The Best Laptop Stands: Screen Height Without a Monitor

A laptop stand raises your screen to eye level so you stop looking down all day, but it angles the keyboard up into a position that bends your wrists back and makes typing uncomfortable. The best laptop stand for you depends on whether you're pairing it with an external keyboard — adjustable stands like the Nulaxy Ergonomic or Nulaxy Fully Adjustable let you set the exact height, while fixed stands like the SOUNDANCE or BESIGN LS03 are lighter and cheaper but lock you into one angle. If you type on the laptop's own keyboard, you need a low riser that keeps the keys flat, not a tall adjustable stand that props the whole machine up like a display.

Key points

• Raising a laptop screen to eye level stops you hunching forward, but it tilts the keyboard into a position that bends your wrists back over the front edge of the case.
• Adjustable stands let you set screen height independently once you add an external keyboard, while fixed stands keep the laptop at a single angle that may not match your desk and chair.
• Aluminium stands conduct heat away from the laptop base more effectively than plastic, though the thermal benefit depends on whether your machine exhausts through the bottom vents or the sides.
• A stand that raises the screen more than four inches makes typing on the built-in keyboard impractical, so you'll need to budget for a separate keyboard if you buy a tall adjustable model.
• Vertical stands hold a closed laptop upright to save desk space, but they're only useful if you already work from an external monitor and keyboard full-time.

The posture problem a stand fixes, and the typing problem it creates

When a laptop sits flat on your desk, the screen is too low. You bend your neck forward to see it, and that angle loads the muscles at the back of your neck and between your shoulder blades. By the end of the day you feel it as a dull ache that doesn't go away when you stand up. A laptop stand raises the screen closer to eye level so your head sits back over your spine instead of hanging forward.

But lifting the screen also lifts the keyboard. Most laptop keyboards are already angled slightly back from the hinge, and when you raise the whole machine another few inches, your wrists have to bend back over the front lip of the case to reach the keys. That's called extension, and it compresses the carpal tunnel. You'll feel it in your forearms before you feel it in your wrists.

The trade-off is simple. You can't have the screen at the right height and type on the laptop's own keyboard comfortably. Pick one or add an external keyboard.

Fixed versus adjustable versus vertical: three different jobs

A fixed stand is a wedge or a set of legs that holds the laptop at one angle. The BESIGN LS03 and the SOUNDANCE are both fixed aluminium stands. They weigh less than adjustable models, cost less, and travel better because they have fewer moving parts. The screen ends up about four inches higher than it would on the desk. That's enough to help if you're tall or if your desk is low, but it won't get the screen all the way to eye level for most people, and you can't change it once you buy it.

An adjustable stand has a hinge or a set of sliding joints that let you set the height and angle. The Nulaxy Ergonomic Adjustable and the Nulaxy Fully Adjustable both let you raise the screen much higher — up to about twelve inches — and tilt it forward or back to match your line of sight. That flexibility only matters if you're using an external keyboard, because at that height you can't type on the laptop's own keys without your wrists bent back at an angle that becomes painful within an hour.

A vertical stand holds a closed laptop upright to free desk space. It's not a display solution. You use a vertical stand when you already work from an external monitor and keyboard and you want the laptop out of the way but still powered on for background tasks or a second video feed. They're single-purpose and only make sense if your laptop stays closed all day.

The stands we stock and what each is for

The BESIGN LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand is a fixed wedge that raises the screen about four inches. It's light, it folds flat, and it costs less than the adjustable options. Use it if you want a portable stand that improves the screen angle slightly but still lets you type on the laptop's keyboard without adding another peripheral. The fixed angle means it either works for your height and desk or it doesn't, and you won't know until you try it.

The SOUNDANCE Laptop Stand is another fixed aluminium stand, slightly heavier than the BESIGN and with a wider base. The extra weight keeps the laptop steadier when you're typing on it, but it's less practical to carry. The height and angle are fixed in the same range as the BESIGN, so the choice between them comes down to whether you value portability or stability more.

The Nulaxy Ergonomic Adjustable Laptop Stand for Desk has a hinged arm that lets you raise the screen higher and tilt it to match your sight line. It's heavier than the fixed stands and the hinge adds a bit of flex, but the adjustability means you can get the screen to eye level if you're using an external keyboard. The base is wide enough that the stand doesn't tip when you adjust it, and the hinge tightens with a knob so it doesn't drift down under the laptop's weight.

The Nulaxy Fully Adjustable Laptop Stand for Desk has more joints than the Ergonomic version, so you can angle the screen forward or back and adjust the height independently. That extra flexibility matters if you're matching the stand to a monitor arm or if you switch between sitting and standing at the same desk. The trade-off is more parts that can loosen over time, and the stand weighs more than the single-hinge Nulaxy.

The OMOTON Laptop Stand is a fixed aluminium stand similar to the BESIGN and SOUNDANCE, with a slightly lower profile. It raises the screen about three inches instead of four, which makes it a better match if you're shorter or if your desk is already high. The lower angle also keeps the keyboard closer to flat, so it's less uncomfortable to type on the laptop's own keys for short periods.

The Amazon Basics Sturdy and Portable Ergonomic Laptop Stand for Desk is a fixed plastic stand that costs less than the aluminium options. Plastic doesn't conduct heat as well as metal, so it won't help thermals, but it's lighter and the price makes it a reasonable choice if you're trying the idea before committing to a more expensive stand. The height and angle are in the same range as the BESIGN.

Heat: does raising a laptop actually help thermals?

Raising a laptop off the desk improves airflow underneath the case, and aluminium stands conduct heat away from the bottom panel better than a wooden or laminate desk surface. That helps if your laptop exhausts through the bottom vents, which is common on older or cheaper models. You'll see the fan run less often and the base stay cooler to the touch.

Most modern laptops exhaust through the sides or the back, not the bottom, so the thermal benefit of a stand is smaller. The machine still runs slightly cooler because the stand lifts it into room air instead of trapping it against the desk, but the difference is a few degrees rather than the ten or fifteen degrees you'd get if the bottom vents were doing most of the work. If your laptop already runs hot enough to throttle under load, a stand won't fix that — you need better cooling inside the case or a less demanding workload.

Plastic stands like the Amazon Basics don't conduct heat, so they only help by improving airflow. The gap between the laptop and the desk is enough to make a small difference, but less than you'd get from an aluminium stand.

The external-keyboard requirement nobody mentions

If you raise the laptop screen more than about four inches, typing on the built-in keyboard becomes uncomfortable within an hour. Your wrists bend back over the front edge of the case, and that extension loads the tendons that run through your forearm into your fingers. You'll feel it as tightness in your forearm first, then as a dull ache in your wrist that doesn't go away when you stop typing.

An external keyboard sits flat on the desk in front of the stand, so your wrists stay neutral. That's the point of an adjustable stand — you raise the screen to eye level and you type on a separate keyboard at desk height. But the keyboard is an additional cost and another thing to carry if you're moving between locations, and some people find that switching between the laptop's keyboard and an external one breaks the muscle memory they've built up over years of using the same layout.

Fixed stands that raise the screen only three or four inches are designed to let you type on the laptop's keyboard without too much discomfort. The angle isn't neutral, but it's tolerable for most people for a full day. If you don't want to add an external keyboard, buy a fixed stand in that height range — the OMOTON, the BESIGN or the SOUNDANCE — and test whether the angle works for you before you commit to an adjustable model that will force you to buy another peripheral.

Pairing a stand with the rest of the desk

A laptop stand is one part of a system that includes your chair height, your desk height and your keyboard position. If the chair is too low or the desk is too high, raising the laptop screen makes the problem worse because you have to lift your shoulders to reach the keyboard. If the chair is too high or the desk is too low, a fixed stand might not raise the screen enough, and you'll still be looking down even with the laptop on a wedge.

Measure your eye height when you're sitting at the desk with your feet flat on the floor and your elbows bent at ninety degrees. The top of the screen should be at or just below that line. If a fixed stand doesn't get you there, you need an adjustable stand or a lower chair. If you're adding an external keyboard, make sure the keys sit at elbow height so your forearms are parallel to the floor when you type. If the keyboard is too high, your shoulders lift and you'll feel it by the end of the day.

The stand has to be stable enough that the laptop doesn't wobble when you touch the screen or adjust the angle. Adjustable stands with wide bases are steadier than narrow ones, but they take up more desk space. If your desk is small, a fixed stand with a narrow footprint like the BESIGN is a better match, even if it means you can't adjust the height.

Common questions

Do I need a laptop stand if I already use an external monitor?

Not usually. If the external monitor is at the right height and you use it as your primary display, the laptop screen is a secondary view and it doesn't matter if it's too low. A stand only helps if you're working from the laptop screen for long enough that the neck angle becomes uncomfortable, or if you're using the laptop as a second display and you want both screens at the same height.

Will a stand damage my laptop?

No, as long as the stand is stable and the laptop isn't wobbling or sliding off the platform. Aluminium stands can scratch the bottom of the laptop case if there's no rubber padding between the metal surfaces, but that's cosmetic and doesn't affect function. Check that the stand has rubber feet or pads where it contacts the laptop.

Can I use a laptop stand with a 17-inch laptop?

Most stands are rated for laptops up to 17 inches, but the heavier the laptop, the more important it is that the stand has a wide base and a sturdy hinge. A 17-inch MacBook Pro or a gaming laptop weighs more than a 13-inch ultrabook, and a stand that's stable with a light machine might flex or tip with a heavier one. Check the weight rating before you buy.

How high should the laptop screen be?

The top of the screen should be at or just below eye level when you're sitting upright with your feet flat on the floor. If the top of the screen is higher than your eyes, you'll tilt your head back and strain the muscles at the front of your neck. If it's lower, you'll hunch forward. Most people need the screen raised between four and eight inches, depending on desk and chair height.

Is an adjustable stand worth the extra cost?

Only if you're using an external keyboard and you need to raise the screen high enough that typing on the laptop's own keyboard becomes uncomfortable. If you're typing on the laptop, a fixed stand at a lower height is cheaper, lighter and just as effective. The adjustability matters if you're matching the stand to a specific desk and chair setup or if you switch between sitting and standing.

Do laptop stands work for video calls?

Yes. Raising the laptop brings the webcam closer to eye level, so you're not looking down at the camera and giving the person on the other end a view up your nose. The difference is noticeable on calls and it makes you look more engaged. If you do a lot of video meetings, that alone justifies a stand even if you don't care about the ergonomic benefit.

Can I travel with a laptop stand?

Fixed stands like the BESIGN LS03 fold flat and weigh less than a pound, so they're practical to carry in a laptop bag. Adjustable stands are heavier and bulkier, and the hinges can loosen if they get knocked around in a bag. If you're moving between locations regularly, a fixed stand is the better choice.

What's the best laptop stand for a standing desk?

An adjustable stand like the Nulaxy Fully Adjustable works better at a standing desk because you can raise the screen higher to match your standing eye level. Fixed stands don't lift the laptop far enough when the desk is at standing height, so you'll still be looking down. Make sure you're using an external keyboard, because typing on the laptop's keyboard at standing height with the screen raised is even more uncomfortable than doing it sitting down.

If you type on the laptop's keyboard, buy a fixed stand like the OMOTON or the BESIGN LS03 that raises the screen just enough to improve the angle without tilting the keys back too far. If you're adding an external keyboard, the Nulaxy Ergonomic Adjustable gives you enough height range to get the screen to eye level without costing as much as the fully adjustable models. Don't buy an adjustable stand if you're not going to use an external keyboard — you're paying for flexibility you can't use, and a cheaper fixed stand will do the job better.