Take a look at accessories and appliances that will let you read books hands-free, be it electronic or print.
For avid book readers, any idea that would make the reading session more convenient is most welcome. Sometimes, even the most comfortable chair is not enough, especially when it’s not your back that needs some relief, but hands.
Are there ways to stop thinking about hands and focus entirely on the novel you are reading? You will be surprised how many home appliances and accessories would suit this single task.
The following overview of accessories suitable for hands-free reading is not just a plain list of tablets stands. Just the opposite. I was determined to find the products that would fit both print and electronic books.
Therefore, they could be used not just with your current Kindle model, but any book in any form, and not only in the following months but for many years.
What kind of hands-free reading accessory are you looking for? Everything depends on where you spend the most time reading. If you usually read in bed, you would need something cozy but stable, a pillow-like stand would be the best.
If the chair is the central place of your reading nook, you may need an accessory that would place the book at the eye level – a floor reading stand, perhaps?
For electronic reading devices, be it e-readers or tablets, buying a case with a built-in stand seems like an obvious idea. The problem is that most people read books in a portrait view – while most cases can be transformed into landscape stands. Stand pillows and bean bags can be a reasonable alternative.
When going through this list of innovative products, please keep in mind that an insanely convenient accessory for hands-free reading is probably standing within the reach of your hands.
Just pick up one of the books from your bookshelf, make a tent out of it, and place a print book or device on it. Happy reading!
Best accessories for hands-free reading
1. Sturdy pillow stand with 6 reading angles
Our pick: Best pillow stand for hands-free reading
▸ From Lamicall comes one of the best solutions for hands-free reading, no matter whether you read books in a print or ebook format.
▸ The stand is cozy but extremely stable – it has strong resilience but is hard to deform. Therefore, it can be used on any surface, be it a desk, bed, or sofa.
▸ Best of all, it combines a convenience of a pillow with features typical for desktop stands: multi-angle functionality.
▸ You can place the book or device on each of two sides, where there are three grooves that are deep enough to hold an opened print book as well.
▸ The current price is $19.99, but you can find price drops during major shopping events.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
Our score: 8.5/10
2. Foldable pillow pad with storage compartment
▸ Pillow stands are usually large – too large to take them on a trip or hide in a drawer.
▸ From Ontel comes a clever solution – a soft stand that looks like a pillow on the outside but hide a foldable stand construction.
▸ The stand is made of soft but sturdy cover, and can be folded to a flat shape that can easily fit under a bed or in a drawer.
▸ The adjustable top side (between 0 and 90 degrees) is where you can place your e-reader or tablet. The front groove is high and large enough to hold a print book as well.
▸ Best of all, the pillow features a hidden storage compartment, where you can place the device or book – and there is still some place to add a few smaller accessories.
▸ The price at the time of updating this list is set at $19.99.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
3. Foldable metal book and textbook holder
▸ Here is a metal book holder that’s both lightweight and functional. It will work with a paper book, textbook, or cookbook. You can also use it as a tablet stand.
▸ The stand offers six reading positions that you can fix by using the notches in the middle part. You can fold the holder completely so that you can take it to the library or campsite.
▸ Thanks to a large base, the stand can also be used on uneven surfaces, such as sofa or bed.
▸ It’s made of a premium stainless iron, and is painted in one of over twenty bright colors, including Lime Green, Book Brown, Morandi Pink, and Army Green.
▸ You can currently get the holder for $11.99, but it’s a limited time deal. The regular price is set at $13.99.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
4. Book Couch pillow stand for all forms of books
▸ This pillow stand was designed with readers in mind. It is intended to be mainly used as a way to read books hands-free.
▸ The producer claims the Book Couch will securely keep any book and of any size – “where you are reading a paperback, hardcover, magazine, or textbook.”
▸ Obviously, the pillow will also be a great stand for tablets and e-readers, especially if you want to use it on uneven surfaces.
▸ The stand is definitely the coziest accessory in this overview, but you have to keep in mind that it also takes the most space.
▸ The price at the time of updating the list is set at $29.99.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
5. Portable pillow holder with pockets
▸ Here is another idea for a pillow holder that can be folded to a more portable shape.
▸ Designed and sold by our favorite accessory producer MoKo, this soft pillow holder features a movable top side that can be unfolded to form a stable stand.
▸ The stand, together with a front cradle, should accommodate an e-reader, a tablet, or a paper book (hardcovers are better than paperbacks when it comes to using them in all kinds of holders).
▸ You can fold the top back and close with buttons to form a kind of suitcase that you can carry using a convenient handle. There are also pockets on two sides where you can place your smartphone or cables.
▸ When folded, the pillow can be used as a throw pillow or neck support on a sofa or bed.
▸ The current price is $29.99, and it rarely goes down.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets (up to 12.9 inches), smartphones.
6. Vertical flip stand e-reader case
▸ If you own an e-reader and want to free your hands while reading, you have been probably considering a vertical flip stand case.
▸ This case design opens from top to bottom, and can be transformed into a standing case where the device is in a portrait position. The front cover is now a base that is large enough to use the stand in a bed or sofa.
▸ It’s a clever and convenient idea for an e-reader case. The only problem is that a single flip case can be used only with a specific device. And you can find flip cases only for the most popular models. Here are a few examples to investigate:
- Flip case for Kindle Paperwhite 4 (2019)
- Kobo Clara HD SleepCover
- Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) flip case
7. Foldable spider-leg stand for tablets and e-readers
Our pick: Best spider leg stand for tablets
▸ Most stands and tablet pillows can raise the book or device only a bit higher. What if you wanted to place the text at the eye level?
▸ Take a look at the clever stand from Tablift. It has a construction which resembles a four-legged spider, and on the top there is a device holder.
▸ The legs are flexible, and you can form them to raise the device much higher than any other accessory. Most importantly, the legs can be folded together to take as little space as possible.
▸ The holder lets you mount a device of up to 12.9 inches (ca. 33 cm). The slots allow reading at three different angles.
▸ Tablift is a great way to read hands-free in bed, especially if you want to avoid placing anything directly on your stomach.
▸ The price at the time of updating this post is set at $39.99. I have not spotted any price cut yet.
✨ Compatible: E-readers, tablets, smartphones.
Our score: 8.2/10
8. Bed tray with adjustable stand
Our pick: Best bed tray for hands-free reading
▸ If you like an idea of a large stand that you don’t have to keep on your knees, you can go one step further. Why not choosing a home appliance that combines several benefits, including a hands-free reading?
▸ A bed tray with an adjustable stand can meet most of your needs. When you want, you can use it for a Sunday breakfast in bed, working on a laptop, or reading a book.
▸ The main benefit is an adjustable stand that you create by raising a left part of the desk. You can position the stand at five different angles – a great idea if you read a lot on a sofa or in a bed.
▸ The right side of the desk stays flat, and you can use it for a cup of coffee and a tray of marshmallows. Plus, there is also a mesh storage compartment for office accessories or a bottle of water.
▸ The regular price of this lap desk is $59.99, but it’s currently down to $49.99.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
Our score: 7.9/10
9. Bamboo floor book reading stand
▸ If you want to invest in a standalone book reading stand that you cloud place by your bed, sofa, or kitchen table, this one is worth considering.
▸ Opposite to tablet floor stands – which can only hold tablets, e-readers, or smartphones – the stand is designed to be used mainly with paper books, textbooks, cookbooks, or magazines.
▸ You can adjust its height easily by using a knob, but if you want to control the angle, you will need to reach for a tool box. Thanks to the wheels, you can easily roll the stand between the places where you usually read books.
▸ The stand offers a minimalist design that will fit every home style, with a bamboo base and a reading panel.
▸ Floor stands, especially the solid ones, are not cheap. This one costs $159.99.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
10. Adjustable floor sheet music stand
Our pick: Best alternative floor stand for reading
▸ Dedicated book reading floor stands cost well above $100. Tablet floor stands are only for, well, tablets. If you want to read book print and electronic books, there is an alternative solution – a floor music stand.
▸ Surprisingly or not, the music stand has everything you need to read books hands-free. It offers a high adjustment, as well as the angle adjustment. It can hold an e-reader, but also a large and thick academic book.
▸ You can also use it as a cookbook stand. There are metal spring arms that will hold your book in place, no matter how think it is.
▸ Yes, but music stands are cold black. You don’t have to choose the black. Get the white one, and it will perfectly fit the light feel of your bedroom.
▸ Plus, you can detach the head of the stand and place it on a floor or kitchen table. Oh, and it comes with a carrying bag.
▸ Most music stands cost below $50 on Amazon. This one is currently available for $35.99.
✨ Compatible: Print books, e-readers, tablets, smartphones.
11. Bean bag holder for e-readers and tablets
▸ If you are looking for a smaller accessory that will help you read with free hands, you will appreciate the soft stand from iProp.
▸ The stand is, in fact, a small bean bag that will help you place your e-reader or tablet on any uneven surface.
▸ The non-slip silicone shelf will hold your device even if it’s in a case, and the cradle is large enough for devices that are up to 18 mm in depth.
▸ The pillow is covered with breathable mesh fabric which can be detached and washed. The zipper lets you use the internal space for cables and other small accessories.
▸ The price of this compact bean bag is $24.99. We have never seen it go down.
✨ Compatible: E-readers, tablets, smartphones.
12. Innovative pillow stand with flexible arm
Our pick: Most innovative pillow stand for reading
▸ If you are looking for accessories that you can fully adjust to your needs, take a look at the stand that combines a flexible holder with an innovative pillow.
▸ The pillow is filled with odorless foam pellets. As a result, it can change its shape to closely fill the contact surface – a bed, desk, or your knees. The cover is made of stretchy and breathable Lycra fabric.
▸ The other part is a cozy-looking arm that ends with a device holder. The holder is compatible with smartphones, e-readers, and tablets that are up to 7 inches. Unfortunately, there is no way to mount a print book here.
▸ The arm can be rotated by 360 degrees, and you can also adjust its height “to meet the comfort of watching the screen in different postures, and effectively soothe your neck and spine.”
▸ The best thing is that, thanks to a hook in the pillow’s top side, you can place here an even larger device.
▸ The current price is set at $55.99, but sometimes, especially during hot shopping seasons, it goes down below $50.
✨ Compatible: Holder: smartphones, tablets, and e-readers that are up to 7 inches. Pillow hook: devices that are up to 12.9 inches.
Our score: 8.2/10
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