5 Best Vertical Laptop Stands 2023: Top Upright Laptop Holders for Mac and PC

Looking to maximize space on your desk? Then a vertical laptop stand is a great solution.

A vertical laptop holder is perfect when you're using an external monitor and keyboard while you work, letting you keep your workspace organized and clutter-free.

An upright laptop stand also promotes airflow around your laptop to prevent it from overheating and keep it running fast.

Here are my 7 recommendations for the best vertical laptop stands. I chose these based on design, build, price, and customer recommendations.

The laptop stands below are designed to fit nearly all laptops, including MacBook, Chromebook, Surface, and Dell machines.

Let’s go!

Best Overall Vertical Laptop Stand: Omoton Desktop Aluminium Laptop Holder

Omoton’s aluminium laptop stand comes highly recommended by thousands of customers, and for good reason - it’s weighty, adjustable, and priced competitively.

It’s compatible with most laptop or notebooks, with a thickness range of between 0.55in (14mm) and 2.71in (69mm). Adjustment is made with a simple adjustment of four hex bolts - just set and forget it.

Omiton’s upright stand weighs 1.32 lbs, making it sturdy enough to hold laptops without sliding either closed or open, even up to a 40-degree angle. So you can use your laptop as a second screen while it is being held.

The unit itself measures just 5.9 x 3.7 x 1.9 inches, so it’s great if you are tight for space on your desk. Its sleek and minimalist design will suit any modern office.

To prevent scratches to your laptop, the stand’s “clamp” features a rubber covering, and the vertical position will help to improve airflow and prevent your laptop from overheating.

Reasons to Buy

  • Fits most laptops, tablets, and phones

  • Heavy and sturdy

  • Sleek and stylish build quality

Reasons to Avoid

  • One customer reports the stand’s colour fading in direct sunlight. Keep it in the shade if possible!

What Customers Say

“This has a simple function, and it nails the execution. A couple hex screws on either side are all you need to adjust the width, and it had plenty of room for my not-so-svelte work machine, freeing up a ton of desk space. I've got mine on a sit-stand desk, and it's solid even while moving - no wobble at all.”

If you’re looking for a MacBook vertical stand, then the BookArc from Twelve South looks like it could have been designed by Apple itself!

Designed exclusively for use with MacBooks, the BookArc is a sleek and stylish laptop holder that not only looks great, but will help keep your machine safe and your desk more organized. It is compatible with:

  • 13" MacBook Air (2020)

  • 13” MacBook Pro (2020-2022, including M1/M2)

  • 14’ MacBook Pro (2021 M1)

  • 16” MacBook Pro (2019-2020, 2021 M1)

The BookArc vertical laptop stand comes with several different inserts. Simply lay the one that is compatible with your machine into the holder and slide MacBook in.

The thicknesses of the various MacBooks for which the inserts were designed are:
Insert A: 0.95"
Insert B: 0.71"
Insert C: 0.52"
Insert D: 0.64"
Insert E: 0.61"
Insert F: 0.63"

As well as improving airflow and performance of your MacBook, this upright laptop holder also includes an integrated cable catch that makes your connections right at hand when you need them, and prevents wires from falling to the floor when disconnected.

Twelve South’s laptop stand measures 9.4 x 3.1 x 3.9 inches and weighs 1.05lbs, making it a compact but sturdy desktop companion.

Reasons to Buy

  • Designed exclusively for MacBooks

  • Sleek and modern design

  • Impressive build quality

Reasons to Avoid

  • Won’t work with a MacBook case on.

What Customers Say

“I have a small desk space. This stand is perfect for when I want to dock my laptop and connect it to my Studio display. Highly recommend if you're going for a sleek, minimal look.”

It’s Omoton again! There are plenty of other dual laptop stands available but just as Omoton nailed the single version, so it has for customers who need a stand for two devices.

Like the single laptop holder, this one is compatible with most laptop or notebooks, with a thickness range of between 0.55in (14mm) and 2.71in (69mm). As before, you can adjust the stand to the width you need for each laptop with four hex bolts underneath - screwdriver included.

Both laptop slots feature non-slip silicone mats to prevent slipping and scratches to your machine, and to increase stability.

Omoton’s double vertical laptop stand weighs 1.52 lbs and measures 5.91 x 4.72 x 1.85 inches (before adjustment). This is only very slightly heavier than its single laptop holder, so if you think you might need a dual stand at some point in the future, this one might be a more logical option.

Reasons to Buy

  • Holds two laptops effortlessly

  • Sleek design and impressive build quality

  • Competitively priced

Reasons to Avoid

  • Screws need to be treated gently to prevent them from stripping.

What Customers Say

“I bought this product to hold a Zephyrus G15 and M1 MacBook Pro. Works amazing for both, and has actually helped with lower temperatures for the Zephyrus (connected to an external monitor/keyboard/mouse).”

Macally has specialized in building high-quality, great-looking accessories for nearly three decades, and its VCStand vertical laptop stand continues this trend.

The Macally vertical cradle measures just 4 x 7 inches and is made from high-quality SECC steel. Its base has a wide, non-slip rubber coating to prevent slipping, and the cradle itself has soft padding to stop your laptop from scratching, to hold it securely, and stop any wobble.

The upright stand is formed from two pieces of metal that can be moved apart and closer together to cushion your laptop. The package also includes a screwdriver to easily adjust the width to fit your laptop, and the stand will fit all laptops and tablets between 0.63” and 1.19”.

Macally’s vertical laptop stand works best when your machine is held completely vertically. So if you need your laptop to be leaned open at an angle for any reason, the Omoton holder might be a better option.

Reasons to Buy

  • Sleek and stylish design

  • Made from sturdy steel

  • Compatible with most laptops

Reasons to Avoid

  • Laptop needs to be secured vertically to avoid scratching.

What Customers Say

“This stand is as close to perfect as I could find on paper, and now that I have it in use I feel it's the best item I could have bought in my price range. It was easy to adjust to my laptop's thickness (they even supplied a little screwdriver, a VERY nice touch), stands up well and has a sturdy base that's not so big it defeats the purpose of a stand in the first place.”

All of the other laptop holders on this list have been made of metal, but if you’re on a slightly tighter budget or don’t care so much for sleek aesthetics, then Vaydeer has you covered.

The other benefit to using a plastic laptop stand is that scratching your machine is much less likely if it rubs against a soft plastic, rather than hard metal.

Vaydeer’s plastic dual-slot vertical laptop stand is designed to fit all types of laptops up to 17.3” in size, with an adjustable width in each holder suitable for any laptop between 0.53” and 2.36”. Simply use the included hex key to tighten the stand to your desired width.

The overall size of this dual laptop holder is 5.5 x 0.5 x 2 inches, making for a compact desktop companion and the perfect space-saving device.

And despite its light weight (just 7 ounces), customers remark on its sturdiness and stability - it will support your laptop whether it is closed or open, leaning at an angle.

Reasons to Buy

  • Budget-friendly laptop stand

  • Impressive build quality

  • Available in three-slot option

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not so elegant to look at

  • Light assembly required (two minute job).

What Customers Say

“Wasn't expecting the build quality of this thing to be so nice. Very sturdy, high quality machining.

I got the three slot one, and have set it up to hold a Macbook Pro, Steam Deck, and large external battery in the slots, plus using the front lean-to area (whatever you'd call it) to hold my phone while it's charging.”

Best Vertical Laptop Stands: Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re in the market for a vertical laptop holder for your office, you probably have plenty of questions about them. Below, I’ve answered some of the most common queries.

Why use a laptop stand?

If you’re looking to make the most of the space on your desk, then a vertical laptop stand is the ideal solution. These compact accessories hold your laptop in an upright position in a cradle, freeing up precious space for your keyboard, phone, papers, and other office bits and bobs.

Most of the laptop holders on this list allow you to keep the laptop open while they rest in the stand, providing you with a sleek dual-screen setup.

Are laptop stands worth it?

If space is at a premium in your office setup, a laptop stand is worth its weight in gold. For an accessory that is available at a reasonable cost, the solution it provides - both maximizing space and improving laptop performance - is an investment that will pay for itself many times over.

Do laptop stands help cooling?

Laptop stands allow for improved airflow around the vents of your machine, which helps to keep your laptop cool and improve its performance. Technically speaking, the ventilation allows air to reach and circulate around the internal components of your laptop to prevent them from overheating.

Do laptop stands need to be screwed to the desk?

While some laptop stands can be screwed to the desk, none of the vertical laptop holders on this list provide that option, nor are required to be.

Laptop stands are designed in such a way to support laptops of all sizes, and their weight distribution and rubber underneath help to provide stability so that they don’t slide or tip on your desk.

Are vertical laptop stands safe?

Yes! The manufacturers of laptop stands understand how precious your machine is to you, so vertical laptop holders are designed to hold your device snugly to keep it safe. All come with full adjustment (to fit nearly all laptops), a protective covering to prevent scratches, and rubber bases to stop the stand from sliding on your desk.

Want more? Check out this list of the best Zoom accessories

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Andrew Macarthy is a social media consultant and the author of the #1 Amazon Web Marketing Bestseller, 500 Social Media Marketing Tips.

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