17 iPad Stands to Prop Up Your Tablet and Give You Hands-Free Relief

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Apple devices form a lovely family. Macs are the dad, iPhones are the mom, iPads are the most-prized kid, and AirPods are the little siblings—something like that. But there’s also a whole family tree of Apple accessories, from AirPods accessories to MagSafe add-ons. There, you’ve also got your parental figure, probably MacBook accessories and iPhone cases. But let's not forget to give some limelight to the most neglected child, iPad stands.

Unlike iPad cases that stop at guardian duties, an iPad holder will elevate—literally—the iPad-using experience. It'll raise the tablet to a neck-friendly height while you work, give your biceps a break while you navigate, and display recipe videos while you cook... The possibility of hands-free relief thereof is endless.

As for which one to get, here are the 18 best iPad stands, from ultra-portable to ultra-fancy, office-friendly to couch companions. Take a further look below for some important factors to consider before you buy an iPad holder, then show some love to the kiddo.

Adjustable Tablet Stand

This stand ought to work well for most budget-conscious folks, with a cord-organizing hole in the back and an adjustable axis to change the angle of the screen. It is Apple-esque in design too, complementing an iPad's finish.

R1 Tablet Stand

Most foldable tablet stands are also portability-oriented. You can fold at the top holder mount as well as the bottom grip hinge to collapse it completely. We've chosen Satechi's tablet stand because it looks too sleek to be dismissed, with enough range of movement to make viewing and adjusting easier.

Wool Felt Desk Pad

Counter the high-tech gloss of Apple products with wool felt and wood desk pad. It is simple, looks cool from all angles, and has a real "one with nature" vibe to it.

X Tablet Stand

This stand incorporates a whiff of magic (or as some call it, smart design elements). You lay it flat and adhere it to the back of the iPad. You pop out the stand and adjust the angle when you want to use the tablet. Done, you flatten the stand so it all but disappears on the back of the tablet again.

Stump Stand

It's more like a resting place for your iPad that also provides two essential viewing positions: Insert it upright into the ramp or lay your tablet flat—albeit a bit raised—on it. Better yet, it works with smartphones, too.

Adjustable Magnetic Tablet Holder

Nothing to be "mounted" here; this tablet stand will fully suck your iPad into place with its own magnets, and provide stability when you touch the screen or even rotate it. Your iPad will be like the Leaning Tower of Pisa—it will not fall.

Elegant Tablet Stand

iPad, Galaxy, Nexus, Kindle, even Nintendo Switch, they can all sit nicely on this tablet holder that fits anything between seven inches and 13 inches—which includes the size of just about every tablet in the market. It can also be tilted as well as rotated. And it looks good enough to be displayed in public.

Foldable Bamboo Drawing iPad Holder

If you're an iPad digital artist or graphic designer, chances are you own the newest, largest iPad possible—the 12.9-inches iPad Pro—so your work won't be limited by smaller screen. In that case, this holder provides the ideal iPad placement as well as the best look that'll upgrade your creative time. And your tablet definitely won't fall, since it has to be placed into the frame.

HoverBar Duo for Tablets

The fun of testing different angles and positions with HoverBar Duo will counterbalance the mundane techie-ness of modern life. Like a robotic arm, it basically uses different flexible joints that can be bent or rotated—even while hanging—to provide you the exact ergonomic viewing angle you need.

Gooseneck Tablet Holder

To clear up desk space, consider a clamping stand. This one's gooseneck is flexible enough for you to manipulate to the best height and angle, and stiff enough to stay at that optimal height and angle.

Tablet Floor Stand

When you hit the point of relying on your iPad Pro day in and day out for work, sometimes you simply *need* to use it while also fully lounged on your couch. All that research is a whole lot easier when you're not straining out of your comfort zone.

iRest Lap Stand for iPad

Though not the most becoming of iPad stands, this one has a hyper-specific purpose: If you're sitting on a couch with your legs stretched out before you, you can set this stand on them while making it easier on your thumb and neck. That's a balancing act the others won't achieve. (It'll work as a desk or counter stand, too.)

Lid & Ladle Kitchen Utensil Organizer Stand

Yamazaki makes some of the coolest home accessories, all with a minimalist look and optimized function. The best part? They usually do more than one job. This kitchen stand props up your iPad in the front and your spoon in the back. And if you're kicking it old-school, you can use it to prop a cookbook open, too.

Compass Pro for iPad

The most portable iPad stand on this list, the Compass Pro is a sturdily built tripod that collapses into a flat, packable shape you can slip into its protective sleeve. In use, it'll adjust to three different angles.

P2 iPad Stand

If you need a simple stand with a few inches of height—nothing more, nothing less—this one takes up minimal real estate and features holes for cords in the back.

Tablet Pillow Stand

Though it looks like something you'd find in a freshman's dorm room, there's no denying that the softer pillow is nice for lap use, and the side pocket just might prevent you from losing your Apple Pencil in between the couch cushions.

GripTight GorillaPod PRO Tablet Stand

These legs—much like those on a space invader robot, which this stand somewhat resembles—are strong. They'll bend any which way you need them to, wherever you are, and they're capped by rubber grips to prevent sliding. The iPad holder also rotates.

What to Look for in iPad Stands

It's true that most iPad holders are compatible with any iPad model as well as tablets by other brands—Samsung, Google, Amazon—thanks to their adjustable clips or mounts that can fit anything from an iPad Mini to a large iPad Pro. But you shouldn't take too much of a breather from double-checking its dimension and screen sizes. To refresh your memory, here's a rundown of the latest iPad models and their respective sizes:

• iPad (9th Generation): 10.2-inch display
• iPad Pro (5th Generation): 12.9-inch display & 11-inch display
• iPad Air (5th Generation): 10.9-inch display
• iPad Mini (6th Generation): 8.3-inch display

And consider what you will use an iPad stand for: Viewing recipes while your hands are busy? Artsy stuff? Writing and typing? Taking notes? Video conferencing? Or just some good old mindless scrolling? From there, you've got to choose between portability or heftiness, wood- or aluminum-made, adjustable or utterly no-frill, etc. Once you pinpoint a few needs, get one iPad holder that fits all, or one for each need. Up to you.

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