A bed tray is one of the most handy items you can have in your bedroom. You can use it to eat from, work on or hold your tablet and phone while you relax your arms. No matter what you use it for, look for a bed tray that is sturdy and steady enough to hold the things you want.
Most bed trays have legs that keep the tray above your lap so you can move around in bed without knocking it over. A few bed trays rest directly on your lap and some even clip to the side of your bed, like the trays in the drive-in movies and restaurants. Whatever direction you take, this guide will help you choose the bed tray that is right for your needs. An excellent choice is the versatile SONGMICS Bamboo Large Tilt-Top Bed Tray and Laptop Desk, which is perfect for eating or working.
What to know before you buy a bed tray
The most important factor in your decision should be what you intend to use your bed tray for. Those who want their bed tray to hold food and drinks should look for different characteristics than those who want to use their bed tray as a work desk. Someone who wants their bed tray to do both will look for the best hybrid design.
Size
The length and width of a bed tray limits how many items fit comfortably on top. Full meals need more space than toast and tea, so choose a bed tray that fits your eating style. If you use your bed tray as a portable desk, you will want room enough for your phone, files, writing pads and pens and pencils. Those who want to use their laptops, tablets and e-readers should look for bed trays with surfaces that tilt for the best viewing angles.
Support
Most bed trays have a flat surface that sits atop four legs. This arrangement keeps things off your lap and allows you some freedom of movement without disturbing whatever is on your tray. Legs may be permanent or foldable, so make sure you get the design that is right for you.
Some bed trays look more like cafeteria trays – flat surfaces with edges around the outside and no legs at all. This simple style is okay for serving food and drink, but is a poor choice for those who want to use their bed tray as an office desk. Some legless bed trays have cushioned, non-slip undersides that conform to your lap. These are designed primarily for drawing, typing and reading, but may become annoying because they do not adjust.
Bed tray features
Handles are useful on a bed tray because they help you keep your tray steady when you move it. Trays with rims around the edges prevent things from falling off onto the floor or your lap when moved. No matter how you use your bed tray, you will always have something on top of it, so a defined rim around the edges is a good feature to have if you use your tray for eating and for working.
Materials
What your bed tray is made of goes a long way toward determining its weight, capacity and durability.
Bamboo is one of the most popular materials used to make bed trays because it is a light yet strong wood.
Metals are strongest, sturdiest and last the longest, but are heavy.
Plastics are used in inexpensive bed trays because they are cheap and easy to mold. Plastic bed trays cost less, but they are not as sturdy as wood or metal and cannot support much weight.
Tilt
The ability of a bed tray to tilt is an important feature for everyone who draws, writes, types and reads. Better tilting trays are built so the sides stay flat and only a center panel tilts up. The best ones have adjustments for tilting the panel at different angles.
Bed tray cost
Simple trays for serving meals and snacks can be found for less than $20. Trays with features like folding legs and tilt tops run from $20 to $40. Bed trays costing $40 or more are high-quality models with features designed for people who want their bed tray to be a working desk, too.
Bed tray FAQ
How stable are bed trays?
A. Bed trays are nearly all solid and steady when the tray is properly loaded and your movement is minimal. But once you move on the soft surface of a bed, even if you only adjust your position slightly, your bed tray will tilt.
Are bed trays bad for your back?
A. It depends on the tray. A quick snack in bed is never a problem, but if you plan on doing a lot of work, you will want a bed tray that properly supports your arms and wrists, especially if you will be typing a lot. And don’t forget, no matter how well-designed your bed tray is, if your in-bed posture is bad, no tray will be able to protect you.
Which bed tray should I get?
Best of the best bed tray
SONGMICS Bamboo Large Tilt Top Bed Tray and Laptop Desk: available at Amazon
Our take: This well-constructed multipurpose tray is built for eating and working.
What we like: This 6.6 pound, 28 by 14 by 11-inch product has a convenient storage drawer for small items, a folding laptop stand and a recessed cup holder. It is configured for ease of use by both right-handed and left-handed people, too. The symmetrical top design provides space for your mouse on both sides, a consideration not often given to left-handers. The tilting center holds your laptop at eye level to reduce neck and back pain. The decorative fan-shaped holes underneath allow heat from your laptop to escape to prevent overheating.
What we dislike: This roomy bed tray may be too large for some.
Best bang for your buck bed tray
Winsome Wood Sherwood Breakfast Bed Tray: available at Amazon
Our take: This well-made bed tray is simple and solid.
What we like: The folding leg design and good handle placement makes this 3-pound tray easy to carry, set up and store. This tray is made from natural pine wood and white melamine for the classic bed tray look. It measures 24 by 14 by 10 inches, has raised side handles and folding legs that are easy to open and close. The easy-to-clean melamine surface is surrounded by a lip to keep items from slipping. No assembly is required.
What we dislike: Like most bed trays, it can collapse if you are careless or overload it.
Honorable mention bed tray
BedShelfie Original Bedside Shelf: available at Amazon
Our take: This great space-saving bed tray launched on Kickstarter is very cleverly designed.
What we like: This is a simple and nice-looking product with space for coffee, a snack and your smartphone. It comes in three styles that clamp onto bed frames with side rails, the Minimalist, Original, and Plus. The fourth style is designed for platform beds and beds with box springs.
This bedside shelf is ideal for small spaces, bunk beds and loft beds and is easy to install without using tools. Don’t let this small 3-pound tray fool you – its 16 by 12 by 5-inch surface holds up to 15 pounds securely.
What we dislike: You need to make sure you choose the correct style for the type of bed you have.
David Allan Van is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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