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Make a Laptop Stand from Cardboard - The Quick and Easy Way

Make a Laptop Stand from Cardboard - The Quick and Easy Way
My work computer is a 17" laptop, and I was tired of hunching over my desk all day to use it. I wanted a stand that would prop up the laptop's LCD screen to a more ergonomic height, but I didn't want to spend any money. This cardboard laptop stand provides a much better work environment at no cost!
 
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Step 1Tools and Materials

Tools and Materials
Of course you'll need cardboard. The piece I had handy was a little less than 1/4 inch thick. I wouldn't recommend using anything smaller.

You'll only need simple measuring, marking, and cutting tools.
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15 comments
Apr 1, 2012. 10:10 AMmarcospo says:
Very good job! Easy to transport and store, reliable, easy to do. Thnaks for sharing.
Jun 24, 2010. 7:14 PMcyber-hatter says:
could draw out a diagram to label out the measurements I'm still mixed up from the measurements of the distance away from the table and height of the LCD of the laptop.
Aug 10, 2008. 9:49 PMbruc33ef says:
Best one yet! Recyclable materials, simple, efficient, functional, easy storage. Congrats!
May 31, 2009. 7:25 PMColiflower says:
same here- i love it, and unlike some other ones of a similar design, you had a great, easy to follow instructable and a much more simple design.
Jun 14, 2009. 3:32 PMColiflower says:
Well, actually i was looking at a few before seeing yours, and it was simple and easy, so...

Specifically, this one:
http://www.instructables.com/id/cardboard-laptop-stand/
was gonna make it but then saw yours.

I also made one for my dad for fathers day (shh!)
if you want, ill get some photos of that.
thanks alot! We dont make anything for father's day anymore!
plus, he's always travelling on business trips, so the portability's a feature.
Thank you again! 5 stars!
Nov 9, 2008. 4:34 PMneonack says:
This was an awesome tip made mine for my lenovo T61. Basic as Bruc said but functional. THanks for the tips!
Feb 20, 2009. 1:37 PMvanilladesign says:
This is spookily similar to a stand I developed last year and sell http://www.ponoko.com/showroom/VanillaDesignStore/portable-laptop-stand-2277 - I make them in plywood and any colour of acrylic....
Feb 12, 2009. 7:45 AMBooyaka3 says:
OMG man i have the same Screen and laptop!!!
Nov 14, 2008. 10:17 AMsince76 says:
I like the simplicity and portability of your design, and was thinking that anyone having stability issues could probably place a cross beam across the front or back to keep all the pieces in place.
Sep 4, 2008. 4:57 AMseatpost says:
It's 5am in the morning and I finally finished making my laptop stand. When I first made it, the stand was wobbly and made my laptop tilt very slight to left. I adjusted the size to my 15.4 Dell XPS, still it did no good. There area a few things I want to point out. 0. This is a good concept and with the right material and design, it can be perfected. 1. The bottom of a laptop is not flat. Therefore the diagonal side of laptop stand has to be in a contoured shape. 2. When making a contoured shape, it is better to have the ends of the stand taller than the middle. It is even better to have a perfect fit to the laptop bottom. 3. I placed rubber bands near the middle of the stand. This stabilizes the stand in several ways: From two pieces from flapping around, and from the laptop from sliding side to side, from the stand from losing the grip on the desk. 4. Placing the rubber bands correctly will also let it fold the stand when not in use. 5. Make a little niche to keep the rubber bands in place. X. The heavier the laptop, more stable the stand will be. X. I would like to note that my laptop did not have the center of mass in the middle. Which means, I had to place my laptop slightly more to the one side. X. Making a perfect contour shape will be tough, because you have to place the pieces diagonally in respect to the laptop. I still has not perfected it, yet. But I like this laptop stand above other ones because it is portable.

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Author:billr