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With the growth of remote work and flexible schedules, more and more people are working from home. Remote workers often spend their days sitting in front of a laptop at a desk or kitchen table, requiring them to look down and hunch over to see the screen comfortably. In contrast, ergonomic specialists and health professionals recommend that the top of a laptop’s display sit at eye level, with the keyboard and mouse positioned just below elbow level. A solution? Enter the laptop stand.
The best laptop stand for your home office adjusts the laptop’s height to correct your posture and reduce pain from an arched back and hunched shoulders. It also helps declutter your work space, prevent the laptop from overheating, and hold it securely in place. This guide explores the factors to consider when choosing one of these handy devices and reviews some of the top-rated options on the market.
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A laptop is an expensive investment, so when shopping for the best laptop stand, make sure it provides optimal protection, stability, and versatility. Look for a product made of sturdy materials that also protects the laptop from overheating. Next, consider the laptop’s size, and determine if the stand can support its footprint and weight.
Material
Most laptop stands are made of metal, wood, or plastic. Metal stands naturally dissipate heat and keep the laptop cool, which helps avoid overheating and shutdowns. Wood and plastic, on the other hand, can trap heat. Those who prefer wood or plastic may want to consider a stand with vents or fans to help prevent heat buildup.
Size and Weight
The laptop’s location and how it’s used help determine the size and weight of the laptop stand. For those who have a traditional home office that includes a desk, an extra monitor, and a keyboard and mouse, a solid one-piece laptop stand should work—the weight of the stand isn’t a major concern because it remains in one area. On the other hand, users who move around throughout the day may prefer a portable stand. Additionally, look for a stand that can support the size and weight of the laptop.
Single Height vs. Adjustable
For an ergonomic setup at a desk, the top of the laptop’s display should sit at eye level, with the keyboard and mouse just below elbow level. This position eliminates the need to bend forward or raise the arms, which helps with muscle fatigue and tension.
Basic single-height laptop stands raise the laptop off the work area to place the screen at eye level. Although an improvement over having it sit flat on a desk, not everyone is the same height. Also, the user may want to sit or stand, so a single-height stand may not work in every instance.
Adjustable laptop stands allow users to adjust the frame’s height based on their position—sitting or standing. Taller people also may prefer them.
Vertical Storage
A vertical laptop stand holds a laptop while it’s closed and connected to a monitor. Tether the laptop to a keyboard and mouse and work with it tucked out of the way. Single and dual vertical stands are suitable for smaller desks or to remove excess clutter on larger desks.
Cable Management
Most laptop stands provide cable management at the back of the frame to help keep the work area clean and free of clutter—and the cables untangled.
Portability
For a laptop stand to be truly portable, it should be lightweight and compact. Foldable or collapsible stands can fit inside a backpack or laptop bag for traveling to different work spaces.
However, the design should still support the laptop. Silicone or rubberized pads and clips—or grips along the bottom that hold the laptop in place on a desk or table—help.
Aesthetic
Wood stands often have attractive curves and finishes, while aluminum stands complement Apple products’ anodized finishes. Some stands are relatively bulky, and others are more minimalist.
Our Top Picks
The following laptop stands represent some of the top-rated options available today. Each was selected according to the abovementioned criteria. They include products in various categories to help locate the best laptop stand for a home office.
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By raising the computer almost 6 inches off the desk, this laptop stand from Rain Design improves its ergonomic position. The added height and tilt design bring the notebook closer to the user and provide a better view of the display: no more hunching forward while working.
The single-piece aluminum form provides a stable base for typing, and it acts as a heat sink to cool the laptop. The tilt also increases the airflow to help avoid overheating. The stand includes a 2-inch cable management hole at the back to route cables to keep the desk free of clutter. When not in use, the stand provides space to store a keyboard.
The simple, contemporary design with a sand-blasted, anodized finish complements Apple products. It can support laptops up to 17 inches with a depth of fewer than 10.4 inches. Gold, silver, and space gray finishes are available.
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This reasonably priced laptop stand from Nulaxy allows for better posture and reduces neck and back pain and eyestrain. It elevates a laptop by 7 inches, directly at eye level. Constructed with 5 millimeter aluminum alloy, the stand supports laptops up to 17 inches and weighs almost 9 pounds. It has large rubber pads at top to keep the laptop in place and prevent sliding.
The two cable management holes keep cables in place and off a desk. The stand’s open design, combined with the forward tilt and aluminum alloy material, helps with ventilation and airflow so the computer won’t overheat. It’s available in black, silver, and space gray finishes.
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Made by The Roost, this laptop stand weighs just under 6 ounces and is 13 inches in length. Slide it into a backpack or laptop bag for traveling to and from the office or around the house. A carrying case is included.
This plastic laptop is solid and sturdy. Pivot grips hold the laptop in place, and rubberized rests keep it stable. Users can adjust the height of the stand between 6 and 12 inches.
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This vertical laptop stand from OMOTON can fit two laptops or one laptop and a tablet. The nontoxic silicone pads in each stand hold a computer securely. Users can adjust each partition to accommodate laptops up to 17.3 inches and 0.55 to 1.65 inches thick.
It features a sandblasted, brushed anodized aluminum alloy finish and comes in gray, silver, and black.
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This laptop stand from BoYata can raise a display up to 10 inches. Its Z-shaped design allows the user to tilt the laptop forward to find a position that best alleviates stiffness and muscle pain.
The aluminum alloy material helps dissipate heat, and a hole on the stand provides airflow. The four silicone pads help hold the laptop, and hooks keep it in place. The stand folds to a compact size to take the stand on the go. This stand, which supports laptops up to 17 inches, is available in silver, space gray, pink, black, and champagne gold.
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This HUANUO model can work as a laptop stand, standing laptop desk, tablet stand, and a lap desk. Depending on requirements, the legs adjust to different heights and positions. Simply press the button at the side of the stand, set the angle and placement, and release the button.
The stand also includes a removable mouse pad that sits at the same level as the keyboard and can be installed on the stand’s right or left side. The tray features two CPU cooling fans powered via USB ports for active heat dissipation. Made with lightweight aluminum, this laptop stand folds for easy storage and supports laptops up to 15.6 inches.
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The VIVO laptop stand includes a pole with a tray and a C-clamp, so users can mount it to any desk no thicker than 4 inches. The mount includes pads to secure the laptop and can support up to 22 pounds of weight. Its 14-by-12-inch tray accommodates most laptops. Remove the laptop tray to directly mount screens up to 27 inches to the pole.
Users can adjust the tray’s height to roughly 17 inches above the desk via a hex key that locks the height in place. The laptop stand offers a 15-degree tilt to adjust the angle, a 180-degree swivel, and a 360-degree rotation. Ventilation holes on the tray help keep the laptop cool, while included cable management clips organize cords.
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The LapGear lap desk features a device ledge that holds a laptop in place while working away from a traditional desk setting. The integrated 5-by-9-inch mouse pad holds a wireless mouse. The lap desk also features a phone slot that can support smartphones in a vertical position.
The flat surface fits laptops up to 15.6 inches and most tablets. The dual-bolster cushion conforms to the user’s lap. Choose from white marble, black carbon, silver carbon, blush pink, espresso woodgrain, and oak woodgrain finishes.
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Health professionals warn that sitting at a desk all day isn’t healthy, and this Ergotron’s WorkFit-T standing desk converter allows users to stand as well as sit. Operate the spring-loaded desk using the hand-brake levers to find a comfortable position to accommodate changing needs.
The two-tiered desk has a 35-inch top surface that can hold a total of 35 pounds—enough for a laptop and up to a 30-inch monitor. The bottom tier holds a keyboard and mouse. At full height, the desk is 15 inches tall. When the user is seated, the bottom tier sits 5 inches off the desk.
The Advantages of Owning the Best Laptop Stand
Sitting for extended periods can wreak havoc on the body. Muscle fatigue; tension; low back, neck, and shoulder pain; and overall stress are all side effects of poor posture and ergonomically inefficient home office setups.
Check out some of the primary benefits that a laptop stand can offer, depending on the model you choose:
- Helps improve posture
- Raises the display to meet ergonomic requirements
- Provides adjustable angles to suit comfort needs
- Allows sit-to-stand functionality
- Offers heat dissipation and increased airflow to prevent overheating
- Creates a dedicated laptop space and eliminates desk clutter
- Transforms the house and even the outdoors into an office
FAQs About Laptop Stands
For more information about the best laptop stand for your home office, check out these answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. If additional concerns arise, contact the manufacturer.
Q. Do laptop stands help posture?
Yes. A basic stand raises the laptop so it sits at eye level, which helps correct posture and eliminate strain on your eyes, neck, and back.
Q. Do laptop stands improve laptop performance?
Yes. A laptop stand can keep a laptop cool and prevent overheating, which means it can run at optimal performance longer and perhaps even prolong its lifespan.
Q. How do I choose a laptop stand?
First, determine how and where you plan to work. Determine if you plan to use it in one fixed place or take to different locations. The size of your laptop also plays a role; the stand must support the dimensions and weight of the device. If you want to sit in the morning and stand in the afternoon, you’ll need a laptop stand with the versatility for both. These are just a few examples, but, in short, deciding how you plan to use the laptop and its stand helps you choose the right one.