Laptop on pillow on lap

We’ve written about this before as a particularly good option for those specifically looking for a laptop table, but it’s technically a lap desk — and one that’s extremely popular among Amazon reviewers, with more than 25,000 of them giving it five stars. The built-in mouse pad is a hit with reviewers, as is the phone-holder. “The cell-phone holder was perfect for when I’m having a conference call and doing work at the same time,” says one reviewer, who loves that she no longer has to struggle to hold both her phone and laptop at once. And for the number of features it has, it’s not too cumbersome and can still fit a 15-inch laptop. “This lap desk is great all around, from size and weight to comfort,” another reviewer says. “The desk is extremely comfortable with the generous double-bolster system it uses for cushioning, yet it feels lightweight [but not flimsy] when it’s on your lap.”

Mind Reader Adjustable Lap Desk

“This is one of the best purchases [on or off Amazon] that I’ve made in recent memory — especially for the price,” says one reviewer who uses the lap desk for writing by hand and illustrating. “This has solved most of the terrible pains caused from hunching over my work,” they say, also noting that the work surface of the desk can be raised to the angle of your choice. Other reviewers praised the adjustability of the desk, too. “I really like the adjustable angle because I can change it if the sun is shining on the screen of my iPad, and it removes the screen from that glare,” says one. “I use this for eating breakfast or lunch, reading books, looking at paper maps, and using my iPad or cellphone.” All in all, shoppers found this desk to be great quality for the price. “I spend a lot of time in my recliner because of a back problem and this works better than other options I’ve tried for half the price,” says one. “Was surprised but the quality given the price tag.” Another writes, “Light weight, perfectly made to work. Seems inexpensive but it’s a winner!”

Nearly 80 percent of reviewers gave this cushioned lap desk five-star reviews, with many praising its smooth surface, minimalist design, and larger-than-average size. One reviewer, who uses this desk for reading, using her iPad, and taking notes, says, “Recently, my husband asked to borrow my little laptop desk, and I don’t think I will ever get it back again, because it is certainly big enough to support both his laptop AND the external mouse, AND a notepad! … I might have to ask Santa Claus for another one come next Christmas.” Shoppers cited the smooth and glossy surface as another reason to love the desk, which still offers enough traction on the bottom to keep laptops in place. “My laptop has rubber feet and doesn’t budge while on this lap desk even when the lap desk is tilted at a 45 degree angle,” says one. And while other lap desks might have more bells and whistles, the simplicity of this desk was appealing to reviewers. “The simplicity of this is what makes it perfect,” says one. “No gimmicky curves or patterns or textures that make a lot of lap desks annoying. With its HUGE surface area, it’s not only just for laptop use, you can easily write your resignation letter to your job on it to let them know you’re starting a home business and never leaving your bed because of this lap desk and it’s awesomeness.”

This lap desk has a lot of features — slide-out drawers, a tilting desk, foldable legs, and a bar to keep your mouse and laptop on the table when it’s tilted — but the most exciting aspect for customers is the adjustable legs, which have five height settings. Although many lap desks on this list have adjustable legs, these are by far the most customizable. “I can’t say enough positive things about this product,” says one reviewer, who has owned many lap desks in the past but calls them “too small” and “poorly built to handle the weight of books and laptops.” This lap desk is a refreshing change: “This is one well-thought-out product,” he says, especially because it’s “easy to adjust the top and legs for tons of comfortable positions.” It’s also very large, but that’s another perk. One customer even wishes it were larger. “I would have paid more for a bigger version,” he says. But since that doesn’t exist, he thinks these trays “are GREAT, seriously. They are light, easy to manage, and really make it easy to work.”

Huanuo Lap Laptop Desk

Dozens of five-star reviews call out this Huanuo lap desk’s wrist rest, including one who uses it for hours at a time. “The wrist pad definitely makes typing on my laptop way more comfortable while seated in a chair or curled up on the couch,” they write. Another reviewer says this lap desk is “perfect for online school” since it also “helps keep [their] MacBook cool,” and has storage pockets and a nook at the top for pens. They note that the “wrist rests REALLY are a game changer” because on top of being comfortable, it keeps their MacBook from sliding down, too. And a reviewer with carpal tunnel says this lap desk has “greatly eased the pressure on [their] wrists,” adding that it “travels well from room to room and is lightweight and comfortable.”

Many people with a smaller computer — or those who work on an iPad — prefer this smaller lap desk to the best-rated LapGear option. And despite its smaller size, it still has a phone holder. “It’s just the right size,” says one customer. “The slots in the top are great for my phone and other small items.” He owned a larger one before, but it was “too wide” and not functional. Some reviewers note that if you have a very large computer, you won’t be able to use the phone holder in the back, but most customers who bought this seem to own something smaller anyway. And as another customer notes, it “has a little bumper at the bottom that holds a notebook and laptop tightly.” Plus, “the bottom of the lap desk is a velvet cushion that maintains its shape very well.”

Huanuo Adjustable Lap Desk

Shoppers with iPads tended to give this lap desk five-star reviews. “This is a great way to read or play on your iPad while watching TV,” says one reviewer, who also notes that the desk is “not too bulky.” Another shopper says, “I bought this for my mother-in-law who had a stroke. She loves to do word games on her iPad and was having difficulty supporting it with a pillow in her lap. She uses it all the time and the fact that you can very the angles is very helpful.” Other reviewers praised the desk for being lightweight while still providing storage — one writes, “It is extremely lightweight … I love everything about this lap desk and highly recommend it.”

LapGear Bamboo Lap Desk

Reviewers with 17-inch computers particularly liked this lap desk. “I love this lap desk. I’m using it with a gaming laptop that is rather large [17-inch MSI Gaming Laptop] and it is great,” writes one. Another says, “The quality and appearance of this lap desk are beyond improvement. I can’t say enough great things about this. I have an older larger laptop with a 17-inch screen. I originally thought it might not fit on it. I was totally wrong, it had plenty of space for my laptop and even more room to move it around.” It was a good oversized option for those not computing, too: “It works great for journaling or drawing,” one shopper says. “Really glad I bought it.” Another writes, “I was looking for an extra large work surface and a comfortable under pad. This lap desk is perfect for my needs holding my notebook and an open book at the same time. Highly recommend.”

Rossie Home Acacia Wood Lap Desk

Reviewers love that this lap desk has a large interior compartment to store the supplies they like to keep handy. “I can easily store a book, journal, pens, and letter writing supplies,” writes one reviewer. They continue, “I love that my go-to items are right there, easily organized and stored in one place … the wood is gorgeous and the finish is silky smooth to the touch.” Another reviewer placed a “book on top and some journals and extra supplies inside” the lap desk and, even with this extra weight, found that “the cushion on the bottom [of the desk] makes it comfortable to have in your lap.” This model opens on a hinge like the type of desk you may have had in grade school. But unlike that desk, the Rossie Home lap desk won’t spill out if tipped over. As another reviewer says, “The magnets [holding the desk shut] are strong, so even if I knock the lap desk over, it does not open. I love that I can use it for storage for easy file keeping. It’s very solid, sturdy, and well-built.” A third reviewer who is a huge fan of the craftsmanship of this model concludes, “The construction, functionality, and aesthetic of this far exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend.”

Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk

This Nnewvante lap desk has a slatted top and built-in fan [which plugs into the USB port on your computer] to minimize overheating. One reviewer says, “The little fan is great. I actually had to check to see if it was running once I plugged it into the laptop, it’s that quiet.” They also write that the construction of the desk appears solid. “It looks fantastic. I’m a huge fan of bamboo.” Another reviewer appreciated that this 22-inch-wide lap desk required “no assembly at all” and proved to be “nice solid construction.” And a third says the desk has “a little drawer on the right side of the desk, which is perfect for smaller things.” They sum up this model as “useful, simple, efficient, environment-friendly, and beautifully crafted.”