Foldable Aluminium Laptop Stands

A stand that goes in the bag

Foldable aluminium laptop stands open out into a raised, sloping platform and fold flat to slip into a bag beside the laptop. They suit people who work in more than one place: a hot desk at the office, the kitchen table, a library or a client's meeting room. Most of the stands here are aluminium alloy, which is light, strong and does not rust, and most state that they take laptops of roughly 10 to 17 inches.

What is in this range

• Stands with set height levels. Many have a hinge that clicks into a fixed number of positions, six, seven, eight or ten depending on the stand, so you can return to the same height each time.
• Dual-fork stands hold the laptop on two narrow arms, which leaves most of the base open to the air.
• Covered and plastic versions. One stand here has a PU finish, and one is sold in aluminium or in ABS plastic.
• A stand with a tripod fitting for working away from a table.

Why raise the screen

The Health and Safety Executive's guidance puts the top of the screen level with your eyes, about an arm's length away, with your forearms roughly horizontal. A laptop flat on a desk cannot do both. The HSE's answer for laptops is a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can be raised on a riser, which is what a foldable stand is. The guide to choosing a laptop stand explains how to measure for one.

How to choose a foldable stand

Height. Foldable stands are made to be carried, so they are usually lower than a stand that lives on one desk. Set your chair first, then measure how much lift you need and check it against the stand's highest position. If you need more, look at adjustable laptop stands.

Size and weight. Check your laptop's screen size sits inside the range the stand states, and that it holds your laptop's weight with room to spare.

Grip. Look for silicone pads where the laptop rests and a small lip at the front, and check the lip does not cover a port.

Take a compact keyboard and a Bluetooth mouse with it, and a tech pouch keeps them together in the bag.

Questions people ask about foldable laptop stands

Are foldable stands steady enough to type on?

They are made to hold the screen, with typing on a separate keyboard. A light stand at its highest setting can flex if you type on the laptop's own keys.

Does a stand help a laptop keep cool?

Lifting the base off the desk gives the air more room, and open frames leave the underside clear. A stand is not a cooler, though: for that, see cooling stands with fans.

More to look at

• Adjustable laptop stands
• Vertical laptop stands
• Cooling stands with fans
• Compact keyboards
• Tech pouches
• Guide: How to choose a laptop stand
• Guide: Setting up a laptop desk that is kind to your back