The 1980s brought us the computer age and too ushered in the power strip. Most people had a desktop computer, a monitor, and maybe a printer—merely add to those external drives, scanners, wireless routers, and other peripheral devices, and those two standard outlets most of us had were but overwhelmed. Now nosotros have laptops, tablets, smartphones, and wireless Bluetooth devices, all connected to a power strip.
Today, power strips ofttimes incorporate USB ports and surge protection. We tested a broad range to determine which are the best. But first, some buying advice.
The Best Power Strips
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Best Overall
Surge Protector with Telephone, DSL and Coaxial Protection APC
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Most Complete Protection
Power Strip Surge Protector Belkin
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Best Under a Desk
8-Outlet 6-Human foot Extension Cord Power Strip Bestek
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Best for Work Travel
Flat Plug Extension Cord Tessan
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All-time for Travel
PowerPort Cube Anker
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What You Need to Know About Surge Protection
The proliferation of wireless handheld devices that charge at lower voltages makes surge protection more important than ever. What about people don't realize about surge protectors is that they wear out over fourth dimension. With every voltage fluctuation they blot, their lifespan is shortened. So, to be sure you're getting the near protection you can, information technology's a good thought to supercede them every two to three years.
Power surges tin occur due to a number of reasons. People tend to worry virtually about lightning strikes, which can notice their manner to electric wires and cause power spikes in the millions of volts. Virtually surge protectors can't handle anything this big, so don't rely on them during lightning storms—the best fashion to protect from this blazon of surge is to unplug your sensitive electronic equipment.
More than commonly, power surges are caused during storms when ability lines are downed. When the ability company'southward transformers and circuitous switching systems effort to reroute power or address changing demands, it tin create inconsistent power catamenia with dips and bursts. The other common cause for surges occurs within your own home. Air conditioners, compressors, and electric ranges require a big amount of ability, specially when they start upwardly. However, their demand drops off quickly once they're running, which can crusade surges elsewhere in the business firm's wiring.
The corporeality of protection surge protectors provide is measured in joules. A joule is a unit of energy required to do a certain corporeality of work. One joule is almost the amount of electricity used to light a one-watt LED for i second. To adequately protect an boilerplate home entertainment system or computers and related equipment, look for surge protectors rated in thousands of joules. E'er check with the manufacturer, they usually provide examples on the packaging of what a sure model can protect.
How Nosotros Tested These Power Strips
The power strips on this list have been thoroughly vetted and evaluated by our test editors. Nosotros research the market place, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience with them to make up one's mind the best options. Nosotros plugged these ability strips in and tested them in kitchens, family unit rooms, workshops, and offices. Nosotros evaluated them based on ease of use, their features, and how they performed in diverse situations. We used a Sperry Instruments outlet tester to confirm circuit grounding when ability strips had wiring error indicators. If yous need power strip or surge protector, chances are you'll find 1 on this list to suit your needs.
Other Dandy Options
Due to a mix of loftier demand and supply-chain bug, we've found that some of our favorite power strips come up and leave of stock frequently. In the upshot that you find a few surge protectors are out of stock, there are other options that nosotros can recommend. While nosotros oasis't tested these ability strips, they're in stock and are from brands that we trust and have performed well in by tests. More details virtually these alternatives can be plant at the bottom of our listing.
Best Overall
Surge Protector with Telephone, DSL and Coaxial Protection
Key Specs
- Outlets: 11
- USB Ports: 0
- Power Switch: Aye
- Surge Protection: 3,020 joules
- Excursion Breaker: fifteen-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: Yes
- Cord Length: eight anxiety
- Plug: 180 degrees
APC has a lot of confidence in this xi-outlet SurgeArrest, so much and then that it offers a $100,000 equipment protection policy. Brusk of using it in a research lab to protect scientific instruments, we had a hard time coming up with a list of equipment to match that total. Multiple layers of protection volition guard against ability surges coming through your coaxial TV cable, phone/DSL lines, and home's electrical outlets. There are LEDs to indicate protection status and edifice wiring faults.
The six outlets are spaced nicely to suit large power adaptors, and all of them have sliding covers to keep out grit and debris when not in employ. The heavy cord swivels 180 degrees then that it can lay flat and out of the style, no matter which way it's oriented behind furniture.
Because of the SurgeArrest'south size and features, we found it most useful for elaborate entertainment or figurer equipment.
Most Consummate Protection
Power Strip Surge Protector
Key Specs
- Outlets: 12
- USB Ports: 0
- Power Switch: Yes
- Surge Protection: 3,940 joules
- Circuit Breaker: xv-amp
- Ground Error Detection: Yes
- Cord Length: 8 feet
- Plug: 90 degrees
Belkin has everything covered with this 12-outlet surge protector. Connect phone/fax/DSL lines, coaxial cables for Television set/cable modems, and ethernet and power cords for all your equipment to protect from surges and spikes wherever they come from.
The low-profile power strip has six widely spaced outlets for large power adaptors and a clip-on cablevision organizer to proceed cords all heading in the aforementioned management. The slim design helps information technology fit under desks and behind article of furniture, and then you tin can set up it up and forget information technology—although the protection and ground wiring status lights won't be visible in this case.
Sliding covers protect unused outlets from dust and debris. Just retrieve they're there, or it volition be frustrating reaching behind article of furniture to plug something in. Finally, Belkin provides a $100,000 connected equipment warranty with this surge protector.
Best Nether a Desk
8-Outlet 6-Foot Extension Cord Power Strip
Primal Specs
- Outlets: 8
- USB Ports: iv
- Power Switch: Yep
- Surge Protection: 600 joules
- Circuit Breaker: 15-amp
- Footing Error Detection: Yes
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Plug: xc degrees
Bestek'due south 8-Outlet power strip is platonic as an attainable, under-desk power solution. We found that viii outlets were more enough for a fully outfitted, single work-station desk. Two of these are ready apart from the others to accommodate devices with big plugs. The other six are spaced more tightly, and nosotros were able to use all of them with a range of standard plugs.
Four smart USB charging ports ensure each device is charged at the voltage and rate all-time suited for information technology. The unit has a 15-amp circuit breaker, and so you lot can fifty-fifty power some appliances with it—we plugged in an 8,000-BTU window air conditioner without issue.
All-time for Work Travel
Flat Plug Extension Cord
Key Specs
- Outlets: 4
- USB Ports: three
- Ability Switch: Aye
- Surge Protection: three,940 joules
- Circuit Breaker: ten-amp
- Basis Fault Detection: No
- Cord Length: five feet
- Plug: 90 degrees
Tessan'southward Flat Plug Extension Cord is a compact option for when you merely need a couple of extra outlets. Its size and shape make it easy to pack when traveling—we carried it in our laptop bag when working off-site. Four standard outlets, spaced far autonomously, means it was easy for u.s. to accommodate devices with large plugs without overlapping. Three standard USB ports were enough to satisfy our charging needs and helped make this useful as a tabletop charging station.
You can also hang this Tessan apartment on a wall or above a desk or nightstand if space is limited. Nosotros were surprised and impressed with the iii,940 joules of surge protection—that'south a lot for a power strip this cheap.
All-time for Travel
PowerPort Cube
Key Specs
- Outlets: 3
- USB Ports: three
- Ability Switch: No
- Surge Protection: No
- Circuit Breaker: 15-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: No
- Cord Length: 5 feet
- Plug: Standard
The compact cube-shaped PowerPort from Anker is more than of an extension cord with USB ports than information technology is a ability strip. Its tiny size means it doesn't take up space on a desk-bound and will e'er exist close for easy plugging and unplugging. The PowerPort comes with an adhesive pad to continue information technology from moving around, wherever you lot decide to put it—it'southward super sticky, so yous tin can even tack it on a wall. We were able to do abroad with multiple AC adapters thank you to this Anker.
Its size also makes it platonic for travel, hands fitting in a briefcase or bag. With iii outlets and 3 USB ports, it volition power all the personal electronic devices you need for piece of work or play.
Best One-Size-Fits-All
Surge Protector with USB Charging Ports
Key Specs
- Outlets: 6
- USB Ports: 2
- Power Switch: Yes
- Surge Protection: i,080 joules
- Circuit Breaker: xv-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: Yep
- String Length: six anxiety
- Plug: 90 degrees
APC'south six-outlet SurgeArrest is ideal for use virtually a desk-bound or entertainment system. It has wall mounts on the dorsum to hang horizontally or vertically, but make sure it's attainable, or access to the USB ports all the way at the end will be limited. The main feature of this power strip is how the six outlets swivel 180 degrees to provide ample room for large power adaptors or oversize plugs—this helps keep the unit's footprint small.
The power switch doubles as a circuit breaker reset, and when turned on, two LEDs signal protection status and if the excursion is grounded properly. Finally, APC provides a $50,000 equipment protection policy.
Best for the Desktop
PowerExtend USB-C Desktop Charging Station
Key Specs
- Outlets: three
- USB Ports: two USB-A, 1 USB-C
- Power Switch: Yes
- Surge Protection: 300 joules
- Circuit Breaker: 15-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: Yes
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Plug: xc degrees
The PowerExtend is more of a power outlet, complete with USB ports, than information technology is a power strip. It's platonic for a desk or work surface, where yous may demand to accuse mobile devices or plug in a laptop regularly.
The unit is weighted and has nonslip pads on the bottom, and so information technology didn't motion around when we were plugging and unplugging USB or ability cords. When we pushed the power switch, three LED lights indicated that ability was on and that both ground protection and surge protection were functioning.
It has three widely space standard power outlets on the back, which allowed us to plug in various sizes and combinations of Air-conditioning power adapters. I of our favorite features was the 45-watt USB-C port, which allows rapid for charging of uniform phones and laptops.
Most Versatile
8-Outlet Rotating Surge Strip
Central Specs
- Outlets: eight
- USB Ports: 0
- Power Switch: Yes
- Surge Protection: 2,160 joules
- Excursion Breaker: 15-amp
- Basis Mistake Detection: Yes
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Plug: Standard
The Rotating Outlet Surge Strip packs a lot of outlets in its meaty footprint, with two fixed and six that rotate 180 degrees to arrange plugs and power adapters of unlike sizes.
Mount the unit horizontally using the slotted holes on the back, and continue the cords in guild with two fold-out guides on the end. The illuminated power switch doubles as a circuit breaker reset, and there are two LED indicators to testify surge protection condition and that the excursion is properly grounded.
Nosotros constitute the Surge Strip to be a good all-effectually option, with aplenty surge protection for sensitive electronics and flexibility for any size power adapter.
Best for Collaborative Workspaces
Power Strip Tower
Fundamental Specs
- Outlets: 10
- USB Ports: iv
- Ability Switch: Yes
- Surge Protection: 900 joules
- Circuit Breaker: 13-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: No
- String Length: 6.5 anxiety
- Plug: Standard
This Jackyled is a convenient table-summit power strip, useful in collaborative environments or meetings placed in the center of a conference table. Information technology has outlets on every side, with two USB ports each on ii of the sides. At that place'south a ability switch for each layer of the tower, and then you can be selective well-nigh which equipment you lot ability off and which you go out on. The power cord for this unit retracts and winds into the base of operations, so at that place's no extra cable looped around to deal with.
We especially liked the Ability Strip Tower on our project tabular array where tools and equipment frequently come and go and nosotros have several things going on at once. A pocket-size amount of surge protection guards sensitive electronics, although we wouldn't suggest using this every bit a permanent power supply for these devices.
All-time Warranty
3-Outlet Portable Surge Protector Power Strip
Key Specs
- Outlets: 3
- USB Ports: 2
- Ability Switch: No
- Surge Protection: 1,050 joules
- Circuit Breaker: 15-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: No
- Cord Length: i.v anxiety
- Plug: xc degrees
Tripp Lite backs its portable surge protector with a ane,050-joule surge protection rating that keeps upward with full-size surge protectors. This level of protection in improver to a cord for more placement versatility puts this model leagues ahead of the travel-centric contest. When you demand to pack upwardly the surge protector the string wraps around the device with the plug neatly tucking away as to not scratch your electronics.
Since the plug is both flat and correct angle y'all tin hands plug information technology in behind a bed, hotel nightstand, and fifty-fifty an entertainment center. It also comes with a lifetime warranty and $25,000 in Ultimate Lifetime Insurance for devices you claw up to the surge protector.
Best with Smart Features
Plug Power Strip HS300
Key Specs
- Outlets: 6
- USB Ports: 3
- Power Switch: Yes
- Surge Protection: 1,710 joules
- Circuit Breaker: 15-amp
- Ground Error Detection: No
- Cord Length: 6.5 feet
- Plug: Standard
For advanced control over your outlets, the Kasa Smart Power Strip blends features with protection. Not merely can you lot command each connected device individually from anywhere, but you tin can integrate the strip into your smart home for voice control. The born energy monitoring breaks down how much power each connected electronic consumes. You tin employ this data to prepare schedules to optimize your daily usage and salve money on your electric bill.
Peachy Surge Protection
8-Outlet Ability Strip Surge Protector, 4,500 Joule
Key Specs
- Outlets: 8
- USB Ports: 0
- Power Switch: Yeah
- Surge Protection: four,500 joules
- Circuit Breaker: 15-amp
- Ground Fault Detection: Yeah
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Plug: Standard
The Amazon Basics Surge Protector isn't super meaty, but information technology's a customer favorite, with a 4.eight-star average rating from more than xvi,000 buyers. Non but practise both sides of the strip provide a high level of joule protection against surges, only besides power continued devices after an outage. This gives you time to save your work and properly shut down all of your equipment. It too comes with a green LED low-cal that lets you know the surge protection is working and the wiring is grounded.
Don Melanson Don is a author and announcer whose piece of work has appeared in Engadget, Motherboard, The Globe & Mail and other publications.
Bradley Ford Examination Editor Brad Ford has spent well-nigh of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things.
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