Best Laptop Stands for MacBook and Windows Laptops
A laptop stand lifts the screen toward eye level so you are not looking down all day. Paired with a dock or hub, an external keyboard and a mouse, it turns a laptop into a desk computer.
Pick by where you work: adjustable for a home desk you share, ultralight for travel, fixed aluminum for a permanent setup.
We earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no cost to you. It never changes the order. Specs come from manufacturer and Apple documentation; we have not hands-on tested these units. How we pick.
1. Best overall (adjustable)
Twelve South Curve Flex
Twelve South model Curve Flex · Laptop stand
Height and a 0–45° tilt you can set yourself, laptops up to 7 lb, and it folds to just over an inch thick with a travel sleeve.
- Fits
- Laptops at least 8.66 in wide, up to 7 lb
- Height
- Adjustable height; tilts 0–45°; max unfolded height 10.78 in
- Weight & size
- 1.75 lb, folds to 1.18 in with travel sleeve
- Build
- Aluminum with silicone contact pads
Best for: A desk stand you can tune to eye level and still fold into a bag.
Watch out: Twelve South’s copy says “up to 22 inches”, but its spec sheet lists 10.78 in maximum height; plan on the spec sheet. Needs an external keyboard and mouse at full height.
Specs from Twelve South — Curve Flex specs (checked 2026-10-30).
2. Best for travel
Roost V3 Laptop Stand
Roost model V3 · Laptop stand
Six ounces, folds to 1 × 1.5 × 13 inches, and lifts the screen 6.5 to 12.5 inches across seven settings.
- Fits
- All laptop makes and models, per Roost
- Height
- 7 settings; lifts the screen 6.5–12.5 in
- Weight & size
- 6 oz, folds to 1 × 1.5 × 13 in
- Build
- Collapsible frame
Best for: Working from hotels, cafés and co-working desks: it weighs ounces and folds to the size of a ruler.
Watch out: Raises the screen only, so you need an external keyboard and mouse. The V3 Plus (11 settings, 5–14 in) is a separate model.
Specs from Roost — V3 product page (checked 2026-10-30).
3. Best fixed desk stand
Rain Design mStand
Rain Design model mStand · Laptop stand
One solid piece of aluminum, a cable hole at the back and room to park the keyboard underneath. Fits every MacBook, including the 16-inch Pro.
- Fits
- All MacBooks (incl. 16-inch Pro), most notebooks
- Height
- Fixed height and tilt (not adjustable)
- Weight & size
- 3 lb, 10 × 5.9 × 7.5 in
- Build
- One-piece anodized aluminum, 2-inch cable hole, keyboard stores underneath
Best for: A permanent desk setup that never wobbles, with room to slide the keyboard underneath.
Watch out: Fixed height: check that it suits your desk and chair. Rain Design’s own store showed it sold out on 2026-10-30.
Specs from Rain Design — mStand specs (checked 2026-10-30).
You will want a keyboard and mouse
Once the screen is raised, the laptop’s own keyboard is too high to type on comfortably. Budget for an external keyboard and mouse, and a dock or hub to plug them in with one cable.
Adjustable or fixed?
Adjustable stands let different people and chairs find the right height. A fixed stand like the mStand has nothing to loosen or wobble, but its height is what it is; check that it suits your desk before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Will a laptop stand fit a 16-inch MacBook Pro?
Rain Design says the mStand holds a 16-inch MacBook Pro securely. Twelve South rates the Curve Flex for laptops up to 7 lb, and Roost says the V3 fits all laptop makes and models.