
Still your balances A laptop on a stack of old books? It’s time to upgrade. Having the right laptop stand can make life more comfortable, so you can stop craning your neck while you work.
The best stands elevate your laptop screen (or external monitor!) close to eye level, which is better for maintaining healthy posture. Some can even fit into a backpack for easy travel or switch configurations from sitting to standing. This is our favourite.
Need more options for your home office? Read our guide to work from home gear.
Updated March 2023: We’ve made the entire Cura adapter a top pick, as the Monoprice adapter we’ve been recommending is out of stock. We also added a Grovemade desk shelf as an alternative option. We’ve also ported our smarter office converter to honorable mentions and updated pricing throughout.
Special Offer for Gear Readers: Get One year subscription to Wired for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to Wired.com and our print magazine (if you like it). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Peripherals are important
Snagging one of the laptop stands below is just one of the many ways you can improve your posture when sitting at a desk for long periods. Connecting your laptop to a separate computer monitor is another matter. You’ll be able to multitask more easily with two screens, and you won’t have to strain your neck as much.
It is best to pair some of these laptop stands with a separate keyboard and mouse. These peripherals mean you can set your laptop out of the way and at different heights, and you won’t need to stretch your arms in awkward ways to type. The right mouse can prevent muscle strains and wrist problems, so check out the picks in our best keyboards and best gaming mouse guides. (You don’t need to be a gamer to use a gaming mouse!)