Laptop cooling pads

Laptops pack powerful hardware into a thin case and heat up under load, becoming noisy and sometimes slowing down. A cooling stand provides additional airflow from below and raises the laptop at a comfortable angle. Here you can find stands with fans from DeepCool, Cooler Master, Zalman, Orico, and others, as well as aluminum stands without fans from Rain Design, ACT, and HAMA.

How to choose

• The size. The stand should be for the diagonal of the laptop or larger – for example, 15.6 or 17 inches. If it is smaller, some of the laptop's vents will be without airflow.
• With or without fans. Stands with fans actively cool and are suitable for gaming and heavy work. Aluminum stands without fans are silent, dissipate heat passively, and improve your posture while working.
• The size of the fan. A single large fan of 140 or 180 mm is quieter at the same airflow. Several smaller fans cool specific areas more precisely.
• Height adjustment. Several tilt positions allow you to raise the screen closer to eye level and type more comfortably.
• Power supply. Most stands are powered by the USB port of the laptop. Models with an additional USB port do not occupy a port, as they pass it through.

What to watch out for

• Check where the laptop's air vents are – on the bottom, back, or sides – and choose a stand that does not block them.
• The cooling stand helps, but does not replace cleaning the dust from the laptop's own fans.
• When working for long periods at a high angle, use an external keyboard to avoid straining your wrists.
• Do not use the laptop on a bed or pillow – the soft surface blocks airflow.
• Foldable stands are convenient for carrying and fit into the laptop bag.

Compatibility

The stands work with all laptops in the specified size, regardless of the brand. If the laptop sits higher with the stand, add an external keyboard and mouse from the peripherals category. For carrying the stand and laptop, check the laptop bags, and for connecting to a monitor with a single cable – docking stations.