Portable Laptop Stands: ergonomic desk risers for better remote & hybrid working

Samuel J Tan Laptops, Technology 0

Laptop desk stands are great to set the laptop’s display to the right viewing height based on your current seating and desk positions. With portable laptop stands, you can now have the same ergonomic working height anywhere you go be it the cafe or remote work place. There is no need for compromises. Here are some of the best ergonomic desk riser for better remote working.

Table of Contents

Benefits for Using a Laptop Stand for Desk

Here is a quick list of the benefits for using a laptop stand.

perfect eye level,
get the right posture for work
reduce your neck fatigue
enhance comfort for prolonged use
avoid back pain
reduce eye strain.
more comfortable working condition
organise your desk space
promote better cooling

You can find more reasons to use a portable laptop desk stand at the bottom of this article.

Best Portable Laptop Stands 2023

Three criteria remain the most important when choosing the best portable laptop stand, the right height for you, stability and above all portability. There are laptops stands that are built solid like a rock, but at the expense of portability. Here are look at the best portals laptop stands that have all three factors covered.

1. Twelve South Curve Flex Riser

We kick off our list with our first unit from Twelve South, a name that is synonymous with quality accessories for Apple products since 2009. The Curve Flex is the company’s alternative to the more rigid and bulky stands like the Curve which is a non adjustable stand made from a single piece of metal and HiRise, a desk bound, adjustable stand raises the laptop to a maximum of 5.31-inch from the desk. Neither are travel friendly given its size. The Curve Flex however, folds flat and is available in matt black or matt white. Adjusting the height is easy as the rigid hinges will stay at the height you set it to. When the bottom half is folded flat, it works as a desktop wedge, tilting the keyboard at an angle. Depending on your MacBook model, it will raise the display up to 22-inch tall above the desk.

We think this is still a tad big but it does offer the stability you will need with its wide base ensuring that your laptop doesn’t wobble if someone accidentally knocks on your coffee table or desk. The rigidity of the joints gives you piece of mind, knowing that the stand will not suddenly collapse. It is also one of the best looking stand around. Elegant and well built- it looks great from any angle. With use, the hinges will come loose. Use the adjustment tool found in the travel sleeve to tighten the four hinges.

Search Twelve South Curve Flex on Amazon

Adjustable height: 2 to 11-inch (total laptop’s display height up to 22-inch)
Angle: 0 to 45 degrees [ZIG ZAG DESIGN]
Laptop Compatible: 10 to 17-inch, up to 7lbs
Portability: Folds flat. Travel case and adjustment tool included.
Material and Finish: Aluminium frame, matt black
Weight: 1.74lbs [HEAVIEST]

2. ivoler Laptop Stand

This next laptop stand is a compact unit from ivoler. While the Curve Flex above lifts the entire laptop up with its frames, the ivoler only tilting the keyboard up to 40-degrees. You will not achieve the same height as you would with the Flex Curve but it will raise the display higher up to 6-inch high. It uses a scissor joint to hold two identical legs together. The legs are anchored at one end and is propped up with an adjustable arm on the other. Move the adjustable arm from one notch to the other on the base to get your preferred angle. There are six of these starting from 15-degrees to 40-degrees. The biggest selling point selling point for the ivoler is how compact it is when folded. Measuring 9.4-inch x 1.75-inch, it is the smallest portable laptop stand on our list. Also, it is available in silver, space grey, black or rose gold to match your MacBook or laptop. Lastly, another vendor also carry a stand with a similar design called the Arae Laptop Stand.

Search ivoler Laptop Stand on Amazon

Adjustable height: raise up to 6-inch from desk
Angle: 15 to 40 degrees (5 degree increments)
Laptop Compatible: 10 to 17-inch, up to 35lbs
Portability: Folds and collapses flat. Travel case included.
Material and Finish: Aluminium frame, soft silicone pads for rests. Silver, space grey, black or rose gold.
Weight: 0.6lbs [LIGHTEST]

3. RIWUCT Foldable Laptop Stand

If you are looking for something more substantial in size, the RIWUCT foldable laptop stand is one to consider. It has a flat base and a single solid arm anchored at the front end on the base and folded back. The other end of that arm is another hinge to hold the frame that the laptop sits on. Together, the stand will raise a laptop by as much as 7.48-inch from the desk. The frame is available in silver, black or rose gold. Made from aluminium alloy, it is both durable and study and there are plenty of soft non-slip silicone pads on at the bottom of the base and on the frame that carries the laptop. In case you are wondering, the frame is C-shape allowing plenty of air flow for the bottom of the laptop.

Search RIWUCT Laptop Stand on Amazon

Adjustable height: raise up to 7.48 inch from desk (30 – 190mm)
Angle: 45 degrees
Laptop Compatible: 12 to 16-inch, up to 8.8lbs
Portability: Folds and collapses flat.
Material and Finish: Aluminium frame, soft silicone pads for rests. Silver, black or rose gold.
Weight: 1.29lbs

4. VAJUN Laptop Desk Stand Riser

Want the height that can be achieved with the RIWUCT above (7.48-inch) but the compact foldable design of the ivoler stand, here it is. This next laptop stand from VAJUN is an extension of the ivoler above in that it has a zig-zag stand held together with a scissor mechanism. You can extend the first part of the stand to tilt the keyboard and raise the display without lifting the laptop off the desk. If you need the laptop higher, you can use the bottom half of the stand which lifts the laptop completely off the desk for a total of 200mm high. VAJUN calls this a double layer stand. When collapsed it still compact, almost twice the size of the ivoler. Just don’t catch your fingers when you collapse the frame.

VAJUN Laptop Desk Stand Store — VAJUN Laptop Desk Stand folded

Search VAJUN Laptop Stand on Amazon

Adjustable height: raise up to 7.48 inch from desk (30 – 190mm)
Angle: 40 degrees [ZIG ZAG DESIGN]
Laptop Compatible: 10 to 15.6-inch, up to 8.8lbs (20kg)
Portability: Folds and collapses flat.
Material and Finish: Aluminium frame, soft silicone pads for rests. Silver.
Weight: 1.37lbs

5. Leeboom Laptop Stand

A different take to the design of the ivoler is this next stand from Leeboom. It uses double M frame to hold the stand together. It gives the stand more rigidity. It will take a bit more effort to open and close but you will appreciate the sturdiness. However, like all collapsible laptop stands here, don’t put your fingers anywhere between the frames when you are closing it. You’ve been warned.

Search Leebom Laptop Stand on Amazon

Adjustable height: 7 heights. raise up to 6-inch from desk (2.68 to 5.83-inch)
Angle: 7 angles, 15 to 45 degrees
Laptop Compatible: 10 to 15.6-inch, up to 88lbs (40kg)
Portability: Folds and collapses flat.
Material and Finish: Aluminium frame, soft silicone pads for rests. Silver.
Weight: 0.6lbs [LIGHTEST]

6. Tonmom Laptop Stand Riser

The Tonmom Laptop Stand Riser is sleeker as a compact foldable unit in that it comes with full width soft non-slip pads where the laptop base would come into contact with the frame and there are no visible holes on the platform. A scissor hinge to hold the two stands together. It can elevate your laptop screen from 2.15-inch to 6-inch above the desk and has 8 different height settings like the ivolver above. It actually weighs slightly more at 0.8lbs but you will hardly notice it. When folded, it is a small 9.52 x 0.9-inch in dimension and comes with a sleeve bad. We prefer this to the ivolver, VAJUN and Leeboom foldable units that we have seen because it is easier to setup with its fixed hinges. Although, we are not quite as impressed with the scissor links as these are a little thin for our liking. A range of colour options includes black, blue, purple and white are available.

Search Tonmom Laptop Stand on Amazon

Adjustable height: 8 heights. raise up to 6-inch from desk (2.15 to 6-inch)
Angle: 8 angles, 13 to 44 degrees
Laptop Compatible: 10 to 15.6-inch, up to 77lbs (35kg)
Portability: Folds and collapses flat.
Material and Finish: Steel painted , soft silicone pads for rests. Black, white, purple or blue.
Weight: 0.8lbs

Why Use a Portable Laptop Desk Stand

Laptop desk stand isn’t a gimmick. Far from it. As a hybrid or remote worker, you can set up shop anywhere and work comfortably with a portable laptop stand. You get the right display height so you don’t have to hunch over your laptop. Avoid back and shoulder aches with a stand that goes anywhere with your laptop. If you want the full back-at-base experience, you can even add a keyboard and touchpad or mouse. These portable laptop desk stands do not cost much and fold flat into a compact unit, comes with its own travel case and most models weigh under a pound. If that is not enough to convince you, here are more reasons why use a portable laptop desk stand.

Cooling: If you game on your laptop, you will certainly appreciate the laptop desk stand as it helps with better air flow compared to having the laptop flat on the desk. Heat will dissipate faster as there is more room under the laptop compared to having heat trapped under the laptop when flat. This will help avoid overheating from long gaming sessions or when performing processor intensive tasks. New generation MacBooks with M1 or M2 chip may not have heat problem but with the more powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max chips running heavy tasks, cooling will help the system run more effectively..
Ergonomics: We mentioned this at the start of this article. On its own working on the laptop do not promote good posture. Using a laptop desk stand can improve the ergonomics by raising the screen to eye level. This is a better viewing angle and will avoid eye strain and fatigue as it is a more natural way to see. This also helps to reduce strain on the neck, back, and shoulders that can occur when looking down at a laptop for extended periods.
Adjustable Height: A laptop desk stand provides a stable and adjustable platform for your laptop. With the laptop at the right working height to suit you, you will feel more comfortable working on your laptop. An adjustable stand lets you change the height according to the different tables and chairs you find in the cafes or co-working spaces.
Stand-up working: Change from seated to standing in one sweeping motion by raising the laptop desk stand. The display won’t be at the right viewing height as you will be standing but it does let you change your working position when you have been sitting down for long hours. The platform that carries the laptop can also be tilted to reduce strain on the wrists and hands. However, you will need a model with firm or fixed hinges for better stability.
Free up desk space: Laptop stands have smaller foot print taking up less space on the desk. They often come with additional features such as built-in cable management or storage compartments. Although, the portable units are simpler and do not come with storage. Some model lifts the entire laptop off the desk. You can then use the area underneath for other items.
Portable: Many laptop stands are compact, lightweight and foldable, making them highly portable. They can be easily carried in a bag or backpack, allowing you to set up a comfortable workstation wherever you go. Some even comes with sleeve or travel case. This can be particularly useful for people who frequently work or study in different locations, such as students, freelancers, or digital nomads.