11+ Best 3D Printed Laptop Stands (& Download Links)
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Anyone who’s worked with a computer for long enough will tell you that back problems are just part of the job, but that doesn’t have to be the case. By 3D printing a laptop stand for use during work or play, you may be able to decrease the physical strain on your body.
Like standing desks and swivel chairs, laptop stands are a simple way to reduce physical strain while working with little effort. And an affordable and easy way to keep your posture right is by creating your own 3D printed laptop stand.
These stands are often adjustable, and because they’re designed to be both lightweight and sturdy, they’re an ideal accessory to 3D print.
In this article, we’re going to look at why 3D printed laptop stands are a good idea, as well as some of the best, coolest, and most practical STL files foweight stands online. Just keep in mind that many of these stands will need extra parts like screws to assemble, so be sure you follow each design’s included instructions.
Mini Portable Laptop Stand
- Download: CGTrader
- Designer: siddhantverlekar
- Price: $3.00
Laptops are designed to be easy to carry around, so it only makes sense that you’d want a portable laptop stand too.
If you do make use of your laptop’s portability, then you’ll find the mini portable laptop stand to be the perfect choice for you.
The stands are simple and small, and – as the name implies – foldable for easy storage in any laptop case or even in your pocket.
The one-size-fits-all design makes these stands compatible with any laptop from 11 to 17 inches, which includes most notebooks, Macbooks, HP and Dell laptops, and many other common brands of light PC. They can also be adjusted in your preferred modeling software to be bigger or smaller depending on your hardware.
However, the small size of these stands does mean that they’re mainly designed to increase cooling fan efficiency rather than help with comfortable sitting. This means that they may not be suitable for you if you need a 3D printed laptop stand to help with your back pain or posture.
Universal Laptop Stand
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: MynhardtSaayman
- Price: Free
This design for a universal laptop stand is adjustable, portable, and one of the most straightforward 3D printed stands on this list. It doesn’t require supports or rafts, making it a simple project anyone can print with no problem.
Its a lightweight, portable laptop stand that’s easy to assemble and fold on the go, though it does mean that heavier devices could break it. If you have a small laptop or tablet that you want kept aloft without much fuss, then this is the stand for you.
Because its adjustable, it’s easy to change your device’s angle to suit your own height without needing to adjust your chair or desk, making it a useful design for those of you with awkwardly spaced workstations or multiple devices that you need to switch out or even use in tandem.
Docking Laptop Stand
- Download: Reddit
- Designer: DepositionDesigners
- Price: Free
One of the main issues many people have with laptop stands is that they make using small USB devices like external hard drives awkward to use. The short connecting cables often dangle, which can damage them over time.
This docking laptop stand includes a small built-in shelf for your smaller USB devices, which both supports them while in use and keeps them out of the way.
The height of the legs also helps you sit comfortably while using it, making it ideal for long-haul workers. There are also three different sizes uploaded as separate files so you probably won’t even need to adjust them in your slicer. Simply measure your laptop and use the version that’s right for you.
The lips at the front of the stands are technically optional parts, but I personally recommend going for them. I’ve had more than my fair share of near-misses with insecure laptop stands and can tell you that these lips can be a much needed lifesaver.
Puzzle Together Laptop Stand
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: soyamonger
- Price: Free
3D printed laptop stands don’t have to be boring, as this design proves.
It’s designed to be printed in three separate pieces and slotted together like a jigsaw puzzle without the need for additional parts like screws, meaning you can 3D print this easily portable laptop stand in up to three colors to represent your company or home country, or just add a bit of color to your workspace.
You can even engrave it with images or symbols to make it a fusion of a cool laptop stand and a real jigsaw puzzle.
The puzzle stand can also be added to for larger laptops simply by printing each piece without having to alter the size. This makes it easier for those of you with bigger hardware or multiple laptops of different sizes.
If you decide to go for the puzzle stand, then be sure to print the pieces on their left side as recommended by the designer. This reduces the need for supports and makes it a far easier and more efficient print.
Floating Laptop Stand
- Download: Printables
- Designer: BillTech
- Price: Free
Naturally, putting a heavy laptop on a flimsy stand is dangerous for both you and your laptop. So since we’ve discussed changing pieces or printing more for larger hardware, it only makes sense to talk about this floating laptop stand, designed to be sturdy and useful for bigger, heavier devices.
Designed primarily for the HP ZBook 15 G3 (which weighs almost 6 lbs), the floating laptop stand is great for monster machines that would cause more lightweight, weaker 3D printed laptop stands to buckle or break, which risks damaging your laptop or even hurting you.
This 3D printed laptop stand is designed for portability even while in use, as it comes with handy finger holes to easily lift and move your laptop should you need to.
Your laptop also slides smoothly into the makeshift clamps to hold it in place without having to deal with annoying lips that, while very useful, can be awkward to work around without hurting your wrists.
The floating laptop stand was made in OpenSCAD design software, making any height or shape edits simple if you already use it. Though changing the fit to suit your own device should be easy enough in just about any software, just be sure to measure your PC first.
Gaming Laptop Stand
- Download: Reddit
- Designer: Product_Superb
- Price: Free
One of the biggest worries for laptop gamers is overheating, and so laptop stands are practically essential for those of you with demanding games that can push even powerful laptops to their limits and raise the temperature beyond what they can handle.
This is especially true for streamers who need their laptops to support strong internet connections as well as their streaming software, which are often quite heavy on devices even without taking to account graphically demanding videogames.
While most laptop stands are good for increasing cooling fan efficiency, this design for a gamer-specific laptop stand is made to include an added fan for added reliability if needed.
This fan blows cold air back into the laptop, increasing the cooling efficiency and improving performance while keeping you and your laptop safe even through the most hardcore of sessions.
If you’re a laptop gamer, streamer, or just someone who often uses programs that can push laptops hard and raise temperatures to alarming levels, then this design is definitely worth a look.
Adjustable Ergonomic 3D Printed Laptop Stand
- Download: Cults3D
- Designer: SEM3DPRINT
- Price: $2.06
Working from home is more common than ever these days, with remote work becoming a mainstay for a lot of people who either can’t or don’t want to find a job locally or move to their company’s main office elsewhere.
I myself work from home and am writing this from my home office, so I get the feeling. Because of this, I’m very happy that my monitor is as height adjustable as it is so I can sit comfortably and not have to worry so much about the kind of shoulder and back pain common in desk jobs.
This adjustable ergonomic laptop stand was designed with people like me in mind, and if what I’ve described above spoke to you, then it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s highly adjustable for use by just about anyone of any height and any type of desk.
Keeping your laptop at eye level is the simplest way to keep your back straight, and this design makes it easier than ever regardless of your chair height relative to your desk.
Not only is this ergonomic model versatile and height adjustable, it’s also foldable for easy transport, making it one of the most useful 3D printed laptop stands on this list, as well as my personal favorite.
Honorable Mentions
Despite how adjustable STL files are, sometimes you need a 3D printed laptop stand specific to your device or simply looks cool as well as acting as a working stand.
Here are a few honorable mentions for use- or device-specific laptop stands that are the perfect fusion of cool and practical.
Lenovo Yoga 15’’
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: YoramSwiers
- Price: Free
The Lenovo Yoga is a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet the likes of which have recently boomed in the market. They’re easily portable, fitting into most bags and even purses, and are powerful enough to combat even some home PCs.
This design for a Lenovo Yoga 15’’ laptop stand is a great way to incorporate this versatile device into your workstation as a second monitor, useful for expanding your viewing radius or projecting reference material for your work or streaming without having to switch tabs.
Laptop Arcade Dock
- Download: Cults3D
- Designer: INVENTORMIKE
- Price: Free
While we’ve already discussed 3D printed laptop stands for gamers, this laptop arcade dock is the culmination of a few designs strung together to make a laptop stand fitted with working arcade buttons.
Old-school gamers with laptops will find this to be the most fun laptop stand on this list. You will need to outsource some pieces and perform a little DIY in construction, but one look at it and you’ll agree that this is a worthwhile project.
The best thing about this design is that it’s not just designed for modern devices, and makes for a great project for those of you with outdated or spare laptops that you want to turn into a fun arcade machine.
With added elastic parts, this laptop stand automatically centers your device with makeshift weight detection, meaning it can fit just about any laptop of any size.
Laptop Stand for Deskless Use
- Download: MyMiniFactory
- Designer: Harsh Bhatt
- Price: Free
Have you ever been on a long-haul journey and found yourself without a working table? Or maybe you’re just waiting for a space to open up in your local café and need to kill some time? This portable laptop stand is designed for use without needing a desk, helping you use your laptop even without a decent surface.
Believe it or not, this laptop stand is designed to be wearable so you can use your laptop anywhere, even while standing or walking as seen in the included images. This facilitates working on the go or even taking part in outdoor-specific activities like orienteering or journal-keeping while out and about.
This portable laptop stand can be easily disassembled and reassembled so you can carry it around easily, making it a very useful model if you like to get some work done on your commute, or simply find don’t have use of your lap or any other surface.
Because of its functionality, we recommend using a strong filament like PETG and testing well post-print to make sure it doesn’t break, which will send your laptop crashing to the floor. We also recommend not using this stand for heavy or larger devices for the same reason.
Why Use a 3D Printed Laptop Stand?
3D printed laptop stands are useful and even beneficial for two main reasons, namely:
- By raising your laptop, you reduce the need to hunch over to type or lean in to read text. This lets you sit upright and more comfortably, reducing physical strain and helping prevent neck and back pain.
- Keeping your laptop raised helps prevent overheating by giving it more space to cool than if it were set on a flat surface.
If you’re looking for a real laptop to use with Cura and slice and 3D print models, we’ve also written a buyer’s guide for the best laptops for 3D printing.
What’s the best filament for a laptop stand?
PLA is perhaps the most ideal filament for a laptop stand. It’s light enough to make a portable laptop stand while also being durable enough to hold even chunkier laptop weights. While this won’t be an issue if you’re using something like a Macbook Air, you’re still going to want to make sure it can take the pressure of typing on the keyboard and other use and won’t fall apart.
If you don’t need a portable laptop stand, then we recommend PETG, which is heavier but much stronger.
How much does it cost to 3D print a laptop stand?
Basically speaking, laptop stands are just adjustable shelves, and so don’t need much filament or intricate pieces to function. All-in-all, you should only expect each one to cost a maximum of around $8 to print, not including the price of the model should you need to buy it, or extra pieces like screws needed to assemble it.
How much time does it take to 3D print a laptop stand?
The longest print time you should expect when printing a laptop stand is around 35 hours for stronger, reinforced models. Simpler ones will take far less time, but you should still put aside a day of printing time even if you’re making a lighter, more portable laptop stand.
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