Unlike adults, kids don’t spend too much time worrying about the neck, back, and shoulder strain. They prefer stretching out on the floor to being tethered to a desk. Compact and portable lap desks allow children the flexibility to work in their beds, in their favorite spots around the house, in the car, or even sitting outside at the local park.
When you’re shopping for the best lap desk for your child, start by figuring out how important certain features are for your child, such as a cushioned base, adjustable legs, built-in storage, or handle to make the desk easier to carry. It should have enough surface area for your child to comfortably work on school assignments (or balance a laptop computer), but not be so large as to be cumbersome or too heavy for a little lap.
For children who are going to use their lap desk:
- with a laptop or tablet: a desk with folding legs that elevate the work surface over the lap,
- to draw or write: a desk with a cushioned back that sits in the lap may be more comfortable,
- for arts and crafts: a model with some sort of storage space for crafting supplies so small pieces won’t get lost.
Based on their quality, price, and customer satisfaction, as well as factors in size, comfort, design, versatility, and beneficial “extras”, the following are the top-rated lap desks on Amazon.
1. Best Lap Desk "Lavish Home Laptop" Portable for Overall
This lap desk from Lavish Home is considered the best overall due to its multi-functional feature with a pen slot that prevents pens from rolling off the desk, a cup holder, and a removable desk light that can be adjusted to illuminate the work area. These built-in features set it apart from similar products.
A soft, fleece-covered cushion filled with foam microbeads rests comfortably on kids’ laps without sharp edges or constraining table legs.
The lap desk weighs just 2 pounds and has a handle sewn into the fleece base, making it easy to carry the desk from room to room.
The surface of the desk measures 19 inches by 15 inches, giving your kids ample space to get their homework done.
Note: The beads inside the lap desk are harmful and should not be ingested or burned if at any point they leak from a rip or tear in the cushioned base.
2. Best Bang For The Buck "Sofia + Sam Mini Memory Foam Lap Desk"
This Sofia + Sam lap desk is designed with a 2.5 inch- thick layer of high-quality memory foam that conforms to the surface it’s placed on, allowing you to sit comfortably for hours.
This affordable lap desk is known as an ultra-portable mini desk, weighs just 2.5 pounds, and built-in handle, allowing you to easily bring and store it in a variety of spaces: underneath/next to your chair, couch, bed, or in your car.
The surface of the desk measures 12.5 inches by 17 inches, which is ideal for crafts, writing, eating reading, art, homework, or working. This desk comes in pink, silver, blue, or black, which is great for parents with multiple children.
3. Best Lap Desk Tray "Basicwise QI003253P Kids" Portable with Storage
Younger kids can quickly turn a flat desk surface into a mess, this lap desk is an amazingly solving that problem. With 3 side compartments to keep accessories organized and handy: one compartment to store their toys, one compartment for a snack, and the last one to organize their markers, crayons, and other art supplies.
This lap desk is made with highly sturdy plastic, easy to clean so don't have to worry about stains from spilled food or drinks.
This Basicwise lap desk uses the compartment on either side as support legs. The height of 8 inches allows your kids comfortably plenty of space for their legs to fit underneath.
It is perfectly sized: 23 inches wide by 12 inches deep to use on long car trips, in bed, at home, on the couch, or in the backyard. While the lap desk doesn’t have a carrying handle, it does weigh only 2 pounds, so it’s easy enough for an adult or an older child to move around.
4. Best ''LapGear Lap Pets Lap Desk for Lil' Kids'' with Design
Kids thrive on creativity. Instead of giving them a plain black or white lap desk, invest in this colorful product that’s available in several animal designs. The character-matching felt accents will captivate your child’s imagination to bring these animals to life.
View on Amazon: LapGear Lap Pets Lap Desk for Lil' Kids
Lap Pets Lap Desk the ideal "pet" to carry around with only 1.4 pounds weight and 14.5 inches by 11.3 inches in the surface dimension suitable for their homework, a quick snack, a tablet, or even a small notebook-sized laptop. Also reinforced handle and lightweight product design make it easy to carry along.
5. Best Lap Desk "Sorfity Laptop Bed Table" Foldable Lap Stand for Bed
This lap desk is perfect for an avid lover of the comfy bed. It is big enough that kids won’t struggle to fit the desk over their blanket cocoon.
The W-shaped legs are sturdy on the soft bedding so kids don’t have to hunch over to use it, promoting good posture, and also the legs fold down for easy storage when not in use.
The 7-pound lap desk has a surface that measures 24 inches by 16 inches and is 12 inches high when the legs are unfolded. With a built-in slot to prop up books, phones, and tablets, children will still have plenty of flat desk space on which to work.
6. Best "ECR4Kids - ELR-15810-GN The Surf Portable Lap Desk" for Floor
Its durable plastic seat is attached to a flat desk surface that sits at about 1 foot in height allows your child to sit in any learning environment so even on wet grass and a dirty floor.
It weighs only 3.5 pounds and they can stack together for easy carrying and storage. The desk surface measures 14 inches by 10 inches, and the 14-inch by 14-inch seat provides ample room for sitting. It’s certified Greenguard nontoxic, too.
Note: When standing up, your child may send items flying off the desk.
7. Best Lap Desk "Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray" for Travel
Traveling with your kids can be stressful: your kids get bored so they will annoy you. This lap desk from Lusso keeps their attention on arts, crafts, toys, or even a tablet. Its 16-inch by 12-inch dry-erase whiteboard doubles as a smooth, flat desktop when they aren’t interested in drawing.
This lap desk comes with a strap that attaches to both sides of the desk and wraps around the car seat or booster seat to keep it secure as you ride.
View on Amazon: Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray - Best Price for Trip 2022
With six zippered pockets, it stores everything your child needs as toys, snacks, and art supplies, as well as a built-in tablet stand secures to keep devices secure, there’s plenty here to entertain the littles while you focus on the road.
