Choosing the right iPad holder for microphone stand setups is the easiest way to keep lyrics, chord charts, digital sheet music, mixer apps, or podcast scripts at eye level without cluttering the stage or studio floor with a separate music stand. Instead of balancing an expensive tablet on a chair, keyboard, desk, or guitar amplifier, a dedicated mic stand tablet holder clamps directly to your existing stand shaft or screws onto standard 5/8″-27 microphone threads so your screen stays secure and easy to reach.
Quick Answer: For most musicians and performers, the IK Multimedia iKlip Xpand is the best overall iPad holder for microphone stand poles up to 1.2 inches in diameter, holding 7-inch to 12.9-inch tablets in slim cases. If you swap between phones and large 13-inch tablets or need to clamp onto square tubing, choose the heavy-duty Hercules DG307B. If your iPad lives in a thick rugged case up to 0.63 inches thick, or you want an all-metal mount that works as both a side pole clamp and a top 5/8″-27 threaded mount, choose the elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder.
This guide covers the four best mounts for Apple iPads (including iPad mini, iPad Air, standard iPad, and 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro models) as well as Samsung Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface, and Amazon Fire tablets. We break down exact jaw widths, maximum case thickness limits, pole clamp diameters, and 5/8″-27 top-thread compatibility so you can match the right hardware to your stand. If you are outfitting a full stage or studio rig, you can also explore our complete microphone stand mounts hub, our tablet mount guides, and our phone mount guides.
Best iPad Holder for Microphone Stand Comparison Table
The table below compares our four vetted microphone stand tablet mounts by device size range, maximum case thickness, and how each bracket attaches to your stand.
| Mount | Fits / Attachment | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| IK Multimedia iKlip Xpand | 7″ to 12.9″ tablets (6.0″ to 8.7″ bracket width); side clamp fits poles up to 1.2″ (30.5mm) | Best overall for gigging musicians and stage performers |
| Hercules DG307B Adaptive 2-in-1 Holder | 6.1″ to 13″ phones/tablets up to 0.47″ (12mm) thick; clamps 0.7″ to 1.0″ round poles, square tubes, plus 1/4″-20 thread | Best heavy-duty pick for shared stands, phones + tablets, and keyboard rigs |
| Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Holder | 7″ to 11″ tablets (9.05″ to 12.79″ wide x 6.7″ tall); side pole clamp (0.55″ to 1.1″) OR 5/8″-27 top mic thread | Best budget value for standard iPads, home studios, and practice rooms |
| elitehood Aluminum Mic Stand Tablet Holder | 4.7″ to 13″ phones/tablets in cases up to 0.63″ (16mm) thick; 0.5″ to 1.5″ super-clamp AND 5/8″-27 top thread adapter | Best all-metal mount for thick protective cases and 12.9″ or 13″ iPad Pro models |
Why Mount an iPad or Tablet to a Microphone Stand?
A microphone stand tablet mount solves two stage and studio problems at the same time: sightlines and floor space. First, it positions your screen directly below or beside the microphone capsule so you can read lyrics, chord progressions, or scripts without dropping your chin toward the floor, a chair, or a side table. Keeping your head up preserves vocal projection into the microphone and maintains eye contact with your audience or camera.
Second, clamping an iPad to a microphone stand eliminates the wide three-legged footprint of a traditional sheet-music stand. On tight club stages, crowded church platforms, orchestra pits, and compact podcast desks, cutting out an extra tripod base removes a major tripping hazard and speeds up load-in and teardown.
Performers and creators routinely use a mic stand iPad holder for:
- Lyrics, chord charts, and setlists: Running apps like OnSong, Stage Traxx, or BandHelper with Bluetooth foot-pedal page turners.
- Digital sheet music and PDF scores: Reading and annotating charts in forScore or Newzik with an Apple Pencil.
- Digital mixer control: Adjusting monitor mixes and front-of-house levels via Behringer X Air, Midas, Mackie Master Fader, or PreSonus Universal Control apps.
- Backing tracks and click tracks: Triggering stems, MIDI changes, and loops from the stage.
- Sermon, lecture, and public-speaking notes: Keeping speaking outlines at eye level when no lectern is present.
- Podcast scripts and livestream chat controls: Monitoring OBS, Twitch, YouTube Live, or guest questions right below a studio boom arm.
1. IK Multimedia iKlip Xpand: Best Overall for Musicians
The IK Multimedia iKlip Xpand is our top overall recommendation for singers, guitarists, keyboardists, and gigging musicians who want a purpose-built stage holder rather than a generic tablet clamp. Manufactured in Italy from lightweight fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic (weighing just 8.11 ounces / 230 grams), the iKlip Xpand was engineered specifically around live microphone stand geometry.
Its spring-loaded “Gorilla Grip” expandable bracket opens from 6.0 inches (153.5mm) to 8.7 inches (220.8mm), accommodating tablets with diagonal screen sizes from roughly 7 inches up to 12.9 inches. Soft rubberized contact points cradle the edges of the tablet so hard plastic never scratches your anodized aluminum frame, and the four-point claw shape leaves charging ports, volume rockers, and power buttons uncovered.
If you use a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro, pay attention to the 8.7-inch maximum bracket width. A bare 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro measures 8.46 inches wide, which leaves about 0.24 inches (6mm) of clearance inside the jaws. That means a large iPad Pro fits cleanly bare or inside a slim folio shell, whereas an extra-wide rugged bumper case that pushes total tablet width past 8.7 inches requires the elitehood mount below.
The integrated pole clamp fits vertical shafts and horizontal boom arms up to 1.2 inches (30.5mm) in diameter. A global ball-joint connects the cradle to the clamp, letting you rotate smoothly between portrait and landscape modes and fine-tune the viewing tilt to eliminate glare from overhead stage cans.
Best for: Singers, acoustic and electric guitarists, worship musicians, DJs, and performers using 7-inch to 12.9-inch tablets in slim or standard cases.
2. Hercules DG307B: Best Heavy-Duty Versatile Pick
The Hercules DG307B Adaptive 2-in-1 Tablet and Phone Holder is the toughest mechanical mount in this group and the best choice if you switch between a smartphone and a large tablet or clamp onto non-standard stand tubing. Instead of relying on spring tension alone, Hercules uses its mechanical TightVice locking mechanism and supports a massive rated load capacity of 6.6 pounds (3 kg) while weighing 1.26 pounds (570 grams).
Because its dual-stage arms adjust across a wide span, the DG307B holds devices ranging from 6.1-inch smartphones all the way up to 13-inch tablets. Even better for multi-instrumentalist and keyboard rigs, its custom clamp is shaped to grip multiple surface profiles:
- Round microphone stand tubing: 0.7 to 1.0 inch (18mm to 25.4mm) diameter.
- Square keyboard or rack tubing: 0.39 to 0.98 inch (10mm to 25mm).
- Desk lips and flat ledges: 0.6 to 1.2 inches (15.8mm to 30mm) thick.
- Camera tripods and threaded adapters: Includes an integrated 1/4″-20 female camera thread on the housing for direct tripod attachment.
Important Case-Thickness Limit on the Hercules DG307B: Hercules specifies a maximum device-plus-case thickness of 0.47 inches (12mm), and the corner pockets do not support cases with built-in rear kickstands, pop sockets, or thick folio covers folded behind the tablet. Standard slim protective shells fit securely, but if your iPad uses a heavy-duty OtterBox-style case thicker than 0.47 inches, choose the elitehood Aluminum Holder (#4) instead.
Best for: Multi-instrumentalists, keyboard stands with square tubing, churches, rehearsal studios, teachers, and performers who want one heavy-duty holder that fits both phones and 13-inch iPads.
3. Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Holder: Best Budget Value for 7″ to 11″ Tablets
The Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Holder is a practical, low-cost choice for standard 7-inch to 11-inch tablets when you do not need the 13-inch capacity of the Hercules or the CNC aluminum frame of the elitehood. Its expandable cradle arms adjust from 9.05 to 12.79 inches wide by 6.7 inches (170.2mm) high, making it an easy fit for the iPad mini, standard 10.2-inch and 10.9-inch iPads, 11-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro models, and 8-inch to 11-inch Android tablets.
One underrated advantage of the Amazon Basics design is that it supports two distinct mounting methods out of the box:
- Side Pole Clamp Mode: Use the included C-clamp bracket and horizontal extension bar to attach the holder to a vertical microphone stand shaft or music stand pole (fitting poles roughly 0.55 to 1.1 inches in diameter) while keeping the top of the stand free for your vocal microphone.
- Direct 5/8″-27 Top-Thread Mode: Unscrew the C-clamp bracket completely and thread the cradle’s rear collar directly onto the standard 5/8″-27 male top threads of any US microphone stand or boom arm, turning a spare mic stand into a compact digital music stand.
The cradle rotates a full 360 degrees between portrait and landscape orientations and tilts 180 degrees vertically. Keep two practical limits in mind: it is not sized for 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro models, and its multi-knob adjustment hardware takes slightly longer to tighten or remove than a single-lever stage clamp. That makes it ideal for a permanent home studio, practice room, or teaching space rather than rapid 15-minute festival changeovers.
Best for: Standard 7-inch to 11-inch iPads, home studios, music lessons, practice rooms, and buyers who want both a side clamp and a 5/8″-27 top-thread option on a budget.
4. elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder: Best Metal Mount for Thick Cases & iPad Pro
The elitehood Aluminum Microphone Stand Tablet Holder (Model EM3) is the best solution if you keep your iPad in a thick protective case or want an all-metal arm and clamp that will not flex under a heavy 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro. While most stage holders rely on plastic clamp bodies and composite ball sockets, the elitehood uses a 99% CNC-machined aluminum alloy arm and super-clamp weighing 1.0 pound.
Where the elitehood really separates itself is case and pole compatibility:
- Handles thick cases up to 0.63 inches (16mm): Deep rubber-padded cradle hooks hold devices up to 0.63 inches thick without popping off the corners, solving the #1 complaint musicians have when trying to mount an iPad in an OtterBox Defender, Zugu, or rugged silicone case.
- Fits 4.7-inch phones to 13-inch tablets: The cradle jaws expand from 4.7 inches to 9.8 inches wide, easily clearing a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro even inside a wide armored shell.
- Wide 0.5-inch to 1.5-inch (12mm to 38mm) Super-Clamp + 5/8″-27 Top Thread Adapter: The heavy-duty aluminum claw grips skinny boom arms (down to 0.5 inches) as well as thick speaker or studio poles (up to 1.5 inches), and the package includes a metal 5/8″-27 threaded mic stand adapter if you prefer to screw the mount straight onto the top of a stand.
Its dual metal ball joints and 3.5-inch articulated arm let you offset the iPad slightly to the left or right of the microphone shaft so the screen stays in your line of sight without blocking your face or guitar neck. When mounting a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro, keep the aluminum arm angled close to the vertical shaft rather than fully extended horizontally so the stand remains balanced.
Best for: 12.9-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro owners, thick rugged cases up to 0.63 inches, oversized stand poles up to 1.5 inches, and performers who want rigid all-metal lockups.
Side-Pole Clamp vs. 5/8″-27 Top-Thread Mounting: Which Do You Need?
Before ordering an iPad mount for a mic stand, decide whether your stand needs to hold both a vocal microphone and an iPad or only the iPad:
1. Side-Pole Clamps (Mic + iPad on One Stand)
All four picks in this guide include a side clamp that attaches to the vertical tubing of the stand. This is the standard choice for singing guitarists, worship leaders, and podcasters because your vocal microphone stays on the top thread or boom arm while the tablet sits lower on the main shaft.
2. 5/8″-27 Top-Thread Mounts (Dedicated Digital Music Stand)
Instrumentalists, drummers, horn players, and speakers who do not need a vocal mic on the same stand often prefer screwing the tablet holder directly onto the top threads of a straight mic stand. Top-mounting places the tablet dead-center over the base with zero sideways torque. Both the Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Holder and the elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder support direct 5/8″-27 US microphone stand threads (and if you use a European mic stand such as a K&M stand with 3/8″-16 threads, a standard brass 3/8″-16 to 5/8″-27 thread adapter bridges the two sizes).
What to Look for in a Microphone Stand Tablet Holder
Outside Tablet Width and Case Thickness
Never shop by diagonal screen size alone. Two 11-inch tablets can have different bezel widths, and a rugged case adds both width and depth. Measure your tablet with its case installed: if the total thickness is under 0.47 inches (12mm), the Hercules DG307B and iKlip Xpand work well; if your case is between 0.48 and 0.63 inches (16mm) thick, step up to the elitehood EM3.
Pole Diameter and Tubing Shape
Standard upper microphone stand shafts typically measure 0.625 inches (15.8mm) to 0.875 inches (22.2mm), while heavy-duty lower shafts and speaker poles can reach 1.1 to 1.5 inches. Verify your tube diameter before clamping: the Hercules DG307B fits 0.7 to 1.0 inch round tubes (plus square tubing), the iKlip Xpand reaches 1.2 inches, and the elitehood super-clamp spans 0.5 to 1.5 inches.
Charging Cable, Audio Interface, and Apple Pencil Clearance
Long rehearsals and multi-set gigs drain tablet batteries quickly when the screen brightness is turned up. Make sure the holder’s arms do not block your USB-C or Lightning charging port, wired USB audio hub, or the magnetic Apple Pencil charging strip along the long edge of an iPad Air or iPad Pro.
Portrait vs. Landscape Rotation and Anti-Glare Tilt
Portrait orientation displays more vertical lines of lyrics, chord charts, scripts, and PDF sheet music on a single page. Landscape orientation works better for digital mixer faders, DAW transport controls, and split-screen apps. Overhead stage lighting and church spotlights create harsh screen reflections if the tablet sits at a fixed angle, so choose a mount with a locking ball joint that lets you tilt the glass a few degrees downward or upward without raising screen brightness to 100 percent.
How to Attach an iPad or Tablet to a Microphone Stand Step by Step
- Align one tripod leg directly under the tablet side: If you use a folding tripod microphone stand, rotate the base so one of the three legs points straight out under the side where the iPad will hang. This simple adjustment prevents the stand from tipping forward when you tap the screen.
- Clamp to the main vertical shaft rather than the boom arm: Attach the clamp to the vertical center pole below the boom clutch. Mounting a heavy tablet far out on an angled boom arm multiplies the tipping force against the base and causes the microphone capsule to bounce whenever you swipe pages.
- Leave clearance for your hands and the boom clutch: Position the holder low enough on the shaft that it does not block the height-adjustment collar, boom swivel knob, or guitar headstock movement.
- Tighten the pole clamp before inserting the iPad: Lock the pole clamp firmly onto the tubing first so you are not juggling an expensive tablet while turning the clamp screw.
- Seat the tablet corners and lock the ball joint: Place the iPad into the rubberized cradle jaws, confirm all retaining lips wrap over the front bezel edge, and tighten the ball-joint collar in your preferred portrait or landscape viewing angle.
- Perform a tap and swipe test before soundcheck: Tap the corners of the screen firmly and swipe through several pages to verify the clamp does not twist around the pole and the height clutch does not slowly sink.
Round-Base Mic Stand Tip: Cast-iron round-base microphone stands look sleek on stage, but a standard 7-pound or 9-pound round base has a narrower tipping radius than a wide tripod base. If you mount a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro onto a round-base stand, keep the tablet cradle tucked as close to the center pole as possible or use a weighted 12-pound-plus studio base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mount a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro on a microphone stand?
Yes, a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro weighs roughly 1.28 to 1.5 pounds (plus the weight of a case), which is well within the load rating of the IK Multimedia iKlip Xpand, Hercules DG307B (rated to 6.6 pounds), and elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder. If your 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro is in a thick rugged case, pick the elitehood EM3 because its jaws open to 9.8 inches wide and accept cases up to 0.63 inches thick. Always clamp a large iPad Pro to the main vertical pole rather than an extended boom arm.
Do I have to take my iPad case off to use a mic stand holder?
Not if you match the holder’s depth specification to your case. Standard slim folio shells and snap-on cases fit inside the iKlip Xpand and Hercules DG307B (up to 0.47 inches / 12mm thick). For thick multi-layer rugged cases up to 0.63 inches (16mm) thick, the elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder allows you to leave the case installed.
Will these iPad holders also fit a standard sheet-music stand or keyboard stand?
Yes. All four mounts clamp onto the vertical round shaft of a folding or orchestral music stand as long as the pole diameter falls within the clamp range. If you want to mount an iPad to a square-tube keyboard stand, choose the Hercules DG307B, which is specifically contoured to grip square tubing from 0.39 to 0.98 inches (10mm to 25mm).
What thread size do microphone stands use if I want to screw a tablet mount on top?
Standard microphone stands in the United States use a 5/8″-27 male thread at the top of the shaft and boom arm. Both the Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Holder and the elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder include 5/8″-27 female threading for direct top-mounting. European stands typically use a 3/8″-16 thread, and the Hercules DG307B includes a 1/4″-20 camera thread port for tripods.
Bottom Line
Mounting an iPad or tablet to the vertical shaft of your microphone stand keeps lyrics, sheet music, and mixer controls right where you need them without adding another stand to the stage. For most musicians using a 7-inch to 12.9-inch tablet in a slim case, the IK Multimedia iKlip Xpand remains the best overall stage choice thanks to its fast spring-loaded grip and 1.2-inch pole clamp.
Step up to the Hercules DG307B if you need a mechanical TightVice lock that handles both smartphones and 13-inch tablets on round or square tubing, or choose the elitehood Aluminum Tablet Holder if you run a 12.9-inch or 13-inch iPad Pro inside a thick rugged case up to 0.63 inches deep. For a home studio, practice room, or standard 7-inch to 11-inch iPad on a budget, the Amazon Basics Adjustable Tablet Holder delivers both side-pole clamping and 5/8″-27 top-thread mounting at an entry-level price.
If you are rounding out the rest of your stand or studio setup, check out our best phone mounts for a microphone stand, our guide on how to mount a drink holder to a microphone stand, and our recommendations for phone and tablet mounts for live streaming.
