Top 5 compared
The best laptop stands
The laptop screen lifted nearer eye level, so a long day at the desk means less looking down.
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The top 5 at a glance
A laptop’s screen and keyboard are joined, so on a desk one of them is always in the wrong place. A stand raises the screen. Adjustable stands set to different heights or angles, and some fold flat for a drawer or a bag; fixed risers sit at one height, solid and simple, on a desk that stays set up.
HSE’s guidance for laptop work is a separate keyboard and mouse, so the screen can be raised on a riser or similar, with the top of the screen roughly level with the eyes. Amazon Basics and Nulaxy suggest a separate keyboard for long spells of typing too, as their stands can shift a little when typed on directly.
What matters
- The laptop sizes the maker lists, and the depth for a riser.
- Anti-slip pads on the top and underneath.
- A mesh or vented top, for air under the laptop.
#1Amazon Basics Ventilated Laptop Stand (7 levels)
£10–£20
A black steel mesh stand that props the laptop at seven heights and angles, with air moving through the mesh underneath, for laptops from 10 to 17.3 inches.
What owners say: Owners rate the build and the value, like how easily it moves between heights, and say the pads underneath stop it sliding on the desk.
Heads up: Amazon Basics pitches it at viewing and light typing: the lower settings are the steadiest, and a separate keyboard is the answer for long typing sessions.
A closer look: Centre the laptop on the stand and use it on a flat desk, as Amazon Basics advises, since an off-centre laptop is less steady at the steeper settings. The open mesh lets a warm laptop breathe, which helps through a long afternoon of video calls.
- Lets a warm laptop breathe
- Anti-slip pads
Best for: Video calls with the screen raised
- Type
- Steel mesh stand
- Adjusts
- Height and angle, 7 levels
- Laptop sizes
- 10–17.3in
- Folds flat
- –
#2UGREEN Aluminium Laptop Stand (LP866)
£20–£30
A solid all-aluminium stand on a wide base with twin support rods, so it stays put while the laptop is in use, and it takes laptops up to 17.3 inches. It comes from UGREEN, the accessories maker founded in Shenzhen in 2012.
What owners say: Owners find it stays planted on the desk without sliding about, and like the reassuring heft of the metal.
A closer look: Raise it until the top of the screen sits roughly level with the eyes, then work from a separate keyboard and mouse. It folds down for a drawer, though its solid weight makes it better at staying on one desk than travelling in a bag every day.
- All-aluminium build
- Wide, steady base
- Vented top for airflow
- Silicone pads stop slips
Best for: A sturdy desk setup
- Type
- Twin-rod stand
- Adjusts
- Height
- Laptop sizes
- Up to 17.3in
- Folds flat
- Yes
#3Rain Design mStand Laptop Stand
£30–£50
A single piece of anodised aluminium, shaped into a riser that lifts the laptop about 15cm and tilts it towards the user, with space underneath to stash the keyboard. Its finish was made to match Apple’s MacBooks.
What owners say: Owners say it doesn’t budge even when typing on the laptop itself, and expect the solid metal to outlast the laptop sitting on it.
A closer look: With no joints or hinges there’s nothing to adjust or wear out, but the height is fixed, so it suits a desk and chair already set up around a separate keyboard. The laptop needs to be under about 26cm from front to back to sit on it, and the charger can run through the cable outlet behind.
- Keyboard stows underneath
- Finish made to match MacBooks
- Cable outlet at the back
- No hinges to wear out
Best for: MacBook users at one fixed desk
- Type
- One-piece riser
- Adjusts
- Fixed, about 15cm
- Laptop sizes
- Up to 16in, under 26cm deep
- Folds flat
- No
#4Nulaxy C3 Aluminium Laptop Riser
£10–£20
Three pieces of 5mm aluminium that slot together into a riser about 18cm high, rated by Nulaxy for laptops up to 10kg, enough for a heavy gaming laptop. It comes apart again for storage.
What owners say: Owners find it sturdy and quick to put together and say the height suits working at a desk, though a few find a laptop wobbles if it isn’t placed squarely.
A closer look: Nulaxy itself suggests a separate keyboard and mouse, as the riser can wobble a little when typed on directly. The open back lets air reach the underside of the laptop, and rubber pads on top and underneath keep both the laptop and the riser from sliding.
- Holds up to 10kg
- 5mm aluminium alloy
- Open back lets air in
- Rubber pads top and bottom
Best for: Heavier laptops
- Type
- Three-piece riser
- Adjusts
- Fixed, about 18cm
- Laptop sizes
- 10–16in
- Folds flat
- No
#5Amazon Basics Foldable Laptop Stand (6 angles)
Under £10
At 258g it’s light and folds small enough to live in a laptop bag, for hot desks, libraries and trains. It tilts the laptop to six angles on an open aluminium frame.
What owners say: Owners like how easily it moves between home and office, and that the laptop stays put on its grippy pads.
Heads up: Amazon Basics recommends a separate keyboard for long stretches of typing, since a stand this light can move a little when typed on directly.
A closer look: Keep it on a flat, firm surface with the laptop centred, as Amazon Basics advises, especially with a larger 15.6-inch machine. Folded, it’s slim enough to stay in the laptop bag for good, so a raised screen goes wherever the laptop does.
- Weighs 258g
- Open aluminium frame
- Anti-slip pads
Best for: Hot desks and travel
- Type
- Compact folding stand
- Adjusts
- Angle, 6 settings
- Laptop sizes
- 10–15.6in
- Folds flat
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Amazon Basics ventilated | #2UGREEN LP866 | #3Rain Design mStand | #4Nulaxy C3 | #5Amazon Basics foldable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best premium | Best for heavy laptops | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Price | £10–£20 | £20–£30 | £30–£50 | £10–£20 | Under £10 |
| Type | Steel mesh stand | Twin-rod stand | One-piece riser | Three-piece riser | Compact folding stand |
| Adjusts | Height and angle, 7 levels | Height | Fixed, about 15cm | Fixed, about 18cm | Angle, 6 settings |
| Laptop sizes | 10–17.3in | Up to 17.3in | Up to 16in, under 26cm deep | 10–16in | 10–15.6in |
| Folds flat | – | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | Video calls with the screen raised | A sturdy desk setup | MacBook users at one fixed desk | Heavier laptops | Hot desks and travel |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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