s made of particleboard, but was strong enough to hold my monitor and laptop and take some abuse from being thrown in a closet and dug out later. It’s a nice break from industrial-looking metal stands and it’s also really affordable!
There are three sections—one middle piece and two adjustable sides—and you can collapse the sides into the middle or remove them entirely. Sometimes I use just the middle for my monitor, or I use the entire thing to hold my laptop slightly angled on the left side for a better two-screen setup. The best part? There’s space underneath for storing notebooks, a keyboard, and other stuff that tends to clutter my desk.
If you occasionally want to stand up and work, this isn’t a good option. Plus, it’s not easy to tote from room to room. But if you’re mostly going to sit at a desk, it’ll do the job.
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Photograph: Nnewvante
Work From the Bed or Couch
Nnewvante Laptop Stand
I’ve been working from home since 2018, and even though I love my desk (and my computer monitor), sometimes it’s too hard to leave my bed in the morning or make it off the couch in the afternoon. The Nnewvante, which is also in our Home Office Gear guide, is a great stand for those lazier days. You can’t adjust the stand’s height, but you can raise the base to an angle suitable to whatever you’re doing—sketching, watching a movie on a tablet, eating breakfast, or typing on a laptop—and the built-in stopper keeps things from sliding off into your lap.
The smaller surface on the right stays flat and is a good place for your morning coffee. There’s even a cute, small drawer for storing knickknacks! And when you’re done with it, you can fold up the legs for slimmer storage. Even better, it’s made of bamboo and feels very nice.
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Photograph: Amazon
A Lap Desk Can Work Too
Yogibo Traybo 2.0
The Nnewvante is great and affordable, but a lap desk is another good option for occasional work away from a regular desk. It even works in the car. Yogibo’s lap desk has a squishy pillow bottom that’s comfortable against your legs—not surprising from a company known for its pillows and bean bags—and a bamboo top. Most important, the entire tray stays still as you type because there are no legs to wobble.
There’s also a slot to hold up a tablet or phone for watching movies or video chatting. When you’re done working, you can ditch the computer and use the lap desk for drawing or writing comfortably.
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Photograph: Medea Giordano
This Lap Desk Has Storage
Arlo Skye The Lap Desk
I prefer Yogibo’s comfy pillow, but I appreciate that the Arlo Skye lap desk also has a storage compartment. I can stow my laptop (as long as it’s no bigger than 14 inches) and an e-reader, plus a thin notepad and pen, and have it remain together even if I need to move around. This is especially great if you’re traveling and working in the car or on a train. There’s a slot for holding up your phone or tablet, if you want to watch a movie or video chat. I could see this being a good accessory for kids too. They can draw or color, and then keep their art supplies together and organized.
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Photograph: Grovemade
If Looks Are Important …
Grovemade Walnut Laptop Stand
Branch’s stand is pretty, but if you want something even more sleek made from real wood, go with Grovemade’s Walnut Laptop Stand. You just have to shell out for it. WIRED reviews 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. It has a stainless-steel stop to keep your laptop from sliding off, and the stand’s feet are made of cork to prevent it from moving around. The American black walnut base is gorgeous, and it supports up to 200 pounds.
We also like Grovemade’s Walnut Laptop Riser ($190) and the Desk Shelf ($240 for medium). All the products come in other wood options too.
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Photograph: Lone Birch
A Flexible Wood Stand
Lone Birch Flex Laptop Stand
This stand from Lone Birch is another elegant wood option, available in walnut or oak. The advantage of this one over Grovemade is the flexible arm that holds the platform up. You can have it straight up or bend the arm for an angled view, raising your laptop about 7 to 9 inches. It works on its own or with a separate keyboard and mouse.
There are small and large sizes. I tried the large, which is better for 15-inch or larger laptops; it felt slightly too big for my 13-inch MacBook.
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Photograph: Moft
A Multi-Height Portable Stand
Moft Z 5-in-1 Sit-Stand Desk
The Moft Z 5-in-1 stand can be easily configured into five different positions. At its tallest 10-inch height, you can comfortably stand for a little while. If you’re standing for most of the day, go for our top pick or consider a standing desk instead. But what I really like about this one is that it’s light and folds down to just half an inch thick, so you can take it anywhere without adding much bulk.
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Photograph: Moft
A Desk Sidekick
Moft Smart Desk Mat
Moft is known for its origami-based designs, which you can tell by looking at this folding desk mat. It’s a convenient work companion. At just shy of 20 inches long and magnetic, it can balance your laptop with room to snap on your phone to the wireless charger and keep a to-do list in view with its memo holders.
There are three bundles to choose from, each with different accessories. The Digital Kit ($158) comes with a tablet holder, cable organizers, and a wireless charging pad with a sticker to make any phone magnetic. I had to watch this video to figure out just how to fold it. The Paper Kit ($128) has book and memo holders, and the full kit goes for $187. All kits include an extremely nice wrist rest (the best I’ve tried) that doubles as a leg cushion if you attach it to the bottom of the mat and work from the couch. You can add an Apple Watch holder for $14.
There are also two NFC hot spots embedded in the mat, which you can customize to your liking using the Shortcuts app on iPhones. If you have an Android, you’ll need to download the NFC Tools app, then go to Settings → Connected Devices → Connection Preferences, and you should see an NFC option. (I used it to automatically set timers for a more structured workday.)
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Photograph: Grape Lab
A Sustainable Stand
G.flow Stone Foldable Laptop Stand
This stand is made from one sheet of recycled stone paper (made from stone waste from the mining industry), and it’s meticulously folded to give it an accordion-like design. Unfurled, it holds your laptop steady—I was surprised it didn’t buckle under the weight—with a nice viewing angle. You can then fold it down to an inch thick to take it anywhere. And it’s waterproof! I purposely spilled my coffee on it and was able to wipe it clean without a wrinkle or stain left behind.
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Photograph: Twelve South
A Portable Favorite (for External Keyboard Users)
Twelve South Curve Flex Laptop Stand
WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar raves about this Twelve South stand after using it for the past few months. You can push it down or stand it up to 22 inches high, so you can adjust it depending on your setup. When using an external monitor, Brenda says she can align her MacBook at the proper height alongside it; if she’s working solely off the MacBook, she can place it at a comfortable viewing angle.
It’s also super compact and portable, so if you need a stand that can go into your bag, this one works. Her only gripe is that it can be a little wobbly when typing, especially when adjusted to an angle. She uses hers with an external keyboard at home.
★ Alternative: Twelve South’s Curve SE ($40) isn’t adjustable, but it raises laptops to the right level for comfortable side-by-side working. It’s like the original Curve, but this one clicks together for easier mailing. It’s also a little wobbly if you aren’t using an external keyboard.
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Photograph: Twelve South
Best for iPads
Twelve South ParcSlope
Twelve South also makes some of our favorite accessories for iPads. The ParcSlope is one of them. It’s a minimal stand that raises your device by 18 degrees. If you’re using a laptop, it angles it into a slightly nicer typing position—but this stand is more suitable if you regularly draw or work on an iPad (or another tablet). It keeps it angled just enough to comfortably work on a touchscreen.
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Photograph: Victor
Take Your Desk to Go
Victor High Rise Mobile Adjustable Standing Desk with Keyboard Tray
Victor’s mobile standing desk could be your everyday workspace, or you can position it in front of the couch or even next to your full-size desk as laptop stand. It costs the same as many larger desks, but you get portability and a relatively small footprint. And you can raise it easily enough to a standing position at 44 inches. Unlike some other portable desks I’ve seen, this one has a keyboard tray.
It was kind of a pain to assemble—the directions were a little oblique, and I accidentally screwed certain pieces on backward. But truthfully, I’m not the handiest person. I eventually put it together, so I’m confident anyone else can, too.
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Photograph: Lention
A Docking Station
Lention C-95 Docking Station
Apple recently brought back ports—thank goodness—but that doesn’t help those of us who can’t drop $2,000 or more for a new device when we have a perfectly good MacBook Pro at home. If you’re in the same boat, the Lention 11-in-1 docking station corrects the frustrating lack of ports.
It keeps everything plugged in while staying tucked away beneath your laptop, instead of dangling off the side. It’s not much of a stand, but it offers a slight lift, which is better than nothing. You can also pair it with another laptop stand.
This dock includes ports for HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort; SD and Micro SD card readers; one USB-C port, two USB 3.0, and one USB 2.0; Ethernet; and a 3.5-mm audio port. You can see a list of compatible (and incompatible) devices on the company’s site. For more options, check out our guide to the Best USB Hubs and Docks.
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Photograph: Medea Giordano
Honorable Mentions
More Laptop Stands
There are many laptop stands, and most of them do the job just fine. We didn’t love the ones below as much as our other picks, but they’re worth considering.
- Moft Laptop Carry Sleeve for $60: Moft makes interesting products, like the 5-in-1 stand mentioned above. This one works as a sleeve to protect your computer while it’s in your backpack and then configures into two heights when you’re ready to work. A neoprene panel expands to fit bulky items like your laptop charger. It works, but I’d save it for using while out of the office and invest in something better while at your actual desk.
- Huanuo Magno Module Master Laptop Stand for $50: This magnetic, modular stand is similar to the Moft Smart Desk. You can configure it a few different ways, depending on how you want to work (or what you’re working on). Like Moft’s offering, it comes with a wrist wrest for when you’re typing on a desk or a lap cushion when you’re working from the car or couch. Moft’s is a little nicer, but this one is cheaper.
- FlexiSpot SC-4U Adjustable Laptop Stand for $100: This stand is like a mini version of our former pick from ObVus Solutions—now that that one is discontinued, this is a good pick. It doesn’t get as high but would fit better on a small desk or in a bag. It’s very hard to adjust, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since it means it won’t move once you get it to the angle you like. I appreciate that the base rotates, which could be nice if you’re collaborating with coworkers.
- Uncaged Ergonomics WorkEZ Best Laptop Stand for $40: If you like the idea of the Nnewvante stand above but need something a little smaller, you might consider this one. It’s not as sturdy, but the legs are adjustable so you can use it on a table, bed, or couch depending on how you’re propped up.
- Monoprice Universal Riser for $28: This stand involves some assembly, and the result is a bit dull, but it can hold the weight of a monitor. Plus, it’s cheap.
- Twelve South HiRise for $79: The HiRise’s aluminum build is durable, and the nonslip arms mean your laptop won’t slide off. It offers a small range of heights, and it’s best used in conjunction with a separate keyboard and mouse. It’s expensive for what it offers, but the price often dips.
- Nexstand K1 Carbon Fiber Laptop Stand for $88: The K1 raises your laptop with its seven height options, and it folds into a very compact rectangle that will fit in just about any moderately sized bag. I didn’t find it very intuitive to use at first, though—I had to read the directions to figure out I had it upside down. It’s expensive for the design, but that’s because of the carbon fiber.
