If your job involves a lot of computing, investing in a laptop stand can help to improve productivity. Unfortunately, though, they're quite expensive—especially if you're going for one of the fancier options.
Fortunately, you can make your own instead if you'd prefer. Here are 10 DIY laptop stands you can make to type comfortably, keep your workspace organized, and prevent your laptop from overheating.
1. A Foldable Laptop Stand Using Cardboard
Constructing a portable laptop stand from a cardboard box sounds exciting, so here’s a chance to create one. This DIY project is simple for beginners or older kids. The materials required include a ruler, pencil, and cereal box, plus an X-Acto knife, sturdy wrapping paper, and 502 CA glue.
You can get two small neodymium magnets to keep the stand in place after folding it. The frame folds flat, making it easy to carry when on the move. Though simple, this project will make you feel like a genius once you flaunt it to your friends.
2. Shoe Box Laptop Stand
You don’t have to spend a fortune buying an adjustable stainless-steel stand when you need a break from a flat keyboard. Believe it or not, you can easily transform a shoebox idling around the house into a good-looking stand.
The additional supplies needed include a box cutter, ruler, tape, and a marker pen. You can give it a premium look by painting the stand or wrapping it with ribbons. Most shoe boxes can fit 13-inch laptops, but you can extend it to hold bigger ones if necessary.
3. PVC Laptop Stand
It’s time to make use of the PVC pipes left at your house the last time the plumber fixed your drainage system. Other than offering you a raised level to prevent neck strain, the pipes in this project hold all your cables, making your space organized.
This is a pretty easy project. You need PVC pipes, four tee joints, four elbow joints, and some paint. The idea is to create a two-shelf stand, with the top one holding the laptop and the lower area providing support. This build also creates room laptop ventilation.
4. Bamboo Laptop Stand
The bamboo laptop stand is a straightforward and budget-friendly project. It takes minimal effort to complete, making it perfect for beginners. The process involves measuring, cutting, and gluing different parts, eliminating the need to use complicated tools.
You can peel off the outer shell to add a soft touch and more of a premium look. Use this laptop stand in a home office, though, because it’s not strong enough to carry around.
5. Laptop Bubble Stand
A laptop bubble stand is not only sleek but stylish. So, why not try making one this weekend? It’s a project you’ll hack within a short amount of time, plus the materials are cheap and readily available. You’ll need an acrylic sheet, a ruler, oven mitts, plywood scrap, a heat gun, and a laser cutter.
Ensure that you grip the acrylic at a 90-degree angle toward the floor to create a stable shape. Doing this will prevent your laptop from wobbling when typing. The eye-catching stand keeps the laptop cool as it leaves enough space on the bottom to allow for maximum airflow.
6. Plywood Laptop Stand
Make this ingenious and cost-effective stand to prevent neck and shoulder pain while working. An interlocking cross made of two plywood pieces makes transportation manageable, and the design is beginner-friendly. The materials required include a jigsaw, sandpaper or belt slander, scissors, disc sander, square file, orbital sander, plywood, and PVA glue.
Beginners can create a template for the two interlocking crosses to make cutting the plywood a straightforward process. You can make two stands: one for your home office, and the other for traveling.
7. Cardboard Laptop Stand
Prop up your laptop’s screen at a more ergonomic height with this thoughtful project. Now that you have a cardboard box lying around the house, you’ll only need a bakelite sheet and two square wooden sticks.
The assembly process is straightforward since you only need to measure, mark, and cut the required designs. You can use this stand on your bed or in your home office setup. A cardboard stand can last for long if you keep it away from drink spillages.
8. Curved Wood Laptop Stand
This is your chance to make something unique using limited tools. You’ll need materials such as plywood, jigsaw, boiled linseed oil, wood glue, masking tape, real wood veneer, and an orbital sander. The stand is a reliable choice for people with less working space, and it also ensures quick access to all ports.
Use a sharp knife when cutting the veneer sheet to achieve a clean cut. The boiled linseed oil adds a layer of protection.
You also can’t go wrong with some LED decorations on your wooden laptop stand. If this sounds interesting to you, there are plenty of LED DIY projects you can try.
9. Pallet Wood Laptop Stand
You can reclaim pallet wood lying around your nearest construction site, backyard, or local store by making this unique laptop stand. Pallet wood brings an eclectic style to your workspace. The portability and efficiency of this stand allow you to convert any space in your house into a workspace.
This project is fun and easy to complete provided you have a design in mind. You’ll need pallet wood, a set square, a pencil, different clamps, rubber mallet, a circular saw, a dowel kit, an orbital sander with grit, a paint brush, wood varnish, and wood glue.
10. Acrylic Laptop Stand
You’d be surprised at how an acrylic laptop stand will make your workspace more organized and presentable. Acrylic stands create a feeling of openness as they allow light to pass through. All you need for this project is a design for your laptop stand, exact measurements locked into an illustrator and a laser cutter to do the job.
It would be wise to create a prototype of your design in a smaller size and cut it first to rate how practical your design is. If the prototype comes out great, you can cut the grand laptop stand. Remember to keep the angle favorable to prevent neck strain.
An acrylic laptop stand can be a statement piece, but you won’t mind something more. Check out these easy-to-make DIY gadgets that’ll enhance your decor.
Challenge Yourself
Hopefully, the above projects will inspire you to make a laptop stand of your choice. Almost all the projects we’ve covered are beginner-friendly and need a few readily available resources. The stands can last for years when handled with care. Better yet, you can also customize them based on your individual tastes.
