If the laptop screen is too low during prolonged work, start with a stable riser and separate keyboard and mouse, provided your desk has room for all three. Choose an external monitor when you need more display space at a fixed desk; add a dock or hub when you also need to connect several devices and have checked your laptop's display and charging compatibility. The Health and Safety Executive's guidance pairs an elevated laptop screen with separate input devices.
If you work for long periods at a home desk but do not need more display space, a riser can lift the laptop screen. Plan space for a separate keyboard and mouse too: the Health and Safety Executive recommends separating them from an elevated laptop during prolonged use.
An external monitor can give documents and applications a separate display at a permanent workstation. Check your exact laptop model, video connection and intended number of displays before choosing one; Apple and Microsoft describe display support as device- and connection-dependent.
If you regularly connect a display, peripherals, wired networking or charging, a dock or USB-C hub may reduce the connections you handle each day. Check the laptop's video-output and charging capabilities against the particular dock or hub rather than relying on its port count.
Decide where the screen and your hands need to be first. Then check physical fit for a stand, or the exact laptop and connection requirements for an external display or dock.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Screen height and separate inputs | Match the stand's stated size and weight limits to your laptop, and leave desk space for a keyboard and mouse. | I want to look at a raised laptop screen without typing on its raised keyboard; around 33% of consumers put screen height and separate inputs first. |
| More display space | Check the laptop's supported display count and video output against the monitor's input, resolution and intended refresh rate. | At a permanent desk, I need room to view documents and applications on another screen. Roughly 27% of consumers make display space their primary concern. |
| A compact setup | Check a riser's folded size and laptop fit, alongside keyboard layout and mouse fit. | If I regularly clear the desk, I need equipment I can put away without giving up separate inputs; around 20% of consumers prioritise a compact setup. |
| Fewer connections | Compare the laptop's video and charging support with the hub's port functions and your intended display arrangement. | Connecting my display and peripherals each day makes fewer cables the deciding factor; roughly 20% of consumers put connectivity first. |
A stand raises the built-in keyboard and trackpad along with the screen. For prolonged laptop use, the Health and Safety Executive advises a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be elevated independently.
Before choosing a stand, make sure the desk can also accommodate both input devices in positions you can use comfortably.
A stand's stated laptop-size and weight limits apply to that model, not to every stand from the same brand.
Compare your laptop's dimensions and weight with the exact stand's limits, then check how its base and contact points support the device.
Port functions and display modes differ. Anker's 565 hub, for instance, distinguishes its charging input from data ports, while its display modes depend on the host laptop's DisplayPort capability.
Compare your exact laptop model, cable, display requirements and charging needs with the dock or hub specification before ordering.
A different cable, adapter or power supply may be needed to complete the intended connection.
For qualifying display-screen users, a workstation assessment may identify changes to the home setup. The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess workstations when workers use display-screen equipment daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more.
If that describes your work, ask your employer about its assessment and equipment policy before making a personal purchase.
Laptop risers and support products for a desk that needs an elevated screen.
Separate keyboards and mice for laptop workstations.
External displays, including hub monitors intended for a fixed desk.
USB-C hubs for connecting displays and other desk peripherals.
These keyboard-and-mouse, external-display and dock choices address different parts of a home laptop setup. Match each product to the equipment already on your desk and the connection capabilities of your laptop.
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Consider this combination when you need to type and use a mouse separately from an elevated laptop; it does not raise the screen itself.
The product name specifies 2.4GHz wireless connectivity and a US keyboard layout. Check that layout against the keys you use regularly.
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Consider a separate monitor for a fixed desk where more display space is the priority.
This model is identified as an IPS WQHD display. Check your laptop's video connection and the monitor's required cable before buying.
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Consider this separate display if your workstation moves and you want a monitor alongside the laptop.
The product is identified as an FHD monitor. Confirm that your exact laptop supports the display connection you intend to use.
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A dock is relevant when a desk setup involves displays and other devices that you want to connect through fewer laptop ports.
The product name specifies dual HDMI 4K connectivity and 100W Power Delivery pass-through. Check your laptop's display-output support, intended monitor arrangement and power requirements, as well as whether the power adapter you need is included.
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Consider a portable separate display when you need more screen space but do not keep the same desk setup in place.
The product name specifies an 18.4-inch, 3840 × 2160 display with USB-C and Mini HDMI connections. Check the required cable, laptop output and display power arrangement for your setup.
For prolonged laptop use, the Health and Safety Executive advises a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be elevated. Continuing to type on the raised laptop leaves its keyboard and trackpad raised too, so allow room for the full setup before choosing a stand.
No: compatibility depends on the exact laptop and connection you plan to use. Apple says supported display numbers vary by Mac model, resolution and refresh rate; Microsoft says a Surface device's display connection depends on its model and the cables or adapters used. Compare those requirements with the monitor before ordering.
No: a USB-C connector alone does not establish which video and charging functions are available. Anker specifies different display modes for different host capabilities on its 565 hub and distinguishes its charging input from data-only USB ports. Check both the laptop and dock specifications for the functions you need.
Yes, if your work falls within your employer's display-screen equipment assessment process, check that process and its equipment policy before buying. The Health and Safety Executive says the regulations can apply to permanent or long-term home workers and that employers must assess workstations for qualifying workers who use display-screen equipment daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more.