Laptop ergonomics – stands, screen height and an external keyboard

The compromise built into every laptop

With a desktop PC, you put the monitor at eye level and the keyboard on the desk. A laptop does not let you do that: raise the display and you raise the keyboard with it. For short sessions it does not matter; for a full working day it does – your head tilts forwards and down.

The solution has two parts, and one does not work without the other:

1. A stand raises the screen.
2. An external keyboard and mouse put your hands back in a comfortable position on the desk.

What Slovak legislation says

For employees who use display screen equipment as a significant part of their work, Slovak Government Regulation No. 276/2006 Coll. (nariadenie vlády SR č. 276/2006 Z. z.) applies. It does not cover portable equipment used at a workstation only temporarily or occasionally – but its figures are a good guide for anyone.

Requirement (Annex 1)	Value
Viewing distance	500 mm (detail ~3.4 mm) to 700 mm (detail ~4.6 mm), no less than 400 mm
Keyboard	separate from the display screen, with space to rest the hands
Work surface	at least 1200 × 750 mm
Desk height (fixed)	650 mm for women, 750 mm for men
Seat	height adjustable within 400–520 mm
Breaks	after no more than 4 hours of continuous work (§ 6)

The regulation also requires that the position of the screen can be easily adjusted and that a separate base is used where necessary – which is exactly what a stand does.

Having the top edge of the screen at or slightly below eye level is a common ergonomic recommendation. The regulation does not specify an angle, so we treat it as a starting point rather than a rule.

How to choose a stand

• Stability. When you type on a touchscreen or the desk gets knocked, the laptop must not wobble.
• Adjustability. Both height and tilt, ideally with a lock.
• Ventilation. Many laptops draw air in from underneath. A stand with an open frame or a perforated surface will not block it.
• Size. Check which screen sizes and weights the stand is designed for.
• Portability. Folding stands are light, but usually less stable.

A monitor instead of a stand

If you work in one place, the other option is an external monitor. The laptop can then stay closed or act as a second screen. The Monitors guide will help you choose a monitor and how to connect it.