To determine the best portable desk we considered the following factors: desk style, height, adjustable legs, and angle adjustments, portability, ease of use, and additional features. You’ll need to decide which desk style is best for you and if you want one where the angle or height can be adjusted. Think about whether you want a desk that can be folded and put away when not in use, or one that is portable but is fixed. Left-handed people may find some of the value-added accessories such as built-in mouse pads or wrist pads frustrating as most brands tend to default to positioning these features on the right side of the desk.
After considering all of the above, we selected the Seville Classics 23.6” Solid-Top Height Adjustable Mobile Laptop Desk Cart as our Top Pick. It’s an ideal option for someone who works from home or even for offices that need an additional desk for a meeting. We liked that it was the only portable desk with wheels and that you can adjust the height to make it more comfortable. Keep reading to learn more about the rest of our top picks.
Top 6 Best Portable Desk
#1 Seville Classics 23.6″ Solid-Top Height Adjustable Portable Desk
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: A truly portable desk that’s easily adjusted to create the right height for you and features castors for repositioning it wherever you need to set up shop.
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- Best portable desk
- Only desk on wheels
- 20.5 to 33” adjustable height
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- Doesn’t fold down
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If you’re thinking about a portable desk, nothing is more portable than something that’s on wheels. The Seville Classics 23.6” Solid-Top Height Adjustable Mobile Laptop Desk Cart is the perfect solution for someone who needs a small workspace that can easily be moved from one room to the next. We like that this is the only desk in our guide that features castors, two of which can be locked into place for added stability.
Related: Also check the best little desks.
You’ll also like that you can easily adjust the height from 20.5 inches to 33 inches thanks to the twist-lock knob on the back of the stand. Plus this model is available in three colors to best match your office or home office design. While it doesn’t come fully assembled, putting this portable desk together is fairly quick and easy to do. It could double as the best gaming desk.
#2 Kavalan Portable Laptop Desk Stand
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: A lightweight foldable tabletop style desk that can be used on soft surfaces like beds or sofas with built-in bumpers and wrist pads to keep your laptop or mouse in place while you work.
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- Best with bumpers
- Adjustable height and angle
- Foldable design for storage
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- Not ideal for left-handers
- Expensive
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A common complaint with basic laptop desks is that they don’t keep your laptop, tablet or mouse from sliding into your lap if you move. But the Kavalan Portable Laptop Desk Stand offers the perfect solution thanks to the built-in bumpers for your laptop and mouse. While it assumes that everyone keeps their mouse on the right side of their laptop, we do like that this model comes in three colors.
Related: Go over our list of the best autonomous standing desks.
You’ll also like that this large lap desk is designed with an adjustable slant from zero to 36 degrees, making this ideal for use on the couch or in a bed where you might be reclined. And the fact that you can easily adjust the height from 9.4 inches to 12.6 inches in five different positions is ideal. Plus the bumper for the mouse also serves as a wrist pad to help cut down on discomfort as you work. And we liked the fact that this can be folded flat, making it ideal for storing under your bed or couch when not in use. You can also compare this to the best standing desk.
#3 Mind Reader LTADJUST-BLK Adjustable Portable Desk
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: A simple cushioned lap desk with eight adjustable height ticks to create the perfect angle as you work, and an included carrying handle make this a truly portable solution.
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- An excellent lap desk
- Most adjustable positions
- Built-in handle
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- Not compatible with larger laptops
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If you’re looking for a truly portable solution for using your laptop, then the Mind Reader LTADJust-BLK Adjustable portable desk is the best laptop desk for couch use. We like that this model is compact and is a cushioned lap desk for added comfort against your legs. While this option is best for use with smaller laptops, we do like that you get eight height adjustment ticks to create the perfect angle while you work. Younger children might also like that this is a great lap desk for coloring.
The overstuffed cushion pads help to create a more comfortable working environment. And we like that the surface also includes a foldout bumper to help keep your laptop in place as you work. You’ll appreciate the built-in handle that makes this a truly travel-friendly solution. Plus this is our Best Budget pick, making it an easy option that’s affordable too. For added comfort, try the best standing desk mat.
#4 Readydesk Allstand Universal Laptop Standing Desk
Award: BEST ECO FRIENDLY
WHY WE LIKE IT: An environmentally-friendly yet easy to use Birch wooden lap desk with a minimalist design and seven adjustable positions makes this the perfect standing desk for the person who wants to reduce their carbon footprint.
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- Best standing desk converter
- 7 adjustable positions
- Sustainable birch wood design
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- Expensive
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If you’re focused on your health, you know that standing desks have been all the rage in the past few years. But you might also prefer a more minimalist design than some of the larger standing desk options on the market. While the Readydesk Allstand Universal Laptop Standing Desk isn’t a bamboo lap desk, we think it’s the perfect solution for someone that wants a sturdy standing or even a wooden lap desk that’s lightweight and easy to use.
You’ll appreciate that this desk is designed from sustainable birch wood and features a simple design that’s meant to be disassembled when not in use, but can be quickly erected when you need it. You’ll appreciate the five horizontal slots that allow you to adjust the height and the fact that the desk insert features a slot that can be used as a smartphone stand. You can also position the desk insert into the angled notches on the legs or the top of the stand to create a book stand. You can use this with the best standing desk chairs for great results.
#5 Executive Office Solutions Portable Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Desk
Award: LIGHTEST WEIGHT
WHY WE LIKE IT: A comprehensive adjustable lap desk with a mouse pad that’s made from lightweight aluminum, full 360-degree rotating legs, built-in USB powered CPU cooling fans, and a quick collapse design for the ultimate in portability.
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- Most portable
- Includes mouse pad tray
- 360-degree rotating legs
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- Not designed for left-handers
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It’s no secret that laptops get hot while you use them. And if you’re concerned about your hard drive overheating, the Executive Office Solutions Portable Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Desk is the portable desk you’ve always wanted — and that’s why we’re making it our Best Quality recommendation. We love that this desk comes with a host of essential accessories that are intuitive for mobile productivity, making it the best lap desk with a mouse pad.
First, this is the only portable desk in our guide that includes built-in CPU fans. This is important since we all know that a hot laptop can impede performance. You’ll also like that there’s an optional mouse pad that can be clipped onto the desk frame — although it’s only designed for use on the right side. The 360-degree rotating legs can be positioned into a range of angles and the height can be adjusted into a range of angles making it perfect for work at a standing desk. We also liked the fact that this could be quickly folded flat for easy storage or to take with you in a backpack or laptop bag. Sit in the best office chair and this desk will be great for work.
#6 REDCAMP Small 2’ Folding Table
Award: BEST TRAVEL DESK
WHY WE LIKE IT: A versatile desk with three height adjustments and slim fold-flat design makes this the best folding desk that can be used in a wide range of scenarios.
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- Fold flat & slim for easy storage
- Fast assembly
- Three height adjustments
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- Not ideal for heavy objects
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A compact design is an important feature in a portable desk. And that’s why we’re including the Redcamp Small Two Foot Folding Table. This is the best folding desk because it can be folded flat to just three inches thick. To us, this also means that it’s ideal for more than just holding your laptop. So, while it’s not a traditional laptop desk, we do like that this is the perfect option for an impromptu party in the backyard or for camping, where portability is important.
When fully assembled, this desk measures 24 inches wide and 16 inches deep but folds down to 16 by 12 by three inches. This lightweight table can be adjusted into three different heights up to two feet tall using the adjustable feet. Setup and breakdown are easy too, helping to add to the travel-friendly nature of this portable desk. Park the best paper shredders beside it and get some quality work completed.
How We Decided
Portable desks are a great accessory that can improve your productivity around the house, especially if you’re working from home. But there are a lot of options on the market, and picking the right one can be overwhelming. To make our recommendations, we prioritized the following features — desk style, height and angle adjustments, portability, ease of use, and additional features.
In our guide, you’ll see a range of portable desk styles. The most common include portable lap desks, laptop standing desks, and even rolling desks, our Top Pick is the only option in our guide that comes with wheels. Except for our Best Budget, the remainder are all variations of standing desks — some with the ability to also double as lap desks based on their design (such as our Honorable Mention and #4 choices).
For the height and angle adjustments, (and to optimize your work surface) you’ll want to consider how high you would like to reposition a desk and what angles are most comfortable. Some models feature both height and angle adjustments such as the Honorable Mention, #4, and Best Quality. In contrast, some options like our Top Pick and #6 choices don’t support angle adjustment. And our Best Budget — being a true lap desk — can only provide angle adjustments.
Portability is an important feature, especially if you’re hoping to take a portable desk with you to the office or while you travel. Our Top Pick is the only option that isn’t truly portable because it can’t be folded down. The remainder are all designed to be folded down, which is ideal if you want to store them out of sight in your home or take them on the road with you.
Ease of use might seem like an odd option considering that portable desks are fairly straightforward products. But if you’re left-handed, you know the world isn’t always made for you. One issue we noted with portable tables that featured mouse pads, cup holders or wrist pads (our Honorable Mention and Best Quality) is that they defaulted to right-side placement. For left-handed people that prefer to use their mouse with their left hands, this is a problem. The best lap desks are those that ideally cater to every user, left or right-handed. However, if you’re right-handed, or are a lefty who’s learned to adjust to life in a right-handed world, these features would be welcome, making them great value-added accessories.
Best Portable Desk Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Factors to Consider
- Style
Portable desks come in a range of styles. This category can include lap desks, standing desks, and folding desks. A lap desk is designed to be used while you’re sitting on a bed or couch. A standing desk is ideal if you already have a traditional desk, but want to incorporate standing into your routine for improved health. And a folding desk can be perfect for those who occasionally need a desk, but also are short on space and need to store it away when not in use. - Size
One of the biggest benefits of a portable desk is the fact that you can easily move it around. Whether it’s foldable or just lightweight, you’ll want to check the dimensions on your intended desk and ensure that it will fit wherever you plan on placing it. Also, consider the height. Especially if you’re planning on using this desk while seated on a couch (which is usually a lower seat than a traditional desk or office chair), make sure that you can still comfortably use the desk without putting unnecessary strain on your back or arms. - Portability
Likewise, you’ll want to make sure that your portable desk is one that’s easy to move or assemble. If it’s designed to fold down for easy storage, make sure that you don’t have to struggle to reassemble it. Or if it’s a desk that’s meant to be slid from one place to another, ensure that the feet won’t leave marks on your floors. - Ease of Use
In theory, a desk should be a no-brainer that’s easy to use. But if you’re left-handed, you know that the world is not designed with your unique capabilities in mind. So, you’ll want to look for a desk that offers a decent amount of space around your laptop — or one that doesn’t automatically assume that all people use their computer mouse on the right side of their computer. - Additional Features
While not having these things isn’t a deal-breaker, some people may benefit from portable desks that offer value-added features such as cup holders, pre-drilled holes to contain cords or cables, or bumpers to keep your laptop from slipping down if you opt for a lap desk.
