Why this basket
- Every role comes from HSE's display screen guidance: its good-posture page and its workstation checklist.
- The first four cover the checklist's main points for a laptop user: screen height, keyboard and mouse, seat adjustment and lighting.
- The last three are conditional. HSE says a footrest, a cushion or wrist support may be needed, not that everyone needs one.
- The page makes no health claims. For pain or discomfort, talk to your GP or your employer's occupational health service.
Set up first
A laptop stand to raise the screen
Nayka adjustable metal laptop riser
4.6 on Amazon · 1,935 ratings · 2K+ bought last month · #1 in Desktop Book Stands · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Worth waitingon offer 9 of 23 days, not today
HSE's laptop advice is a separate keyboard and mouse so the screen can go up on a laptop riser, with the top of the screen level with your eyes and about an arm's length away. This Nayka riser adjusts in height as well as angle, so it lifts the screen rather than only tilting it, and is metal rated for up to 8 kg, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Solid metal that does not wobble, even while typing(8 of 13 reviews)
- Stiff joints hold the chosen height without slipping(5 of 13 reviews)
- Lifts the camera to eye level for a better angle on video calls(3 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
Price: we have checked it on 23 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 9 of them.
Also recommended on: someone who works from home.
A separate keyboard and mouse
Logitech MK270 wireless keyboard and mouse
4.4 on Amazon · 29,825 ratings · 5K+ bought last month · #1 in Computer Keyboard & Mouse Combos · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Always "on offer"22 of 22 days
Raise the laptop and its own keyboard goes up with it, so HSE pairs the riser with a separate keyboard and mouse. It puts the keyboard just below elbow height and the mouse in line with the elbow, right beside the keyboard. The MK270 is a wireless combo, per the listing; confirm the layout is UK before ordering.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Solid keyboard with quiet, comfortable keys(6 of 13 reviews)
- One small receiver runs both keyboard and mouse(3 of 13 reviews)
- Plug in the receiver and it works straight away(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The mouse is small, which gets less comfortable over long sessions(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 699 g
- Warranty
- 3-year Limited hardware warranty
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 22 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 22 of them, including today.
A chair with adjustable seat height and tilt
4.5 on Amazon · 8,287 ratings · 50+ bought last month · #7 in Desk Chairs · recorded 27 Sept 2026
HSE's checklist asks whether the chair is stable and has working seat height, back height and tilt adjustment, plus castors or glides. Its posture guide adds that the seat should support the front and back of the thighs, with a 2 to 3 cm gap behind the knee. This SONGMICS mesh chair has height adjustment, a tilt function and swivel, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Easy to put together, in about half an hour(10 of 13 reviews)
- Comfortable for hours, with decent back support(7 of 13 reviews)
- Feels stable and well made for the price(5 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 104 x 64 x 64 cm
- Weight
- 10.3 kg
- Material
- Plastic
- In the box
- 1 x Office Chair
- Care
- Spot Clean
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
A desk lamp that lights the desk, not the screen
Lepro 800 lm dimmable desk lamp
4.6 on Amazon · 3,151 ratings · 900+ bought last month · #9 in Desk Lamps · recorded 27 Sept 2026
HSE's checklist suggests local lighting such as a desk lamp when a room is too dim, positioned so it does not cause glare off walls or other surfaces, and says users should be able to control light levels. A dimmable lamp gives that control; this Lepro is rated at 800 lumens, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Brightness and colour tone are easy to change(8 of 13 reviews)
- Bright enough for reading, painting and other close work(5 of 13 reviews)
- The arm angles out to light a wider patch of desk(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 39 x 16 x 10 cm
- Weight
- 700 g
- Material
- PC+Aluminium
- In the box
- 1 x LED desk lamp, 1 x power adaptor, 1 x user manual
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
First week, if needed
Sit at the desk for a few days, then add only what the checklist points to.
A footrest if your feet do not reach the floor
Kensington SoleSaver adjustable footrest
4.2 on Amazon · 6,037 ratings · 200+ bought last month · #10 in Footrests · recorded 27 Sept 2026
HSE's checklist asks whether your feet rest flat on the floor without too much pressure from the seat on the backs of your legs; if not, a footrest may be needed. This matters most after raising the chair to get your forearms level. Kensington's SoleSaver tilts to three settings, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Gives feet somewhere to rest once the chair is raised(4 of 13 reviews)
- Rubber feet keep it from sliding, even on wood floors(4 of 13 reviews)
- Simple to put together and switch between heights(6 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The hard plastic top is slippery or uncomfortable in socks(2 of 13 reviews)
- Plastic can crack if you push off from it or lean hard(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
A cushion for lower back support
POOTACK memory foam lumbar cushion
4.3 on Amazon · 4,337 ratings · 1K+ bought last month · #1 in Lumbar Pillows · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Limited time deal
HSE's posture guide says the back of the seat should give good lower back support, or a cushion should add it. That makes a cushion the answer for a dining chair or a chair without adjustable back support. This one is memory foam, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Firm memory foam that supports without feeling hard(5 of 13 reviews)
- Straps hold it in place on different chairs(5 of 13 reviews)
- Works in the car or lorry as well as at a desk(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Gets warm to lean against in hot weather(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 48 x 42 x 14 cm
- Material
- Memory Foam
- Care
- Machine Wash
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
A mouse mat with a wrist rest
TECKNET mouse mat with wrist rest
4.5 on Amazon · 17,822 ratings · 3K+ bought last month · #3 in Mouse Pads · recorded 27 Sept 2026
HSE's checklist says a mouse mat may be needed if the desk surface does not suit the mouse, and that the wrist and forearm need support from the desk, the arm of a chair or, failing those, a separate device. This TECKNET mat has a memory foam wrist rest, per the listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- The memory foam wrist rest stays comfortable over long sessions(9 of 13 reviews)
- The rubber base keeps the mat from sliding on the desk(3 of 13 reviews)
- Smooth surface for the mouse that wipes clean(3 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The mat area is small for wide mouse movements(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 180 g
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Can wait
- A separate monitor. HSE's laptop advice lists a display screen separate from the laptop; a riser gets the laptop screen to eye level in the meantime.
- A document holder. HSE's checklist suggests one only if you work from papers, placed to cut uncomfortable head and eye movement.
Skip it
- SkipAn anti-glare screen filter as a first fixHSE's checklist calls it a last resort, after moving the screen and adjusting blinds.
Quick questions
Does my employer have to provide equipment for working from home?
If a display screen equipment assessment shows you need something, HSE says your employer cannot charge you for it. Ask for an assessment before buying; HSE publishes a workstation checklist employers can use, and workers can self-assess if they have been trained to.
How high should my screen be?
The top of the screen level with your eyes, about an arm's length away, says HSE. For prolonged laptop use, HSE suggests a riser with a separate keyboard and mouse, or a separate display screen.
How often should I take a break from the screen?
Short and often. HSE says 5 to 10 minutes every hour is better than 20 minutes every 2 hours, and that breaks should let you get up and move about, or at least stretch and change posture.
Do I need a footrest for my desk?
Only if your feet do not rest flat on the floor once the chair is set up. HSE's checklist says to adjust the chair so your forearms are horizontal, then check your feet; if they do not reach, or the seat presses on the backs of your legs, a footrest may be needed.
Sources: HSE: Good posture when using display screen equipment (checked 26 September 2026); HSE: Display screen equipment (DSE) workstation checklist (PDF) (checked 26 September 2026); HSE: Working with display screen equipment at home (checked 26 September 2026); HSE: Work routine and breaks when using display screen equipment (checked 26 September 2026).
