Communicating with your audience is one of the most important parts of streaming. While you can get by with a headset microphone, the best audio quality comes with a dedicated microphone. But going down that route means you need some way to hold the mic steady and close to you; that’s why you need one of the best microphone stands for streaming.

Whether you prefer a tabletop unit or an adjustable boom stand, our list of the best mic stands for streaming will have something for you. They’ll work with dynamic or condenser microphones, providing a great basis for taking your stream to the next level.

The Best Mic Stands for Streaming

1. Tonor T20

High-end boom arms are all well and good, but shelling out $100 or more on a microphone stand when you’re just starting can feel intimidating. Thankfully, the Tonor T20 proves you can spend less than half that and still get a good quality product.

Tonor’s T20 is a traditional scissor boom arm with an exposed mechanism. It may not feel as premium as the $100 options, but it’s a solid and reliable arm that will be more than adequate for any streaming setup.

One of the T20’s highlights is its impressive compatibility. For one, the clamp supports desks up to 2.4 inches thick, so you can clamp the T20 onto almost any desk without issue. The T20 also supports microphones up to 4.4 pounds, more than enough for any microphone and shock mount combination.

Despite not having dedicated cable management channels, Tonor ships the T20 with four velcro straps that you can use to tie your cables to the frame. It’s not quite as clean a solution as those on premium boom arms, but it’s a perfectly acceptable way to manage your cables.

Tonor also ships the T20 with a microphone pop filter, a nice value-add. While they’re not expensive to buy separately, we like that you won’t have to worry about that if you buy the T20.

Overall, the Tonor T20 is an excellent boom mic stand for the price. It’s not quite as classy as premium solutions from Blue or Elgato, but it’s hard to argue with the value and quality you get for less than $40.

2. Blue Microphones Compass

If you’re seeking a high-quality boom arm that feels great and will look the part on stream, look no further. Blue Microphones’ Compass is a high-quality microphone boom arm with built-in cable management channels and a sleek look. It’s perfect for those who want to look and sound the part when streaming.

The biggest issue with cheap boom arms is how creaky and fragile the mechanisms are in use. That won’t be an issue with the Compass; it’s a solidly built arm with smooth movement and extension in all directions. You get full 360-degree rotation and hand-tightened hinges to set it up easily without needing tools, which is always a nice touch.

We also like the cable management channel that lets you run your XLR or USB down through the arm. It may seem like a small touch, but cable clutter can quickly get out of hand when you’re streaming, so any feature that helps you keep it under control is very welcome.

Blue Microphones’ Compass arm supports microphones up to 2.2 pounds, which is enough for most popular USB and XLR microphones on the market. This includes Blue’s own Yeti, of course, but also popular studio-grade condensers like the Audio-Technica AT2020.

Overall, the Blue Microphones Compass is an excellent high-end boom arm stand for committed streamers and those looking for an elegant mic stand solution. It’s likely a bit too pricey to be your first mic stand, but there are few better options once you decide to step up from cheap booms.

3. Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP

Elgato is synonymous with streaming gear, so it’s no surprise that the company makes an excellent mic boom arm for streamers. The Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP stands out from the competition for its compact and low-profile design, ideal for those streaming in cramped environments.

The Mic Arm LP has two parts. First is the 360-degree rotating horizontal arm, which sits just 2.8 inches above your desk. This arm provides the basic rotation of the Wave Mic Arm LP but doesn’t tilt up or downward. Then there’s the upper arm, which tilts up and offers 6.3 inches of clearance.

This design means the Elgato is perfect if you want a solution that tucks away cleanly when you’re not streaming. Just collapse the upper arm and swing the Wave Mic Arm LP away from your desk. The design also keeps the arm out of your way, ensuring you have an unobstructed view of your game (and your webcam).

As you may expect from the price, the Wave Mic Arm LP has excellent build quality, with premium hardware and smooth, confidence-inspiring rotation and extension. No creaky, wobbly movements or joints here. All the joints are adjustable to ensure the Wave Mic Arm LP holds your mic perfectly without drooping.

Like our other premium pick, the Elgato also has a built-in cable management channel to keep your XLR or USB cables away from your desk. It’s a nice touch that we’d expect from high-quality mic stands costing around $100.

Admittedly, the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP is slightly more niche than our top pick. But it’s still an excellent microphone boom arm ideal for anyone after a high-quality and reliable solution for their streaming setup, with the bonus of an unobtrusive low-profile design.

4. On-Stage DS7200B

Boom arms are great for game streamers, as they keep your mic out of the way of your mouse and keyboard. But if you’re more of a “just chatting” streamer, you may not need a boom arm for your mic. That’s where desktop stands like the On-Stage DS7200B come in.

The On-Stage DS7200B has a heavy-duty metal base and a short shaft that adjusts from 9 to 13 inches, a perfect height for desktop use. The heavy base and non-slip rubber feet make the On-Stage stand a bit hard to move around on your desk, but it also ensures you won’t accidentally move your mic or, worse still, knock it over.

The shaft is also sturdy, with a reliable clutch that perfectly holds the stand’s height, even with a heavy mic installed. It’s also removable, making the On-Stage a portable (if heavy) option for a desktop mic stand.

Overall, the On-Stage DS7200B is a great, no-frills desktop mic stand. It feels a bit dull, but that’s a minor issue, considering the durability and reliability you’re getting for less than $20. The only downside is that it doesn’t come with a microphone clip, but that’s not a huge deal: most microphones—even budget options like the Behringer XM8500—will come with their own clips.

The On-Stage DS7200B is also available in Chrome.

5. Røde Tripod Mini Stand

Røde’s Tripod Mini-Stand is a great desktop mic stand option if you’re after something lightweight and minimal. It’s not as sturdy as the On-Stage stand, but the upshot is increased portability and easy storage.

The Tripod Mini Stand comes in at only 183 grams (6.54 oz), so don’t expect it to hold your heavy-duty studio microphone. Instead, the Rode is ideal for lightweight microphones and portable audio recorders (like the Zoom H2n).

The lightweight design is also great if you’re only an occasional streamer. Since it doesn’t have a heavy circular base, it packs away quickly and easily, taking up very little space in storage. It also deploys quickly when needed, without you having to spend the time screwing a shaft into a base.

Like any decent tripod, the Røde has a 360-degree ball socket that lets you angle your microphone however you want. The legs also offer decent height adjustment, so it’s more versatile than it may seem at first glance.

All in all, Røde’s Tripod Mic Stand is a great alternative option for a desktop mic stand if you’re not keen on the traditional base-and-shaft construction. It’s not quite as stable as the On-Stage option, but the portability and storage benefits help make up for it.

6. On-Stage MS7701B

Desk-based stands are often the best options for streamers, but they’re not the only choice available. If you’re after something different, On-Stage’s MS7701B floor-standing microphone stand and boom arm might be what you’re looking for.

On-Stage’s microphone stand is a floor-standing tripod boom stand. It’s perfect for situations where you have a lot of room and want a stand that isn’t susceptible to noise and vibrations from your desk.

The telescopic boom arm is highly adjustable, with a minimum length of 4 inches and a maximum length of 30 inches. You get a lot of height adjustment, too, from 32 to 61.5 inches. So you shouldn’t have issues getting your mic into an ideal position to pick up your voice clearly and cleanly.

One thing you’ll want to watch out for is the tripod’s spread. The feet take up 23 inches end-to-end, so they’ll take up quite a bit of space on the floor. Thankfully, the tripod design means you can position the feet around (and maybe even under) other furniture, which should help you squeeze it into more positions than a stand with a round base.

Overall, the On-Stage MS7701B microphone stand is an affordable but sturdy floor-standing microphone stand. If desktop stands aren’t for you, this is an alternative worth checking out.

Before You Buy

If you’re confused about which type of microphone stand to go for, this section is for you. While it’ll ultimately come down to personal choice, several factors may lead you to choose one type of microphone stand over the others. So, let’s quickly run through the three types of stands and some of the pros and cons of each.

Desktop Microphone Boom Arms

Desktop boom arms are usually the best choice for most streamers. They don’t get in the way of your mouse and keyboard while offering enough adjustability to get your mic right where you want it. The latter is essential if you use a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM58, which needs to be close to your mouth to sound its best.

The downside is that these can take up a lot of vertical space and don’t stow away cleanly when not in use. They’re also quite susceptible to picking up and amplifying vibrations from your desk, which requires a decent shock mount to alleviate.

Desktop Microphone Stands

Desktop mic stands are simple devices, often much cheaper than a cheap desktop boom arm. The downside is that these must sit on your desk, most likely directly in front of you.

This will affect how you position your mouse and keyboard. Thus, we don’t recommend desktop stands for game streamers. But desktop stands will be viable if your streams focus on casual chatting or non-intensive gaming.

Like a desk-mounted boom arm, desktop microphone stands will also pick up rumbles and vibrations from your desk. However, they’re not quite as sensitive, and you could likely get away without a shock mount if you want.

Floor-Standing Microphone Stands

You’re likelier to see floor-standing microphone stands on stage than in a streamer’s setup, and for a good reason. These take up a lot of space, requiring a lot of horizontal room and floor space for the stand and long boom arm.

However, a traditional mic stand on the floor eliminates the chances of any desktop rumbles or impacts from getting to your mic. While that’s a welcome benefit, we’re unsure if it’s worth the space when microphone shock mounts help eliminate the issue almost entirely.

Closing Thoughts

Choosing the best microphone stand for streaming may not seem important, but it’s important so that you can focus on delivering the best possible content to your viewers. A good mic stand will help you ensure your voice comes across cleanly and clearly, which is essential for forming a connection with your audience.

The Tonor T20 boom arm will likely be the best choice for most of you; it’s sturdy and affordable and offers the adjustability of a good boom arm. If you’re after a more premium boom arm, you’ll want to check out the Blue Microphones Compass. It looks and feels great and is genuinely worth the money.

Need more help with streaming gear? Check out our guide to the best lights for streaming.