17 Best Laptop Lap Desks: Which One Is Right For You?

1. 1. LapGear XL Laptop Lap Desk

   

   Price: $60.49

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Built-in wrist rest
   • Ambidextrous mousepads
   • Velcro storage compartments

   Cons:

   • Bulky design
   • Some find the wrist rest uncomfortable
   • Does not sit evenly on flat surfaces

   The LapGear XL is a great lap desk option for those who are accustomed to using a wrist rest to relieve tension in their forearms while they type. Not all users will appreciate this lap desk’s built-in wrist rest, but it is still something I recommend to most everybody. Whether you find them comfortable or not, a recent study from the Journal of Hand Therapy more or less confirms their efficacy at reducing fatigue and preventing carpal tunnel syndrome.

   This XL version of the LapGear is large enough to hold most laptops up to 17.3-inches and it has built-in mouse pads on both sides for left or right-handed users. I say most laptops because while this lap desk offers plenty of width, its ability to hold a longer laptop is limited by its wrist rest.

   This lap desk somewhat makes up for this with the inclusion of two velcro pockets underneath the unit, cushioned by the microbead lap pads that rest on your legs. These pockets are great for storing chargers and other USB accessories that would otherwise take up space on top of the lap desk. One downside (at least it is for me) about the lap pads is that they are different heights, and so this lap desk doesn’t quite sit flat on your lap.

   Ultimately, not everyone is going to love the wrist cushion on the LapGear XL. However, if you are primarily interested in the ergonomic benefit of these products, then this is one of the best laptop lap desks for maintaining healthy wrists.

   Find more LapGear XL Laptop Lap Desk information and reviews here.

2. 2. Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Lap Desk

   

   Price: $56.96

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Slide-out ambidextrous mousepads
   • Built-in wrist rest
   • Removable USB light

   Cons:

   • Does not sit evenly on flat surfaces
   • Doesn't fit 17-inch laptops
   • No ledge for mousepad

   As the name suggests, the Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Lap Desk is a laptop surface that allows you to get a whole lot more done than just browsing the web. In addition to having enough space to hold laptops up to 15 inches, this lap desk also has a 9.6-inch tablet slot and a built-in wrist rest.

   Were it not for these accessories, it might be able to hold a 17-inch laptop, but alas, large laptop owners will struggle to fit their behemoth notebooks on this lap desk. To make up for this, this Sofia + Sam lap desk also includes a USB port that is powered by four AA batteries. You could technically use this to charge your devices but it is meant to be used with an included USB light for reading books at night.

   Another neat feature of this lap desk is that it has a mousepad on a sliding tray that can be tucked away when not in use. It pulls out on the left or right, allowing for ambidextrous use. It even has a 3.5-inch slot to stick your smartphone in for added productivity (or added slacking off). Because this lap desk sits at a slight angle, the mouse can occasionally slide off its deck, but in return, you get a much better viewing angle for your keyboard.

   Find more Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Lap Desk information and reviews here.

3. 3. LapGear Home Office Lap Desk

   

   Price: $34.99

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Holds laptops up to 17 inches
   • Textured mousepad
   • Built-in phone slot

   Cons:

   • Bulky design
   • Does not sit evenly on flat surfaces
   • No ledge for mousepad

   Even given its large desk surface, this lap desk is still easy to tote around thanks to its lightweight design and its carry handle. The LapGear Home Office Lap Desk may be the smaller of the two LapGear lap desks we reviewed but it still large enough to hold laptops up to 17 inches with room left over for a right-handed mousepad. 

   As an avid keyboard and mouse user, I am always happy to see a built-in mousepad on these types of products. This one is quite spacious but because the microbead lap pads underneath the desk are different heights, the angle of the surface will cause the mouse to slide. A small ledge at the bottom would help remedy this, but there is none to be found on this model. I do really like the built-in 5-inch phone slot, though.

   This product has a version with a wrist rest, but if you are interested in that, we recommend upgrading to the LapGear XL, which compensates for the presence of the wrist rest by adding more surface area for your laptop.

   Find more LapGear Home Office Lap Desk information and reviews here.

4. 4. Nnewvante Folding Laptop Desk

   

   Price: $55.99

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   Pros:

   • Built-in USB cooling fan
   • Adjustable desk angle
   • Adjustable folding 9-12 inch legs

   Cons:

   • Mousepad is not textured
   • Does not fit 17-inch laptops
   • No bottom padding

   The Nnewvante Folding Laptop Desk strives to be both a lap desk and a laptop cooling pad all in one. Using a folding breakfast tray design as its base, this lap desk incorporates a USB-powered fan into an angle-adjustable surface that is large enough to hold laptops up to 15 inches.

   You could possibly fit a 17-inch laptop if you don’t mind it hanging partially over the edge. Its non-textured mousepad always remains flat to prevent it from sliding off the sloped laptop area. The laptop area has a small ledge to keep its contents from falling off. The mousepad area also has a built-in storage drawer but it is quite small and only good for some charging cables or other small items.

   The legs can fold all the way in for low-profile use but they lack padding and won’t be comfortable to rest on your lap. Instead, you’re better off folding out the extendable legs, which can be adjusted from 9 to 12 inches. With all of these ergonomic features allowing a lot of customization, it is hard to imagine this lap desks not working for some. It is a great pick all around.

   Find more Nnewvante Folding Laptop Desk information and reviews here.

5. 5. Executive Office Solutions Adjustable Lap Desk

   

   Price: $39.99

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   Pros:

   • Adjustable folding 1.2-20 inch legs
   • Built-in USB cooling fan
   • Clip-on ambidextrous mousepad

   Cons:

   • No bottom padding
   • Tedious to adjust
   • No ledge for mousepad

   The Executive Office Solutions Adjustable Lap Desk is probably not what you picture when you think of a lap desk, but this versatile computer stand is fairly easy to use on a bed or couch. It may not have padding on the bottom, but its ultra-adjustable folding legs can raise your laptop up anywhere from 1.2 to 20 inches. This is definitely the best laptop lap desk for fixing your posture.

   The legs have three points of articulation which makes it easy to make this lap desk into any shape you need (as long as you don’t mind the very tedious process of adjusting all the knobs). Its top surface can be adjusted to any angle and has a sturdy ledge to keep your laptop from sliding off. This unit comes with a clip-on mousepad that can be used by left or right-handed users. Unfortunately, it does not have the same ledge to keep it from sliding around.

   The Executive Office Solutions Lap Desk has a built-in USB fan as well, further sealing the deal as a jack of all trades. Its all-metal design may not be ideal when you are just trying to cuddle up on the couch while you browse through some photos, but darn it if it doesn’t do a great job at making any space laptop-friendly.

   Find more Executive Office Solutions Adjustable Lap Desk information and reviews here.

6. 6. Sofia + Sam Cushion Lap Desk

   

   Price: $41.99

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Holds laptops up to 17 inches
   • Removable USB light
   • Built-in wrist rest

   Cons:

   • Bulky design
   • No mousepad
   • Does not include batteries

   This lap desk does not have a slide-out mousepad despite having a larger overall surface area. You could probably squeeze a compact wireless mouse atop the desk surface but not if you max out the space with a 17-inch laptop. It also lacks the tablet stand that is built into the S+S Multi Tasking Lap Desk.

   If you are drawn to the detachable LED light included in the Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Lap Desk but need to accommodate a 17-inch laptop, then Sofia + Sam’s classic Cushion Lap Desk is going to be the better pick. This laptop lap desk is fairly similar to the other model we reviewed from Sofia + Sam but it does have some key differences.

   Everything else about this lap desk is pretty much the same as its most comparable counterpart. It has a built-in wrist rest to relieve strain while you type. It has a bulky memory foam base that props the desktop up at an angle while relieving pressure from your lap. And, of course, it has the same detachable LED reading light, which runs on four AA batteries. It is a toss-up as to which of these is best for one’s specific needs but either way they are both reliable picks.

   Find more Sofia + Sam Cushion Lap Desk information and reviews here.

7. 7. Mind Reader Folding Lap Desk

   

   Price: $23.27

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Folding 9-inch legs
   • Adjustable desk angle
   • Storage drawer

   Cons:

   • Mousepad is not textured
   • Doesn't fit 17-inch laptops
   • Legs loosen over time

   If your main goal for your lap desk is to bring your laptop closer to your head, then a unit with folding legs is going to be far more effective than one with a lap pad. Mind Reader makes an excellent lap desk in both styles, but I personally prefer the Mind Reader Folding Lap Desk design because of its attractive wood finish and well thought out design.

   Its fold-out legs raise its work surface up by 9 inches, making it comfortable for taller users. Of course, it can also be used with the legs folded up but it won’t have comfortable padding like other models. The top surface has two parts: the left side for holding the laptop has an adjustable viewing angle while the right side is meant to be a mousepad.

   I love this design because it solves the problem other adjustable laptop lap desks have where the mouse falls off the angled surface. This lap desk cleverly leaves the mousepad surface flat while the laptop area moves up and down on three different angles. I do with the mousepad was textured though.

   This lap desk seals the deal by including a small storage drawer. It can barely hold a pencil but it’s still a nice addition. If you are looking to give your laptop some serious lift, this is one of the best laptop lap desks for the job.

   Find more Mind Reader Folding Lap Desk information and reviews here.

8. 8. Mind Reader Adjustable Lap Desk

   

   Price: $15.60

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Adjustable desk angle
   • Compact and lightweight
   • Laptop ledge keeps laptop in place

   Cons:

   • No mousepad
   • Laptop ledge does not lock down
   • Doesn't fit 17-inch laptops

   The Mind Reader Adjustable Lap Desk is a lightweight and compact lap desk that is mostly meant to improve your viewing angle when working on a laptop without a desk. Its top surface can be adjusted to eight different angles, which increased the visibility of your keyboard and reduces the stress on your wrists.

   Don’t count on being able to set up a full-sized gaming laptop and mouse on this Mind Reader lap desk, as it is only meant to support laptops up to 15.6 inches. Additionally, because it is meant to be used at an angle, you won’t be able to use a mouse on this stand.

   There is a small fold-out ledge at the bottom of this lap desk to hold your laptop in place and keep it from sliding off the angled surface. This is a helpful feature but, unfortunately, it does not lock down when not in use so you should handle it with care.

   Find more Mind Reader Adjustable Lap Desk information and reviews here.

9. 9. Avantree Neetto Adjustable Laptop Lap Desk

   

   Price: $59.99

   Amazon Customer Reviews

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   Pros:

   • Adjustable folding 9.4-12.6 inch legs
   • Adjustable desk angle
   • Ledge keeps laptop and mouse in place

   Cons:

   • Bulky design
   • Mousepad is not textured
   • Uncomfortable to use folded

   There aren’t many laptop lap desks that are as customizable as the Neetto from Avantree. This adjustable lap desk includes folding legs with adjustable heights and a swivel hinge that can adjust the desk angle from 0 to 30 degrees. The custom design allows you to find the most comfortable configuration for your work, as long your preferred height is within the range of 9.4 to 12.6 inches.

   Its metal folding legs are quite sturdy, but they stick out of the bottom when folded up so this lap desk is not comfortable to use when folded up. This is easy to dismiss as you will probably want to use the legs 99 percent of the time. The desk surface is large enough to hold laptops up to 17 inches plus a mouse.

   The Neetto comes with two attachable ledges to keep your mouse and laptop from sliding off the edge but you can choose to install them however you want (or not at all), meaning this could work for a right or left-handed user. As a consequence of this, the mousepad areas are not textured. Sorry, gamers.

   Find more Avantree Neetto Adjustable Laptop Lap Desk information and reviews here.

10. 10. Schoolhouse Wood Lap Desk

    

    Price: $32.15

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    Pros:

    • Felted storage compartment
    • Stylish wood finish
    • Full-length lap cushion

    Cons:

    • No mousepad
    • Low-quality hinges
    • No carry handle

    The Schoolhouse Wood Lap Desk is a different kind of portable workstation. It is suitably sized to work with laptops up to 17.3 inches but its school desk-inspired design lends itself to so much more than laptop use. This unique lap desk even has a padded storage compartment underneath its hinged lid, allowing you to store documents, writing utensils, and other school supplies.

    It is a great way to keep project supplies organized but this storage compartment is not without its caveats. Because of its hinged design, this lap desk can’t be carried around with a handle like other options. At the risk of stating the obvious, all of your stuff would fall out. It also doesn’t help that this lap desk’s hinges are clearly a weak point in its design. Many users have noted that they are fairly low quality. However, this shouldn’t interfere with use.

    The more compact surface area of this lap desk doesn’t give you enough room to use a mouse but also makes this product easier to stow away when not in use. It is very comfortable as well, as its microbead foam cushion spans across the whole underside of the surface. The Schoolhouse Wood Lap Desk might not be the most functional lap desk option but its beautiful wooden design remains a great source of inspiration when trying to get homework done.

    Find more Schoolhouse Wood Lap Desk information and reviews here.

11. 11. Huanuo Pillow Lap Desk

    

    Price: $45.99

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    Pros:

    • Laptop ledge keeps laptop in place
    • Compact and lightweight
    • Ergonomic desk angle

    Cons:

    • Does not fit 17-inch laptops
    • Angle is not adjustable
    • No mousepad

    Huanuo’s Pillow Lap Desk doesn’t have as many baked-in features as their Notebook Lap Desk, but there is something to be said of the sheer simplicity of its design. This unit eschews the extra features of its counterpart model, the Huanuo Notebook Lap Desk, to max out on available desk space without sacrificing a lightweight and compact design.

    What you get is a simple 17 x 13.5 inch bamboo surface angled for easier typing. The memory foam padding underneath is soft and breathable. The company even suggests that you can use it as a pillow, though I certainly wouldn’t. The top surface is totally smooth except for a small ledge to keep your laptop in place and a cable hole that doubles as a carry handle.

    The downside of the Pillow Lap Desk is that it is not large enough to comfortably fit a 17-inch laptop. It is recommended to use 14 or 15-inch laptops, though you could probably squeeze a larger computer on there if you had to. Overall, if you want a simple angled lap desk for a smaller laptop, then this is an easy pick.

    Find more Huanuo Pillow Lap Desk information and reviews here.

12. 12. Huanuo Notebook Lap Desk

    

    Price: $49.98

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    Pros:

    • Built-in mousepad
    • Compact and lightweight
    • Built-in tablet and phone slots

    Cons:

    • Does not sit evenly on flat surfaces
    • Does not fit 17-inch laptops
    • Odd gap between mousepad and wrist rest

    Though the Notebook Lap Desk from Huanuo is suited for use with laptops of all sizes, you will get the most mileage out of its included features when you use it with a 14 or 15-inch laptop. While its top surface is large enough to hold a 17-inch laptop, you won’t be able to use its textured and recessed mousepad, which is one of my favorite qualities about this particular product.

    Even if you find the mousepad unusable, the Huanuo Notebook Lap Desk also has a built-in wrist rest, a tablet slot, and a phone slot, making it a helpful tool for maintaining a healthy and organized workspace. The wrist rest doubles a ledge to keep your laptop from sliding off, while the recessed mousepad does the same for your mouse.

    Ultimately, I prefer when a lap desk sits flat while not in use, but the lightweight nature of this lap desk (along with the built-in handle) make it an easy one to take from room to room so you always have something comfortable to work on.

    Find more Huanuo Notebook Lap Desk information and reviews here.

13. 13. Honey-Can-Do Lap Desk

    

    Price: $33.54

    Amazon Customer Reviews

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    Pros:

    • Flat and distraction-free work surface
    • Compact and lightweight
    • Holds laptops up to 17 inches

    Cons:

    • No ledge for mouse or laptop
    • Does not offer much lift
    • Mousepad is not textured

    Personally, I love seeing as many built-in gadgets and features on my PC accessories as possible. However, if you are looking for a large and comfortable surface to place your laptop with no bells or whistles, then you need the Honey-Can-Do Lap Desk. It has a pillow underneath to prop your laptop up at an angle, it has a carry handle, and that’s it.

    There are no weird slots, no wrist rests, and no built-in nonsense. Because this does prop your laptop up at an angle and you will likely have room to use a mouse, I feel like this unit needs at least a detachable ledge to keep your devices from sliding, but even that would tarnish the beautiful flatness that is the Honey-Can-Do Lap Desk.

    Oddly enough, the lap cushion is removable but there is almost no reason to do this, as what you have left after that is just a curved piece of MDF wood. At the end of the day, if this is all you need, then Honey-Can-Do has you set.

    Find more Honey-Can-Do Lap Desk information and reviews here.

14. 14. Elkgear Laptop Lap Desk

    

    Price: $32.99

    Amazon Customer Reviews

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    Pros:

    • Built-in mousepad
    • Built-in wrist rest
    • Holds laptops up to 17 inches

    Cons:

    • Does not sit evenly on flat surfaces
    • Does not offer much lift
    • Odd gap between mousepad and wrist rest

    The Elkgear Laptop Lap Desk is an elegant and professional-looking lap desk that is easy to carry around the house thanks to its simple design and built-in carry handle. It has a fairly large top surface and offers a modest amount of lift and angle with its two foam cushions on the bottom.

    The top surface is large enough to hold a 17-inch laptop with room left over to use the built-in mousepad. Your mouse and laptop are kept in place by the wrist rest at the bottom of this device, though there is an odd gap between the mousepad and the wrist rest which may cause some discomfort. This lap desk also has a 12.9-inch tablet slot, a 3.5-inch smartphone slot, and something I haven’t seen before: a single pen slot.

    Find more Elkgear Laptop Lap Desk information and reviews here.

15. 15. Mavo Craft Folding Lap Desk

    

    Price: $19.97

    Amazon Customer Reviews

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    Pros:

    • Folding 7.5-inch legs
    • Large storage compartment
    • Large desk surface

    Cons:

    • Low-quality materials
    • No carry handle
    • Slippery top surface

    The Mavo Craft Folding Lap Desk might look less sophisticated than the competition at first glance, but this unit is just as capable of a lap desk as the rest of the pack. Because there are no bells or whistles on the top surface, you can easily fit a 17-inch laptop on this lap desk.

    You won’t have room for a mouse unless you have a smaller laptop, but all in all, a flat top surface makes for the most versatile use. Underneath the desk is a useful storage compartment which offers a decent amount of room for supplies. Unfortunately, this means you cannot easily tote this desk around with a handle like other models, as all of your stuff would fall out.

    The Mavo Craft Lap Desk has 7.5-inch folding legs, and it works equally well with the legs extended or retracted. These legs are shorter than most of the other folding lap desks we reviewed, but they are still comfortable for adult use. The only real downside to this unit is that its desk surface is fairly slippery, which doesn’t do laptop users any favors. Still, it is a nice option for a simple budget laptop lap desk.

    Find more Mavo Craft Folding Lap Desk information and reviews here.

16. 16. Mayberry Lap Desk Organizer Set

    

    Price: $35.95

    Amazon Customer Reviews

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    Pros:

    • Included desktop organizer
    • Built-in mousepad
    • Multiple tablet and smartphone slots

    Cons:

    • Doesn't offer much lift
    • No bottom padding
    • No flat surface for writing

    If you just need a simple flat surface to place your laptop on when working from the bed or the couch, then you could probably just get away with using any flat board that fits your computer. If you want to take this idea one step further, then you could try the Mayberry Bamboo Lap Desk Organizer instead.

    This product is about as simple as it gets, even though it looks like it has a lot going on. The actual lap desk portion is just a piece of bamboo with a generous right-handed mousepad, three slots for either a smartphone or a tablet, and some holes to increase ventilation. It doesn’t have any padding on the bottom, nor does it offer much vertical lift, so isn’t as ergonomically valuable as a proper adjustable lap desk.

    The included desktop organizer is a great addition, and if its legs were a little longer than 3.5 inches, it would make a decent lap desk itself. The desktop organizer has loads of little storage slots, so it ultimately might make a decent lap desk for crafts. However, you certainly shouldn’t expect to be able to use either surface for writing.

    Find more Mayberry Lap Desk Organizer Set information and reviews here.

17. 17. Laptop Buddy Lap Desk

    

    Price: $15.21

    Amazon Customer Reviews

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    Pros:

    • Detachable reading light
    • Waterproof with cup holder
    • Zippered storage pouch

    Cons:

    • Doesn't fit 17-inch laptops
    • No mousepad
    • Low-quality materials

    The Laptop Buddy Lap Desk might look a swimming pool kickboard, and theoretically, it would probably work great for that. However, it is a lap desk before all else. The Laptop Buddy can hold laptops up to 15 inches in size, though it does not have a dedicated mousepad area. Instead, it has some helpful additions like a built-in cup holder and a slot to always keep a pen handy.

    The cup holder is an interesting addition considering that the lap desk is waterproof. Don’t let that be a sign of doubt about its cup-holding capabilities, but it is fairly shallow. My personal favorite inclusion is the Laptop Buddy’s detachable reading light, which is powered by three LR44 batteries (included).

    Other additions to this product include a nifty carry handle and a small zippered storage pouch. This pouch feels like an afterthought, though, as it is quite small. Overall, this lap desk may be better suited for younger users but also works as a lightweight laptop holder if you don’t mind the pool foam construction.

    Find more Laptop Buddy Lap Desk information and reviews here.

See Also

6 Best Cheap Lap Desk Deals: Compare & Save

9 Best Laptop Cooling Pads: Your Buyer’s Guide

11 Best Monitor Risers: Your Buyer’s Guide