Choose accessories for the problem at each workstation: a raised laptop screen calls for a separate keyboard and mouse, while a fixed desk with several connected devices may justify a dock. If you move between desks, portable accessories may be more useful. For workers covered by display screen equipment (DSE) requirements, follow the assessment of both home and office setups before choosing equipment; check the exact laptop’s display, port and charging capabilities before buying a monitor or dock.
If you work for long periods at a home desk, you may need to position the laptop screen separately from your keyboard and mouse. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises using separate input devices when raising a laptop screen for prolonged use.
If you connect a display and several peripherals whenever you sit down, a hub or dock could reduce the number of separate connections. Check the laptop’s ports, display support and charging needs against the exact device and cable you intend to use.
If your equipment travels between home and office, consider what you can carry and set up at each location. A fold-flat stand or portable peripherals may suit that pattern better than equipment intended to stay on one desk.
For regular home-and-office laptop work, start with the workstation need identified at each location, then check whether the accessory fits your laptop and work pattern.
| Concern | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and input position | Check that a stand fits the laptop and that the desk has room for a separate keyboard and mouse. | If I type at a home desk for long periods, I need to raise the laptop screen without keeping its keyboard and trackpad in the same position. Around 31% of consumers put screen and input position first. |
| Desk connectivity | Match the exact laptop model’s video output, display limits and charging needs to the dock or hub; check the cable’s capabilities too. | When I settle at a fixed desk, I want my display and everyday peripherals connected without finding that a required function does not work. Desk connectivity is the primary need for around 31% of consumers. |
| Portability | Check the accessory’s folded size and whether a compact hub has the ports you use away from your main desk. | If I pack up between work locations, I need equipment I can carry and set up repeatedly rather than a permanent desk arrangement. Around 23% of consumers prioritise portability. |
| Calls and meetings | Check whether a webcam or headset is needed for your calls, and confirm its connection method and meeting-platform compatibility. | For frequent video calls, I need a camera or audio setup that works with my organisation’s meeting tools. Clearer communication comes first for around 15% of consumers. |
A USB-C connector alone does not establish which display, charging or data functions the laptop and cable support. Apple Support notes that external-display limits on Macs depend on the model, resolution and refresh rate; the USB Implementers Forum notes that cables have different capabilities.
Check the exact laptop model, operating system, intended displays and charging requirement against the dock’s compatibility information and the cable you will use.
Raising the laptop also raises its built-in keyboard and trackpad. For prolonged laptop use, the HSE advises a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be elevated independently.
Plan the stand, keyboard and mouse as one desk setup, checking laptop fit and space for all three.
The equipment needed at home depends on the individual workstation and work pattern, not simply on what is present in the office. The HSE says DSE assessments should cover both situations where a worker uses display screen equipment at home and in the office.
Use the assessment to identify the particular gap at home before choosing an accessory.
A dock intended to connect several desk devices may be awkward to move repeatedly if you use only a few extra ports away from home.
List the connections you use at each location. Consider a compact hub for a limited portable setup, and a dock where displays, charging and multiple peripherals are regularly connected at one desk.
Kensington offers laptop risers and docking stations relevant to portable and fixed-desk setups.
Logitech offers keyboards, mice, webcams and headsets for desk and portable work arrangements.
Anker offers compact USB-C hubs and larger docking stations for connecting desk devices.
Not necessarily. For workers covered by DSE requirements, the HSE advises assessing both home and office working situations to decide what additional equipment is needed. Start with the particular tasks and workstation needs at home rather than assuming every office accessory must be duplicated.
Consider a stand if the laptop screen can remain your main display but needs raising during prolonged desk work; the HSE advises using it with a separate keyboard and mouse. If you need a larger or separate display, check that your exact laptop model supports the monitor and connection you intend to use.
No: the connector shape alone does not confirm video output, display limits or charging compatibility. Check your laptop model and operating system against the dock’s stated configuration, then check the cable; Apple Support identifies model-dependent Mac display limits, and the USB Implementers Forum notes that USB cables differ in capability.
No. The HSE advises interrupting DSE work with breaks or changes of activity. Accessories can help arrange the workstation, but they do not replace those changes to the work routine.