Are laptop cooling pads worth it? Yes, but it’s complicated

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Thiago Trevisan / IDG</p></div>

And yet another type of laptop cooling pad is more like a heatsink, relying on physical contact with the laptop surface to absorb heat and redirect it elsewhere. That said, this type is more about blocking heat from reaching your lap and less about cooling your laptop.

If your primary aim is to cool down your laptop so it doesn’t overheat, then fan-assisted laptop cooling pads are the way to go.

A new laptop could benefit from a fanless pad—essentially just an angled stand—but if that’s all you want, you can simply prop your laptop on anything and accomplish the same thing. (For example, bottle caps under the rear corners can provide plenty of extra circulation.)

As far as cost, you should expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $40 for a fan-assisted laptop cooling pad, with prices feasibly reaching up to $100 for brand reputation and extra features.

Are laptop cooling pads effective?

Yes, laptop cooling pads are generally effective.

But the question of whether or not a laptop cooling pad will be effective for you is tough because there are many variables: your laptop’s age, your laptop’s internal health, your laptop’s cooling design, as well as the quality and design of the laptop cooling pad you use.

For instance, a laptop cooling pad like the llano V12 could do wonders for an aging gaming laptop with tired-out fans, but it might prove useless for a passively cooled laptop that doesn’t have the right vents for the llano V12 to blow fresh air through.

Meanwhile, a simple cooling pad like the Targus Chill Mat might do a great job cooling a MacBook Air (which benefits from fresh air blowing along its aluminum underside) but fail to make a tangible difference for a hot gaming laptop with dust-clogged vents.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="MSI laptop next to IETS laptop cooling pad" class="wp-image-2350248" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Thiago Trevisan / IDG</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Thiago Trevisan / IDG</p></div>

Not only that, but a laptop cooling pad used carelessly could actually give rise to new problems instead of solving your heat issue.

For example, the llano V12 mentioned earlier relies on a laptop sitting neatly on top of its foam seal. But if your laptop is too small and ends up slotted in such a way that its own exhaust vents are covered by the foam, your laptop could actually end up running even hotter.

That said, bearing in mind the many variables that go into picking a laptop cooling pad appropriate for your situation, you should ultimately be able to find a laptop cooling pad that benefits your system.

Even if the fans in the cooling pad are so weak as to be considered useless, a typical laptop cooling pad still provides passive cooling benefits with its firm, flat, ventilated surface for your laptop.

In other words, not only does a laptop cooling pad ensure that your computer’s built-in fans have access to fresh air for proper cooling, but it also helps you avoid clogged intake vents and dust buildup.

And if you tend to use your laptop on your lap, having a cooling pad as a surface for your laptop also benefits you by providing a buffer between your lap and the radiant heat of the laptop.

Mark Knapp / IDG

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Laptop with rear lifted to provide better airflow beneath" class="wp-image-2405774" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The extra airflow might not be much, but it’s a thousand times better than sitting on a blanket!</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Knapp / IDG</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Knapp / IDG</p></d