Best Book Stand

Quasimodo may be a fun, relatable character to see on the big screen. But in real life, none of us want the humpback that comes along with this fictional character. However, bookworms put themselves at risk of spinal concerns by hunching over a bed or couch, getting engrossed in their favorite novels. Even with the best book stand around, curling over in bed to read defeats the entire purpose of the stand.

In addition to poise while reading books and magazines, posture also matters with e-books and iPads. Nowadays the tech-crazed world has to worry about “tech neck” (or “text neck”) from leaning over a laptop or texting nonstop on a smartphone. (There are also concerns about arthritis in the fingers and wrists.) Changing your laptop to tablet mode and reading it like a book won’t change posture concerns, specifically if you’re still leaning over to read. That 60-degree stretch on your neck (about the weight of a few gallons of paint) is wearing out your head, neck and back over time.

While a good yoga class and paying more attention to your posture may be helpful, there’s also the matter of finding suitable accessories that make the process easier. Invest funds into a comfortable, upright office chair. Get rid of that old couch for a new and better built one. Lastly, and for the purpose of this post, purchase a good textbook stand, a book holder for bed, or a hands free book holder to help make reading easier on your body while challenging your brain.

Best Book Stand

1. Bamboo Book Stand

Made from high-quality bamboo, this multi-angle stand can hold everything from music sheets to recipe books.

Key Features

• Springed pegs
• Folds for carrying
• Five standing angles

Whether you want to balance an iPad or a textbook, the springed pegs on the book stand are strong enough to hold thicker technology appliances and/or textbooks (up to 3,300 pages).

Depending on the table or nightstand used, this book stand (11 inches x 0.4 inches x 8.5 inches) can be repositioned in five different ways—ergonomically designed to avoid neck fatigue or pain.

It’s not ideal as a book holder for reading in bed but is handy for flat surfaces. The non-slip rubber underneath the book stand doesn’t slide flat and stays in place.

Cons

• May have to lift arms repeatedly to turn pages
• Arms may be more efficient when pages are even on both sides
• Several reviewers complain that bottom screws keep loosening

When you’re done with this book stand, fold it and put it in your bookbag for safe-keeping. This book stand is great to travel to various locations and ideal for business travelers.

2. BestBookStand Actto

Whether you’re reading a book, magazine, catalog or a daily planner, this book stand is handy for reading at eye level.

Key Features

• Non-slip rubber (on bottom)
• No assembly required
• Holds up to 10 pounds

This portable book stand (10.5 inches x 3 inches x 7.9 inches)  is 0.4 pounds, so it is pretty durable and light enough to carry for travel.

There are a potential 18 ways to adjust the book in place. As you read, move the adjustable arms forward and back in alignment to keep pages from moving.

Cons

• Maximum 2.5 inches for adjustable arms to hold book in place
• Adjustable arms do not point down
• Does not fold down completely straight

According to the Amazon post, Instagram users may have the chance to win in a monthly drawing when purchasing this book stand. Tag @BestBookStand for more the chance to win.

3. A+ Book Stand

If you’re looking for a book stand that is ideal for bible study, this book stand for a desk (or counter) is just what you need.

Key Features

• Fully assembled already
• Extra-wide front shelf
• Foldable

With plastic reinforcement and sharp edges wrapped in acrylic covers, this helps protect a book and its counter from damage. The hinges on the book stand (11.8 inches x 8.7 inches x 1.4 inches) are made from aged bronze, and are flexible enough for you to adjust the book stand to five various reading positions. The acrylic covers may be soft enough to read while laying in bed.

Cons

• Top plastic covers may not stay in place
• Book shavings along the sides instead of solid wood

Whether you’re trying to balance a reference book (up to 3,500 pages) or a tablet, this portable book stand can do both. When you’re done, fold this lightweight book stand into your backpack and move on to your next destination.

4. Hala Flip Cookbook Holder Bamboo

This sturdy bamboo design can hold books of many sizes. And for cooks who worry about potential spills while cooking, the splatter shield holds your pages in place but avoids the risks of spaghetti sauce decorating the pages.

Key Features

• Three viewing angles
• Large, protective splatter shield
• Bamboo construction

While some book stands have little arms to hold the pages in place and there may be issues with the pages being too heavy or too light, this portable book stand (10 inches x 13.5 inches x 1.5 inches) is a little different.

The shield 9 inches x 12 inches) presses the pages in place to avoid potential staining (for cooking) or your nearby fan accidentally flipping the pages back and forth. To turn the page, simply flip up the shield and get back to reading from three different angles.

Cons

• Plexiglass shield is permanent
• Thicker books may have to sit in front of the shield instead
• Several book stand reviewers complained that wood either broke too easily or arrived broken

Hala, the manufacturing company, listened to the reviews. According to the posting, they noticed complaints about the shield breaking during shipping so they’ve made steps to improve this from happening. Unfortunately, Hala may have to listen to their reviewers again for better quality wood. Luckily far more people have had success (and no breaks) with the book stand than those who did.

5. Reodoeer BamBoo Reading Rest

Whether you’re organizing photos, recipes, books or index cards, this handy bamboo book stand should do the job as needed. With six angle settings, you can position it however you see fit.

Key Features

• Bamboo
• Springed pegs
• Six angle settings

This book stand (13.4 inches x 9.5 inches x 0.44 inches) has six angle settings. With a plastic base and metal support hinges, it’s sturdy enough to stay positioned where needed.

One of the perks of evergreen perennial flowering plants (i.e., bamboo) is how easy it is to clean, specifically if used while cooking. Splashes don’t stay long with bamboo book stands such as these.

Cons

• Several reviewers complained of broken stands and loose screws (primarily while shipping)

When you’re done with the stand, just fold flat and insert into your bag or suitcase for safe-keeping. Or, if make room on a kitchen cabinet or bookshelf to keep it handy.

6. Readaeer Reading Rest

If your bookbag is already full of textbooks and you just can’t handle another load, trying a metal plate book stand such as this one is a lightweight job to keep your book(s) steady for studying time.

Key Features

• Metal plate
• Lightweight
• Seven angle settings

With seven angle settings, you can play around with which angle is ideal for which book. One of the tricks to make books stay in place is often not the arms so much as it is the angle of the book on the book stand.

Binders also work on this portable book stand. And when you’re done, just fold this binder (11.3 inches x  0.6 inches x 7.3 inches) and go about your day.

Cons

• May slide with heavier books
• Not ideal for paperback books

One common complaint about book stand “arms” (or page holders) is that some only fold forward. This metal book stand, however, had arms that go back and forth, which makes it more flexible to adjust for each book.

7. LEVO Hands Free Book Stand

As much as you may want a book stand, sometimes just having the room to adjust it or place it may become a nuisance. This book stand is hands free and just as handy while you’re leaning back on a recliner chair as it is when shifting around in your kitchen.

Key Features

• Patented five-axis/cantilever design swings over furniture
• Adjustable height
• On wheels

Whether you just have too much food on your countertop and can’t find room to add a book stand or you don’t want to hold a book while reading in your living room, this is the hands-free book stand to take care of both of those issues. (The base is 13 inches x 13 inches.)

With the ability to swing, fold, spin, tilt and adjust for height (30 to 56 inches), this book stand can move as desired. The lever lock will secure this adjustment into place. You don’t even have to move furniture around to use it; all you need is enough room in front or over your immediate sitting (or cooking) area to use as needed. And when you don’t want it in front of you, roll it to the side and do whatever else is on your to-do list.

Cons

• Maximum weight for book is 4 pounds

The LEVO Clip-On LED Light is optional to make this book stand handy during nighttime hours too when you want to use it but don’t want to wake up your roommates or family sleeping nearby. Take advantage of all of the adjustment and add-on perks. This book stand has a limited lifetime warranty.

8. SKLaserDesign

The idea of reading two books at once may seem a bit overzealous. It’s not. Editors and students can agree that sometimes it’s necessary to reference two books at once, and this rotating book stand is exactly why this helps.

Key Features

• Rotates on a Lazy Susan base
• Birch plywood
• Can hold heavier books (ex. medical coding books)

News editors, even those in the tech world, may find this book stand especially handy. Swivel on one side for a spiral editing manual. Swivel to the other side to refer to a reference book. The book stand (13.75 inches x 16 inches x 13.5 inches) can hold books as much as 16 inches deep.

Cons

• Minor assembly required (Phillips head screwdriver not included but needed)

Finding room for one book is hard enough. Finding room for two can require constantly rearranging your desk. This book stand makes the process much easier and more convenient, as long as both books can stay in place as needed.

9. Dazzling Display Clear Acrylic Book Easels

Sometimes less is more, and maybe you don’t need a book stand with all the bells and whistles. This thick acrylic book stand can hold small and medium books, paintings, pictures, scripts, etc. Bookstore owners may find this three-pack comes in handy for window displays, too.

Key Features

• Clear ⅛ inch thick acrylic
• Polished edges

Ideal for spiral notebooks and other easily flattened books, this does just what it’s intended to do: hold your book in place. This book stand (4.5 inches x 5.5 inches x 5 inches) is also pretty simple to clean.

Unlike wooden book stands that may stain or lighter plastic versions that may crack or flop, the perk of this one is that it doesn’t fold down or adjust. Normally the lack of adjustability could be seen as a flaw, but because this is heavier plastic, it may grip your book a bit better than those with multi-tilts.

Cons

• Not ideal for lightweight paperbacks
• Cannot hold the weight of most heavy textbooks
• No arms to hold books in place

This book stand comes in handy not just for how lightweight it is but that it can sit steady on tables. Whether you’re an aspiring actor practicing your lines or a business traveler practicing your speech, this is a handy way to hold your scripts or notes on a plane seat table. Re-enact your lines and/or speech with your hands free to move around.

10. Book Rest, iPad & Tablet Holder

The upside of book stands is they are the answer to all of your problems when it comes to neck tension, back stress, and lack of room on desks and tables. The downside of book stands is they’re usually awful to use on beds. But this book couch pillow/book stand isn’t.

Key Features

• Ideal for people of all ages
• Machine washable
• Soft crystal velboa material

This plush book holder is great for the bookworm who would much rather lay in bed than sit perpendicular in front of a desk or table.

With plush arms and bottom to hold the book firmly in place, you can get comfortable with pillows and your blanket, and read away with this plush book stand (9.6 inches x 8.4 inches x 12.4 inches).

Cons

• As with pillows, beware of heat when drying and washing to prevent tears

Although like other book stands, the emphasis is on books, you can also use this book couch/book stand with an iPad, table, ebook, etc. There’s a 90-day, money back guarantee so crack open your favorite book sooner rather than later to find out if this is the book stand for you.

Bottom Line

As handy as book stands are, they are more often than not best used for hardcovers, magazines, catalogs and other reading material that lay flat. Paperbacks may become a problem for no other reason than the binding isn’t broken. If paperbacks are ideal for your book stand, either break the binding or use the arms to attempt to hold the page. Whether used on a kitchen counter, table or desk, keep an eye on which book sizes (weight and height) tend to slide more than others. Repeated sliding and slamming from books that are either too heavy or too light can scratch the surfaces that they stand on. Rubber bottoms may be better for surface balancing than hard plastic, but each book stand (and the furniture it is on) is on a case-by-case basis.

The same can be said for whether you should invest in a wooden (bamboo) stand versus a plastic stand. As with most wood, chipping or cracks can happen with regular wear and tear. However, cracks can also happen with plastic. Although wood may be more eco-friendly, hard plastic may be just as versatile and durable. Use immediately within the grace period to make sure this is the stand for you.