A phone stand is one of those things you only think about once you need it.
During a video call, cooking while watching a recipe on YouTube, or trying to follow along with a tutorial, a phone stand is all you need. Buying one is easy enough, but if you need it now, one is probably already somewhere in your home.
Below are three methods to make a DIY phone stand, each using different materials. Pick the one that matches what you have on hand.
Method A: The Binder Clip
What you need: Two large binder clips
Take both binder clips and fully open the silver arms on each one, then fold them backward so both arms point in the same direction. Stand each clip upright on its two arms—they act as legs.
Place the two clips side by side, roughly as far apart as the width of your phone, with the jaws facing upward and toward you.
Rest the bottom edge of your phone across the two jaws. Adjust the spacing between the clips to suit your phone size — wider for larger phones, closer together for smaller ones.
Method B: The Cardboard Box
What you need: A small cardboard box (cereal box, tea box, or similar), scissors
Find a small, reasonably sturdy cardboard box. Measure one-third of the way up one of the long faces, then draw a horizontal line across it. Cut along that line to remove the top portion of that face.
Then cut a shallow, curved notch into the top edge of the remaining face — this notch is where the bottom edge of your phone will rest and keeps it from sliding down.
On the back face of the box, cut a small rectangular slot at the same height as the notch. This allows a charging cable to pass through while your phone is sitting in the stand. The box’s body adds enough weight to keep the whole thing from tipping, and the angle you cut the notch at determines how upright or reclined your phone sits — adjust it to your preference.
Method C: The Folded Card Stand
What you need: One piece of thick card or heavy paper (A5 or larger)
This one folds flat for travel and takes about five minutes to make. Lay your card flat, then use a ruler and pencil to mark three horizontal lines across its width: one at 4 cm from the bottom, one at 7 cm, and one at 10 cm.
Score along each line with a pen or the back of a knife—don’t cut through.
Fold along all three scored lines in an accordion pattern. The bottom section becomes the base that sits on your surface. The middle section becomes the angled support. The top section folds forward to form a lip that catches the bottom edge of your phone and stops it from sliding.
Press a paper clip across the base fold or add a strip of tape to reinforce it. The whole stand folds completely flat in seconds, which makes it ideal for a bag or travel kit.
Bottom Line
All three methods work reliably for everyday use. The binder clip is the fastest to make and essentially permanent. The cardboard stand is the most stable and easiest to customize. The folded card version is the one worth remembering for travel — it takes up no space and can be remade in minutes if it gets lost or damaged.
