Your laptop likely has some little fans spinning inside as fast as possible to keep your system cool. And that’s assuming it’s not passively cooled, in which case there would be no fans at all. Unlike a spacious PC build where you can tinker around to add more fans or coolers, there’s little you can do to increase the cooling potential for your laptop on its own. That’s where cooling pads come in clutch to prevent even your beefiest gaming laptops from overheating.
Laptop cooling pads often use both fans and ventilation slots or a mesh surface underneath your device for better airflow to keep it cool. That helps to ensure your laptop continues to work to its full potential and can even increase the machine's longevity. On the market, there are a variety of laptop cooling pads ready to target specific needs. Some rest comfortably on your lap for hours, while others are super portable. Many are even height adjustable, acting like a laptop stand, or come toting fun RGB lighting. There’s a lot to choose from, so we’ve narrowed down your search. Take a look at our favorites below - and click here to see them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Laptop Cooling Pads:
- Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
- Klim Ultimate
- TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
- Targus Lap Chill Mat
- Klim Wind
- Klim Cool+
- TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
- Miggoing Laptop Table
Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
Best Laptop Cooling Pad
Laptops are very limited when it comes to cooling, and that’s where the Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB comes in handy to push that hot air away from your laptop. With it comes a metal mesh surface for ample airflow, especially when compared to the desk or lap it’s usually plopped on, while a 200mm fan moves plenty of air. That fan is also adjustable, letting you go for max cooling or silence by turning a knob on the pad.
If you're wondering about its ergonomics, you can change the Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB’s height to three levels for the ultimate viewing and typing angle. It’s even ready for chunky devices, holding laptops up to 19 inches. And as the name suggests, there’s a stylish taste of RGB lighting all around the edge with multiple lighting modes and colors that are all adjusted using a control panel on the pad.
Klim Ultimate
Best Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad
A beefy gaming laptop can get hot fast, so you need a cooling pad, like the Klim Ultimate, to keep its internals in tip-top shape. Set behind a metal grid panel, it comes ready for all your gaming needs with a big 200mm fan that can run at a quiet 750RPM while still providing plenty of airflow. Fan speed can always be turned down depending on your needs using a handy control panel, but there might not be a point since it runs silently at full speed.
On top of being a practical heat dissipation solution, the Klim Ultimate will really amp up your portable gaming setup. You can comfortably rest your laptops up to 17 inches, but your 19-inch devices or even consoles will fit, while there are four different inclination levels for easier viewing. It doesn’t stop there, as no gaming accessory is complete without RGB lighting, and this cooling pad’s flashy RGB light strip wraps around the entire circumference of the device, offering seven different colors and five lighting effects.
TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler
Best High-Airflow Laptop Cooling Pad
Need tons of airflow? Then a whole bunch of fans is the way to go, and the TopMate C5 laptop cooler packs in five—a 140mm fan at the center and four 70mm fans surrounding it. With all those fans running simultaneously alongside a metal mesh surface, cool air will push against the laptop base, keeping your thermals in check. You aren’t limited to just one speed either, as a tiny LCD control panel lets you run several cooling modes and displays wind speed.
Aside from the insane cooling power of the TopMate C5, you also get a few extras starting with five height adjustments for more ergonomic positioning. Laptops up to 15.6 inches should fit perfectly on the stand, though you can always throw a gaming console on it to prevent overheating. And adding to its convenience are two USB 2.0 ports, one to plug into your laptop for power and the other for your computer’s peripherals.
Targus Lap Chill Mat
Best Laptop Cooling Pad for Your Lap
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it applies perfectly to the Targus Lap Chill Mat, which has been keeping our laptops and laps cool for over a decade. This straightforward cooler rests comfortably on your lap for hours thanks to the pad's lightweight, and the neoprene material on its bottom acts as cushioning. If you're worried about your laptop sliding all around as you’re thighs aren’t the flattest surface, a rubberized grip and little notches on the stand's surface ensure it stays in place.
As for heat dissipation, a mesh surface and hollow chamber in the middle of the mat allow fresh air to enter from beneath the laptop, while hot air can easily escape. Furthering airflow is a pair of built-in fans ready to pump fresh air near the back edge of the laptop where the CPU and GPU often sit—thus the hottest and most important parts of the machine. And the handy addition of a four-port USB hub makes plugging in extra peripherals a breeze, while velcro straps keep those cables organized.
Klim Wind
Best Budget Laptop Cooling Pad
Keeping cool doesn't mean spending big. Just look to the Klim Wind. For just $30, you get four 120mm fans running up to 1,200 RPM, pushing plenty of air past every corner of your laptop aided by its simple vented grille. Those fans have a dash of colorful lighting and remain relatively quiet too, reaching only 26 dB in operation.
You're not just getting fans at this low cost, as the Klim Wind will raise your laptop slightly for better posture and has two pegs to keep it from sliding off. Don’t worry about your machine fitting on the stand either, as it’s made for devices up to 16 inches and compatible with laptops up to 19 inches. There are also two USB-A ports. One powers the fans, and the other is ready for peripherals, so you’re not losing a USB slot on your device.
Klim Cool+
Best Portable Laptop Cooler
Cooling pads are great, but you often lose the on-the-go portability of your laptop when you use them. The Klim Cool+ is a nifty, compact external air vacuum that remedies this issue while still boosting the cooling capabilities of your machine. It attaches using suction cup sleeves to the exhaust port of your laptop, pulling even more air through, though it only works with laptops toting side or back air exhaust vents and should only be used on a flat surface. There are also some other size restrictions to make note of before purchasing.
The Klim Cool+ has different operating modes that let it run silently for light cooling or kick it into high gear when pushing your laptop to the extreme. In total, it delivers 4,500 RPM to drop your laptop’s temperature quickly, which you can see on the digital temperature display. The device's durable metal structure even acts as a heatsink taking the heat away from your laptop's precious internals.
TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
Best RGB Laptop Cooling Pad
The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is the perfect way to jazz up your laptop setup, as it has an RGB light strip wrapping around the entire pad. You can cycle through various lighting effects, from colorful rainbow flows to a steady monochrome glow. A small button on the control panel towards the bottom of the pad makes it easy to flip through and find your favorite style.
Using that same panel, you can control heat dissipation, as it lets you adjust the speed of the six fans on board—three small and three large. Those fans effectively and quietly push cool air through the pad's metal mesh surface at up to 2,400RPM on the small and 1,400RPM on the large fans. The TopMate C12 is also height adjustable for better ergonomics and ready to hold laptops up to 17.3 inches, so it’ll work for a clunky gaming laptop. There are even two USB-A ports to power other peripherals and a bonus cell phone holder that you can tuck away when not in use.
Miggoing Laptop Table
Best Laptop Cooling Stand
Most cooling pads do a great job if you aim to use your laptop on your lap or low on a desk. However, sometimes you’re after something that can raise your device a bit higher while cooling, and that's where the Miggoing Laptop Table comes in. This stand consists of several segments, allowing you to keep it low or raise it to 18.9 inches high, making perfect for use on couches, in bed, or on top of your current desk, effectively turning it into a standing desk.
As for cooling, the Miggoing Laptop Table offers dual USB-powered fans and small ventilation slots to help keep air blowing past your computer, preventing overheating. All that is in a large, sturdy aluminum tray with stoppers ready to hold your devices up to 33 pounds. Another nifty extra is a mouse plate, eliminating the worry of finding a surface to place your mouse.
Where to Get the Best Cooling Pad in the UK
Laptop Cooling Pads FAQ
Do your really need a laptop cooling pad?
No matter what laptop you have, you don't want it to overheat. That being said, not every type of laptop requires a cooling pad. If you have a high-powered laptop for video editing or a gaming laptop running newer PC games, you should definitely consider getting one of the best laptop cooling pads. If you are only using your laptop or Chromebook for less-intensive tasks, you are probably ok going without one.
How do laptop cooling pads work?
Laptops are at a disadvantage to desktop PC when it comes to cooling. With less space to include fan power, laptops can quickly overheat and you'll end up experiencing thermal throttling. Laptop cooling pads help to solve this problem by providing cooler air underneath the laptop using fans. While this can be effective for reducing the temperature of the laptop, it won't necessarily solve every heat problem within your laptop if there is a larger issue.
