Who needs space beneath a laptop?

Small-desk laptop workers

If you use the laptop’s own screen, an open riser can leave room below it for a keyboard, notebook or small desk items. Check the usable space between the stand’s supports, not just how high it lifts the laptop.

Hybrid workers who pack away

If you move between home, office or shared desks, a fold-flat riser can create a temporary raised-screen setup and be put away afterwards. Its folded size and fit for your laptop matter as much as its height when open.

External-monitor users

If you work with the laptop closed, an adjustable-width vertical holder may reduce its desk footprint, provided the laptop fits the holder’s size and thickness limits. It does not create space beneath a laptop while its screen is open.

What matters when choosing a stand?

Start with how you use the laptop: an open riser creates room beneath a working laptop, whereas a vertical holder stores it closed.

Open adjustable riser

Choose it when: You need the laptop screen open and want usable desk space below the device.

Bear in mind: Raising the laptop also raises its built-in keyboard; prolonged work calls for separate input devices.

Vertical laptop holder

Choose it when: You use an external monitor and want to store the closed laptop upright.

Bear in mind: It cannot provide clearance beneath an open laptop or keep the laptop’s own screen available.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Usable clearance Compare the raised height and open area between the supports with the items you intend to place below the laptop. I need room for a keyboard or notebook beneath my open laptop, not just a lift at its rear edge; around 31% of consumers put usable clearance first.
Prolonged-work setup Allow desk space for a separate keyboard and mouse when raising the laptop screen, as the Health and Safety Executive advises for prolonged use. If I work at the laptop for long stretches, I need to position its screen without relying on a raised built-in keyboard; roughly 31% of consumers make the prolonged-work setup their primary concern.
Portability Check the folded dimensions and weight, as well as whether the unfolded stand fits your laptop. Moving between desks means I need to pack the stand away after use; about 23% of consumers put portability ahead of their other stand requirements.
Fit and stability Compare your laptop’s width, weight and thickness with the exact model’s limits, and check that its supports suit your desk surface. If my laptop’s dimensions or desk surface make placement uncertain, I want to confirm it will sit securely; around 15% of consumers put fit and stable placement first.

Buying mistakes to avoid

  • Raising the screen but continuing to type on the built-in keyboard

    A taller stand raises the attached keyboard too. For prolonged laptop work, the Health and Safety Executive advises a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be elevated.

    Lay out the keyboard and mouse where you would use them, then check whether the stand still leaves the under-laptop space you want.

  • Choosing a vertical holder for an open-laptop setup

    A vertical holder organises a closed laptop beside an external monitor. It cannot create usable space beneath the laptop while you use its own display.

    If you need the laptop open, look for an open riser and check the clearance around its base instead.

  • Assuming a universal-looking stand will fit

    Published limits vary by model and may cover width, weight, screen size or chassis thickness. A stand that does not fit your device may not hold it securely.

    Measure your laptop and compare its dimensions and weight with the limits for the exact stand variant. Check that the supports will not obstruct the hinge, ports or cooling vents.

  • Treating the stand as the whole workstation

    A riser changes laptop position but does not resolve every issue involving desk depth, chair position or glare. The Health and Safety Executive’s display screen equipment guidance addresses the workstation as a whole.

    If you use display screen equipment daily for continuous periods of an hour or more as part of normal work, assess the full workstation rather than choosing a stand in isolation.

Brands and designs to consider

These examples show how an open riser, a vertical holder and a bundled workspace kit address different setups; check the specifications of the particular model you are considering.

Twelve South

Curve Flex is an adjustable open desktop stand for MacBook and compatible laptops that folds flat when not in use.

  • Twelve South specifies a 0° to 45° keyboard-angle range, a minimum laptop width of 8.66 inches and a maximum weight of 7 lb for Curve Flex.
  • For prolonged work with the screen raised, allow room for a separate keyboard and mouse.

Nexstand

Nexstand’s adjustable riser is aimed at a raised-screen setup that can be packed away between desks.

  • Nexstand states that its stand lifts a laptop by 15 cm to 30 cm.
  • Nexstand specifies laptops with a chassis under 1.9 cm thick and claims a load capacity of up to 9 kg; measure your device against the stated limits.

UGREEN

UGREEN offers both an open foldable riser and a separate vertical holder, so the appropriate design depends on whether the laptop stays open during use.

  • UGREEN describes its foldable dual-rod stand as suitable for laptops or tablets up to 17.3 inches.
  • Its dual-slot vertical holder is for closed-laptop storage; UGREEN specifies laptops under 15.6 inches and a thickness range of 0.47 to 1 inch.

Logitech

Casa Pop-Up Desk combines a laptop stand with separate input devices for a compact workspace that can be put away.

  • Logitech says the kit includes a wireless keyboard, wireless touchpad and a case that folds into a laptop stand.
  • It is a bundled setup rather than a standalone riser; check whether the case leaves enough space beneath the laptop for your intended items.

Proper AV

The Proper AV Foldable Laptop Stand and Tablet Riser is a simple foldable option.

  • Its foldable format may suit a desk that needs to be cleared after use.
  • Confirm the current size, load and under-laptop clearance details for the exact product before buying.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Do I need a separate keyboard and mouse with a raised laptop?

For prolonged laptop use, the Health and Safety Executive advises a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be elevated on a riser or similar support. If you want substantial clearance beneath the laptop, allow desk space for those input devices before choosing a stand.

Will a vertical stand free space beneath my laptop while I work?

No: a vertical holder stores a closed laptop upright, rather than raising an open laptop above the desk. It suits a setup using an external monitor and separate input devices; choose an open riser if you need the laptop’s own screen.

Which laptop measurements should I check before ordering?

Check the device’s width, weight and chassis thickness against the limits for the exact stand. For instance, Twelve South specifies Curve Flex for laptops at least 8.66 inches wide and up to 7 lb, while UGREEN specifies a 0.47- to 1-inch thickness range and laptops under 15.6 inches for its dual-slot vertical holder.

Does UK workplace guidance mean my employer must provide a laptop stand?

A laptop stand is not automatically required. The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess workstations for workers who use display screen equipment daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more; the assessment determines what action is needed. Where a home-workstation assessment indicates that display screen equipment must be provided, HSE says the worker cannot be charged for it.