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Best laptop tray & best laptop table for chair, couch, and bed 2024

The best laptop tray options & laptop table for bed, couch, and foldable laptop table models

Updated: Jan 2, 2024 9:21 pm
best laptop table laptop tray

If you’re looking for the best laptop table for couch / sofa sitting, or the best laptop table for bed use whilst working, gaming, or watching movies or a foldable laptop table for more flexible, portable support, we’ve picked a shortlist of all the above for you to look at. Each of the selections below represent the best of their specific niche at this moment in time, and depending on what it is you’re looking for, any of them would be great choices.

Laptop table & laptop tray vs laptop stand

There’s no hard and fast rule for what constitutes a laptop table, tray, or stand: the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, however, for the purpose of this guide we will be focusing on the larger self-supporting products, ones that do not require being placed on a desk (we’d tend to term these ‘laptop stands’), but provide their own stable platform whether you’re sat on a chair, sofa, or bed. Typically (though not always) laptop tables will stand on ‘legs’, and typically (though not always) there will be space beneath them for you to put your own, human legs, particularly those designated as laptop trays (think a breakfast in bed setup).

Read the Things to consider when buying a laptop table or laptop tray section below for more information.

Our Top Picks

01
Best in Class
A wooden foldable laptop table for bed or sofa use, with an inbuilt cooling fan
Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk
Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk
02
Another wooden foldable laptop table for bed or couch support, with slots for tablet, phone, and in-built mouse pad
Sofia Sam Multi Tasking Laptop Bed Tray
Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Laptop Bed Tray
03
A height adjustable laptop table for couch, bed, chair, or standing
MagicHold Floor Stand for laptop
MagicHold Floor Stand for Laptop

Things to consider when buying a laptop tray or laptop table for bed, couch, or chair use

Is a laptop table useful?

Laptop tables are useful for those who wish to use their laptop in bed or on the sofa more effectively, without causing a heat build-up from resting it on their legs / on a duvet (leading to potential discomfort, louder fan noise, and reduced performance efficiency of the laptop), and to provide a more stable working surface. Laptop tables are also useful for those who wish to work with their laptop sat down on a chair but do not have the space for a full-sized desk.

If you already have a full-sized desk that you can comfortably work at with your laptop then a separate laptop table is likely not for you, and you’d be better off looking for a laptop stand if you wish to improve your ergonomic experience a bit and/or reduce the temperature of your device. Alternatively, have a look at some laptop cooling pads to see if any meet your needs.

Do laptops overheat on tables?

As hinted at above, placing your laptop on a hard surface like a table is far better to prevent overheating than on a soft, fabric surface, like a bed cover or piece of upholstered furniture. This is because a hard even surface will not block the exhaust ports like fabric material will, and some space (however small) will usually be left under the laptop for airflow to occur. Additionally, fabric material will have a much greater insulating effect, and if you have the laptop resting on top of your actual lap, the heat of your body will boost its temperatures dramatically higher. A stand to increase airflow space further or a laptop cooling pad, will further improve heat dissipation, though some laptop tables also come with ventilation gaps to improve this also.

The Best laptop table & laptop tray 2023

01
Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk
Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk
02
Sofia Sam Multi Tasking Laptop Bed Tray
Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Laptop Bed Tray
03
MagicHold Floor Stand for laptop
MagicHold Floor Stand for Laptop
04
HUANUO Adjustable laptop stand
HUANUO Adjustable Laptop Stand

In-depth Review

Best in Class
01
A wooden foldable laptop table for bed or sofa use, with an inbuilt cooling fan
Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk
Nnewvante Adjustable Laptop Desk
Laptop size compatibility can take 12” - 15” laptops
Size 21.5” x 13.8” x 14.1”
Weight 6lb / 2.65kg
PROS
  • built-in fan cooling
  • fan is reasonably quiet
  • slide out draw
  • looks nice
CONS
  • insufficient finger protection on fan
  • some users report splinters
  • not suitable for left-handed people

The Nnewvante Adjustable is a wooden laptop table/tray suitable for use in bed, or sat on a sofa or larger chair. You can place the table on a desk as well if you prefer, though the lowest hieght settings on the legs will still make it too tall for most users, unless you’re using it from a standing position. The lift-up laptop rest is placed slightly to the left, to the right of which is the flat area where you plae your mouse, meaning this product is only really for right-handers.

The table comes with its own built-in cooling fan which blows air onto the underside of the laptop, where the intake vents are typically located. The fan is powered by a USB cable that you can connect into your laptop, and is reasonably quiet when in use. There is also a small slide-out draw on the right side of the table which is good for storing cables and the like.

The laptop table is made almost entirely from bamboo and looks great, though some users have reported the odd splinter on their models, so be aware of this and maybe consider giving such areas a quick sand down with some sandpaper before you use it (not ideal, but easily done). The table comes with removable plastic orange grips for each of the legs to minimize slipping on harder surfaces, though these are easy to take off if you don’t like the look of them.

Although the fan covering looks quite nice, it doesn’t sufficiently block small objects like fingers from getting through the gaps and causing contact with the fans. At the end of the day, this is a plastic fan that won’t cause much damage if you do happen to accidentally put your finger in there, but for those with small children it might not be the best choice.

If you can get over these minor drawbacks, this is a great self-cooling wooden laptop table.

02
Another wooden foldable laptop table for bed or couch support, with slots for tablet, phone, and in-built mouse pad
Sofia + Sam Multi Tasking Laptop Bed Tray
Sofia Sam Multi Tasking Laptop Bed Tray
Laptop size compatibility can take 12” - 15” laptops
Size 21.5” x 13.75” x 9.25”
Weight 6lb / 2.72kg
PROS
  • standup slots for tablet & phone
  • built-in mouse mat
  • looks good
CONS
  • no gaps beneath laptop for ventilation
  • not suitable for left-handed people

This laptop tray table from Sofia + Sam is another product best suited for those looking to work or play when sat on the sofa or in bed. It has fold-out legs and is again composed of bamboo wood, though this time comes with two color options: either the plain bamboo or a dark ‘Espresso’ color. There aren’t the same reports of splinters with this particular laptop table as there are with our other bamboo constructed pick here either.
In addition to the usual angle-able main support section for your laptop, the key selling point of this table is the inclusion of a slot towards the back which can hold an ipad or other tablet device, standing up facing the user. This means you can put a keyboard or pen and paper in front of the tablet whilst it’s angled to face you, and use it in a similar fashion to a laptop. By the same token, on the right there is another slot for a smartphone, making this a great option for those that want to easily see both devices simultaneously whilst working.

On the right-hand side you also get a built-in mouse mat of an acceptable standard, which is a nice feature for those tired of their separate mat slipping off the surface or hanging over the edge. A small draw again features on the right, which could be used to store pencils, small cables and the like (be advised, it is pretty small). Unfortunately, the arrangement of the table does only make it really suitable for right-handed people.

The main trade-off with this laptop table is the lack of active or passive cooling for the laptop itself. Even without a cooling fan we would have liked to have seen some ventilation slots at least on the main laptop support area, and the lack of these will cause your laptop to heat up under stress more than some of the better-cooled alternatives on this page.

03
A height adjustable laptop table for couch, bed, chair, or standing
MagicHold Floor Stand for Laptop
MagicHold Floor Stand for laptop
Laptop size compatibility can take 12” - 15” laptops
Size 11.8"-35.4" x 12” x 3”
Weight 9lb / 4.08kg
PROS
  • can be used for sitting or standing
  • good build quality
  • ambidextrous
CONS
  • no gaps beneath laptop for ventilation
  • stability for typing is lacking
  • tricky to assemble

The MagicHold Floor Stand offers an option for those looking for something they can use as a bedside laptop table, when they’re sat down on a chair, or when standing up. Although the surface area of the table section is itself small, it comes with a separate clip on mouse platform that can be used with a mousepad. The stand is unobtrusive enough that a user could sit with their legs on either side of it to type on, with the long base supports beneath the furniture they’re sat on.

In terms of stability when typing, a tall floor stand like this won’t match the more conventional table designs with lower centres of gravity, so you will experience a bit of wobble, though it is manageable and some may find it an acceptable trade-off, particularly if using a separate keyboard resting on their lap or the like.

Be advised this also isn’t the most easy to assemble laptop table out there, and many users have complained about the unclear instructions that it comes with, but once it’s been put together you get a solid product. The build quality of this product is good, the aluminimum base is sturdy and the arm doesn’t slide down the main pole once tightened sufficiently, unlike other brands out there.

04
A cheap foldable laptop table with inbuilt cooling fans
HUANUO Adjustable Laptop Stand
HUANUO Adjustable laptop stand
Laptop size compatibility can take 12” - 15” laptops
Size 17.56” x 11.69” x 2.91”
Weight 4.95lb / 2.25kg
PROS
  • fan cooling for a cheap price
  • good adjustability for a cheap price
  • ambidextrous
CONS
  • some consumers report poor build quality

You will struggle to find a cheaper laptop table with fan cooling than the HUANUO Adjustable. The dual fans aren’t as good as the Nnewvante Adjustable in terms of sound and power, though they’re far from loud either, and will make a noticeable difference to your laptop’s temperature. The fans are powered by a USB connector which you can plug into your laptop.

The second biggest advantage of this product is the adjustability, this foldable laptop table can go from fully flat and compact to a more stable ‘four legged’ arrangement for sofa/chair/bed use, to a taller positioning to place it at eye level when working at a desk, or finally a standing position whilst placed on a desk.

Although the surface area of the table section is fairly small, you get a detachable mouse rest that can be clipped on either side, making this laptop table suitable for either righties or lefties.

Although most users have not reported this issue, there is a significant minority of customers who complain about the lack of build quality in the legs, with some reporting breakages on the joints in particular. However, this must be weighed up against the cheap price of this laptop table and the features you do get with it for the price. Ultimately an adjustable laptop table with built-in cooling fans for this amount of money is still a bargain.

Best laptop table & laptop tray 2023 frequently asked questions

Is a wooden table good for a laptop?

Wooden tables are absolutely fine to use as support for your laptop. Although they obviously tend to be heavier than your typical plastic laptop table, some people value the durability and more natural/rustic aesthetic. A word of caution though, if you were just planning on working with your laptop on top of the fancy family dining table, be aware that the heat expelled from the machine may cause any varnish or paintwork to warp over time.

Do laptops overheat on tables?

Plastic tables are often ideal for using to support your laptop, as long as they are not too flimsy, and have the added bonus of being light. The heat from your laptop will not be sufficiently high to melt the plastic, so you don’t need to worry about that, but as with any table if there is a painted design / varnished finish, this may be warped over time by the heat.

Final Word

This has been our best laptop table & laptop tray 2024 buyer’s guide. We hope it has helped you reach a decision about which, if any, laptop table is right for you. Do be sure to check out our other laptop and gaming laptop pages in the mega menu above.

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