The best laptop for interior design is one that runs demanding design software quickly and efficiently. That said, some tools require more power than others. But while some interior design software can be run on relatively modest hardware, including Chromebooks, 3D modelling tools will demand more powerful internals.
With that in mind, we've drawn on our expertise as laptop reviewers to bring together the very best laptops for interior designers in one easy place. Whether you're a professional interior designer or working on your own home, you'll find the right laptop for your needs in our selection below.
The latest MacBook Air is an affordable device that combines power, portability and longevity in a sleek package. Its M3 chip delivers performance that rivals high-end desktops, easily handling demanding interior design software. Read more below
If you don't want to get sucked into the Apple ecosystem and prefer a Windows laptop, the ASUS ProArt PX13 is our top choice. This compact powerhouse offers exceptional versatility for interior designers. Read more below
The 516 GE is one of the most powerful Chromebooks available today, making it a potential option for interior designers. You won't be able to run a lot of the usual software, but you can use cloud-based tools such as SketchUp Web, Planner 5D and RoomStyler. Read more below
For interior designers who require the maximum power from their laptop, this is the pinnacle of mobile workstations. Its 16-core CPU will easily handle even the complex 3D renderings, large CAD files, and resource-intensive design software. Read more below
If you want to see your interior designs on a big screen, the Dell Precision 7780 is an excellent choice. Its massive 17.3-inch display provides ample space for detailed CAD work, 3D modelling, and multitasking across various design applications. Read more below
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The latest AppleMacBook Air M3 (2024) isn't the absolute most powerful MacBook today: that's the Pro M3, number 4 on our list. But this more affordable device combines power, portability and longevity in a sleek package that's more affordable than the Pro, making it our top pick for interior design over all.
Its M3 chip delivers performance that rivals high-end desktop processors, easily handling demanding design software and 3D rendering tasks. And the 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display is a standout feature, offering ample screen real estate for complex designs and detailed renderings. With its 2880x1864 resolution, it ensures your interior design work will look crisp and vibrant, perfect for presenting to clients or fine-tuning intricate details.
Despite its larger screen, the M3 Air remains incredibly portable at just 1.51kg and 1.15cm thick. This makes it ideal for interior designers who frequently work on-site or present to clients, although do note it can only support two displays at a time.
Our tests also found that battery life is exceptional, with up to 18 hours of use possible under optimal conditions. So even with intensive design work, you can expect a full day's productivity without needing to recharge. For more details, read our Apple MacBook Air M3 (2024) review.
Ports: 2x USB 4.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, microSD card reader
Weight: 1.38kg
Reasons to buy
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GPU and NPU
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Compact 2-in-1 convenience
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OLED screen
Reasons to avoid
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Display only 60 Hz
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Finicky touchpad
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Battery life could be better
If you don't want to get sucked into the Apple ecosystem and prefer a Windows laptop, the ASUS ProArt PX13 is our top choice. This compact powerhouse offers exceptional versatility for interior designers.
Our reviewer found that its combination of the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU provides ample power for demanding 3D rendering and CAD applications. He also enjoyed using 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen, which boasts a sharp 2880 x 1800 resolution and exceptional colour accuracy (100% sRGB, 96% Adobe RGB, 97% P3); ideal for colour-critical work and client presentations. Best of all, the 2-in-1 design allows you to switch between laptop and tablet modes, perfect for sketching ideas or showcasing designs on-site.
At just 1.38kg, it's highly portable, making it easy to take to client meetings or work on the go. The included stylus enhances precision when working directly on the screen, while the innovative ASUS Dial on the trackpad offers intuitive control in creative applications.
With 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, you'll have plenty of memory and storage for large project files and complex 3D models. The laptop also features Wi-Fi 7 and a range of ports, including USB 4.0 and HDMI 2.1, ensuring excellent connectivity options.
While the 60Hz refresh rate may not be ideal for video work, and battery life is somewhat limited at around 3.5 hours under heavy use, the ASUS ProArt PX13 offers a compelling package for interior designers who need power, portability, and versatility in a single device.
Chromebooks have long been much cheaper than Windows laptops or MacBooks but also a lot less powerful. The 516 GE represents a significant step up in Chromebook capabilities, making it a potential option for interior designers. You won't be able to run a lot of the usual software, but if you're happy using cloud-based tools like SketchUp Web, Planner 5D and RoomStyler then it's well worth investigating.
Despite the budget price, it's quite impressive far as the hardware goes, thanks to a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor (with an i7 option available), Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD. Our reviewer found this meant performance that rivals many traditional laptops, with smooth multitasking and quick access to files.
A large 16-inch WQXGA display with a 120Hz refresh rate provides ample screen real estate and smooth visuals, ideal for detailed design work and 3D rendering. And overall, this device offers premium build quality, backlit keyboard, and long battery life.
That said, you won't be able to do much reliance on a strong internet connection and you also need to consider the limitations of ChromeOS very carefully indeed. For designers primarily using cloud-based tools, though, or those looking for a powerful secondary device, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE offers an impressive blend of performance and value.
For interior designers who require the maximum power from their laptop, there's the Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max: the pinnacle of mobile workstations. Its M3 Max chip, with a 16-core CPU and up to a 40-core GPU, will easily handle even the complex 3D renderings, large CAD files, and resource-intensive design software.
The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is fabulous too, offering exceptional colour accuracy and brightness up to 1600 nits for HDR content. The 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and responsive UI interactions. And all this makes it ideal for detailed design work and client presentations.
With support for up to 128GB of unified memory, even the most complex projects run smoothly. Storage options up to 8TB ensure ample space for large design files and renderings. And despite all this power, the MacBook Pro M3 Max maintains impressive battery life, lasting up to 22 hours for standard tasks: perfect for travelling to client meetings.
Of course, it's super-expensive. But its ability to handle both 2D and 3D tasks with ease makes it a versatile powerhouse for all aspects of interior design work, which may make it worth the investment for professional interior designers who demand the best.
For interior designers who want a big screen, the Dell Precision 7780 is an excellent choice. Its massive 17.3-inch display provides ample space for detailed CAD work, 3D modelling, and multitasking across various design applications.
Our reviewer found that itscombination of a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13850HX processor and NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada GPU ensured smooth performance even with demanding rendering tasks. With 32GB of RAM and storage options up to 4TB, you'll have plenty of memory and space for large project files and material libraries.
While the 1920x1200 resolution isn't 4K, the display still offers crisp visuals and good colour accuracy. The 180-degree hinge allows for flexible viewing angles, which can be useful when collaborating with clients or team members. Connectivity is a strong point too with multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, HDMI, Ethernet, and an SD card reader, making it easy to connect to external displays and transfer files from cameras or other devices.
However, at 3.05 kg, this laptop is not designed for frequent travel. The off-center trackpad placement may also take some getting used to, though many designers will likely use an external mouse for precision work.
The most important factors to consider when choosing a laptop for interior design are the processor, memory (RAM), storage, display and graphics card.
For interior design, you'll need a laptop with a powerful processor that can handle running multiple software applications simultaneously. That's especially the case if you're using 3D modelling software to create your designs. For similar reasons, RAM is important for ensuring that your laptop can run multiple applications smoothly without crashing.
Interior design software can be demanding on graphics resources, so a dedicated graphics card is a good idea. If you're planning on using 3D modeling or rendering software, look for a Windows laptop with a graphics card from NVIDIA or AMD, or a MacBook with an M1 or M2 processor (which features integrated graphics).
If you're making a lot of designs, particularly if they're 3D models, you'll end up with some pretty large files, so you'll need a laptop with plenty of storage space.
Also think about the quality of display in the laptop. You'll need to be able to see your work accurately, so a good display is essential, particularly for 3D visualisations. Look for a laptop with a high-resolution display (at least 1920x1080 pixels) and wide viewing angles. If you're planning on doing professional interior design work, you may also want to consider a laptop with a colour-accurate display.
To compile this list of the best laptops for interior design, we've looked back through our expert, hands-on reviews of laptops for Creative Bloq, as well as other devices reviewed by our stablemates at Future Publishing. When we review laptops, we put through their paces rigorously, performing everyday tasks that the average person would want to use them for, and assessing how quickly and smoothly they run in practice. We also perform standard benchmark test to make sure that our perceptions are matched by the data. We are totally independent and never accept payment for our reviews, so our opinions are always honest and unbiassed.
When looking for a laptop for interior design, it's important to consider the specs. A good processor for interior design should be powerful enough to handle running multiple software applications simultaneously, such as 3D modeling, rendering, and photo editing software. It should also be able to handle large files. For Windows laptops, we recommend an Intel Core i5 or above, or an AMD Ryzen 5 or above. If you're looking for a MacBook, then Apple's own M1 or newer M2 chips should offer more than enough power.
How much memory does a laptop need for interior design?
RAM (random-access memory) is important for ensuring that your laptop can run multiple applications smoothly without crashing. For interior design, we recommend at least 16GB of RAM. If you're planning on using 3D modeling or rendering software, you may want to consider even more RAM.
Also consider how much storage memory your laptop has. Interior design software can create large files, so you'll need a laptop with plenty of storage space. We'd recommend at least 512GB of SSD storage, but if you can afford it, 1TB or more is even better.
Do I need a Mac or Windows laptop for interior design?
In general, both Mac and Windows laptops are suitable for interior design work. However, some interior design software is only available for Windows, so if you're planning on using a specific tool, be sure to check its system requirements first.
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Matt has been a technology journalist for over 15 years, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a managing editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.
