In the past year, a lot has changed about how we work. Many of us now toil from our home offices — if we’re lucky to have the extra room — but we can also work from the kitchen table, the couch, the patio, even in bed if we’re just not feeling it. This does, however, require a portable desk if we’re trying to work without frustration. From folding laptop desks that can be carried under one arm to those with features like adjustable height or wheels, these portable desks take into account both form and function.
Prices and availability are subject to change.Related: Cute and Clever Desk Accessories to Make Working at Home Less Awful
Inbox Zero 2-Tier Folding Computer Desk
$125 on Wayfair
If you’re looking for a foldable portable desk that you can move around the house yet put away when not in use, this chic model — which comes in a fully white version, a black-and white option, and a white-and-wood design — gets solid reviews. A second-tier shelf gives you a place for extra storage. Buyers say its minimal footprint is great for small spaces, and that it’s easy to fold and unfold.
Related: 10 Sit-Stand Desks from Ikea, Amazon, Uplift, and More
Collapsible Folding Laptop Desk
$30 from West Elm
This bestselling portable laptop desk from West Elm comes in two finishes — walnut and marble — and includes a built-in cup holder and a tablet holder. Its legs are collapsible, and this desk can go from tabletop to couch to bed for maximum portability.
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Björkåsen Laptop Stand
$25 from Ikea
Buyers give this portable desk high marks for being easy to assemble, lightweight enough to move easily around the house, and easy to fold down and pack away when not in use. Features include adjustable height, a top that tilts, and a cup holder. The desk comes in turquoise, beige, and anthracite.
Related: How to Create a Home Office From Ikea Under $200
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Bräda Laptop Support
$7 from Ikea
You can’t get much simpler than this laptop support made of high-impact polystyrene with synthetic rubber strips that help keep it in place. One Ikea reviewer wrote that this is “a simple gadget that can make a huge difference.”
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Asltoy Foldable Laptop Desk
$35 from Amazon
This portable laptop desk might be small, but it has a lot of features packed in, including a side for your laptop and a side for a mousepad and drink (with a cup holder). The laptop side tilts to four different levels for maximum ergonomics, and the desk comes in three different styles. Bonus: It doubles as a serving tray for weekend breakfast conferences in bed.
Related: The Home Office Pod — What It Is and Why You Might Want One
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Cooper XXL Large Folding Table & Laptop Desk
$70 from Amazon
Another option for those of you who enjoy working in bed, this one doesn’t tilt, but it does have other noteworthy features, such as a side drawer, a book/tablet stand, and a phone holder. The desk itself is large enough to hold a laptop of virtually any size, and it comes in black and white oak finishes.
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Emma and Oliver Mobile Laptop Computer Desk
$70 from Target
This portable laptop desk on wheels can be raised or lowered with the press of a lever so that you can stand or sit while working. A half-moon-shaped work surface lets you inch the desk closer to you, and it comes in a maple or rustic walnut design.
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Portable Height-Adjustable Rolling Laptop Desk
$47 from Walmart
If you’d like the option to work from the bedroom on occasion, this portable desk is designed so that a user can roll it alongside a bed to use it there, while also having a couple of shelves that make it a great bedside table as well. Other features include lockable wheels, adjustable height, and a rounded-corner design (just in case you’re accident-prone).
Related: Home Improvement and Decor Trends for 2021
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Costway Rolling Portable Notebook Table
$190 from Walmart
This rolling desk has adjustable height functionality for sit-to-stand capability and includes space for a laptop or monitor plus a few accessories. Buyers say it’s great for small spaces, feels sturdy, and is easy to assemble.
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Modern Wood Scaffolding Desk
$137 and up from Etsy
This handcrafted standing desk has a design that buyers love, plus it comes in a range of different sizes and heights so you can customize it to your own work-from-home situation. Constructed out of birch and maple, reviewers give it rave remarks, with enthusiastic comments like, “hands down the best thing I’ve bought all year” being relatively common.
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Wooden Portable Lap Desk
$76 from Etsy
Not every desk needs bells and whistles like an adjustable height or tilt functionality. If you’re just looking for something to plop your laptop on while sitting on the couch or lying in bed, this wood version from Etsy seller Valiai Design may be just the right thing. It can be ordered in ash, oak, or walnut.
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Portable Wooden Computer Tray with Mousepad
$97 and up from Etsy
This oiled oak laptop desk is pretty basic at first sight, but its features bring it to next-level functionality. These include a built-in mouse pad, separate slots for a laptop, tablet, phone, and other desk accessories, and you can order it with engraving and ventilation hole customization, too. It gets stellar reviews from buyers who note that it is attractive and a “fantastic addition” to a mobile office.
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Mind Reader Mobile Sitting/Standing Desk
$80 from Amazon
This portable desk on wheels has shelves for a desktop, a monitor, and a keyboard, or you can use it with a laptop and have extra space for office accessories. It can be used for sitting or standing, and it comes in a few different color options, including a fun shade of pink.
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LapGear Compact Lap Desk
$12 from Amazon
If you’re looking to not spend a whole lot on something you can use at home, at the coffee shop, or anywhere else, this portable lap desk gets great reviews and comes in six colors. Dual bolster cushions keep your lap from overheating and a carrying handle makes this easy to tote around.
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Cubiker 40″ Folding Computer Desk
$55 from Amazon
The design of this desk makes it easy to store away when not being used. It can be assembled in minutes with no tools, and buyers give it high marks. It comes in four finishes: black, white, wood, and darker wood.
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Cory Folding Desk
$189 from Urban Outfitters
If the attractiveness of portability is that you stow away your desk when it’s not in use, this MDF wood option is a stylish option. It has a drawer and cubby holes for keeping things like earbuds, charging cords, and blue-light blocking glasses, plus plenty of space for a laptop.
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