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Whether it's powering through work on battery or a few rounds of intense gaming, laptops can get hot when their components are overtaxed. This is particularly true for powerful, high-end machines that can hit temperatures of 170 degrees Fahrenheit or higher despite technologies to minimize heat build-up. A simple and affordable solution to prevent overheating is to use laptop cooling pads. They are powered via USB and use fans to help bring down temperatures. Some can even double as laptop stands.
Our favorite laptop cooling pads include Thermaltake Massive TM, which features two 120mm fans and a temperature sensor. For gaming, we also recommend the TopMate C11, which has its own detachable phone stand. Either one will cool your laptop and help guard your thighs from burns. If you don't mind a bit of noise, the IETS GT500 uses incredibly fast fans to lower the heat.
Below, you can find all of our picks for the best laptop cooling pads on the market. We've also included information on how well cooling pads work and what you should expect from a typical purchase.
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Staff PickThe best high-end padThis premium metal cooling pad has two adjustable fans and an automatic temperature sensor.
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Staff PickA full-featured padThe TopMate C11 features six fans, RGB lighting, two USB ports, and a detachable phone stand.
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Staff PickA pad with extra powerThe GT500's 5,000 RPM fan makes it one of the most powerful cooling pads on the market.
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Designed for easy airflowThis binder-shaped cooling pad has two fans, a slight tilt, and an open design to help disperse heat.
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A portable cooling vacuumRather than a typical pad, the Klim Cool is a "vacuum" fan that hooks directly onto your laptop and pulls the hot air out.
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Extra-large with RGBThe Massive 20 is lined with customizable RGB lights and can support bigger 18-inch laptops.
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Big power in a small packageThe TopMate C5 isn't the biggest pad around, but it's a powerful option with five fans and up to 2,500 RPM.
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Sleek and quietThis stylish RGB cooling pad can cool your laptop without making too much extra noise.
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A flexible cooling solutionThis affordable Kootek pad features five fans and lets you choose which ones are running.
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Simple and slimThis Havit pad comes in three different colors, and each one has three fans and a slim design.
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Perfect for a desk setupThis is a cooling stand that lets you lift your laptop up to eye level, which is better for posture.
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Colorful cooling powerThis butterfly-shaped cooler comes in a variety of colors, but they're all powerful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do laptop cooling pads actually work?
Yes, but it depends on what you're looking for. Testing shows that the best laptop cooling pads can cool down laptops, usually by about 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on strength. That's not huge, but it can make a difference over time. And if you tend to use your laptop directly on your lap, putting a pad underneath can protect your thighs from discomfort.
On the other hand, there's not much evidence that cooling pads actually help laptops run faster. The few-degree difference isn't enough to noticeably improve CPU or GPU performance. And if your laptop already has overheating issues — maybe because the vents are damaged or dusty — a cooling pad is just a temporary fix.
Laptop cooling pads can make you more comfortable when gaming, but don't expect them to improve your laptop's performance. For better performance, you'll need to invest in better laptop hardware. Check out our guides to the best gaming laptops and best budget gaming laptops to see our top recommendations.
How loud are laptop cooling pads?
Most cooling pads range from about 20dB to 50dB in volume. An output of 50dB is about as loud as a typical conversation between two people or the hum of a refrigerator. The stronger a cooling pad's fans are, the louder it'll be.
Remember that a cooling pad won't replace your laptop's internal fans. So, if your laptop's internal fans are running at the same time as the cooling pad, you'll have two sets of fans making noise, which means double the volume.
How heavy are laptop cooling pads?
The weight of a cooling pad depends on its size and the material it's made of, typically plastic or metal. However, cooling pads generally weigh between 1.5 and 3.5 pounds.
For reference, gaming laptops tend to weigh about four to five pounds, and a gaming laptop charger adds at least a half-pound more. This means that in total — with the laptop, charger, and cooling pad — you're looking at about seven to nine pounds of weight.
What size cooling pad should I buy?
Any cooling pad you buy needs to be big enough to comfortably fit the base of your laptop. Your laptop shouldn't hang off the sides or the back and should be able to sit flat without any wobbling. In other words, a bigger cooling pad will work with smaller laptops, but not the other way around.
Cooling pads work best when the pad's fans can line up with your laptop's vents. This usually means keeping your laptop in the center of the pad, an even distance away from each fan and/or directly above the center fan.
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