Looking down at a laptop for hours pulls your head forward and loads your neck and upper back. A laptop stand is the cheapest fix: it lifts the screen toward eye level. Combined with an external keyboard and mouse, it turns a laptop into a far more comfortable workstation. This guide covers the main stand types and the models people rely on most.
Quick picks
| Best for | Stand | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent desk setup | Rain Design mStand | Solid aluminum, stable, cable management hole, matches MacBooks |
| Travel | Roost Laptop Stand | Very light, folds small, raises the screen to eye level |
| Adjustable height at home | Twelve South Curve Flex | Adjustable height and angle with a clean design |
| Budget portable | Nexstand K2 | Light, foldable and affordable |
| Clamshell mode | A vertical laptop dock | Stores the closed laptop upright when using an external monitor |
Important: you need a separate keyboard and mouse
Once the laptop is raised, typing on its keyboard forces your arms up and your wrists into an awkward angle. Plan to use an external keyboard and mouse — see our reviews of the MX Keys S and MX Master 3S, or a vertical mouse if your wrist hurts.
Types of laptop stands
- Fixed desk stands: sturdy and simple; height isn’t adjustable.
- Adjustable stands: change height and tilt to fit your chair, desk and body.
- Portable folding stands: light enough to carry daily; less stable while typing on a touchscreen.
- Vertical docks: hold a closed laptop upright to save space when you work on external monitors.
- Monitor-arm laptop trays: attach to a VESA arm for maximum adjustability.
The picks
Rain Design mStand — best desk stand
A single piece of aluminum with a cutout for cables and space to tuck a keyboard underneath. It’s heavy, stable and dissipates heat well. Fixed height is its only limitation — tall users may need a monitor riser or an adjustable stand instead.
Roost Laptop Stand — best for travel
A long-standing favorite of frequent travelers: it folds into a small stick, weighs very little and raises the screen higher than most portable stands. It grips the laptop’s edges, so it works with a wide range of sizes.
Twelve South Curve Flex — best adjustable
An adjustable aluminum stand that changes height and angle, so you can fine-tune the screen position for your chair and desk. It folds for storage but is heavier than true travel stands.
Nexstand K2 — best budget portable
A lightweight folding stand with multiple height settings at a low price. It’s a good way to fix your posture at home and on the road without a big investment.
Set it up right
- Raise the laptop until the top of the screen is at or slightly below eye level.
- Place it about an arm’s length away.
- Put the external keyboard at elbow height, close to your body.
- If you also use an external monitor, align the laptop screen with the monitor height or use it as a secondary screen beside it.
For a complete home office upgrade path, see 5 ergonomic upgrades ranked by impact.