The Rain Design iLevel 2 is the best laptop stand for the widest range of body types and laptops thanks to its sturdy anodized aluminum design and its easy-to-use adjustment knob. No other laptop stand we tested was as quick and simple to set up for different heights, laptops, and postures. It also looks nice sitting on a desk.
Its height range can accommodate many people. Though the height range will vary slightly depending on the depth of your laptop, the iLevel 2 raises the back of a laptop roughly 6.5 inches above the desk surface on its lowest setting and 8.5 inches at its highest level. That range is tall enough to raise a laptop to eye level for many people sitting at a desk (but, again, because everyone has different torso sizes, we recommend measuring the height you would want your laptop raised to).
It’s easy to adjust. Quickly switching between height settings is also easier to do with the iLevel 2 than with other stands we tested. The iLevel 2’s laptop platform tilts smoothly upward when you slide a knob on the front of the stand from left to right; the stand lowers your laptop when you slide the knob back to the left.
The iLevel 2’s open back is a good place to hide ugly wires. Photo: Michael Murtaugh
It’s sturdy. We tested the iLevel 2 with an assortment of laptops, including tiny 11-inch Chromebooks and hulking 15-inch gaming laptops. All the laptops we tested fit and sat sturdily atop the iLevel 2 without wobbling or bouncing. And unlike taller laptop stands with a foldout Z-shaped design, the iLevel 2 isn’t susceptible to toppling backward thanks to its strong hinge at the front.
It’s very well-designed. The aluminum stand looks stylish on a desk and helps to conduct heat away from your laptop. The open-back design also provides a handy location to stash cables and other unsightly desk necessities; many cheaper stands are completely open and don’t offer room to hide anything.
“I love this laptop stand so much that I wrote a love letter to it. I’ve been using it for three years, and it’s held up exceptionally well. It’s as low-maintenance as it gets.” —Ben Frumin, Wirecutter editor in chief, tested from 2020 to 2023 Photo: Ben Frumin