Under-desk mounts for Mac mini, mini PCs and laptops

A cradle that lets the Mac mini breathe

On the 2024 Mac mini, air comes in and goes out through the gap around the bottom cover, and the power button sits underneath in the rear corner. Holders that cover the base get in the way of cooling, and you can no longer reach the button. Our cradle holds the Mac only by its corners: the gap stays open all the way round, and the rear corners have finger windows to the button.

The Mac slides in from the front, lifted slightly over the teeth, and settles onto the tabs. It cannot slide forward — 3 mm teeth hold it, so even a tug on the USB-C cable will not pull it out — and at the back it stops against ramps. The front and rear ports stay open.

Shelves for any mini PC or laptop

The two shelves mount separately, so your device can be any width, and the rear stop is placed to suit its depth. Heights: 45 mm for mini PCs such as the Beelink SER8 or EQ14, 36 mm for the Mac mini 2020–2023 and 17 mm for a laptop with the lid closed running an external monitor. The base between the shelves is open, so mini PCs that draw air from below do not overheat. Your device a different height? We print shelves to fit it.

No drilling — the clamp

For a rented desk or a desktop you would rather not drill: the clamp fits over the side edge and is tightened by hand with a knob. Under the desk there is a shelf for headphones, and at the side a hook for a backpack. The heavier the backpack, the harder the heel presses against the underside: the shape does the holding, not the bolt. We stick felt under the jaw and heel so they leave no marks on the finish.

Power strip and cables — off the floor and under the desk

The clips hold the power strip sockets down: it snaps in from below with one hand, and the jaws do not spread when you pull a plug. The cable tray is made of 240 mm sections: three sections give 72 cm and replace a metal tray. The “Workstation” set brings it all together: the cradle, clips, a headphone hook and clips for a cable bundle.

How to install

• Hold the mount against the desk and mark the holes with a pencil.
• Drill pilot holes 2.5 mm wide and 10 mm deep so the screw does not split the chipboard.
• Drive the 4 × 16 mm screws until they seat without force, and retighten them after a week: the plastic under the head settles slightly.

Limitations

• The cradle fits only the Mac mini 2024 and later (127 × 127 mm case). For the Mac mini 2020–2023, use the 36 mm shelves.
• The desktop should be chipboard at least 16 mm thick. Honeycomb desktops such as IKEA LAGKAPTEN or LINNMON hold screws less well: mount near the edge where the frame is, or choose the clamp.
• PETG softens at around 70 °C, so do not mount it next to a heater. PLA is not suitable here: it softens at 55–60 °C.