The most essential laptop accessories are a protective laptop bag or sleeve, a spare or travel charger, a wireless mouse, and a USB-C hub or adapter for extra ports. From there, the right accessories depend on how you use your laptop: an external monitor and docking station for productivity, a webcam and headset for remote work, or a gaming mouse, headset, and cooling pad for gaming.
In this laptop accessories guide, we cover the common accessories every laptop owner should consider, the best accessories for productivity, remote work, and gaming, and how to make sure an accessory works with your laptop. For more laptop terms, visit our laptop glossary.
Essential Laptop Accessories
Essential laptop accessories protect your laptop, keep it powered, and fill in what a laptop’s built-in hardware can’t do on its own. Most people get the most value from a bag or sleeve, a mouse, a USB-C hub, and a second charger. These accessories are useful no matter whether you use your laptop for school, work, or entertainment.
| Laptop accessory | What it does | Who needs it | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop bag, backpack, or sleeve | Protects the laptop from bumps, scratches, and spills while you carry it | Anyone who travels or commutes with a laptop | Bags and cases |
| Charger or power adapter | Keeps a spare charger at work, home, or in your bag | Commuters, students, and travelers | Chargers and power |
| Wireless mouse | More precise and comfortable than a trackpad for long sessions | Most laptop users | Mice |
| USB-C hub or adapter | Adds HDMI, USB-A, SD card, and Ethernet ports | Owners of thin laptops with only USB-C ports | Cables and adapters |
| External storage | Backs up files and adds space for photos, videos, and games | Anyone with important files or a smaller SSD | External storage |
| Headphones or earbuds | Private listening for calls, classes, music, and movies | Students, remote workers, and travelers | Headsets and speakers |
| Screen cleaning kit | Removes fingerprints and dust safely from the display and keyboard | All laptop owners | Cleaning and care |
Laptop accessories for students
Students usually need a padded backpack, a compact charger, wireless earbuds for online classes, and cloud storage or a USB flash drive for assignments. A digital pen is a strong addition for 2-in-1 laptops used for note-taking and drawing. See what else to look for in our student laptops glossary.
Laptop accessories for travel
- Compact USB-C charger: A small GaN (gallium nitride) charger like the HP 65W GaN USB-C laptop charger can power a laptop and a phone
- Travel hub: A small hub like the HP USB-C Travel Hub G2 connects to hotel TVs and projectors
- Car charger: A laptop car charger keeps your laptop powered on road trips
- Privacy screen filter: Blocks side views of your screen in airports, trains, and cafes
- Carry-on laptop bag: A bag with a padded laptop compartment makes airport screening easier, as our laptop weight and carry-on guide explains
Laptop Accessories for Productivity
The best productivity accessories turn a laptop into a full workstation. An external monitor adds screen space, a docking station connects everything with one cable, and a full-size keyboard, mouse, and laptop stand make long work sessions more comfortable. Together, these accessories give you desktop-style productivity without giving up portability.
External monitors
An external monitor is the single biggest productivity upgrade for most laptop users. A second screen lets you keep email, chat, and reference documents open while you work in a main app. A 24- or 27-inch monitor suits most desks, and a portable monitor adds a second screen on the road. Learn more in our multi-monitor setups glossary and portable monitors glossary.
Docking stations
A docking station connects your laptop to monitors, a keyboard, a mouse, Ethernet, and power through a single cable, usually USB-C or Thunderbolt™. You plug in one cable when you sit down and unplug it when you leave. A dock is best for a permanent desk setup, while a smaller USB-C hub is better for travel. Compare options in our docking stations glossary.
Keyboards, mice, and laptop stands
| Accessory | Productivity benefit | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Full-size keyboard | Adds a number pad and a more comfortable typing position | Keyboards |
| Ergonomic or multi-device mouse | Reduces wrist strain and can switch between devices | Mice |
| Laptop stand | Raises the screen to eye level to help reduce neck strain | Ergonomics and eye comfort |
| Digital pen or stylus | Takes handwritten notes, marks up PDFs, and sketches on touch screens | Pens and styluses |
Using a laptop stand with an external keyboard and mouse puts the screen at eye level and your hands at a comfortable height. For 2-in-1 laptops, a rechargeable pen like the HP Rechargeable MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen works well for note-taking and drawing; check that your laptop model supports it first.
Laptop Accessories for Remote and Hybrid Work
The most important accessories for remote work are a headset or earbuds with a good microphone, a webcam, a reliable internet connection, and a desk setup you can connect with one cable. These accessories help you sound clear on calls, look professional on video, and move easily between home and the office.
Remote work accessory checklist
| Accessory | Why it matters for remote work | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Headset with noise-canceling microphone | Blocks background noise so colleagues hear you, not your household | Headsets and speakers |
| External webcam | Sharper video and better low-light performance than many built-in cameras | Webcams |
| Docking station | One-cable connection to monitors, power, and peripherals when you switch between home and office | Docking stations |
| USB-C to Ethernet adapter | A wired connection is often more stable than Wi-Fi for video calls | Shop Ethernet adapters |
| External monitor | More room for shared screens, chats, and documents during meetings | Multi-monitor setups |
| Desk lamp or light | Even, front-facing light makes you easier to see on camera |
Do you need an external webcam?
Many current laptops have good built-in webcams, often 1080p with AI-powered features like auto-framing and background blur. An external webcam is worth it if your laptop’s camera is 720p, if you work with the laptop closed on a dock, or if you want higher resolution and better low-light video. Browse HP webcams and cameras.
Tips for a better hybrid work setup
- Keep a second charger at each location so you don’t have to carry one
- Use the same dock model at home and work for a consistent setup
- Choose wireless accessories that pair with several devices at once
- Position the webcam at eye level, using a laptop stand or a monitor-mounted camera
For more ideas, see our guide to the best laptops for working from home and our hybrid work glossary.
Gaming Laptop Accessories
The best gaming laptop accessories are a gaming mouse, a gaming headset, a cooling pad, and a high refresh rate external monitor. A gaming mouse and headset give you faster, more precise control and clearer in-game audio, while a cooling pad helps a gaming laptop hold steady performance during long sessions. HP’s HyperX line offers gaming mice, keyboards, and headsets built for PC gaming.
Must-have gaming accessories
| Gaming accessory | What it adds | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming mouse | High-precision sensor, programmable buttons, and low-latency wireless or wired connection | Gaming peripherals |
| Gaming keyboard | Mechanical switches, anti-ghosting, and customizable lighting | Gaming peripherals |
| Gaming headset | Surround sound, a clear mic for team chat, and comfort for long sessions | Gaming audio |
| Game controller | Console-style control for racing, sports, and action games | Connecting accessories |
| Cooling pad | Extra airflow under the laptop to help reduce heat during long sessions | Cooling |
| High refresh rate monitor | A larger screen at 144Hz or higher for smoother gameplay | Display features |
| Large mouse pad | A smooth, consistent surface for fast mouse movement | Gaming peripherals |
Do gaming laptops need a cooling pad?
A gaming laptop doesn’t require a cooling pad, but one can help. Gaming laptops have their own fans and heat pipes, and a cooling pad adds airflow and raises the laptop so its intake vents aren’t blocked. A cooling pad is most useful for long gaming sessions, warm rooms, or when the laptop sits on a soft surface.
Gaming network accessories
A wired Ethernet connection lowers lag and gives a more stable connection for online games than Wi-Fi. If your gaming laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port, a USB-C to Ethernet adapter adds one. Learn how ping, latency, and Wi-Fi standards affect gaming in our gaming networking glossary, and see more gaming laptop features in our gaming laptops glossary.
How to Choose Laptop Accessories That Work With Your Laptop
Before you buy a laptop accessory, check your laptop’s ports, wireless features, charging wattage, and operating system. Most compatibility problems come from a mismatch in connectors or power, such as a monitor that needs HDMI on a laptop with only USB-C, or a charger with too little wattage for a gaming laptop.
Laptop accessory compatibility checklist
| What to check | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | Decides whether you need a hub, adapter, or a USB-C version of the accessory | Your laptop’s product specifications |
| USB-C features | Not every USB-C port supports video output, charging, or Thunderbolt™ | Port icons or the spec sheet |
| Bluetooth version | Wireless mice, keyboards, and headsets connect over Bluetooth® | Device Manager or the spec sheet |
| Charger wattage | A charger must meet or exceed your laptop’s power needs to charge at full speed | The label on your current charger |
| Operating system | Some accessory software works only on Windows or only on certain devices | The accessory’s compatibility list |
| Pen protocol | Digital pens work only with laptops that support the same pen technology | Your laptop’s spec sheet |
Wired vs. wireless laptop accessories
Wireless accessories reduce cable clutter and travel easily, while wired accessories never need charging and usually have lower latency. For everyday work, wireless mice, keyboards, and headsets are the most convenient. For competitive gaming, wired or low-latency 2.4GHz wireless accessories give the most responsive control.
Learn how to connect monitors, printers, mice, and controllers in our laptop connectivity glossary, and see how laptop ports work in our ports and interfaces glossary. For more ideas, read our Tech Takes guide to laptop accessories or shop HP chargers and adapters.
Laptop Accessories FAQs
What accessories do I need for a new laptop?
Most new laptop owners need a protective bag or sleeve, a wireless mouse, and a USB-C hub or adapter for extra ports. A spare charger, external storage for backups, and headphones are also useful for school, work, and travel.
What is the difference between a docking station and a USB-C hub?
A docking station is a larger desk accessory that connects a laptop to monitors, power, Ethernet, and peripherals through one cable. A USB-C hub is a small, portable adapter that adds a few ports, such as HDMI and USB-A, and is better suited for travel.
Can I connect an external monitor to my laptop?
Yes, most laptops can connect to an external monitor through HDMI, USB-C with video support, or Thunderbolt. Laptops with only USB-C ports may need a USB-C hub, adapter, or docking station to connect monitors that use HDMI or DisplayPort.
Is a laptop stand worth it?
Yes, a laptop stand is worth it for anyone who works on a laptop for long periods. A laptop stand raises the screen to eye level to help reduce neck strain and works best with an external keyboard and mouse.
What accessories are best for working from home?
The best accessories for working from home are a headset with a noise-canceling microphone, an external monitor, a docking station, and a comfortable keyboard and mouse. An external webcam and a wired Ethernet adapter can also improve video call quality.
Do gaming laptops need special accessories?
Gaming laptops work without special accessories, but a gaming mouse, gaming headset, and cooling pad improve control, audio, and heat management. A high refresh rate external monitor and a wired Ethernet connection also improve the gaming experience.
Can I use any charger with my laptop?
No, a laptop charger must match the laptop’s connector and meet or exceed its required wattage. Many USB-C laptops can charge with any USB Power Delivery charger of the right wattage, while laptops with barrel connectors need a charger made for that model.
Are wireless or wired laptop accessories better?
Wireless laptop accessories are better for portability and a clutter-free desk, while wired accessories never need charging and usually have lower latency. Wired or low-latency 2.4GHz wireless accessories are best for competitive gaming.
Do digital pens work with every touch screen laptop?
No, digital pens work only with laptops that support the same pen technology. Check the laptop’s specifications for a supported pen protocol, such as Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP), before buying a pen.
