Here’s what we recommend for staying warm in a cold office. We still think this is the best lap desk you can get, even if it’s available only in the smaller, 17¾-inch size. First, we scanned Amazon and other retailers for the most popular and widely available options. It’s big enough to fit a 13-inch laptop and a wireless mouse, or a larger laptop without a mouse. Several LapGear lap desks met our minimum criteria and ended up on our testing list. It reigns supreme in terms of comfort and build quality, has one of the widest and sturdiest surfaces of any lap desk we tested, and offers extra storage options for your phone and other supplies. Paisley and argyle aren’t for everyone, and it would be a shame if your lap desk clashed with your home, office, or dorm-room decor. At 17¾ inches across, it’s wide enough to fit a 13-inch laptop and mouse comfortably, or just a 15-inch or 17-inch laptop, and it works equally well for left- and right-handed people.
This collapsible lap desk is just what you need to keep you working, burning your creative candle, or just lounging, no matter where you are. It’s just as well constructed as the LapGear Designer and has many of the same features—a laptop rest, left- and right-hander accessibility, a sizable work surface—plus a few more. Feature:Itable easily shapes to your lap with cushy, beanbag base. If you like to work on a laptop or tablet—or do a crossword, write thank-you notes, color, consult your tarot cards, whatever—from your couch or in bed, lap desks can help. If better ergonomics are your primary concern, you should get our also-great pick, which has legs. We also consulted outside editorial sources like Bustle, CNET, Lifewire, Lifehacker, ReviewGeek, and The Strategist to see what their favorite lap desks are.
Lap desks are like the athleisure of workspaces: not the most elegant option but generally comfortable and functional. They let you pick up your workstation and take it with you. The eDesk also has a strip of padding along the edge closest to your body that functions as both a laptop rest and a cushion for your hands. Weighing 3½ pounds, the Avantree is on the heavier side but it’s still very compact and portable. When you’re not using the slot for a tablet stand, it is designed to be flush so that you can set a laptop or book right on top of it, maximizing the eDesk’s surface area. If you want a lap desk that raises your work surface even higher off your lap, increasing airflow and improving your posture, you should get the Avantree Multifunctional.
The eDesk is small and light enough to pack in a carry-on bag or tuck out of sight in a tiny apartment. Most people don’t use a lap desk outside their home. The sofia and sam multi-tasking lap tray is the modern take on the classic lap tray. LapGear XL: On paper, we liked this one a lot. Generally speaking, they are ergonomically inferior to a regular desk and according to ergonomics expert Alan Hedge at Cornell University should be used for only up to an hour per day—more on that in the health considerations section. Plus, the lip around its tablet slot creates an uneven surface for a laptop or notepad. Crafted from 100% bamboo wood, this laptop lap tray provides a stylish and elegant touch to your home, office or hotel. Plus, if you set the Avantree Multifunctional on a desk or table, you can also use it as a DIY standing desk or laptop stand. Lap desks have been around for centuries. The best of modern, priced for real life.
It also works great for reading, crafts, studying, and adult coloring. LapGear Smart-e: This one is almost identical to the eDesk, but we found its dimpled plastic surface unenjoyable to write on. Having it makes moments like these fun for the kids, as its the perfect car seat tray entertainment center. The eDesk seems just as solidly built as the Designer but it feels less luxurious overall. If you’re doing heavy-duty writing on your iPad, a keyboard case like Logitech’s Slim Folio is better for typing, and it will protect your tablet. The small lip on the Designer’s near edge (a 6-inch strip of white plastic just a half inch tall) is just wide enough to ensure that your laptop doesn’t slide onto your abdomen while you’re typing. The lap desk has a luxurious memory foam cushion for total comfort and support. Plastic plate, polyester-secured base. It’s much heavier than anything else we tested—it weighs almost 5 pounds, while the Designer weighs just 2—and has no padding on the bottom.
Unlike the Designer, the eDesk is available in solid colors, including a neutral gray-and-black scheme. The tablet slot at the top of the eDesk is over a foot long and about an inch deep, which is plenty big enough to prop up an iPad Pro. It has a cool, sleek look that’s masculine without being too macho. The padding on the underside of the Designer is filled with microbeads (little foam pellets) and encased in a soft, comfortable, canvaslike polyester material. LapGear Bamboard Pro: This model developed somewhat of a cult following among our testers. Honey-Can-Do Laptop Desk: This lap desk (our former budget pick) was nixed in our latest round of testing because it doesn’t have a built-in laptop rest to keep your stuff from sliding off. But we ultimately struck them from our testing list because of low owner ratings and Fakespot grades and/or a lackluster array of features.