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The Best Laptop Stands for a More Comfortable Home Office

A laptop stand can help you be work more comfortably and efficiently, and it’s a great accessory for any work-from-home office. These are our favorites.

collage of three laptops on laptop standsTwelve South, Grovemade

By Tucker Bowe

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A laptop stand might seem unnecessary, but it serves a very important role: to make you more comfortable while you work. It raises the laptop’s screen, so you don’t have to hunch over it, which puts more strain on your neck and back. It also raises the keyboard, which alleviates pressure on your wrists.

When we spoke to Stacy Steffen, an associate ergonomist at Humanscale, she stated that two important tenets of home office ergonomics are screen height and posture — and a laptop stand helps with both of them. It elevates your screen (the closer to eye level the better) so that your head is in a more natural and neutral position. It also encourages you to use peripherals, such as a wireless mouse and keyboard, which enables you to stretch out. The ergonomics of a laptop are inherently cramped and subpar.

That said, laptop stands come in all different shapes and styles (as well as prices). The most important thing is to get the right laptop stand for your work setup.

Products in the Guide

How We Tested

We’ve been writing about and reviewing computers and accessories — including mice, keyboards, monitors, storage solutions and other peripherals — for a decade. We also work with brands and talk to experts within the industry. The below selections of laptop stands is a mix of products we’ve tested and standouts made by brands we trust.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

macbook sitting on a Twelve South Curve laptop standAmazon

Best Overall

Twelve South Curve

Pros

  • Solid build quality
  • Available in different finishes

Cons

  • A touch on the pricey side
  • Not very versatile

Twelve South makes accessories specifically designed for Apple products and this laptop stand is no different. Apple even sells it. But even if you don’t have a MacBook, its backless design will accommodate most laptops. Designed to elevate your laptop 5.8 inches off the desk surface, this stand aligns your screen with an external monitor (if you have one). It’s made of aluminum and comes in space gray, meaning it’ll blend in naturally with the latest MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

Grovemade Walnut Laptop StandGrovemade

Best Upgrade

Grovemade Walnut Laptop Stand

Pros

  • Simply gorgeous
  • Excellent build quality

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Not versatile

Grovemade’s entire Desk Collection is pretty stunning. This Monitor Stand shines with its simple, elegant design. It makes the wood the star of the show, and it comes in walnut or maple. You’ll pay a little more for the stylishness, but you are going to be staring in the general direction of this thing most of the day.

Satechi Aluminum Laptop StandAmazon

Best Budget Option

Satechi Aluminum Laptop Stand

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Versatile and portable design
  • Integrated cord management

Cons

  • Not the prettiest solution

This is a great budget option if you’re looking for an ergonomic and minimalist laptop stand. It has rubber grips at its base to prevent sliding and even a cutout for cable management. But best of all, it’s very lightweight and has a completely collapsible design, meaning it’s a travel-friendly solution if you find yourself frequently on the move.

macbook sitting on a Twelve South BookArc laptop standAmazon

Best Vertical Stand

Twelve South BookArc

Pros

  • Solid build quality
  • Available in different finishes to match your MacBook

Cons

  • Not very versatile
  • A touch expensive

This vertical stand is great for people who use an external monitor and have their laptop in “closed-display” mode. It’s arc-shaped design elevates your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air off the desk, so it looks nice and stay out of your way. You can buy it in either silver or space gray.

parcslope macbook standTwelve South

Best MacBook Stand

Twelve South ParcSlope

Pros

  • Solid build quality
  • Works with either MacBook or iPad
  • Integrated cable management

Cons

  • Won't elevate screen very hight
  • A touch expensive

Despite its simple design, the ParcSlope actually pulls double duty: it can fit either your MacBook Air/Pro or your iPad perfectly. It angles your laptop so you get a more comfortable typing position. It does the same thing for your iPad if you draw or take notes with the Apple Pencil.

best laptop standsObVus

Best Laptop Riser

ObVus Solutions Laptop Tower Stand

Pros

  • Solid build quality
  • Adjustable design

Cons

  • A touch expensive

The Tower Stand helps turn any standard desk into a standing desk. Its sturdy base and adjustable height allow you to quickly switch between working sitting down and standing up. Plus, it’s so small and lightweight, you can easily move it. (Most standing desks are very heavy.)

GrovemadeGrovemade

Grovemade Wood MacBook Pro Dock

Pros

  • Excellent build quality
  • Beautiful design
  • Available in different wood finishes

Cons

  • Very expensive

Grovemade’s elegant vertical stand is made of a combination of hardwood (walnut or maple), stainless steel and merino wool felt. It’s a beautiful and minimalist solution for those who use their laptop with an external monitor.

techMOFT

Minimalist Laptop Stand

Moft Smart Desk Mat

Pros

  • Creative and versatile design
  • Adjustable and can hold numerous gadgets

Cons

  • Quite expensive
  • Unique design won't be for everybody

Moft’s take on the laptop stand is unlike anything else. It’s a desk mat that lies flat on your desk but, thanks to a built-in stand, can elevate and turn into a full-on, adjustable laptop stand. It’s designed for either a MacBook or iPad, but it also comes with integrated holders for other Apple gadgets, such as AirPods, iPhone, Apple Pencil and Apple Watch.

techHerman Miller

Herman Miller Oripura Laptop Stand

Pros

  • Collapsible and portable design

Cons

  • Only available in white

Herman Miller’s laptop stand is lightweight, portable and collapsible. It folds down so it’s completely flat, making it super easy to slip into a laptop case or sleeve in your backpack. It’s designed to be used with a wireless keyboard and mouse as it elevates your laptop a few inches off the desk. It’s only available in white.

best laptop standsYohann

Yohann MacBook Stand

Pros

  • Innovative and gorgeous design
  • Available in different wood finishes

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Design won't be for everybody

The Yohann MacBook Stand is unlike anything else. Yes, it’s minimalist and it’s made of wood, which are two boxes that a number of other stands on this list also check. But this stand elevates a MacBook in a way that looks both precarious and magical. If you’re looking for a stand that’s a statement piece, this is it.

best laptop standsNordic Appeal

Wall Desk by Nordic Appeal

Pros

  • Innovative design
  • Can be used as a desk or mounted to wall

Cons

  • Very expensive

The Wall Desk definitely stands out from the pack. It’s beautiful, fashioned completely out of oak or walnut. You can also mount it on the wall (using the included knobs) and have a floating desk.

What to Consider When Choosing a Laptop Stand

Do you use a separate keyboard and mouse? If you don’t use a wireless mouse and keyboard, you want a stand that keeps your laptop close — because you’ll still need to comfortably use its keyboard and trackpad. If you have a wireless keyboard and mouse, you can have a stand that elevates your laptop’s screen higher off the desk.

Do you use an external monitor? If you have an external monitor, you have a few options. You want to get a horizontal stand if you use the screen of your monitor and your laptop. But if you close your laptop and have it in “closed-display” mode, you can get a vertical laptop stand that allows you to store it, so it doesn’t take up as much desk real estate.

Do you travel for work? The other thing to consider is if your laptop stand will be a permanent solution on your desk or if you’re often on the go. Those who frequently travel for work need a more mobile workstation. Aim for a laptop stand that’s lightweight and collapsible and thus more portable.

Adjustability: Some laptop stands are fixed, some are height adjustable and some are completely collapsible. Depending on your needs and work habits, you want to identify the best fit.

Price and materials: This one is pretty obvious, but you can buy a laptop stand for pretty cheap or pretty expensive. Most of the time, the materials that the laptop stand is made of will be the main thing that drives up the price. The reality is that most people want a laptop stand that makes their workstation look nice, and those options tend to be a little pricier.

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