Faulty reasoning signals

• Confirmation Bias - 7% (32 hits)
• Anchoring Bias - 2% (9 hits)
• Availability Heuristic - 6.3% (29 hits)
• Representativeness Heuristic - 2.6% (12 hits)
• Hindsight Bias - 0%
• Overconfidence Bias - 3.1% (14 hits)
• Framing Effect - 8.5% (39 hits)
• Loss Aversion - 5.2% (24 hits)
• Status Quo Bias - 1.5% (7 hits)
• Sunk Cost Effect - 0%
• Optimism Bias - 8.1% (37 hits)
• Pessimism Bias - 0%

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The best laptop cooling pads of 2026: Expert tested

A great laptop doesn't need to cost a fortune, and neither do the accessories that help it perform at its best.

If you want to keep your system running smoothly on heavy workdays or marathon gaming sessions, a good cooling pad is a worthwhile investment.

High temperatures can negatively impact PC performance.

The best laptop cooling pads improve airflow, reduce heat buildup, and provide thoughtful quality-of-life features.

I've tested some top-rated cooling pads to help you make the most informed purchase.

This list covers a wide variety, from budget-friendly devices to powerful models.

For our June update, we tested the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad and the IETS GT20UB vacuum cooler 

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What is the best laptop cooling pad right now?

It was tricky to find the best option.

Razer launched its first cooling pad back in 2024.

It's a great pick for gamers who want a pad with powerful fans and a sleek design.

Havit's HV-F2056 is a solid budget option.

But our pick for the best overall is the Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler.

It boasts powerful cooling that can cool even the hottest computers and features eye-catching RGB lighting.

As much as we like it, it may not be the best choice for everyone.

Below is a list of other notable cooling pads with different use cases that you may like more.

Also: The best laptops of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

The best laptop cooling pads of 2026

Latest information on laptop cooling pads in 2026

FAQs on laptop cooling pads

Latest updates

June 2026: We tested and added the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad and the IETS GT20UB vacuum cooler to the main list, removing outdated models.

We also refresh the tertiary information relating to the list.

September 2025: We added an interactive visualization chart that compares the specs of each of our top products.&nbsp;

July 2025: For this update, we updated the pricing information as some of it was outdated.

We then tweaked the text in some of the entries and refreshed the Also links.

Finally, we revamped the cooling pad alternative list below.

May 2025: We updated this list to provide information on why you should consider purchasing these laptop cooling pads.

Each entry has a section explaining why we at ZDNET like the pad, who should purchase the device, and who should consider another option.

Other laptop cooling pads we've tested

Be sure to check out ZDNET's list of the top seven laptop-bag essentials.

If you've been thinking of buying a new laptop but don't know what to get, I'd recommend reading our Asus vs Acer comparison.