A good car tablet mount depends almost entirely on where you want the tablet. A mount designed for kids in the back seat is very different from one intended for navigation or a front-seat passenger. That is why this guide is organized by mounting location rather than pretending one tablet holder works equally well everywhere.
For rear-seat entertainment, a headrest tablet holder is usually the easiest solution. Front-seat passengers may prefer a cup holder or dashboard mount, while drivers using a smaller tablet for navigation can consider a low-mounted suction cup system that stays out of the primary sight line.
Here are the car tablet mounts I would consider first.
| Mount | Best For | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Lamicall Thick-Case Friendly Headrest Tablet Holder | Simple rear-seat installation | Headrest |
| LISEN 3-in-1 Headrest Tablet Holder | Moving tablet toward center seat | Headrest |
| eSamcore Dashboard Tablet Holder | Front passenger or navigation | Dashboard |
| eSamcore Cup Holder Tablet Mount | SUVs, trucks and front passengers | Cup Holder |
| Coolpow Dashboard and Windshield Tablet Mount | Flexible front-seat placement | Dash / Windshield |
Which Type of Car Tablet Mount Should You Buy?
The best mounting location depends on who is using the tablet.
- One rear passenger: A compact headrest mount is usually the best choice.
- Two kids sharing one tablet: Choose an extendable headrest arm that can move the tablet toward the center of the back seat.
- Front passenger: Cup holder mounts keep the tablet within reach without attaching anything to the windshield.
- Navigation: A dashboard or low windshield mount can work with a smaller tablet if it does not block the driver’s view.
- Work vehicles: Cup holder and rigid dashboard mounts are generally easier to position than rear-seat mounts.
Lamicall Headrest Tablet Holder
Best Car Tablet Mount for One Rear Passenger
The Lamicall Thick-Case Friendly Headrest Tablet Holder is the first mount I would consider for a simple rear-seat setup.
It attaches to the exposed metal posts of a front-seat headrest and positions the tablet directly behind the seat. That makes it particularly useful for a child sitting behind the passenger seat who wants to watch movies, play games or use a tablet during a long road trip.
This newer Lamicall design accommodates tablets in approximately the 6.1-inch to 13-inch class and is specifically designed to provide more room for tablets wearing protective cases. The holder rotates through 360 degrees, allowing the screen to switch between portrait and landscape orientation.
The biggest advantage is simplicity. There is no suction cup, adhesive pad or base occupying a cup holder. When the tablet is removed, relatively little hardware remains in the cabin.
The downside applies to virtually every rod-mounted headrest tablet holder: you need exposed headrest posts. Seats with integrated headrests or unusual headrest designs may not work.
LISEN 3-in-1 Headrest Tablet Holder
Best Headrest Mount for Sharing a Tablet
The LISEN 3-in-1 Headrest Tablet Holder is a better choice when the screen should not remain directly behind one front seat.
Its adjustable arm lets the tablet extend away from the headrest and move toward the center of the back seat. That can make a major difference when two children want to watch the same screen or when a child sits in the middle seating position.
The adjustable design also gives rear passengers more control over viewing distance and angle than a fixed headrest holder.
There is one tradeoff. Extending any tablet away from its mounting point increases leverage on the mount. Make sure the headrest attachment is tightened correctly, particularly when using a larger tablet.
eSamcore Dashboard Tablet Holder
Best Tablet Holder for a Car Dashboard
The eSamcore Dashboard Tablet Holder gives us something the old article was missing: a modern dashboard option.
That matters because some drivers and passengers want the tablet near the dashboard but do not want to occupy a cup holder or hang a large screen from the windshield.
The holder is designed for devices from approximately 6 to 11 inches and uses a suction mounting system along with a dashboard mounting disc. The cradle has a relatively deep grip, which is useful with tablets wearing ordinary protective cases.
This is one of those mounts where installation location matters as much as the mount itself. A tablet should never cover important climate controls, warning displays or the driver’s view of the road.
It is particularly useful when the passenger side of the dashboard has a suitable flat surface that keeps the tablet low and away from the windshield.
eSamcore Cup Holder Tablet Mount
Best Cup Holder Tablet Mount
The eSamcore Cup Holder Tablet Mount is a much better fit for this article than the older Mount-It! selection.
It uses an expandable base designed for cup holders roughly 2.5 to 3.9 inches in diameter and raises the tablet on an adjustable stand approximately 15 inches tall. The cradle is designed for tablets and phones and has enough depth to accommodate many devices wearing protective cases.
This mounting style works especially well in larger SUVs, pickups, vans and work vehicles where the center console provides enough room around the cup holder.
The main benefit is that nothing attaches to the windshield or dashboard. The mount can also be removed without leaving adhesive behind.
There are two obvious drawbacks. You lose the cup holder being used by the mount, and the usefulness of the setup depends heavily on where that cup holder is located. A cup holder positioned far behind the shifter may put the screen too close to the occupants rather than near the dashboard.
Coolpow Dashboard and Windshield Tablet Mount
Best Flexible Front-Seat Tablet Mount
The Dashboard and Windshield Tablet Mount is one of the more interesting newer options because the same basic mount can be positioned on either the dashboard or windshield.
It supports devices in approximately the 4.7-inch to 12.9-inch range and uses an adjustable suction base and rotating tablet cradle.
I prefer dashboard placement whenever the vehicle provides a suitable low mounting surface. Putting a tablet on the windshield should be the fallback rather than the first choice because even a medium-size tablet occupies considerably more viewing area than a phone.
For navigation, a smaller iPad mini-size tablet or similar device makes much more sense on the windshield than a 12-inch tablet.
See our guide to GPS and windshield mount laws for more information about device placement.
What About CD Slot Tablet Mounts?
CD slot tablet mounts still exist, but I would not make one of them a primary recommendation anymore.
The reason is simple: fewer newer vehicles have accessible front-loading CD players, and even vehicles that do have one may position the slot where a tablet blocks climate controls, buttons or the factory infotainment screen.
If you own an older vehicle with a conveniently positioned CD slot, that mounting style can still work. For a general car tablet mount guide, however, dashboard, headrest and cup holder options are far more relevant to current vehicles.
Car Tablet Mounts I Would Avoid
Vent-Mounted Tablet Holders
I am comfortable hanging a phone from many properly designed vent mounts. A full-size tablet is another story.
The additional weight and leverage place far more stress on the vent louvers. Repairing a broken dashboard vent can cost far more than buying a better tablet mount in the first place.
Long Flexible Gooseneck Arms
Long goosenecks look useful because they can bend into almost any position. The problem is movement. A tablet creates enough weight and leverage to make a long flexible arm bounce on rough roads.
A rigid articulated arm with locking joints is usually a better choice for regular driving.
Huge Tablets High on the Windshield
Mounting strength is not the issue here. Visibility is.
A 12-inch or 13-inch tablet can block a surprisingly large portion of the road when mounted near eye level. Keep large tablets low or use a cup holder, dashboard or passenger-side mounting location instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best car tablet mount?
For rear passengers, I would choose a headrest mount such as the Lamicall. For a front passenger, the eSamcore cup holder mount is a better fit. Dashboard mounting makes more sense when the tablet is being used for navigation or vehicle-related apps.
What is the best tablet holder for a car back seat?
A headrest tablet holder is usually the simplest option. Choose a fixed headrest mount for one passenger or an extendable arm if the tablet needs to move toward the center of the back seat.
Can I mount an iPad on a car headrest?
Yes. Many current headrest tablet mounts accommodate iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro models. Check the physical size and thickness of your tablet with its case installed before ordering.
Can I put a tablet holder on my car dashboard?
Yes, provided the dashboard has a suitable mounting surface and the tablet does not block the driver’s view, airbags, vehicle controls or important displays. Some suction mounts include an adhesive dashboard disc for surfaces where the suction cup cannot attach directly.
Are cup holder tablet mounts stable?
A well-designed expandable cup holder base can provide a surprisingly stable mounting point. The location of the cup holder is equally important because a long arm holding a heavy tablet will naturally create more movement than a shorter setup.
Can I use a tablet as a navigation screen?
Yes. A smaller tablet can provide a large, easy-to-read navigation display. Position it low enough that it does not interfere with your view of the road and avoid interacting with the tablet while the vehicle is moving.
Which Car Tablet Mount Should You Choose?
For rear-seat entertainment, the Lamicall headrest tablet holder is the best starting point. It is simple, compact and works well when one passenger uses the tablet.
If the screen needs to move toward the middle of the back seat, the LISEN 3-in-1 headrest mount provides much more flexibility.
For front-seat use, the eSamcore cup holder mount is my favorite option when the vehicle’s console layout works with it. The eSamcore dashboard mount is better when you want the screen closer to the dashboard without occupying a cup holder.
The dashboard and windshield suction mount gives you the widest choice of mounting locations, but I would keep a tablet on the dashboard whenever possible rather than placing a large screen directly on the windshield.
The important thing is to choose the mounting location first and the product second. That produces a much better installation than trying to make one supposedly universal tablet mount work everywhere.
Related Mount Guides
- Tablet Mounts for Trucks and Rigs
- Car Headrest Mounts for Tablets, Phones and Cameras
- Laptop Mounts for Cars and SUVs
- Best Phone Mounts for Uber Drivers
Phone Mount Guides for Other Vehicles
Need something smaller than a tablet? MountGuys also covers vehicle-specific phone mounts for cars, SUVs and trucks. A phone usually provides more dashboard, vent and console mounting choices because of its smaller size and lower weight.
