This article covers the 21 best portable book stands that are foldable, thin, lightweight, and travel-friendly! These will make your reading experience enjoyable again!
If you love to read while traveling, read in bed, read while having coffee at breakfast, or read in a bedside rocking chair, but you have to look down, which is not a good posture, and it causes neck, shoulder, and back pain?
Portable transforming Book Stands.
Although all the book stands mentioned here are foldable, these fold down to a very small shape. It makes them easy to carry in a pocket or purse.
1. Smartme Ultra-light Weight 0.33lb Transformer Book Holder
Not just the name but the book stand is smart, too. It is lightweight and foldable, which makes it easy to carry. You can even keep it in your pocket. Just unfold the stand, attach the book, hold it open, and start reading. It attaches securely to the books with two pins at the top and bottom. A page holder will also hold the book open for hands-free reading. Here is a demo video of the Smartme book stand
2. Easy Read book stand
This is another great transforming book and Kindle holder for reading hands-free. The best thing about the Easy Read book holder is the unique design that enables you to read anywhere.
Check out its great alternative with lights to make your reading strain-free.
Now, there will be no neck pain because you must bend your neck for long. See the demo video to understand the multiple uses of this book stand
3. Camino Folding, Transforming, Multi-purpose Stand For Books
The amazing thing about Camino is that it folds into a small rectangular shape. You can keep it in a pocket or bag and take it anywhere. If you are looking for book stands that take up very little space, then you can compare them with the SmartMe book stand I have discussed above. It is made of metal and provides sturdy support to books. It has multiple angle adjustments and page holder clips that clamp the books from both sides. Using this, you can read hands-free and without neck pain. Demo video:
To keep the book open, there are also book page holders present. The plastic’s quality is good, so you will find it durable. You can adjust the angle to multiple levels. The maximum is 60 degrees. There are also page holders for keeping the book open.
Check out its amazing alternative that is also lightweight and portable.
Portable Plastic Book Stands
These are sturdy yet very lightweight. They hold even the heaviest books, although they are light themselves. They are also very cheap compared to others. Most of the plastic book stands fold completely flat, which makes them ideal for carrying them while traveling. There is a special stand for kids in this category.
1. Portable, Foldable And Adjustable Holder For Reading
This is another simple book stand that is lightweight and inexpensive.
2. SAYEEC Multi-functional Children’s Portable Reading Stand With Foldable Back
This is the perfect choice if you are looking for a lightweight and kids-safe book reading stand. It is colorful, lightweight, and folds flat. Kids can easily take it to school or use it at home. To use, unfold the stand, place the book on the ledge at the bottom, hold it open with green clips, and start reading at the perfect angle. When you are finished reading, fold it back and keep it in your bag. Other book stands are also a good option, even if you buy book stands for kids, but this one looks cool. Right?
3. Bestbookstand Actto Bst-09 Green 180 Angle Adjustable And Portable Reading Stand
If you want something lightweight, sturdy, and practical, this is one of the most popular options. It can change the book’s angle for maximum comfort of your neck. You can change the angle for up to 18 different angles. That is much more than 5 or 6, common in wooden stands.
4. Fellowes Booklift Copyholder, Platinum (21100)
If you are looking for a book stand that is light and sturdy, then this is a good choice. Plus, it folds flat for easy storage. Turning pages and holding them open is also easy because two patented clips keep them open in the books. It has a non-slip base that protects it from slipping on smooth surfaces like glass. It is heavy-duty and perfect for even the heaviest books. It can handle up to 10 pounds of books.
5. Black Bookstand 7 Adjustable Positions
It is also a heavy-duty book holder made of plastic and steel. The front plate where your place book is made of steel, but the page holder clips and the mechanism are plastic. The combination of metal and plastic has two benefits. The price of the book stand stays affordable. And it remains lightweight. This works great with books and e-readers like Kindle and iPad. Page turning is also easy. However, some users find that the page holders do not work that well. Check out critical reviews for more information by clicking the image
Portable Metal Wire Book Stands
These portable book stands are heavy-duty. They are thin and elegant and also hold heavy books easily. Compared to the wooden book stands, these are thin and occupy less space. These book stands are made of either metal wires only, or some models also use metal wires with plastic. Here are the options.
1. Loxtong Adjustable Angle, Foldable Metal Book Stand
The best thing about this book stand is the design. It is simple to look at but does the job very well. You can place paperback, and even heavy books on it. But it is better suited for light and thin books. But it might not be the most durable book stand if you place heavy books. There is a page holder that will work decent and hold the book open. There is no spring-loaded mechanism to push the pages open.
2. Yellow Adjustable Angle Foldable Portable Reading Book Stand
This one is similar to the one mentioned above but has slight changes in the design. I like this one more than the Loxtong because it seems more durable. It is because the angle adjustment knob is made of metal. But there might be a problem in adjusting the angle if the back support gets loose. It will slide down every time you change the page.
3. Fold-n-Stow Metal Bookstand Music Book Easel Display Holder
This book stand is not for heavy books. You can use it for light paperbacks. The best thing about this book holder is its portable and lightweight. You can fold it flat and keep it in your bag. On a desktop, it does not take up much space. To read, unfold the stand and place the book on it. A page-stopper is at the bottom, but that does not do the job well. If you place heavy books on it, it can damage the books due to the pressure exerted by the weight of the book. You can also adjust the angle by adjusting the wires.
1. Portable Pillow Book Stands or Book Rests
These soft pillows are lightweight but hold the book at a better angle. You can put them in your luggage and use them as a pillow. When not in use, they act as a nice pillow. Providing you cushioning and support. But, They do not increase the height of the book. You might need to add an extra pillow to raise height while reading in bed. Here are the best ones in this category:
The Book Seat Book Holder And Travel Pillow
The Book Seat is a portable book holder pillow that will make it easy to read books in bed while traveling on a train or the beach enjoying your holidays. You can also adjust the angle of the book. It is like a bean bag that can be slightly adjusted without compromising stability. Placing and removing books is easy. It has a little stopper made of clear plastic, which helps hold the books open. Plus, it does not block text behind it. You can place books and easily tighten the elastic to fix the book inside the book seat. When you are not reading, it makes up a great pillow in emergencies. For more about this, check The Book seat review
2. Pyramid Bookrest pillow
This is another pillow book holder with a pyramid-like design. It is a book holder, a pillow, a nice toy, and a perfect gift for book lovers. Users love the quality of the product. Just put the pyramid bookrest on your lap and place it on the slanted surface of the bookrest to hold it at an angle. It does not have a page holder stopper like you get in the book seat. So, you need to get a pageholder clip to hold the book open. It is a soft pillow, but at the same time, sturdy enough to hold books at a better angle. There are pockets to keep your reading glasses, pens, phone, bookmarks, or the remote.
3. Flippy multi-angle book holder pillow
The flippy multi-angle pillow is a comfortable and practical lapbook holder. It has a slightly different design. There are three different inclinations for your books. You can change the book’s angle every time you flip the pillow. The pillow is soft to the touch but sturdy enough to hold the books and iPad easily. There is no page holder to keep the books open, so you also need a page holder clip. To clean it up, put in a front load washer, and you will get a sparkling Flippy again.
Portable Wooden And Bamboo Book Stand.
These offer sturdy support to your book. You can adjust the book’s angle for all of them, but for some, you can also adjust the height to your liking.
How portable are they? I would say not so much. But the fact that they fold flat makes them portable. You can carry them in your luggage, which will take less space. Imagine yourself reading on a train. The book is on any of these bookholders, and when you need to take a break, you can fold and put them back into their bag. They are that portable. But if you are looking for a book stand that is portable enough to easily move around in your home, they are perfectly portable.
Common Pros
- Multiple angle adjustments for perfect orientation of books.
- It relieves stress on your neck, back, and joints.
- Heavy-duty and sturdy stands that work well with paperback, hardcover, kindle, and iPad.
- Built-in page holder to keep a book open.
- Portable – Folds flat when not in use.
- Cleaning is easy. Just wipe them out with a wet cloth.
- Read easily for hours by placing these book stands on your lap.
Common Cons
- They are not height adjustable.
1. SINOBEST Bamboo Book Rest Sleek Design with Adjustable Angle
This is the best among the portable wooden book stands for the following reasons.
Its base and front are made of wood and not particle board or plastic. This makes them more durable.
The front wooden panel has a nice and smooth finish.
The bottom ledger sits perfectly flush with the panel, so even if you’re reading a single paper, it will not fall.
It has 6 adjustment angles to choose from.
The spring pegs that help keep the book open work well and make turning pages easy. The tip of the pegs is protected with rubber so that it does not damage the pages of the book or your Kindle or iPad screen.
A similar but smaller Bamboo Book Stand by HENGSHENG measures 11”x8.1”x0.39”. You can check that out as well.
2. Readaeer Bamboo Reading Rest Document Stand Holder Book Rest
It is made of high-quality bamboo wood, making it sturdy to hold even the large textbooks of law and medical schools.
It comes in two different varieties: simple and with hollow pattern.
There are 6 predefined groves to adjust the angle of the book stand. Now, you will not look down to read. This will make reading for long hours comfortable.
Just place the book and keep it open using its sprung pegs. These pegs also make turning pages easy.
Cleaning is super simple. Just wipe out the dust or the splashes in the kitchen, and it will look new. Thanks to its bamboo wood.
It weighs 2.35 pounds and measures 13.4″ x 9.5″ x 0.44″ (L x W x T). The base is made of plastic and has grooves to adjust the front surface.
There are rubber stoppers at the base of the Readaeer Bamboo Reading Rest to stop it from slipping on a smooth surface.
A few users do not like the quality of the product because, for them, the wood had a crack due to screws. And the plastic back also broke.
3. A+ Book Stand BS1500 Book Holder w/Adjustable Foldable Tray and Page Paper Clips
It is made of a particle board with a wooden finish. But it is very sturdy to hold books. You can adjust the angle of the book at five different positions. It is smaller and lighter than the Reodoeer book stand. It measures 11.8 x 8.7 x 1.4 inches and weighs 1.85 pounds. This makes it easy to carry wherever you want to read.
4. ADDValue Wooden Book Stand
It provides the same study support as the other two mentioned above.
But the unique thing is that it comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. You can choose the smaller option for portability and the large option for heavy and large textbooks.
Some people find that the product they get has flimsy screws. The bottom ledge is not flush with the front surface. It means when you place individual papers, they will fall.
Explore more: 10 Best Pillow Book Holders For Reading In Bed
More book holders
To better understand all the book and e-reader holders available for reading in bed, check my posts on 12 book holders of 5 Types for reading in bed. If you love reading digital books, check the Kindle stands for reading in bed.