We can’t, sadly, all be Freddie Mercury. But the Queen frontman’s use of a microphone stand as a stage prop is a reminder that a stand is more than just something to rest a microphone on.
They come in all different shapes and sizes and can hold onto your mic in a few different ways, so if you want something to use on stage, for your podcast, or anywhere that requires live sound, you have some options to choose from.
Singers on stage may prefer a round-base mic stand, as they’re more stable and harder to tip over than a tripod stand, which has three legs that splay out from the base, but which lack the weight of the more solid option. The three-legged stand is a common one, however, and may just be the cheaper option.
Desktop stands are common in podcast recordings and are much shorter than those designed to be used while standing. They also come with a range of bases, but are less likely to be knocked over due to the position they’ll be used in, and as such can be lighter. Boom arms are available with desk clamps too, so you can keep your mic off the desk while streaming.
Then there are the options for video recording, such as boom mic stands and arms, the kind of thing carried by a professional sound recordist who accompanies a camera operator, and which will typically cost more as they’re designed to be carried, and easily packed away, while still retaining the strength to support the mic.
Whichever style of mic stand you choose, it pays to pick one that’s not too flimsy, as nobody wants to lose their mic on the stage mid-show or while recording. Here are some of the best you can get today.
Best microphone stands at a glance:
- Best for singing on stage: K&M 26085 - £50, Amazon
- Best for a lightweight tripod stand: Samson MK10 - £27, Amazon
- Best for a studio boom stand: Ultimate Support MC-125 - £175, The DJ Shop
- Best for streaming: IxTech Lizard - £75, Amazon
- Best for easy adjustment: CAHAYA Upgraded Gooseneck Microphone Stand - £28, Amazon
- Best for a desktop mic stand: Pyle Pro PMKS8 - £28, Amazon
- Best for clamping to your desk: Røde PSA1+ - £120, Amazon
- Best for top-end support: Latch Lake MicKing 3300 - £1,140, Funky Junk
K&M 26085
Best for: singing on stage
This compact and easy-to-handle upright mic stand from K&M has a handle at the top with a soft-touch coating, making it easy to adjust the microphone’s position with one hand - ideal for changing the mic’s height in the middle of a performance.
The 24cm, 3kg weighted base has a rubber ring underneath to keep it stable and means there are no extended legs to present a tripping hazard.
Buy now £50.00, Amazon
Samson MK10
Best for: a lightweight tripod stand
The three-legged microphone stand is a classic design, though you will have to watch out for cables wrapping themselves around the protrusive limbs. It’s very stable though, and at 1.5kg this folding stand can be adjusted for balance and position.
It comes with a microphone clip too - something that many other stands omit, so makes a good kit for a beginner.
Buy now £27.00, Amazon
Ultimate Support MC-125
Best for: a studio boom stand
This Ultimate Support boom stand uses a base that’s neither round nor tripedal - it’s a triangle with a wheel at each corner so you can move it around more easily. This suits it more to work in the studio than on stage, though the wheels do have brakes to stop them from trundling off unexpectedly.
The boom has an adjustable counterweight for balance and a friction-free clutch arm extension system to help get the mic into the perfect position for recording.
Buy now £175.00, The DJ Shop
IxTech Lizard
Best for: streaming
Streamers like to have their mic in shot, but a mic stand can block out too much of the action. Which is where this folding arm comes in. It’s durable and low profile, allowing it to bend and fold to keep as much or as little of it on view as you like.
There is a cable channel that runs down the arm, so your mic leads will remain out of sight, and there's a ball head at the business end which will aid in positioning. Down where it meets your desk, you’ll find a padded clamp with a detachable riser to add stability and a bit of extra height if you need it.
Buy now £75.00, Amazon
CAHAYA Upgraded Gooseneck Microphone Stand
Best for: easy adjustment
This gooseneck mic stand on Amazon comes with an accessory pack with a few different microphone clamps in it and a carrying case, as well as a smartphone holder that attaches to the main shaft so you can display lyrics or a speech while you’re under the spotlight.
The main draw is the neck itself, which enables you to pull or twist the mic into just about any position. The stand is height-adjustable too - all the way up to 187cm off the floor for the taller singer. The base is a classic tripod arrangement, which helps when packing it up as the legs fold back against the main body.
Buy now £28.00, Amazon
Pyle Pro PMKS8
Best for: a desktop mic stand
This desktop stand is just 21cm high and sits on a metal U-shaped foot that helps to prevent it from toppling over. The adjustable gooseneck that rises above this allows you to move the mic into position easily, so you can bring it closer or further away from the sound source as needed, bring it into view on a camera feed, or banish it altogether.
Lightweight and with a plastic mic holder at the top, the Pyle Pro stand is perfect for taking with you on the road or simply shifting off your desk when you’re not using it.
Buy now £28.00, Amazon
Røde PSA1+
Best for: clamping to your desk
Røde is a big name in the world of microphones - and this professional studio arm fits in well with the company’s range of mics. It also has a big Røde logo on it in a couple of places, if you want to catch that on camera.
The arm is spring-loaded and comes with integrated cable management to help keep things tidy. The clamp is low-profile and designed to fit the cutouts found on many desks. It can hold up to 1.2kg of microphone, enough for many popular models, and rubber contact points throughout provide isolation from taps, clicks and other background noises, helping to keep your audio clean.
Buy now £120.00, Amazon
Latch Lake MicKing 3300
Best for: top-end support
An awful lot of money, but capable of reaching an astonishing 6.4m at full extension, the MicKing lives up to its name with a 13kg base and 3kg counterweight to ensure it won’t be moved accidentally.
Its tube extensions are secured by lever locks, and the spin grip mic connector can hold the important bit at any angle you can set it at. This is an impressive piece of kit aimed at audio engineers and professional recordists, but is very much the sort of thing you buy once and use for the rest of your career.
Buy now £1140.00, Funky Junk
Verdict
Buying a microphone stand is a bigger decision than just opening a web browser and ordering something cheap. Consideration needs to be given to what you intend to do with it, what you’re recording, and whether you intend for it to appear on camera or not. There is a lot of choice in this sector, and while it’s not always necessary to part with the kind of money the Latch Lake MicKing commands, strength and stability are important.
The round-based K&M 26085 at the top of this list is a top choice for use on stage, while the three-legged Samson MK10 shines in less dynamic environments where it’s less likely to be kicked over.
