The best laptop cooling pads of 2025: Expert tested

A laptop feature that often gets overlooked is its cooling system. Processors, graphics cards, and more demand a lot of energy, which results in a lot of heat. Ask anyone with a gaming laptop — they’ll tell you how uncomfortably hot it can get. Unfortunately, you can’t prevent your computer from generating heat, but you can mitigate it with a laptop cooling pad. These devices sit underneath the laptop, absorb the heat created, and actively cool the device with a combination of high-speed fans and clever airflow engineering.

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What is the best laptop cooling pad right now?

We tested some of the top laptop cooling pads on the market, and the Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler is ZDNET’s top pick. Its powerful cooling can reduce the temperature of even the hottest computers. It can hold 17-inch laptops, is height adjustable, and has eye-catching RGB lights.

As much as we like it, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Maybe you want one with additional RGB lighting fixtures or a more low-key design. We’ve included a handful of other models on this list with different use cases so you can choose the right one for you.

The best laptop cooling pads of 2025

As we used the Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler more and more, we eventually concluded that it’s truly the best cooling pad on the market today. The device is very effective at what it does. It has a unique design where the cooling fan sits inside a recessed pit surrounded by foam cushioning.

Placing a laptop over space creates a powerful vacuum effect. What’s more, the fan spins at 2,800 RPM max, which is capable of cooling down even the hottest gaming laptops. We know this because that’s exactly what we did. Llano’s pad was tested with an old gaming laptop that quickly overheats. It successfully lowered the temperature of what is normally a very hot computer (so hot you can barely touch it) in just a few minutes. It was genuinely impressive.

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Like many other gaming accessories, Llano’s Laptop Cooler has RGB lighting in the form of a ring light that goes around the main body. You have the option to change the pattern of the lights via the on-device touchscreen.

This device offers the option to run the machine using a traditional power adapter instead of a USB cable. All you have to do is plug it directly into a wall socket. It saves you a USB port that you would normally have to give up on other laptop coolers.

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It is surprisingly tricky to find a budget laptop cooling pad for two reasons. One, these types of devices are already inexpensive, and two, the cheap models are not very good, in my experience. But TECKNET’s gadget bucks this trend by being an effective cooling pad.

It’s not the most powerful on this list, although it does get the job done. The upper half of the TECKNET Laptop Cooling Pad houses a pair of fans spinning at 1,800 RPM, which is more than enough to chill out warm and thin laptops. I want to emphasize using it with thin laptops because this model does struggle a little with thicker machines like bulky gaming laptops. I recommend pairing the TECKNET pad with a MacBook, HP Omnibook, or whatever work computer you own.

Another great feature is its lightweight, ergonomic design. It weighs a mere 1.75 pounds and fits perfectly on your lap. The TECKNET cooling pad takes power from the host laptop via a USB-A cable. Don’t worry about the device quickly draining your computer as it takes little power to run.

I should also mention that there is a control wheel on the side. Turning it allows you to control the fan’s speeds from 1,300 RPM up to the previously mentioned 1,800 RPM. It’s a great tool to have whenever you want the cooling pad to be less noisy.

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Comfort is an underrated aspect of laptop cooling pads. Good ergonomics ensures your hands won’t feel strain after typing away for hours, and you can maintain good body posture. Among the many options out there, the IETS GT300 Double Blower stands out as one of the best. This is thanks to the device’s adjustable rear brackets, which can be set to one of seven positions. Placing your laptop at a comfortable angle encourages you to sit upright instead of hunched over. Bad posture can cause discomfort over long periods.

Of course, there’s more to the Double Blower than its thoughtful design. It has two high-speed fans inside a recessed pit similar to the Llano Cooler at the top of the list. IETS states its product is more compatible with laptops with thermal vents on the bottom and the sides. I strongly recommend following the company’s suggestion, but I should mention that it is still quite good at cooling down laptops lacking vents.

I tested the GT300 on an old Alienware laptop with only rear and side vents. I discovered that the pad is quite effective at cooling down overheating machines with or without those vents.

It’s worth mentioning that despite spinning at 4,500 RPM, the fans are fairly quiet. Having a laptop over the pit definitely helps with the noise factor. Other notable features include dust filters and four unique LED light themes.

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I’m a little surprised it took Razer so long to develop a laptop cooling pad, given how many different gaming accessories they sell, but it was worth the wait. The brand has many of the same hallmarks as some of the entries, namely the recessed pit design and a powerful cooling fan. In fact, the fan can spin at 3,000 RPM max, making it one of the most powerful models on this list. It was able to quickly cool down an overheating, bulky gaming laptop in mere minutes during testing.

Of course, Razer didn’t just copy other companies; it added its own flare to the cooling pad concept. The foam pad surrounding the center fan can actually be removed and replaced with a different base tailored for different laptop sizes. What’s more, they’re all magnetically attachable, so installation is very easy.

Review: Razer Laptop Cooling Pad

Additionally, users can customize the device via Razer’s Synapse 4 app. You can remap the side RGB and fan control buttons to perform other tasks like media playback. Speaking of RGB, the lighting is placed at the bottom. It’s vibrant enough to make the pad appear otherworldly while not being distracting. Razer’s Laptop Cooling Pad isn’t available for sale at the moment, but you can pre-order it off the company’s website.

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Gamers who want a laptop cooling pad that makes a big statement should check out the AICHESON K1. It’s a large device that supports 18-inch laptops and sports vivid RGB lights around its body. The device sports the same vacuum pit design as other entries on this list. As we’ve established, the form creates a vacuum seal that helps significantly cool down the laptop.

The fans of AICHESON K1 spin at a speed of 2,800 RPM max. Because the fans spin at 2,800, it can be pretty noisy. Our tests show it can get as loud as 80 dB. Fortunately, you can lower the speeds down to 600 RPM by pushing the scroll wheel below the fan down to its lowest setting for a much quieter experience. Of course, this comes with the tradeoff of less powerful cooling.

On the other side of the scroll wheel is a button that changes the RGB lighting array. You can pick between a series of rotating colors or a static hue like red, blue, and green.

The AICHESON K1 also offers two ways to power the cooling pad. You can siphon energy from a laptop to the K1 via a USB cable or supply power through the packaged-in power adapter. The latter ensures you don’t lose out on a USB port.

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The IETS GT500 V2 (Hub+RGB) has the most powerful fan on this list as the blades can rotate at 5,000 RPM. Nothing on the guide comes close to this speed. You effectively have a device capable of creating a mini wind tunnel instead of a focused airstream.

The fan sits in the center of the cooling pad. Instead of blowing air up towards the bottom of the laptop, it spins the air in a spiral pattern, sort of like a washing machine. This causes what the company describes as “360-degree undifferentiated cooling,” which means air cools every part of a laptop equally.

Furthermore, the fan sits recessed in a pit surrounded by foam, a great design that enables highly effective cooling. The foam creates a vacuum seal with the bottom of your laptop that traps the circulating air. Together with the 360-degree fan, the GT500 V2 can cool down the most powerful gaming laptops. This model also has a three-port USB-A hub and RGB lights for extra pizazz.

The major drawback of the IETS GT500 is the high fan speed, which causes the device to get really loud. The fan volume is the number one criticism in its Amazon reviews. IETS is aware of this issue, and its product listing states that noise can reach 65 dB. The company even says, “if you are sensitive to noise, please buy carefully.” They’re not hiding the fact that the GT500 V2 sounds like a jet engine.

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For this entry, we’re breaking our rules and recommending a laptop cooler that isn’t a pad. It can’t hold a laptop, nor does it support USB passthrough. But what it does offer is powerful cooling and portability. KLIM’s Cool Vacuum Laptop Cooler is a unique device that you’re supposed to place against a laptop’s air vents.

Cooling pads operate by blowing air up toward the bottom of a laptop, where much of the hardware is located. This piece of tech works by utilizing a vacuum fan to extract the hot air from inside the computer and blow it outside. It’s a similar principle to the pit cooling pads highlighted throughout the list, although it operates at a smaller capacity.

You install it by pressing the Vacuum Laptop Cooler against a laptop’s heat vent. The company gives you an array of plastic frames around the vents to ensure optimal performance. That way, the vacuum fan can cool the computer without leakage. And it’s quite effective, too.

The fan spins at 3,500 RPM max, capable of chilling very warm laptops down to comfortable temperatures. It does get rather noisy, however. Also, you’ll notice that the Vacuum Laptop Cooler is quite small and weighs under five ounces. KLIM’s gadget is perfect for travel. You can stick it into your bag whenever you and your laptop go on the road.

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One of the main problems with all previous entries on this list is that they can be quite loud. The high-speed fans are great at cooling, but we wouldn’t recommend taking them to work as the noise may disturb others. If you want a device to bring to the office, we strongly suggest the Havit HV-F2056.

It has a quiet fan with a maximum speed of 1,100 RPM, so you can freely use this cooling pad without disturbing other people around you. Havit’s model does sport RGB lights inside its mesh frame, but they’re not super bright; they’re rather dim. The company designed this cooling pad to be ultra-lightweight. It weighs a little over 1.5 pounds, so you can stuff it inside a bag and hardly know it’s there.

Additionally, Havit’s HV-F2056 is ergonomically sound. Users can adjust the back legs, letting you adjust the cooling pad into a more comfortable position when typing. It’s important to mention that because the fan only spins at 1,100 RPM, the device isn’t the best at cooling. We wouldn’t recommend it for gaming laptops. It’s best suited for supporting work laptops.

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The best laptop cooling pad on the market today is the Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler. Its powerful fan spins at 2,800 RPM and features a unique design that helps lower computer temperatures quickly. The device also has a striking ring light that outputs vibrant RGB colors.

However, it’s not the only good laptop cooler out there. Look at the table below for our other recommendations.

Best laptop cooling pads	Price	Fan speed	Max laptop size
Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler	$93	2,800 RPM	19 inches
TECKNET Laptop Cooling Pad	$26	1,800 RPM	15.6 inches
IETS GT300 Double Blower	$61	4,500 RPM	17 inches
Razer Laptop Cooling Pad	$150	3,000 RPM	18 inches
AICHESON K1 Gaming RGB Laptop Cooling Pad	$70	2,800 RPM	18 inches
IETS GT500 V2	$79	5,000 RPM	17.3 inches
KLIM Cool Vacuum Laptop Cooler	$25	3,500 RPM	Not applicable
Havit HV-F2056	$28	1,100 RPM	17 inches

It’s important to consider how you plan on using your laptop cooling pad. If you want something to keep your laptop cool while you work or watch a movie, then a basic cooling pad with one or two fans will suffice. But if you have many peripherals you want to connect or own a powerful gaming laptop, you should buy a more heavy-duty cooling pad with faster fans or ports.

The table below can help you choose the best cooling pad for you.

Choose this best laptop cooling pad…	If you want…
Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler	The best gaming laptop cooler. Llano’s device is capable of cooling even the warmest laptops and has a striking RGB ring light.
TECKNET Laptop Cooling Pad	A budget-friendly option. It isn’t the most powerful option on this list, but TECKNET’s model still perform well with fans that spin at 1,800 RPM.
IETS GT300 Double Blower	The best ergonomic cooler. It can adjusted to one of seven levels for maximum comfort.
Razer Laptop Cooling Pad	The best gaming cooling pad. Razer’s device offers a lot of customization options including the ability to change what actions its buttons do.
AICHESON K1 Gaming RGB Laptop Cooling Pad	The best RGB laptop cooling pad. AICHESON’s pad sports dazzling light throughout its body and cools computers fast with its 2,800 RPM fan.
IETS GT500 V2	A laptop cooling pad with a unique design and maximal cooling. The IETS GT500 has a powerful fan in the center of a foam pit that circulates air and ensures your device stays cool.
KLIM Cool Vacuum Laptop Cooler	A portable laptop cooler. Don’t let its small size fool you. KLIM’s device can cool down the warmest of laptops with its unique 3,500 vacuum fan.
Havit HV-F2056	A great laptop cooling pad for the office. It features a quiet fan underneath the mesh grill and its lightweight design makes it easy to carry.

When picking out a laptop cooling pad, there are four key factors that you should consider:

Laptop size: You must ensure the cooling pad is big enough to accommodate your laptop. Conversely, if a pad is too big, it may be unable to effectively cool down your laptop. The fans on a large pad won’t be able to adequately the warm areas on small laptops. We recommend purchasing cooling pads that fit your computer well.
Comfort: Good ergonomics is important for comfort, especially if you spend a lot of time behind a computer. Hours of typing can be killer on the wrists, so we recommend choosing a laptop cooling pad that allows you to adjust its height and angle for a comfortable working experience.
Fan output: Fans can get loud, so it’s important to think about how noisy the cooling pad may be when looking to buy one. The manufacturer of the IETS GT500 acknowledges that their product generates so much noise that it actively recommends that buyers steer clear if they’re sensitive to noise. If this is an important factor for you, look for fans that have a lower RPM as they’re typically quieter. Be aware that slower fans translate to less effective cooling.
Price: The price tags for laptop cooling pads can vary, although they’re generally not very expensive. As you can see from this list, finding a solid pick for less than $100 is very easy. Interested shoppers can naturally expect better performance from more expensive models.

Our search for the best laptop cooling pads began by judging the review units using the above core considerations. We looked at ergonomics, fan design, cooling performance, price, and extra features. We included the IETS GT500 despite its loud fans because of how well it cools a laptop.

Once the selections were made, we tested several laptop cooling pads ourselves. We placed an old Alienware Area 51 laptop that frequently runs hot on the pads to see how well they could bring down temperatures. All the pads successfully cool the laptop down, but some more were better than others.

We also looked at several sources online, such as Reddit, Amazon reviews, and other consumer sites, to see what everyday people thought were the best laptop cooling pads. Reading users’ personal experiences helped us narrow the potential field and make our final picks.

There really isn’t a specific brand that we would recommend over the rest. Many manufacturers develop their own well-performing devices. It’s just that some are better than others.

You should consider getting a cooling pad when you notice your laptop starts to become uncomfortably warm during usage. That’s a sign that you should consider taking action to lower temperatures, as heat can damage your computer. If you ultimately don’t think getting a cooling pad is necessary, we strongly recommend monitoring your laptop’s internal temperatures regardless.

Absolutely. Excessive heat can limit a laptop’s performance. High temperatures strangle hardware performance and, in the worst cases, shorten a computer’s lifespan. It is primarily for this reason that I recommend getting a cooling pad, especially if you own an older laptop. Older machines have a harder time dissipating heat effectively. Cooling pads are an important tool in boosting performance and greatly improving user comfort. Speaking from experience, high temperatures make typing on a keyboard very uncomfortable.

Even if you own a more recent device, it’s still a helpful tool if you live in a warm climate. Having proper air circulation can go a long way in those environments. Results vary as they ultimately depend on your cooling pad’s fan speeds. But at the very least, you can keep your computer operating at lower temperatures, promoting optimal performance.

Don’t worry about your cooling pad potentially causing overheating — they don’t take a lot of energy to run, so it’s unlikely the devices will exacerbate the problem.

Mobile computer repair company Lee Harvey Computing states the average lifespan of a laptop fan is somewhere “between 30,000 and 50,000 hours”. That equates to about three to five years of continuous use. After that, the fans won’t operate the same as before and you’ll probably need to replace them. It’s important to mention that those numbers are contingent on users taking good care of their devices. Inadequate airflow, for example, could shorten the lifespan. Environmental conditions play an important role, too, as warm temperatures could also cause faster degradation.

So, if you own a laptop that’s between three and five years old, you may want to consider purchasing a cooling pad. It’s possible the fans aren’t working as well as they used to and will need some help keeping temperatures low.

There are plenty of alternate methods out there that you can try out. First off, make sure your laptop’s fans and heat vent are not covered in dust. Clogged vents prevent proper airflow. To fix the issue, we recommend getting a can of compressed air and blowing out the dust. It’s possible one of the fans is malfunctioning. If this is the case, you’ll have to replace the component.

Another simple method is to elevate your laptop at a comfortable angle. Some companies sell metal stands that hoist your computer above the desk, promoting better airflow. Additionally, don’t sit your laptop on any carpeted or padded surfaces. Cloth and fabrics insulate heat well, which can prevent laptops from being ventilated properly.

Software tweaks are also possible. Downloading the latest patch on your laptop will fix bugs plaguing your machine, getting rid of any and all inefficiencies. Bugs can sometimes add to a computer’s workload, which causes internal temperatures to rise. Similarly, optimizing a device’s performance setting is another good way to deal with overheating.

You can lower the brightness of your display or screen resolution as well as change the power plan via the Control Panel. Doing so will come at the cost of performance, so be mindful of that.

According to antivirus developer Avast, internal CPU temperatures should typically hover between 104 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit during day-to-day usage. Intense apps can turn up the heat up to 176 degrees, but that’s still safe. Once you go past 176 degrees, you enter the danger zone. Now internal temperatures have become too high and the computer is at risk of permanent damage.

As we covered in the previous question, there are several ways to maintain optimal temperatures with the two best methods being to ensure your laptop is receiving good airflow and to place it on a cooling pad.

Yes, they do. Because cooling pads require a direct USB connection for power, they will siphon power from your laptop’s battery to operate. Many models allow you to adjust fan speeds and/or disable LED lights, both of which can help conserve battery, but you still have to contend with the extra power demand.

A powered USB hub can work as an alternative power source. If you own one, try plugging your cooling pad into the hub instead of your laptop. It is worth mentioning there are pads out there that plug straight into a wall socket instead of draining power directly from a laptop battery.

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