Easy Diy Chair Side Swivel Arm Laptop Stand

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
19 min read

Is it tiring to always be in the same place with your laptop? Do you need a new desk but can’t afford to buy one right now?

If you need a simple and cheap solution, the chair-side swivel arm laptop stand is what you need. The steps are outlined in this guide.

Steps on Making Side Swivel Arm Laptop Stand

You’ll need a tape measure or ruler, some wood screws (Size Dx0 #14 x 0′′ Long Phillips Head Flush Countersunk Screws), some wood strips, and your armless office chair (which you can get cheaply here).

First, amass the necessary materials. You’ll need a solid chair, some screw eye hooks and screws, a drill, and an upholstery nailhead trim (with the safety tip removed). According to the how-to guide I used, you need three nails per arm of the stand to secure it to the seat back. I fashioned my own chair out of a piece of nailhead trim and a screw eye hook.

Second, with a ruler and some shears or an X-acto knife, cut a strip of upholstery nail trim to the width of your seat’s back. In order to wrap around both sides without interfering with other pieces in front of it on either side, you’ll want it to be longer than necessary for the project. About 12 inches in width and 18 inches in length best describes me.

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Step Three: drill two holes into each end (forward/backwards) at right angles from the end edge; how far apart will depend on the thickness of your frame, but mine were six inches apart (hence, three screws total per arm here).

Drill (only through one side!) as close to perpendicularly into both ends, holding it in place with painter’s tape or masking tape against your chair frame.

Step Four: Do the same on the other arm, positioning the strip in the desired location and securing it with painter’s tape or masking tape every six inches or so. Drilling mistakes from my first setup won’t be visible in the final product.

Nail trim can be attached to your chair arms by drilling right-angle holes and threading screws through them. Since the reduced size of these strips means they will weigh less, this should be a simple task.

Then, I repeated the process on the other arm, positioning the strip as desired and taping it in place with painter’s tape or masking tape every six inches or so. Drilling mistakes from my first setup won’t be visible in the final product.

Nail trim can be attached to the arms of your chair with screws by drilling right-angle holes in each end of the trim. Due to the reduced weight of the strips, this should be a simple task.

How to Clean Swivel Laptop Stand

Next, unscrew the screws from both ends of your arm.

Remove any remaining dust or debris by wiping down all surfaces with a damp rag. Pay special attention to the area immediately surrounding the hole you drilled.

Screws probably won’t fit as snugly back into their holes after being removed due to friction, but that’s okay; just keep scrubbing with the damp cloth until everything is clean again.

The next person to use this seat can benefit from a clean surface for their laptop by flipping over your stand.

Can i Vacuum My Swivel Laptop Stand?

Due to the rubber grips, a swivel laptop stand should not be vacuumed. You’ll get less use out of them and may even ruin some of your joints or screws if you do this. Instead, wipe down all surfaces with a damp rag containing water and soap, paying special attention to the area around the hole you drilled.

Advantages of Having a Swivel Arm Laptop Stand

  • Designed with comfort in mind
  • Holds the display at a more comfortable distance from the eyes.
  • Arm ensures that your wrists stay in their natural position, protecting them from overuse injuries and easing any discomfort associated with using a mouse or keyboard.
  • Its versatility makes it useful as a desk accessory, a table armrest, or even a bookstand.
  • While relaxing on the couch or bed, you can more easily view your laptop screen.
  • Better for your posture than hunching over a laptop for hours on end.
  • Because of this variable distance from the screen, eye strain is reduced.
  • This is useful if several people (mom, dad, kids) are using the same laptop but prefer different viewing and typing positions.

How to Care for Swivel Laptop Stand

The swivel laptop stand should not be placed on a table where it could be damaged by accidental spills.

Use a gentle soap and water to clean as needed, and be sure to dry off any wet areas.

Remove spills with paper towels and follow up with a clean rag for a more thorough cleaning of delicate surfaces.

Do not use bleach or other harsh chemicals. If they aren’t removed immediately, they could reduce a material’s durability over time.

What to Consider When Choosing a Laptop Stand

Is It Adjustable?

Your laptop screen’s top should be at or slightly below eye level. Working all day with a screen below your eye line can cause strain on your neck and back. With a height-adjustable laptop stand, you can customize your working environment to suit your needs.

Is It Portable?

If your workplace is stationary, portability isn’t an issue. More permanent stands tend to be more stable and sturdy, so it’s best to look for one of those.

Do you plan on using your laptop in multiple locations around the house? How often do you move your desk, bed, and dinner table around? A portable laptop stand is preferable if you need the flexibility to change your working location without sacrificing comfort.

Think about the stand’s weight and whether or not it folds down to fit in your backpack or suitcase if you intend to use the laptop stand away from home, such as at a coffee shop or while traveling. A compact, portable version is provided for your convenience.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of a laptop stand can vary widely. Spending more money up front for better quality and longer life is worthwhile if you intend to use it frequently. However, if you only need one for a few weeks or anticipate using it infrequently, you can likely get by with a cheaper model.

Does It Meet Your Technical Requirements?

Make sure the laptop stand you’re considering will accommodate your computer before you buy. Most stands can hold a laptop of any size up to about 15 inches, but measure to be sure. In addition, they will have a maximum weight rating; your laptop must be significantly lighter than that.

Think about your intended use of the laptop while it is docked. Some people find it more convenient to use their laptop’s in-built keyboard and trackpad for all of their work. If this is the case, then you should prioritize durability. You definitely don’t want your laptop moving around every time you hit a key.

As long as the stand can safely hold your laptop, you don’t need to worry too much about its durability when using an external keyboard. If you don’t have much room on your desk or prefer to work standing up, you should get a laptop stand with a mouse pad tray (like the one we recommend below).

The height of your laptop’s display needs to be adjustable on its stand if you plan to use it as a secondary display.

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The Best Laptop Stands of 2022

Best Laptop Stand For a Home Office: mStand 360

If you have a fixed work area, you won’t want to have to assemble and disassemble your laptop stand. The sleek mStand360 Laptop Stand from Rain Design elevates your laptop screen to a comfortable viewing angle and provides sturdy support for the device, allowing you to use the on-screen keyboard and trackpad with ease.

The swivel base of the stand can be turned in any direction, and the ridges around the perimeter will keep your laptop from sliding around. You can hide an external keyboard away under the tray when you’re not using it, and the large circular cable hole will keep your desk free of dangling wires.

If you want to use your iPad as a secondary display, you can prop it up to comfortable viewing height with the company’s corresponding tablet holder. However, the mStand360 does not allow for height or angle adjustments. This improves its steadiness, but a different model might be preferable if you need a particular working angle or if you simply want more flexibility.

Pros

  • Sturdy
  • Attractive
  • pivoting stand
  • Integration of cable management

Cons

  • You just can’t swivel it!

Best Portable Laptop Stand: Executive Office Solutions

In exchange for portability and the ability to adjust your laptop’s viewing height and angle, portable laptop stands typically sacrifice some stability. The Executive Office Solutions Portable Aluminum Laptop Stand is a great example because it allows you to position the legs exactly how you want them.

The stand folds down for easy transport between spaces or storage when it is not in use, giving you the freedom to rearrange your setup whenever you like. The tray’s textured surface and wide lip keep the laptop from sliding, and the stand’s non-slip rubber feet help keep the stand in place.

A clip-on tray for an external mouse is included, as is a pair of USB-powered fans for venting excess heat from the laptop. The stand’s mobility at full extension is the only real drawback, especially when typing on heavier laptops.

Pros

  • Extremely malleable
  • Quick to assemble and disassemble
  • Mountable mouse pad
  • Built-in USB cooling fans

Cons

  • able to maneuver even when fully extended or carrying a heavy laptop

Best Travel Laptop Stand: The Roost

A laptop stand for travel should be easy to pack and carry while still providing stable support for your laptop. We’ve been using a Roost Laptop Stand for years, and it fits the bill perfectly.

It weighs less than six ounces and can be adjusted to provide a lift of six to twelve inches. You can easily stow the stand in your bag whether you’re going to the local coffee shop or across the world because it collapses to a mere 1.3 inches in diameter and a little over a foot in length.

The front clamps surprisingly keep the laptop (or tablet) in place, and the rubber feet keep the stand stable even on smooth surfaces. The clips that hold the legs in place can be depressed to make the necessary adjustments to the height, and then the clips can be clicked back into place.

The Roost is versatile enough to be used on a daily basis at home, but a travel laptop stand is intended for use away from your desk. Consider getting something a little heavier if you plan on leaving your laptop stand at home permanently.

Pros

  • Minimal and light
  • Strong and well-constructed
  • Easy to assemble and disassemble in a hurry

Cons

  • Costs a lot for what it is

Best Cheap Laptop Stand: Leeboom Adjustable Laptop Stand

A low-quality laptop stand won’t improve your work experience very much, but it’ll be better than nothing. The Leeboom adjustable laptop stand can be had for the price of a few cups of coffee, making it an attractive option if you either don’t want to commit to a more expensive option or aren’t sure how often you’ll actually use it.

The seven positions allow you to set the angle at which your laptop is displayed anywhere from 15 to 45 degrees. The non-slip silicone pads protect your laptop from scratches and prevent it from sliding around, and the open structure allows for adequate airflow.

The stand has a soft carrying pouch and folds up neatly, just like the Roost (above). The stand weighs only 0.6 pounds, can be used indoors or out, and doesn’t require much storage space when it’s not in use.

It may not be the most sturdy or long-lasting laptop stand available, but it serves its purpose admirably and doesn’t break the bank. That’s all that’s required sometimes.

Pros

  • Extremely low-priced
  • Ability to adapt well

Cons

  • Typical Components
  • Durability concerns

Best Laptop Floor Stand: Viozon Floor Stand

A laptop floor stand is an excellent alternative to working on the floor or at the kitchen table when you lack space for a traditional desk. These allow you to work from virtually any comfortable position, whether that’s lying in bed, sitting on the couch, or pulling up a chair wherever you happen to have a few spare inches of floor space.

Wheeled models were considered for their portability, but we ultimately decided against them because they seemed too flimsy. The Viozon Floor Stand won out in the end because of its reliable structure.

The Viozon is a straightforward device that comes with a half-inch thick tray in either black or wood. That’s beneficial for stands of this type because it means fewer things can go wrong during transport or set-up/take-down.

The stand is supported by a single aluminum pole and can be easily tucked under a bed, couch, or chair thanks to the feet’s wide, angled design. The floorboards will be protected from damage and sliding will be prevented by the rubber pads.

The tray’s height is adjustable from 30 to 90 centimeters (about 12 to 35 inches), making it suitable for a wide range of sitting and lying positions. The tray’s nearly 21-inch width makes it suitable for use with mice on all but the largest laptops. The maximum load is 17.6 pounds.

The only drawback of the Viozon is that it does not extend high enough to be used as a standing desk (at least for adults).

The AmazonBasics Adjustable Workstation is a better choice if you want a laptop floor stand that allows you to work while standing up, or if you want a portable option for using your laptop away from home. It extends all the way to 55′′, is inexpensive, and folds up and down quickly.

Pros

  • Sturdy
  • Multiple possible applications
  • Various possible adjustments in height
  • A mouse could fit in there, too.

Cons

  • Can’t be used as a standing desk because it doesn’t reach far enough.

Best Laptop Stand For Your Lap: Lapgear Home Office Pro

Pad-supported laptop stands are cheap and convenient. They can’t take the place of a dedicated office, but they will make you more at ease if you have to do some work while lying in bed or on the couch. Don’t make these awkward stances a regular part of your job, though.

The Lapgear Home Office Pro can accommodate a laptop up to 15.6 inches in size, with room to spare for a separate mouse pad. A mobile phone holder is included. It’s more comfortable than competing models because it’s padded in two key areas: the base and the leading edge.

The raised back cushion not only improves your viewing angle, but also allows for decent ventilation. The desk is portable and small enough to store away when not in use, so you can easily increase your daily step count by working from the couch instead of bed.

This lap tray is not only useful for holding your lap but also for holding your iPad or notebook. A cushioned stand is a great way to stabilize your laptop and keep it off your legs while you work on the go in a vehicle or public transportation.

The only potential drawback is that, after prolonged use, the cushioning material on the lap desk’s bottom may spread out, making it less comfortable on the knees.

Pros

  • There’s enough space for a mouse and a laptop.
  • Mobile device recess
  • Simple to transport and stow

Cons

  • The comfort of padding may decrease as it flattens out with use.

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Best Laptop Stand For a Couch: Able Life Swivel TV Tray Table

With a couch-mounted laptop stand, you can convert your sofa into a stable workstation. This isn’t meant to be a permanent or constant arrangement, but it will do if you’re desperate for a place to work or you just want to spend some of your “office” hours lounging around on the couch.

The Able Life Swivel TV Tray Table is a reliable choice because it can be adjusted in height from 24 inches to 32 inches. That’s significant because it allows for a much broader range of people and couch types to be comfortably accommodated than would be possible with a fixed-height model.

The stand’s flat, 18-inch-wide feet can be tucked in between your sofa’s front and back legs. They are also adaptable, with a range of 25–35 inches, making them suitable for sofas of varying depths. It’s a far more practical solution for frequent use than a conventional lap desk.

The 20″ x 15″ tabletop easily accommodates even the largest laptops, and there’s even room to set down a mouse if you prefer to use one. You can avoid spilling your precious coffee all over the floor by purchasing the optional cup holder. The maximum load for this steel structure is 30 pounds.

The desk top can be swiveled around a full circle, out of the way when it’s not in use or when getting in and out of bed or off the couch. Since most sofas and chairs are symmetrical, the stand can be attached to either side.

Keep in mind that a laptop stand for the couch only gives you a flat place to work and no ergonomic support beyond the ability to adjust the tray’s height. One of the lightweight laptop stands we discussed above is all you need to raise the screen to a more comfortable viewing height or to angle the keyboard.

Pros

  • Sturdy
  • Comfortable adjusting of height
  • You can fit a mouse and a large laptop comfortably.

Cons

  • Inability to tilt the axis
Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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