Working from home is the dream for many people, but despite being more comfortable than a traditional office, your home office may not be optimally suited for productivity. Thankfully, it’s easy to upgrade your WFH life with a few choice products. With the right tools and equipment, your home workspace can be as efficient as you need it to be.

Our entire newsroom has adjusted to remote work over the past few years—like most of the world—so we’ve spent a long time testing and reviewing hardware and optimizing our own workspaces. Here are some of our favorite work-from-home essentials, covering everything from webcams and laptop stands to monitors and smart home devices.

Key facts to know before upgrading your home office

• The article highlights 34 different products that solve common WFH issues like poor posture, bad lighting, limited ports, and background noise.
• Products range from under $30 (Ugreen USB-C hub, Odistar desktop vacuum) to over $400 (FlexiSpot E6 standing desk, reMarkable tablet).
• Many items are frequently discounted, making it possible to buy quality gear on a budget.
• Specific categories covered: connectivity (docks, hubs), ergonomics (stands, monitor arms, vertical mouse), audio/video (webcam, headphones, speakers), lighting (screenbar, desk lamp, smart switches), storage (SSD, cloud backup), and productivity (notetaking tablet, PDF editor).

Look sharp during Zoom meetings: Emeet Piko Plus

Working from home often requires joining video meetings. Since your laptop’s camera is probably not up to par, you need a reliable webcam like the Emeet Piko Plus. This is a 4K webcam with autofocus and an adjustable field of view. It retails for $90 but can be found as low as $63 on sale.

Improve your posture with a laptop stand: Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand

A good laptop stand will do wonders for your comfort and health. The Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand supports laptops from 10 inches to 17.3 inches, offers tilt and height adjustment, and has ventilation holes. It’s typically under $30. If you prefer a lower stand with extra ports, the Ugreen X-Fit Laptop Stand ($50) includes a USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI, and SD card slot.

Store your important files: WD My Passport 2TB SSD

For transporting work files or backing up data, the WD My Passport SSD is small enough to fit in your pocket but offers 2TB of storage and 5Gbps transfer speeds. It retails for $159 but often goes for nearly half off during sales.

Block out background noise: Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Effective noise cancellation doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones provide top-notch noise cancellation for $86, often discounted to $60. They’re ideal for home offices or busy cafés.

Get every answer with a smart display: Google Nest Hub

The Google Nest Hub combines a 7-inch touchscreen with Google Assistant. It can run fact-checks, set reminders, control smart home devices, and display visual answers. Retailing at $100, it rarely goes on sale.

Protect your devices: Anker 351 Power Strip with Surge Protector

Power spikes can fry expensive gear. The Anker 15-in-1 Power Strip ($30, often $22) offers 12 AC outlets and three USB ports, with outlets oriented sideways to avoid plug conflicts.

Create a full-on workstation: Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core

For connecting multiple peripherals to a laptop, the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core ($43, as low as $30) provides Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, and DisplayPort 1.4 in a portable package.

Or opt for a less expensive USB-C hub: Ugreen Revodok

If you don’t need Thunderbolt, the Ugreen Revodok USB-C Hub gives you USB-A, USB-C, microSD, and HDMI slots for under $10.

Don’t skimp on your screen: Dell S2725QC

A good monitor is essential. The Dell S2725QC is a budget 4K monitor with 120Hz refresh rate, integrated speakers, and excellent connectivity. Typically $250-$350. For 1080p on a tighter budget, the Acer KB242Y offers 120Hz at around $100.

Upgrade your monitor’s ergonomics: Ergotron LX Monitor Arm

A monitor arm frees desk space and allows flexible positioning. The Ergotron LX supports monitors up to 25 pounds with 75° tilt and 360° rotation. It’s $210 but often drops to $150. A budget alternative is the Huanuo Gas Spring arm for $40-$50.

Raise those monitors: Gianotter Dual Monitor Organizer

This adjustable desk organizer includes a drawer, pen holders, and space to store a laptop underneath. It costs $29 and sometimes goes for $19.

Consider your wrist ergonomics: Logitech Lift and Keychron Q8 Pro

The Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse ($78, often $58) and Keychron Q8 Pro Keyboard ($90) keep hands and wrists in a comfortable position to prevent injury.

Go wireless: Logitech MK540 Advanced Wireless Combo

For an affordable wireless keyboard and mouse, the Logitech MK540 combo costs $60 and offers a snappy typing experience with programmable gestures.

Type low: Logitech MX Keys S

The Logitech MX Keys S is a slim, silent keyboard with programmable keys and sensor-based backlighting. It’s rechargeable over USB-C and lasts 7-10 days. Retails for $130; the black version is recommended for better contrast.

Backup software is a must: iDrive Online Cloud Backup

Don’t neglect backups. iDrive offers 5TB of cloud storage for $99.50/year, with first-year deals as low as $19.90.

A robust PDF editor: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC remains the top PDF editor for creating, editing, reviewing, and securing documents. Subscription starts at $14.99/month.

Ease your eye strain: BenQ ScreenBar

The BenQ ScreenBar attaches to the top of your monitor to provide focused desk lighting without glare. It costs $109, often on sale for $84.

The conventional desk lamp option: Torchstar Metal Desk Lamp

For under $21, the Torchstar desk lamp offers adjustability, clip-on or stand mounting, and multiple color options.

Get out of your chair: FlexiSpot E6 Electric Standing Desk

A height-adjustable standing desk encourages movement. The FlexiSpot E6 ($470, often 30% off) has a bamboo top, solid stability, and decent warranty. A cheaper option is the Fezibo Electric Standing Desk ($113, often $100).

Set the mood: Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer

Control office lighting via voice, motion, or smartphone. The Lutron Diva ($74, often $62) works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Stop getting up: TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Switch

For on/off control without dimming, the TP-Link Tapo ($24, often under $20) works with Google Home, Alexa, and Matter, and allows scheduling.

Stay warm: Vornado MVH Space Heater

A quiet space heater like the Vornado MVH ($75, often under $60) heats an entire room without taking much space.

Say no to charging cables: Anker 633 Magnetic Wireless Charger

This 10,000mAh power bank with a kickstand serves as a wireless charging stand for phones. $60, often $40.

Charge your laptop on the go: Anker 25,000mAh Laptop Power Bank

With 165W output and built-in USB-C cables, this power bank charges laptops and other devices. $120, often $90.

Charge everything all at once: Anker Prime 200W 6-Port Charging Station

Two USB-A and four USB-C ports with 200W total output, including a 100W laptop charging port. $80, often under $60.

Get some computer speakers: Creative Pebble V3

These small speakers deliver deep audio for meetings or music. $45.

Do-it-all productivity machine: Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7

With a Ryzen 5 CPU, 16GB RAM, and matte display, this laptop handles all office tasks. Starts at $800, often dips to $500.

Choose to go tiny: Beelink EQR5 Mini PC

A mini PC with Ryzen 7, 32GB RAM, 500GB SSD, and dual HDMI support. $400, often under $300.

Add some green: Plantsio Smart Pet Planter

An interactive planter that winks and smiles, adding joy to your desk. $90.

Add some space: Outioe 2-Tier Desk Shelf

Mounts to the side of your desk with C-clamps, providing extra trays for plants, pens, or cables.

Write digitally: reMarkable Paper Pure

A digital paper tablet for distraction-free note-taking and drawing. $399. A cheaper alternative is a paper-feel screen protector for $21.

Delegate floor cleaning: Eureka J15 Pro Ultra or Roborock Q10

Robot vacuums like the Roborock Q10 S5 Plus ($330) or Dreame X50 ($1,000+) keep floors clean while you work.

Keep your desk clean: Odistar Desktop Vacuum Cleaner

This compact vacuum cleans crumbs from your desk or keyboard. Costs around $10 and runs on rechargeable AA batteries.

Source: PCWorld News