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The Best Home Office Accessories Under $50

Set up your workspace to be more efficient, effective and welcoming without emptying your bank account.

collage of a notebook, pen, and headphones on a headphone stand Space Pen, Amazon

By Sean Tirman

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Whether you work at home or you’ve returned to the office (or something in between), you’re probably spending a lot of time at your desk. Well, getting your desk in order and setting it up with the right collection of accessories can make your day more pleasant, organized, efficient and just plain better. However, it can also get very expensive very quickly … unless you shop smart.

That’s why we’ve put together this collection of top-notch office accessories that you can get for under $50. If you’re a hybrid worker in need of a laptop stand, headphones and an external hard drive for your mobile setup, we’ve got you covered. But if you’re more stationary and are in need of some more permanent accoutrements — like a desk organizer, wireless phone charger and mouse pad — we’ve got that sorted, too. If it’s relatively small and you need it for your office (WFH or otherwise), you’ll probably find it here. And nothing on this list will cost you more than a single President Grant.

This pen utilizes the same technology NASA astronauts have relied upon for decades, giving it the ability to write upside-down, underwater and in zero gravity. It’s also permanently displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. For an inexpensive writing utensil, this one sure does carry a lot of clout.

READ ABOUT THE BEST PENS

A desk pad can make your desk look more put together while also keeping your desktop safer from accidental scuffs. This one is our favorite on a budget and comes from a tech brand we love and trust, Satechi.

READ ABOUT THE BEST DESK PADS

Studies have shown that writing with pen and paper — as opposed to using a tablet, smartphone or even keyboard — can actually help you retain information better and elicits stronger brain function. With that in mind, we highly recommend keeping a notebook handy. And you can’t go wrong with an iconic Moleskine.

READ ABOUT THE BEST NOTEBOOKS

Do you keep your keys, phone, pens/pencils, paper clips, glasses, your watch, etc. all over your desk? Well, you might be better off keeping it all organized and in a single location, like in Yamazaki’s Tower Deskbar. That way, you won’t clutter your desk or lose anything.

READ OUR GUIDE TO DESK ORGANIZATION

You’re going to need a place to stash your trash during the workday, but you don’t want to just leave it strewn about your desk or have to get up and haul it across the office or into the kitchen, especially if you’re super busy. This can looks great, comes from a trusted brand and will get the job done well.

READ ABOUT THE DESKS WE USE EVERY DAY

If you like putting on your headphones to better focus, you probably need a place to stash them when you’re not using them. This stand is beautiful, useful and has some hidden bonuses — like USB charging and data ports that can connect directly to your PC.

READ ABOUT THE BEST HEADPHONE STANDS

For those fortunate enough to have a situation where you don’t need headphones, you may still want to listen to music. Well, if your laptop or computer speakers don’t cut it, you can always turn to our favorite ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker, which you can see right here.

READ ABOUT THE BEST PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS

Especially if you work on the move (or you work with sensitive information you need at the ready), you should probably have an external hard drive. Even just as an emergency backup, these devices are extremely valuable. This one has a huge amount of space and is small enough to easily stash in a bag or pop into a desk drawer.

READ ABOUT THE BEST EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES

Since we’re all so attached to our smartphones, there’s a good chance you’re going to be keeping yours nearby your desk. If you want to juice it up while still being able to see notifications, this stand ought to help with that, as it will wirelessly charge your phone while keeping the screen elevated.

READ ABOUT THE BEST WIRELESS CHARGING STANDS

A mousepad might seem unnecessary in a world where most optical mice work even without one, but we still prefer having one, as it can help keep our desks scuff-free and increase the longevity of our aforementioned mice. Grovemade’s come in two sizes, and both of them fall under that $50 price point.

READ ABOUT WIRELESS MICE

It seems like, as technology has progressed, our computers have ended up with fewer and fewer data ports — especially when it comes to laptops. If you find yourself wanting, this handy little device offers a multitude of those that might be missing from your machine.

READ ABOUT THE BEST USB-C DOCKING STATIONS

Chances are, your computer monitor is probably not at the ideal height. With this simple, inexpensive desk addition, you can lift it into a more ergonomic position while also adding some storage and organizational space.

READ ABOUT THE BEST MONITOR STANDS

Who wants a soggy, puddled desktop? Nobody, probably. That’s why we suggest getting a coaster set for your water, coffee, beer and/or whatever else you might be drinking at your desk. These ones are made from merino wool, so they can absorb up to 30 percent of their weight without feeling wet.

READ ABOUT MERINO WOOL BENEFITS

Laptop stands tend to be ugly or expensive — often both — but not Herman Miller’s affordable Oripura. The lightweight and portable stand has a sleek and minimalist design, and it recently became available in some fun new colors. The stand has cutouts for cord management and a rubberized border that keeps it from sliding around too much. Best of all, it folds flat when not in use, making it super easy to toss in your bag alongside your laptop when traveling. The only downside, really, is that the height can’t be adjusted.

READ ABOUT THE BEST LAPTOP STANDS

Work hard enough (or in a room that’s hot enough) and you’re going to break a sweat. But you can fight the heat with a tabletop fan, like this one from trusted brand Vornado. It has two speeds, an adjustable head and plugs into any standard socket.

READ ABOUT THE BEST DESK FANS

You might think it a herculean task to try and find decent earbuds for work that cost under $50, but these Sennheisers are the simple, obvious answer. In fact, they actually made our list of the best earbuds under $50, and they’re some of the best ones on said list.

READ ABOUT THE BEST EARBUDS UNDER $50

Especially if you prefer a mobile office, you’re going to need access to power — and there are not always outlets around when you need them. You can skirt those dead batteries if you utilize this 20,000 mAh portable charger as a part of your desk setup.

READ ABOUT THE BEST PORTABLE CHARGERS

Cables are one of the banes of our technological existence, but they are still necessary. Still, you can wrangle them much better (and make them look more orderly) with some of these cord tacos. They’re incredibly simple and just as useful.

READ ABOUT THE BEST CABLE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

For anyone who finds it difficult to function without caffeine, a coffee cup is an absolute necessity to have at the ready during the workday. This one is our all-around favorite mug and it just so happens to fall well below that $50 mark.

READ ABOUT THE BEST COFFEE MUGS

Whether you start work in the early mornings, burn the midnight oil and/or just have a space in relative darkness, you’re going to want illumination to make your work visible and protect your eyes. This lamp is based on an iconic design and is super easy and convenient to use.

READ ABOUT THE BEST DESK LAMPS

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