We prefer this texture to a dimpled plastic, like on the LapGear Smart-e, or the slick, shiny surface of the Honey-Can-Do. Ergonomics: The ideal typing position is sitting or standing upright and looking straight into a screen, with your feet flat on the floor and your wrists in your lap slightly below your elbows. If you have a slightly bigger device (one that’s closer to 17 inches, like an HP Pavilion) or want space for a notebook alongside your device, you’ll also find a couple of options below.

Meanwhile, our stands will elevate your laptop to a comfortable height while giving you more space for your PC mouse and keyboard - and some designs will also help prevent your machine from overheating. The Nearpow Laptop Bed Tray has a similar highly adjustable design, but the hardware doesn't glide quite as smoothly as the Saiji. Finally, it’s the priciest lap desk we tested, costing twice as much as the LapGear as of this writing. This is especially true for people who live in smaller spaces and don't have a dedicated desk or home office space.

The sturdy top is covered in anti-slip finishing, so there’s no worry about your device slipping and sliding on its surface.

It offers a small range of heights, and it's best used in conjunction with a separate keyboard and mouse. The Saiji model also includes a handy book holder to keep your textbooks or reference manuals open and within easy viewing distance. Over the past 15 years, scientists have studied more than a dozen reported cases of people with red, irritated, or damaged skin (including, in some cases, severe burns) from prolonged laptop use.

A high-quality lap desk can provide a comfortable base to work on, a more uniform work surface, a more ergonomic body position, and can help prevent your computer from heating up your lap. Extra features: We required each model to have some sort of lip, clasp, or slot to hold a laptop, tablet, or book in place, even when the lap desk isn’t perfectly level—say, if you cross your legs underneath it.