The 8 Best Laptop Stands
Updated by · How we research
Fixed, adjustable, folding and sit-stand laptop stands compared by height, steadiness and fit. For most desks, the Rain Design mStand wins. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A laptop stand only helps your neck if you also use a separate keyboard and mouse, because once the top of the screen sits near eye level, the laptop's own keys are too high to type on. With that pair in place, a stand turns a laptop into a real desk setup for anyone who works on one all day.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Rain Design mStand moves to the top. It's one bent plate of aluminum with nothing to loosen, it costs less than most adjustable stands, and its design has outlived nearly every stand it used to compete with. The Rain Design iLevel 2 stays for people who want to set the height, and the Roost stays too, now sold as the Roost V3, for anyone who works on the road.
Seven of the earlier picks are out. The Mosajie 210226dnz, Griffin Technology Elevator, 3M LX550, Rolodex Mesh Workspace, Vivo Riser and Pyle Portable are no longer easy to find new, and the Nexstand K2 has no current U.S. seller. The additions answer what readers search for: cheap folding risers like the Nulaxy C1, the Lamicall LN09 for bigger laptops, the Twelve South Curve for a desk with a monitor, and the Tounee LS07 for working standing up.
For the evidence, we leaned on Wirecutter's and Pack Hacker's long-term reviews of the Rain Design and Roost stands, Rain Design's and Twelve South's published specs, a university ergonomics guide on screen height, owner reports of wobble and slipping, and a CPSC recall search that found nothing for these brands.
March 23, 2021:
With most of our choices for this list still proving to be great selections, it wasn’t an overly involved round of updates for us, as virtually all of our options managed to hold their positions. The only real exception to this was the Furinno Vented Table, which wasn’t available at the time of this writing. Luckily, we had no issue finding an excellent replacement.
The Mosajie 210226dnz has a design quite similar to our former choice from Furinno, but it comes with some extra bells and whistles, like an optional platform to support a mouse. It’s a nice touch (and, indeed, one of the reasons I chose to rank it), but it should be noted that, while images provided by the company demonstrate the platform attached to the right side of the stand, I was unable to confirm whether it’s just as easy to attach it to the opposite side, which is something to pay attention to if you’re a lefty.
The 210226dnz also separates itself from much of the category with the inclusion of two USB-powered computer fans, to help keep your machine cool. While virtually every option in this category can claim to offer some form of cooling, even if it’s just by keeping your computer up in the air while its running (options like the Rain Design mStand, which feature all-metal constructions, can also effectively be considered one giant heatsink), the 210226dnz takes things one step further with its motorized hardware, and thus won its spot at the top of our list. It’s also a highly capable option, in terms of capacity, and is able to support virtually any device with its 33-pound limit.
If this list is missing the mark for you, because what you’re actually looking for is a solution to improve your ergonomics while working on a laptop whilst it’s actually sitting on your lap, then you might have better luck with our rankings for lap desks.
March 11, 2020:
There are plenty of reasons why the Roost Eye-Level Ergonomic remains popular despite its admittedly high price. For one thing, it's exceptionally compact and portable, and for another, it feels sturdier than many others, even when used with heavier computers. But because we know that the cost will be off-putting to some, we've added the very similar Nexstand K2. The build isn't quite as robust, and it's just a touch heavier, but it's about half the price, making it the go-to for budget-conscious users. And speaking of budget concerns, we've elected to remove the AmazonBasics DSN-01750 at this time. It struggles to competently hold bigger or heavier devices, which can be frustrating. Instead, the popular Rain Design mStand is a good alternative for most. It isn't adjustable, either, but it's sturdy, built to last, and compatible with a wide variety of laptops.
Finally, we have opted to keep the Furinno Vented Table, despite the fact that its plastic joints can fail from time to time with rough use. It isn't too heavy at 4.5 pounds, so you can carry it between home and office, and it's versatile, functioning as a stand or as a lap desk for your computer. This means you can type on it comfortably, unlike most laptop stands, which are designed to be used with external keyboards.
Get The Screen Height Right Before You Buy
So budget for a separate keyboard and mouse, set at elbow height, before you budget for the stand.
A stand exists to move the screen, not the keyboard. Ergonomics guides agree on the target: the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level, about an arm's length away (HP). Colorado Mesa University's laptop sheet adds that people who wear bifocals or progressive lenses should set it an inch or two lower, so they can read through the bottom of their glasses without tipping their head back (Colorado Mesa University).
That raises the laptop's own keyboard well above elbow height, which is worse for wrists and shoulders than the hunch you started with. So budget for a separate keyboard and mouse, set at elbow height, before you budget for the stand. A cheap wired pair works fine.
To find your number, sit as you normally do, look straight ahead and measure from the desk to your eyes. Most fixed stands lift a laptop about 6 inches, which suits many people at a standard desk. If your eye line sits much higher, look at an adjustable stand or a monitor instead.
Fixed, Adjustable, Folding Or Sit-Stand
Fixed stands are one rigid piece set at one height and angle. The Rain Design mStand is a single 2.5-millimeter aluminum plate that raises the screen about 5.9 inches, and because there are no joints, it doesn't wobble. The trade-off is that you get the height its maker chose.
Adjustable desk stands let you change the height without packing up. Rain Design's iLevel 2 moves the back of the laptop from about 6.5 to 8.5 inches with a slider at the front (Rain Design). Cheap folding risers do the same with two hinged arms and fold flat, but every hinge is a place where the tray can flex.
Travel stands trade stiffness for weight. Pack Hacker carried the Roost V3 for two weeks and weighed it at under 7 ounces; it held a 16-inch MacBook Pro fairly securely, but tall users may find its top setting short (Pack Hacker). Sit-stand models on telescoping arms reach standing height, at the cost of a lot of desk space.
Fit, Weight Limits And Heat
Check two numbers against your laptop: depth and weight. The mStand suits laptops under about 10.4 inches deep, and the Twelve South Curve is rated for 7 pounds. Budget folding stands claim anywhere from 8.8 to 22 pounds, and a stand sold as fitting 17-inch laptops but rated for 8.8 pounds is a poor bet for a heavy gaming machine. Reviewers of the detachable Besign LS03 like its stiffness, but its rating rules out the biggest laptops.
A stand also lets air reach the bottom of the laptop, and aluminum trays shed a little heat, but a stand isn't a cooler. If a laptop runs hot under load, keep its own vents clear and look at a fan pad instead.
Finally, keep the stand on a flat, solid desk and use its front lip or hooks. Most problems owners describe are a laptop sliding off when the desk gets bumped, not a stand breaking. Wipe aluminum with a dry cloth; there's nothing else to maintain.
How we researched this
We screened 17 current laptop stands and the 10 on the earlier version of this list, compared the specs makers and sellers publish for the 8 finalists, read long-term reviews from Wirecutter, Pack Hacker and The Gadgeteer where they exist, analyzed owner feedback for wobble, fit and slipping, and checked each brand against the CPSC recall database. Updated November 1, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Admin.
Sources (10)
- Rain Design: mStand
- Rain Design: iLevel awarded best laptop stand by Wirecutter
- Pack Hacker: Roost V3 laptop stand review
- Twelve South: Curve
- The Gadgeteer: Twelve South Curve review
- The Gadgeteer: Besign LS03
- HP: Why use a laptop stand
- Colorado Mesa University: Ergonomics laptop tips
- Contour Design: What makes a good laptop stand
- CPSC: Recalls
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate keyboard with a laptop stand?
Yes, for daily use. Once the screen is at eye level, the laptop's keyboard is too high to type on comfortably. A separate keyboard and mouse at elbow height finish the setup.
How high should a laptop stand be?
High enough that the top of the screen sits at or just below eye level. Many fixed stands lift a laptop about 6 inches, which suits a lot of people at a standard desk. Bifocal wearers often prefer it an inch or two lower.
Does a laptop stand keep a laptop cool?
A little. Raising the laptop lets air reach its underside, and open or vented trays help. It won't replace a cooling pad for a laptop that runs hot under heavy load.
Will a laptop stand hold a 17-inch laptop?
Check the weight rating, not just the screen size. Ratings run from about 7 to 22 pounds. The Lamicall LN09 fits laptops up to 17.3 inches, and the Tounee LS07 is rated for 22 pounds.
Can I use a laptop stand at a standing desk?
Yes. Any stand works on a standing desk. Without one, the Tounee LS07 telescopes up to standing height on an ordinary desk.
What happened to the Rolodex laptop stand?
The Rolodex Mesh Workspace that used to be on this list is no longer easy to find new. A folding aluminum stand such as the Nulaxy C1 does the same job and also adjusts.
