The DIY Cheapskate Laptop Stand via TheClosetEntrepreneur.com

UPDATE (11/19/2008): I've created a printable PDF template that you can use to help with the cardboard cutting process. The dimensions of the template are slightly different than the instructions since I decided to make the front hooks that hold the laptop in place a little larger and taller - the notches are also slightly larger.

- The DIY Cheapskate Laptop Stand PDF Templates

If you decide to print out the templates, be sure to use 8.5" by 11" sheets of paper and print the templates at 100% - any scaling may alter the dimensions of the templates. Also, only pages three through five of the PDF template document need to be printed, and consider the environment by reusing scrap pieces of paper to print on. ;)

Note that I have not used the templates to create a stand, so please let me know if you have any issues or if you are able to successfully build a stand for yourself - I would really like to know if the templates work! :)

****************************

This is the DIY Cheapskate Laptop Stand that I created for my home office.

This stand and two other sub $10 DIY laptop stands can be found at The DIY Cheapskate Laptop Stand.

The laptop stand has held up well so far and served its purpose, which is to raise my laptop monitor height to a comfortable viewing position.

BTW, this is my first instructable so please forgive me for any errors and please feel free to leave a question or comment if any of the instructions are unclear.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: The Obligatory Disclaimer!

Please see the attached image for all the disclaimer info. Also, be careful not to slice your hands up in the process of cutting any cardboard - please be safe!

Sagz says: Apr 18, 2011. 11:44 AM

Hmmm. I've been needing an iPad 2 stand. Wonder if that will work? Cheap to try it out I guess. Thanks for the instructable!

since76 (author) in reply to SagzApr 8, 2012. 11:46 PM

Any luck on a cheapskate version of an iPad stand? :)

knobit says: Apr 19, 2011. 4:47 PM

what screensaver?

since76 (author) in reply to knobitApr 7, 2012. 5:05 PM

Sorry for taking so long to reply, my Instructables notifications went AWOL for some reason ... anyway, the screensaver is by Simon Heys and it's called Word Clock - http://www.simonheys.com/wordclock/

knobit in reply to since76Apr 7, 2012. 6:13 PM

No problem. Thanks a lit!

PSPerson says: Apr 2, 2012. 4:52 PM

Hm. I have made mine and I like it a LOT. I may need to chop it down a little though, as I set my laptop on top of my iHome speakers. I'll post some pics when I'm done.

PSPerson in reply to PSPersonApr 2, 2012. 5:07 PM

Messy desk, but you get the point. I actually use my trackpad without issue. It is pretty stable.

since76 (author) in reply to PSPersonApr 7, 2012. 5:00 PM

Thank you for sharing the photos of the stand in action! :)

vicsar says: Apr 16, 2011. 10:41 PM

Awesome! You saved me :)
I will rebuild this using wood.

keithme says: Apr 15, 2011. 1:17 PM

WOW! Great.. def worth trying in thin plywood... :)

kost says: Jan 28, 2010. 4:11 AM

Thank you!

I made my own stand, based on these templates. I have a bigger laptop, so I made side panels a little smaller, and made cross parts to have some extra crossing between them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/akost/4140725725/in/set-72157622892810936/

since76 (author) in reply to kostJan 28, 2010. 10:56 AM

Hi kost, glad you were able to make use of the templates and nice job on your custom stand -- oh, and thanks for sharing the flickr photos! :)

geetz says: Nov 14, 2008. 11:36 AM

The one I made is not as cool, but I did mount a fan on it pointing into the intake on the laptop (and made a seal with squishy foam weatherstripping). The fan in the laptop was starting to fail (BIG pain to replace) and it was making noise. Now it never comes on; the external fan keeps things cool. Next time, I'll do it before the fan starts to fail. Nobody puts the fan behind a little removable panel like they should. Those things go bad all the time.

since76 (author) in reply to geetzNov 14, 2008. 1:13 PM

Bummer to hear about your fan troubles, but glad to hear that you were able to figure out a way to cool your laptop! I'm not sure if you've ever seen the way the fans are shoved inside a MacBook, but if they crap out, I'm screwed! :)

wanderlima says: Nov 14, 2008. 4:46 AM

good work, tks!

since76 (author) in reply to wanderlimaNov 14, 2008. 10:08 AM

Thanks wanderlima!

gmjhowe says: Nov 13, 2008. 1:05 AM

Nice work, a good idea, i would use some of my gmjboard(see my ibles to find out more) which is strong enough to probs offer a warrenty! I suggest adding some printable templates? (if thats not alot of work) no doubt more people would make it then.

since76 (author) in reply to gmjhoweNov 13, 2008. 8:00 AM

I was thinking of creating some printable templates but wasn't sure what the best way to put them together was? I'm assuming it's not as difficult as I'm making it out to be and I can just use Photoshop, Illustrator, or MS Visio, but my only concern is making sure that the template prints out true to size on everyone's printer. Good idea, I'll have to look into this for sure. :)

gmjhowe in reply to since76Nov 13, 2008. 9:10 AM

Well, its easy enough, most people will use .pdf files here, so in illustrator just choose pdf under the save menu. So essentially make it to fit A4/Letter, but have it so people have to stick a few sheets together. Put a little note telling people to make sure they have it printing at 100%, and it should all work smoothly. then people can make them out of wood, or perpex, what ever!

since76 (author) in reply to gmjhoweNov 13, 2008. 9:28 AM

Hey gmjhowe, that sounds perfect, thanks again for the suggestions and help!