Everyone might have a different use case for wanting to use a laptop stand. Over the years, with different work setups and desk configurations, Ive changed up my settings a lot.
In this article, I want to go over some of my reasons for advocating for a laptop stand. If you are curious if laptop stands are worth it, check out the article I wrote covering that.
Below, Ill be answering some common questions that Ive heard in the work-from-home and remote worker communities.
Here are the key takeaways for using a laptop stand:
- Updated viewing angle for your laptop
- Save space on your desk
- Better heat distribution for your laptop
- Improved ergonomics
- Flexible working environment
Will a laptop stand improve my ergonomics?
Yes! For a lot of reasons, using a laptop stand can generally improve your posture. This is because when you use a laptop stand, the laptop screen moves closer to eye level. When the laptop is around eye level, you wont have to hunch over as much.
Being in a hunched-over position will typically cause your shoulders to move inward, put stress and pressure on your neck, on your back and so on. Check out more tips and learn about how laptop stands can be ergonomic.
Having your laptop screen at eye level will allow you to properly sit up straight, which will lead to better posture.
How can a laptop stand save space on my desk?
Depending on your desk configuration, your laptop could take up a lot of space on your desk. Laptops are big devices! Laptops measure anywhere between 13 and 17 inches, and space can really start to add up. This can be a bigger problem if you have a smaller desk and if you are tight on space.
A laptop stand will be able to prop your laptop off the surface of your desk. This can allow you to set out other types of desk organization items, like pens, notebooks, your phone, a tablet and so on.
Certain vertical laptop stands, when used with an external monitor, can minimize the total footprint of your laptop almost entirely. Its almost like not having your laptop on your desk at all, especially if you can configure the laptop to be behind your monitor.
Why is having an adjustable height on a laptop stand necessary?
The screen of your laptop can pivot, which allows you to change the viewing angle of your display. This is great for getting the perfect position and being able to see everything on your screen clearly.
However, you might be sitting in a location where you cannot adjust your laptop, for instance, if the table is especially tall.
In these cases, a laptop stand with a adjustable height is perfect for being able to really hone in on the proper angle.
Have you ever tried eating at a table at which the chair was too short? Or too tall? Its very uncomfortable! Being able to properly adjust the height of a laptop stand can make you enjoy working at your desk.
The last thing that you want is to have an uncomfortable desk configuration.
Can a laptop stand help my computer stay cool?
My laptop is on the older side, and with its age, it starts to run a bit hot. Newer programs (and even Google Chrome) sometimes cause my computer to heat up. Throw video editing and photo processing into the mix, and it sounds like a rocket ship is about to take off when my fans turn on.
One of the worst things that you can do is work on a couch or keep your laptop on a blanket or a pillow, which can prevent some of the airflow. So, using a laptop stand helps with air flow.
Even when your laptop is sitting on a desk, the desk might be made of a really solid material that doesn’t allow for much air flow.
When you use a laptop stand, you’re elevating your laptop off of you desk, which will give your laptop the most amount of air flow possible.
Will a laptop stand help my desk to be more organized?
If you’re like me, your desk can start to get messy quickly. I wish that everyone had a nice and organized desk, but thats not always the case.
One thing that has helped me is to have a dedicated spot for my laptop. I can feed the cables through some of the material on the laptop stand and prevent cables from not being organized.
Because my laptop has a dedicated spot on the desk, I don’t always have to shuffle papers or other items around in order to make room for my laptop.
Can a laptop stand help me work in tight spaces?
Sort of. If you’re working in a tight space, its going to be a challenge to comfortably sit at a desk for an extended period of time.
At a café one time, I saw someone working remotely with a laptop stand, a small keyboard and a small mouse. They were able to comfortably sit at that café for longer, because they weren’t hunched over with terrible posture.
Aside from that, when you’re working at a desk (especially in a tight space) you could easily spill something. When your laptop is suspended off of the surface, you don’t have to worry about your laptop getting wet.
This has actually happened to me a few times and Im glad my laptop didn’t get soaked! My laptop stand saved m.
Can I travel with a laptop stand?
Yes! In fact, Ive traveled and worked remotely for long amounts of time, all around the world. A laptop stand was crucial to my work remotely setup because it made setting up a temporary office really easy. Portable laptop stands can help you bring your home office wherever you are.
Some laptop stands are much lighter-weight than others. When choosing a laptop stand, consider if you want to travel with it or not. If its always going to be at your desk, you get get something more sturdy. If you know that you might want to work remotely and travel with it, consider some of the foldable options.
The foldable laptop stands hardly take up any room in your luggage. They are also lightweight so you wont have to worry about going over any weight restrictions from some airline carriers.
Is a laptop stand good for using a second monitor?
Using a second monitor with your laptop configuration is quite popular. Its actually what I use most of the time in my desk configuration in my shared home office.
I like being able to bring the laptop closer to the height of the second monitor. This lets me drag windows and items across screens without much of a disconnect.
Because my webcam is on the top of my laptop, the height that my laptop stand provides gives me a better viewing angle out of my webcam. Otherwise, the camera would be pointing upward, which wouldn’t be too flattering.
A laptop stand is such a crucial part of a work-from-home setup. Its versatile, useful and ergonomic. I hope that you were able to learn all about the benefits of using a laptop stand in your home office or while working remotely away from home.