5 Best Lap Desks That Make Working From Home Extra Comfortable
Work from home (ahem, couch) like a pro with our top-tested lap desks.
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Lap desks make it more comfortable to work — or game, write, draw or just watch shows — from your couch or bed, all while still enjoying the benefits of what a desk can provide. Some provide enough room to use a mouse or offer storage for your phone, tablet or pen. And because laptops heat up over time, lap desks are also a great protective barrier for your legs.
The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute have been testing home office equipment for years. Our tech experts have evaluated laptop stands, standing desks and even smart notebooks. With hundreds of hours of research and Lab testing, we can determine the best office equipment for a variety of needs. After testing 10 popular lap desks, these are the ones we think are worth your money.
Pros
- Built-in mousepad
- Multiple color options
Cons
- Phone slot isn't ideal for bigger phones
The Home Office Pro Lap Desk from Lap Gear can easily accommodate a 13-inch laptop with some room to spare. We like that it includes a mouse pad, wrist pad and a phone holder for ergonomic comfort (though we did note that the phone slot is shallow, so your phone can slip out if you move too much).
It sat comfortably in our tester's lap, thanks to two pads on the bottom. He enjoyed this design more than a full pillow bottom because his legs weren't completely covered, and it gave him space to move around.
It comes in eight different color variations so you can match your aesthetic. A built-in handle allows you to easily carry the desk wherever you want to work. The brand also offers a version without a wrist pad for a slightly lower price.
| Dimensions | 14.1" x 21.1" x 2.6" |
|---|---|
| Features | Built-in mousepad, wrist pad, phone holder |
| Laptop size | Up to 15.6" |
Pros
- Great price for the quality
- Ledge helps to hold laptops or books in place; elastic band hold papers
Cons
- Inconvenient phone slot location
Lap Gear's Designer Lap Desk is not only chic, it's also very comfortable and affordable. The bottom is a full pillow, and some of our testers preferred this soft design. The pillow has microbead filling, so it’s easy to fluff and make more comfortable in certain areas of your lap if necessary.
The desk itself has multiple features to make it more functional: There’s a ledge for your laptop or book to rest against, an elastic band to hold papers in place and a slot for a phone or small tablet.
Our 13-inch laptop fit perfectly; the brand claims the desk works for up to a 15-inch laptop, and we did note extra space. Unfortunately, there is not enough room for a mouse.
The pillow includes a handle, and the whole thing weighs only about 2 pounds, so you can carry it around quite easily. One takeaway if you plan to use the desk for computer work rather than writing or reading: Your phone will be hidden behind the laptop, so it makes it a bit harder to access.
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| Dimensions | 13.75" x 17.75" x 2.75" |
|---|---|
| Features | Phone holder, computer/book ledge, elastic band to hold papers |
| Laptop size | Up to 15.6" |
Rossie Home Lap Desk with Detachable Cushion
Pros
- Fully washable detachable pillow
- Can also be used as a food tray
Cons
- Not built like a traditional lap desk, so may not be as comfortable to work from as it is to eat from
Our experts love that this pick is not a typical lap desk: The pillow is detachable, so you can use the lap desk with the soft cushion for working or remove it to convert the surface to a breakfast tray. While it does look like a breakfast tray more than it does a lap desk, it's open on one side to allow easier access for working.
The pillow is comfortable thanks to its microbead filling, which allows you to adjust parts of the pillow to make it more comfortable on your lap, and its detachability means it's easier to clean. The overall size was perfect for our 13-inch laptop, and the brand claims it can fit up to a 15-inch model.
Our tester found it was heavier than other lap desks they had used, but reported that not uncomfortable thanks to the handles on either side. They also liked that the dual handles mean you can carry the lap desk with things on it, unlike a typical lap desk with just one handle.
| Dimensions | 13.5" x 17.5" x 4.1" |
|---|---|
| Features | Detachable pillow, two handles |
| Laptop size | Up to 15.6" |
Rossie Home Premium Real Acacia Wood Lap Desk
Pros
- Spacious work surface
- Wrist support for typing and corner strap for holding papers
Cons
- Slightly heavier than normal lap desks
Looking for a real wood desk instead of plastic? Try this acacia desk from Rossie Home. We weighed it against the same style made from plastic, and it is two pounds heavier. That might not seem like a lot, but it can add up when sitting in your lap for a long period of time. The surface is quite spacious, with a width of around 21 inches. It fit our 13-inch test laptop just fine, with space for a larger laptop if needed.
The built-in mousepad makes it easier to work, and the corner strap allows you to hold any loose papers or notes. There's also a built-in phone slot and a wrist support, which we found comfortable for typing.
The desk itself comes in three different color variations: Natural Acacia, Ash and Java. The pillow includes a handle that makes it easy to transport the desk.
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| Dimensions | 21.1" x 14" x 2.6" |
|---|---|
| Features | Built-in mousepad, wrist pad, phone slot, elastic corner strap to hold papers |
| Laptop size | Up to 15.6" |
Pros
- Can fit a larger laptop than most other lap desks
- Ventilated to keep your laptop cool
Cons
- Large size makes it hard to store when not in use
This lap desk is heavy duty. The desk surface sits above your legs, and the whole thing lays across two couch armrests (hence the name Couchmaster!). We haven't yet tested it, but we like the thoughtful features for gaming: It states that it can fit a 17-inch laptop, and it has built-in vents to help keep your laptop cool through long gaming sessions.
It also includes a mousepad, so you don’t have to use the laptop's trackpad to game. The tablet/phone holder above the mousepad is handy as well.
This lap desk comes with several side pockets, allowing you to place remotes, controllers and other gaming accessories. We like that the desk itself is adjustable, so you can place it closer or farther along the cushions to find the most comfort.
The size of this lap desk does make it more complicated to store out of the way. And the brand states that it weighs around 10 pounds, which is significantly higher than most lap desks, which tend to be around two to three pounds.
| Dimensions | 30" x 13" x 6" |
|---|---|
| Features | Side cushions, vented surface, side pockets, mousepad, wrist pads, phone/tablet holder |
| Laptop size | Up to 17" |
Is it worth it to buy a lap desk?
Not everyone wants to sit at a desk all day. Maybe you work better on your couch with a little background noise (hint: your TV), or maybe you just love spending time in your bed. A lap desk allows you to do work in these spots, without needing a proper desk to sit at.
Some lap desks can can elevate and angle your laptop, so that you’re not leaning forward to look at your laptop while it is on your lap. Your laptop also needs proper airflow to prevent it from getting too hot (a common occurrence when you just use your laptop in just your lap).
While we mainly talk about using these lap desks while working, they're also great for browsing the web while watching TV, or even gaming with friends. These desks could even just be used as a proper desk without a laptop, say if you are an artist or just love taking notes by hand.
Are lap desks better than normal desks?
Lap desks aren’t better or worse than normal desks. Their value depends on the type of worker you are. If you work with multiple monitors or prefer an ergonomic chair for comfort, you’ll likely want to sit at a proper desk. If you need or prefer to work from multiple locations or like the more hands-on positioning of lap work, you may want to try a lap desk.
What should you consider before buying a lap desk?
✔️ Size: If you plan to use the lap desk with a laptop, you should make sure that the computer will fit. If you plan to use it for writing or drawing, make sure that your hand can rest comfortably on the desk. Note that larger lap desks can be heavier and may be harder to store when not in use.
✔️ Comfort: If you don’t enjoy working from your lap, consider a model that has legs. These versions sit above your lap, not on it. If you don’t mind working with something in your lap, look for a cushioned pick. Lap desks that have pillows or bolsters on the bottom provide a soft feeling and can conform to your legs while you work. And because cushioned models sit directly on your lap, you can not only use them on a couch or a bed but also in a narrow chair.
✔️ Extra features: Some lap desks are simply a work surface, while others have electronic ports and chargers, drawers, even adjustable sections to make it easier for you to type and use your computer while working. We also appreciate ergonomic features like wrist pads, mouse pads and phone holders that make working for a long period more comfortable.
How we test lap desks
After researching countless lap desks, we settled on 10 popular models to evaluate in our Media and Tech Lab. We used them throughout the workday, noting any discomfort in our laps. We factored in the weight and any convenient features.
We used a 13-inch laptop as a baseline, and we employed a mouse where possible. We also considered retail reviews and discussions on online forums.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Alec Scherma is the resident test engineer for the Good Housekeeping Institute. He has tested everything from smart speakers to portable air conditioners. As an avid laptop user for work (and for fun), he’s used many lap desks and done hours of research. He holds a B.A. in mechanical engineering from Drexel University.
Alec Scherma (he/him) is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s test engineer, where he helps to create and implement new product testing methodology across home, cooking and cleaning appliances, wellness, tech products and more. He graduated from Drexel University’s College of Engineering with a B.A. in mechanical engineering.
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