The 10 Best iPad Stands That Will Instantly Improve Your Workspace

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An iPad stand allows you to elevate your favorite tablet and bring a whole new world of interactions that range from hands-viewing to using it with an external keyboard and mouse, all the way to using it as an Apple Pencil canvas or notepad. Still, these accessories are frequently overlooked, even though there are thousands to choose from. To help you find the best on the market, we are constantly scrutinizing top-rated iPad stands for home, office, or on-the-go use.

The Best iPad Stands

• Best Overall: Satechi R1 iPad Stand

• Best Budget: MoKo Tablet Stand

• Most Versatile: Twelve South HoverBar Duo iPad Stand

• Most Minimalist: Twelve South Compass Pro iPad Stand

• Most Luxurious: Grovemade Wood iPad Stand

We've been comparing hundreds of iPad stands over the past few years to find the sturdiest, most attractive-looking, most convenient options for your go-to Apple slate. Here's what you need to think about when shopping for one of your own or to gift an iPad user you care about.

What to Consider

iPad Size

When shopping for an iPad stand, it's important to keep in mind what size screen it has. Fortunately, most stands are adjustable, so they can accommodate small tablets like the iPad mini as well as big-screened ones like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. However, some stands are incapable of holding certain tablets, depending on how big or small they are.

Form Factor

Besides screen size, you'll want to assess where you want to use the stand. Some folks need a portable stand that's small enough to take anywhere, while others need something sturdy and more durable to use in a commercial setting. Consider the size and material the stand is made of, too, so that it's easy to move around from place to place.

Our recommended stands are used by bakers, chefs, writers, illustrators, and many other professionals. And because iPadOS lets you use an iPad with either an external mouse or trackpad and keyboard, these stands are perfect to use in your home office, too. Here are 10 of the best iPad stands worth buying.

R1 iPad Stand

Satechi’s R1 iPad stand is our top pick for most upgraders, offering a mixture of elegant and versatile design and a sturdy all-metal build at a reasonable price. Given the accessory maker’s excellent track record in developing iPad and MacBook accessories, that’s hardly a surprise.

Over months of using the R1 on a daily basis, we liked its highly adjustable viewing angles and ability to hold any iPad in landscape or portrait mode, even with a protective case on. When not in use, the stand collapses, so it’s easy to slip into a laptop bag.

You can order the Satechi R1 in several iPad-matching colors. Consider this Satechi offering if you or the gift recipient frequently use an iPad with the Apple Pencil.

Tablet Stand

This inexpensive stand from MoKo is the best for propping up an iPad on a tight budget. Despite its small size and price, the accessory can effortlessly hold any iPad with up to an 11-inch screen. It has six slots for adjusting the tablet's viewing angle.

We like that the accessory folds into a compact rectangle (3.6 x 2.8 inches) when you don't need it, making it perfect to use on the go. You can easily toss it in a bag or even fit it in your pocket. The tablet stand is made from plastic, so it's nowhere near as sleek as its metal rivals, but its compact design and low price more than make up for its design shortcomings.

You can order the MoKo stand in multiple colors, ranging from low-key to eye-catching. A larger version of the stand is also available for a few extra dollars in case you are looking to hold a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

HoverBar Duo iPad Stand

If you want a sturdy and highly adjustable stand, you'll love the Twelve South HoverBar Duo. One of the most thoughtfully designed iPad stands we’ve tested, it's extremely modern-looking — a bit like the Pixar lamp — and highly adjustable to the length of a person’s arm.

The stand has a shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, and the parts either bend or rotate depending on where they’re positioned. All these “joints” make the stand much more versatile than the rest of the competition.

The HoverBar Duo holds your iPad up to two feet in the air and all the way down to the base for drawing. Besides its adjustable nature and handsome design, what we like the most is how sturdy it is. The stand doesn't wobble in the slightest when you're interacting with your iPad.

Compass Pro iPad Stand

This iPad holder by Twelve South — another leading maker of high-quality Apple accessories — sets itself apart with an incredibly minimalist design without skimping on essential features. We love that the product collapses into a metal stick when you don’t need it. It has a stylish bundled case, and it’s incredibly easy to carry in a bag or a jacket pocket.

The Twelve South Compass Pro can instantly shift between a viewing platform or a convenient stand to taking notes and typing on the iPad’s touchscreen in landscape mode. The gadget can fit most iPads in landscape or portrait mode. However, it can only accommodate the compact iPad mini in landscape mode, which is perfect for watching video or gaming with an external controller.

The product’s unique form factor and uncompromising versatility are the reasons why it’s worth spending extra for it over a standard viewing stand. Twelve South offers the Compass Pro with a matte metal finish that fits most iPads perfectly.

Wood iPad Stand

Meticulously handcrafted using natural wood and cork, stainless steel, and wool felt, this iPad stand by Grovemade is a bona fide luxury item that’s in a league of its own in terms of design and tactility. The product makes its rivals look generic in comparison. It’s worth investing in, especially if you spent $1,000+ on an iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display.

Thanks to the high-quality materials used in its making, the Grovemade stand will always stay in place, too. The accessory has a nifty cutout for always keeping the device’s charging cable in place. It can hold any iPad in landscape or portrait mode, but you should know that you can’t adjust its viewing angles.

The Grovemade stand is available in three natural wood finishes: maple, oak, and walnut. Because of its natural wood finish, every stand has a unique look.

Magnetic iPad Stand

The Lululook iPad stand uses magnets to attach to an iPad Pro or an iPad Air, just like Apple's own Magic Keyboard. It aligns perfectly when the iPad is put in place, making the combo look like a miniaturized iMac all-in-one desktop computer. The process of attaching is as easy as snapping a compatible iPad Air or iPad Pro to the stand.

You can use your iPad in either portrait or landscape mode with the stand. Its 360-degree design allows you to set the slate any way you want. We also appreciate the stand's non-slip feet because you won't have to worry about it sliding while you're interacting with your iPad's touchscreen.

The metal stand is compatible with all 11-inch iPad Pro models, the third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, and the last two iPad Air iterations.

Magnetic iPad Stand

The Lululook iPad stand uses magnets to attach to an iPad Pro or an iPad Air, just like Apple's own Magic Keyboard. It aligns perfectly when the iPad is put in place, making the combo look like a miniaturized iMac all-in-one desktop computer. The process of attaching is as easy as snapping a compatible iPad Air or iPad Pro to the stand.

You can use your iPad in either portrait or landscape mode with the stand. Its 360-degree design allows you to set the slate any way you want. We also appreciate the stand's non-slip feet because you won't have to worry about it sliding while you're interacting with your iPad's touchscreen.

The metal stand is compatible with all 11-inch iPad Pro models, the third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, and the last two iPad Air iterations.

USB-C iPad Hub

This foldable aluminum iPad hub by Satech is the one to get if you use your iPad Air or iPad Pro for work. By connecting to the slate with its integrated USB-C cable, the accessory will transform it into a legit workstation with USB-C and USB-A ports, a duo of card readers (SD and microSD), an HDMI port for linking to an external monitor, and a standard audio jack.

During weeks of testing, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the Satechini hub, in tandem with a wireless keyboard and mouse, successfully replaced a big-screen laptop as a work computer. Its onboard audio jack was also super helpful, bringing a long-missing feature in premium iPads.

Like all products from the brand, the Satechi hub has a sleek metal finish that's a perfect match for the Apple products it's designed for.

Rotating iPad Stand

This all-metal stand by UGREEN is a must-have for those who frequently use an Apple Pencil in a plethora of scenarios — from taking notes during a meeting to making edits to photos and videos, all the way to working on elaborate graphic design and illustration projects. Its hefty metal base and wide iPad holding surface with silicone padding to keep it in place will always keep it in place. This stability is crucial for getting the most precise inputs out of Apple's iconic stylus. The iPad holder's cutouts also help the device stay cool during demanding tasks like editing high-resolution video, among others.

We like that the stand will not only adjust its height and viewing angles but also allow you to rotate it 360 degrees. The last-mentioned functionality is incredibly helpful for sharing onscreen content at school and work.

The stand can fold flat, but its elaborate design makes it far from portable. This UGREEN stand is another great option to consider if you prioritize stability over the option to rotate your iPad.

Shift Series Case for iPad Air

The ESR Shift Series is a rare type of iPad case that also doubles as an incredibly versatile viewing stand — in both landscape and portrait mode. The multi-functional accessory consists of a snap-on protective shell and a magnetic dual folio cover. The latter can hold the iPad in a multitude of easily adjustable viewing angles, ensuring you can find a perfect setup for any scenario.

Detaching the folio cover leaves your iPad with a sturdy protective case that's one of the best for the money. Impressively, the built-in magnets of the case also make it attachable to metal surfaces like, say, a fridge.

You can snag the ESR Shift Series case in several colors for the iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro. Of course, a version of the product for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is also available. The folio cover of every case has a handy Apple Pencil pocket.

HoverBar Tower iPad Floor Stand

The floor-standing Twelve South HoverBar Tower will provide you or the giftee with a whole new world of iPad viewing possibilities. The accessory offers practically limitless height and viewing angle combinations that don't require a table, a desk, or other furniture. It is particularly suitable for using the iPad for hands-free viewing (e.g., during Apple Fitness sessions, video tutorials, etc.).

Featuring a sturdy clamp with silicone padding to prevent scratches, the HoverBar Tower can accommodate any iPad, even with a snap-on protective case. The clip has handy cutouts for plugging in a charging cable while using the stand.

The Twelve South stand has a metal construction with a matte paint finish in black or white. Its high-quality build and remarkable versatility make it worth its considerable price tag.

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