11 Best Laptop Cooling Pads For Gaming And More In 2023

If there's one thing every laptop owner knows, it's how hot their computer gets. Even the best gaming laptop CPUs can reach temperatures of 170 degrees Fahrenheit or more when gaming, and GPUs aren't far behind. If your laptop's ventilation system isn't good enough, even a simple game can turn your PC into a blast furnace.

Hot laptops are terrible to run, and over time, hot hardware degrades faster than cold hardware. That's why laptop cooling pads, flat trays with fans that circulate warm laptop air, are so popular.

Here are 11 of the best laptop cooling pads for gaming and other demanding applications, including some insights into how they work.

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• The TopMate C11 has six fans, RGB lighting, two USB ports, and a detachable phone case.

• This high-quality metal cooling pad features two adjustable fans and an automatic temperature sensor.

• The GT500's 5,000 rpm fan makes it one of the most powerful cooling pads on the market.

• This slim cooling pad features dual fans, is slightly angled, and has an open design to aid in heat dissipation.

• This stylish RGB cooling pad can cool down your laptop without making much noise.

• The Massive 20 features adjustable RGB lighting and can support larger 18-inch laptops.

• The TopMate C5 isn't the biggest pad on the market, but it's a powerful option with five fans and up to 2,500 rpm.

• Unlike regular pads, Klim Cool is a "vacuum" fan that plugs into your laptop and blows out cool air.

• This affordable Kutech pad has five fans and you can choose which one to run.

• NotePal X3 has a large 200mm fan with a performance of only 23dB.

• Available in three different colors, these Heavit pads each come with three fans and a sleek design.

Frequent questions

Do Laptop Cooling Pads Really Work?

Yes, but it depends on what you want. Tests show that the best laptop cooling pads can cool a laptop by around 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on performance. It's not critical, but it can make a difference over time. And if you tend to use your laptop directly on your lap, putting a mat underneath will protect your knees from burns.

On the other hand, there is little evidence that cooling pads help laptops run faster. A difference of a few degrees is not enough to significantly improve CPU or GPU performance.

Laptop cooling pads may make you more comfortable while gaming, but you can't rely on them to improve the performance of your laptop. And if your laptop is having problems with overheating, perhaps due to damaged air or dust, a cooling stand is only a temporary solution.

How much does a laptop cooling pad weigh?

You should expect most refrigerators to be between 20dB and 50dB. 50 dB is equivalent to a normal conversation between two people or the hum of a refrigerator. The more powerful the cooling pad fan is, the louder the sound will be.

Keep in mind that a cooling pad does not replace your laptop's internal fan. Thus, if your laptop's internal fans monitor cooling, you'll find two sets of fans making noise at the same time, doubling the volume.

What size of cooling pad should I buy?

Any cooler you buy should be at least large enough to fit in the base of your laptop. Your laptop shouldn't be tilted sideways or backwards, and it should be able to lay flat without shaking. In other words, a large cooling pad works in a small laptop, but not the other way around.

Cooling pads work best when the pad's fan is aligned with the laptop's vents. This usually means placing the laptop in the center of the pad, equidistant from each fan and/or directly above the center fan.

William Antonelli

Technology reporter for internal audit

William Antonelli (he/she) is a writer, editor and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Referral Team, he helped grow Referral Technologies (now part of Internal Reviews) from humble beginnings to over 20 million monthly visitors. Inside Out, her writing has appeared in publications such as Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He is a source of technology analysis on channels such as Newsy, Cheddar and News Nation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher or email him at awannelli@insider.com.

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Best Laptop Cooling Pads in 2023 | It's GT500