The best mini tripods give you all the stability of a full-size tripod, while being lighter, more compact and easier to carry. Typically, they weigh just a few hundred grams, and you can easily slip them into a pocket. They also cost much less than full-sized tripods. But, of course, their stunted size does mean that they don't offer the shooting height of a taller tripod – hence why they are often used on a table, wall or other sturdy raised surface.
A mini tripod can open up all sorts of possibilities, including long exposures, group selfies, and more. Some are multi-functional and can be converted to a handgrip or selfie stick, offering extra functionality and flexibility when you're out and about with your camera.
Below you'll find my pick of the best mini tripods available today, and precisely which is best for you will depend on how and what you shoot. Some have bendable legs that can cling to protruding objects or sit on uneven surfaces, others have extendable legs or an adjustable central column for extra height, and several come with a ball head for precise angles and positioning. I've noted such features when making my recommendations.
Jon has been writing photography content for years, for brands such as Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera. This makes Jon one of our go-to specialists when it comes to all aspects of photography, from cameras and action cameras to lenses and memory cards, flash diffusers and triggers, selfie sticks and gimbals, and much more besides.
The Quick List
I love the completeness of this kit: a choice of solid and flexible legs, a smartphone adapter and arms for accessories are all included.
The Pixi is small enough to slip into a jacket pocket but has a premium feel and a 360° rotating ball head.
The Leofoto Ranger tucks nicely into a backpack, but can handle a load of up to 10kg. It has a pretty good reach for a compact tripod too, but is heavier than its rivals.
The KoalaPod’s bendy legs mean you can attach it to all sorts of surfaces or objects, making it a great option for shooting on location.
The GorillaPod's flexible legs give you plenty of shooting options, while the extra arms mean you can add lights or a mic as well as your camera.
This is a decent tripod for smartphones, but with a six-section telescoping post and Bluetooth, it rocks as a selfie stick.
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Even if you’re using a full-frame camera, you can trust this mini stalwart to handle the load, with a ball head enabling easy adjustment.
The ONE Micro packs down small, but its adjustable clamp enables it to cope with pretty much any size of smartphone.
Excellent build quality and materials mean the Mini Traveler can bear a decent load while remaining one of the lightest tripods around.
Best mini tripods
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Best mini tripod overall
If you're looking for a versatile tabletop tripod that isn't just confined to a tabletop, look no further than the Benro Tablepod Flex. Including a set of flexible legs inside the solid legs is ingenious, as it means you can attach it to any surface when you’re out and about. You can also configure the legs to form a monopod/selfie stick if you should need some extra reach and it comes with a mobile phone adapter so it can be used with either a smartphone, compact camera, or small mirrorless.
If you often use accessories such as a light or a mic, you'll be pleased to hear it comes with two accessory arms so you can attach different devices easily. It's a little on the expensive side for a tabletop tripod. But considering all the well-thought-out features, it's worth spending a bit more.
See our full Benro TablePod Flex Kit review
Best mini tripod for portability
Given Manfrotto's sterling reputation in the tripod market, it makes sense that the firm's mini support would also be impressive – and the Manfrotto PIXI is just that. It's a fairly standard mini tripod in many ways; small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or small bag and capable of holding up to 1kg of kit. It also adds a handy ball head into the mix with 360° of rotation and a simple push-button secure-and-release mechanism. However, it doesn't tilt up by more than 35°, making astrophotography impracticable.
I was impressed most of all by the build quality of the Manfrotto PIXI – its aluminum legs are smoothly curved in a way that just feels premium. What's more, when they close, they form a single rounded column that transforms the PIXI into a pretty serviceable camera grip, which is extra useful for video.
See our full Manfrotto PIXI mini tripod review
Best mini tripod for heavy payloads
Able to hold as much as 10kg in weight, the Leofoto Ranger LS-223C can hold its own alongside many larger tripods. That's more than enough to hold a mirrorless setup or mid-sized DSLR, giving you real versatility from a tripod that slips easily into the bottom of a backpack.
It's pleasingly sturdy, with three leg sections, and has plenty of scope for precise angle adjustments. Its maximum height is about 12in (30cm), which is pretty good for a tabletop tripod, and is usually sold with a 360º ballhead. In my tests, I found it a great option for low-level shots of landscapes – and loved that it was much lighter than my usual travel tripod when stashed in my backpack.
However, in comparison to other tabletop models, the main drawback is its weight. It's significantly heavier than other tripods on this list, and arguably heavier than a tabletop tripod should be. However, if you want a sturdy mini tripod that can take a heavy camera set-up, this is a great option.
See our full Leofoto Ranger LS-223C review
Best mini tripod for on-the-go content creators
If you're an on-the-go content creator, travel blogger or even a fitness coach, I can see the advantages of the KoalaPod: what you can wrap its flexible legs around is pretty much limitless. You can, of course, use it as a standard tabletop tripod, or as a small selfie stick for those moments when you want just a little more background than you can achieve with your arm's length.
Despite its bendy legs, it feels more secure than you might imagine. However, I wouldn't trust it to take the weight of my Sony A7 III with a lens attached, even though it's rated as able to take such a weight. But for smaller-bodied cameras with lightweight lenses, it's perfect.
See our full Benro KoalaPod review
Best mini tripod for videographers
You can get GorillaPods in numerous sizes to suit cameras from a GoPro up to a full-frame DSLR, and all make great tabletop tripods, but I went for the flagship GorillaPod Rig to see what the GorillaPod design is really capable of.
The Rig is intended to hold not just your camera, but with those ‘arms’ on either side, you can also add accessories like LED lights, microphones, a small external video monitor, or a phone (via an optional clamp). The system works best for shooting video closeups, but it can be equally effective for macro stills when you position a light on either side of your camera. This can be anything up to a full-frame DSLR, as the total load rating is 5kg.
The Rig is bundled with a high-quality ball head that features separate pan adjustment. Grippy locking knobs clamp the head very well, and your accessories mount to the GorillaPod arms using standard ¼”-20 screw threads.
The legs are the largest in the GorillaPod range, measuring around 27cm long. They allow you to wrap the Rig around static objects, so this needn’t just be a tabletop tripod, and Joby also bundles a strap that enables you to tie the Rig to even larger objects, such as a tree trunk.
Best mini tripod for taking selfies
While it's not the sturdiest tripod around, Benro's BK15 weighs just 200g, and can transform into a selfie stick. With its six-section telescoping post, it's got decent reach. And it comes with a Bluetooth remote, so you've got everything you need to take serious selfies.
As a tripod, the BK15 is fine, as long as you're rocking a seriously light setup. That half-a-kilo maximum load capacity pretty much just puts you in smartphone territory, and indeed the BK15 comes with a smartphone clamp. Still, a smartphone is what a lot of people looking for a mini tripod are shooting with.
The little ball head gives you a decent degree of shooting versatility, and the clamp range of 48-100mm means it'll fit any phone except the very largest or very smallest. For smartphone shooters, this gets the job done nicely.
Best mini tripod with metal construction
Sirui’s entry stands out thanks to its almost entirely metal construction. It feels like a premium product, especially next to more budget-priced rivals. Load capacity is a respectable 4kg, and I found the 3T-35K easily supports a full-frame DSLR and 24-70mm lens. This sturdiness does have an impact on its weight though, as the 3T-35K tips the scales at 430g.
The legs fold out from their resting position alongside the centre column, and a quick twist of the central ‘spider’ locks them in their outstretched position. The two-section centre column can then adjust your shooting height from 25.5cm up to 34cm, or you can remove the column completely and mount the head directly to the legs for a lower stance, though this is a bit of a faff that requires the use of an Allen key.
The support is topped off by a good-sized and precisely machined aluminium ball head. It features separate pan adjustment, though this is of limited use as there isn’t a dedicated knob to adjust the pan base independently.
Best mini tripod for your smartphone
Mini tripods are also a great way to improve your smartphone photography, and the Joby GripTight ONE Micro is a solid choice in this department. The versatile clamp can take phones of most sizes and hold them securely, and it provides a rock-solid foundation to experiment with longer exposures and other types of tripod shooting.
The catch is that it doesn't have much in the way of height, so you'll need a table or other surface to rest it on. It packs down nicely though, meaning it's great to have along with you when you're travelling light and want to take group shots or long exposures.
Best premium-priced mini tripod
Mini tripods can often also be short on build quality, but Gitzo’s mini marvel is a notable exception. It’s constructed using the same carbon eXact tubing tech as full-size Gitzo legs and is topped off by an equally well-made aluminum ball head. The ball itself clamps super-securely using the grippy locking ring at the base of the head. Gitzo rates the load capacity at 3kg, and that’s fair, as it feels rock solid, even when the legs are spread to their widest setting. A neat pull action on each leg lets you switch between the two available angles.
If you need to support even more, the legs themselves have a colossal 25kg load rating. Just remove the head using the included Torx wrench, and the provided adaptor allows the fitment of a beefier head to maximize the legs’ carrying capacity.
Equally impressive is the tripod and included head weigh a combined 265g, which makes this one of the lightest mini tripods on the market. The Mini Traveller is available with two color options: black, or Gitzo’s signature ‘Noir Decor’ mottled gunmetal gray finish.
How to choose the best mini tripod
What is a mini tripod?
A mini tripod is a small and portable camera support system with adjustable legs. Like any tripod, it's designed to provide stability and support for cameras and other equipment. The main difference is that it's compact and lightweight, making it easy to store and carry. Mini tripods are also usually cheaper than a full-sized tripod.
Will a mini tripod fit my camera?
Mini tripods can typically support a range of cameras, including DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, compact cameras, action cameras, and smartphones. However, they are typically designed for smaller, lighter cameras. Some may support heavier equipment, but it's essential to check the tripod's weight capacity before buying, to ensure it can handle your gear.
If you're using a smartphone, you'll probably be fine with pretty much any mini tripod, but if you're using a light DSLR, mirrorless, or compact camera, you'll need to be sure it can take the weight. (And remember: that's the weight of the camera and lens combined.) I've specified the maximum payload capacity of every mini tripod on the list above to help you keep track.
Every mini tripod on my list is capable of supporting an action camera or camera phone (though a phone may require an additional clamp to secure it to the tripod), and some are capable of supporting much heavier payloads than that. The heftiest models can take a full-frame DSLR with lens attached.
How we test mini tripods
When we review mini tripods, we look at build quality, portability and vital specs, such as payload capacity. We take the mini tripods out into real-world conditions to assess how they perform in the field with both camera and smartphone setups. We look at the headline features and manufacturers' claims for a mini tripod, and test out how well they work in reality. We use our findings to inform our comments in product reviews and buying guides.
Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World
