Best Power Strips in 2024
1. BEST OVERALL
APC Surge Protector with Telephone, DSL, and Coaxial Protection
PROS
- Equipment protection policy
- LEDs to indicate protection status
- 11 outlets
- Cord can lay flat
CONS
APC has a lot of confidence in this 11-outlet SurgeArrest, so much so that it offers a $100,000 equipment protection policy. Short 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 guard against power surges coming through your coaxial TV cable, telephone/DSL lines, and home’s electrical outlets. There are LEDs to indicate protection status and building wiring faults.
The six outlets are spaced nicely to accommodate large power adaptors, and all of them have sliding covers to keep out dust and debris when you’re not using them. The heavy cord swivels 180 degrees so that it can lay flat and out of the way, no matter which way it’s oriented behind furniture.
2. BEST VALUE
Belkin Surge Protector
PROS
- Widely spaced outlets for large adaptors
- Clip-on cable organizer
- Sliding covers to keep out dust and debris
CONS
- Some customers reported receiving used/damaged product
Belkin has everything covered with this 12-outlet surge protector. Connect phone/fax/DSL lines, coaxial cables for TV/cable modems, and ethernet and power cords for all your equipment to protect from surges and spikes wherever they come from.
The low-profile surge protector has six widely spaced outlets to accommodate large power adaptors, and a clip-on cable organizer keeps cords all heading in the same direction. The slim design helps it fit under desks and behind furniture, so you can set it up and forget it—although the protection and ground wiring status lights won’t be visible in this case.
3. BEST SURGE PROTECTION
Amazon Basics 8-Outlet Surge Protector
PROS
- Fireproof design
- Separate outlets for larger adapters
- LED indicator lights
CONS
- No USB ports
The Amazon Basics Surge Protector isn’t super compact, but it is a standout for how much surge protection it provides. 36,200 customers on Amazon give it an average 4.8 stars. Not only does it provide a high level of protection against surges, it comes with a green LED light that lets you know the surge protection is working and the wiring is grounded.
4. BEST FOR REMOTE WORK
Tessan Flat Plug Extension Cord
PROS
- Compact and portable
- Three USB ports
- Has holes on the back for mounting on a wall with screws
CONS
Tessan’s Flat Plug Extension Cord is a compact option for when you only 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 apart, means it was easy for us to fit 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.
5. BEST FOR LOTS OF LARGE PLUGS
APC Rotating Surge Protector
PROS
- Mounts horizontally or vertically
- Outlets swivel 180 degrees
- LEDs indicate protection status
- $50,000 connected equipment warranty
CONS
- Access to USB ports can be tricky, depending on how the surge protector is mounted
APC’s six-outlet SurgeArrest is ideal for use near a desk or entertainment system. It has wall mounts on the back to hang it horizontally or vertically, but make sure it’s accessible, or the USB ports all the way at the end could be blocked. The main feature of this surge protector is how the six outlets swivel to provide ample room for large power adaptors or oversize plugs.
The power switch doubles as a circuit breaker reset, and when turned on, two LEDs indicate protection status and if the circuit is grounded properly. Finally, APC provides a $50,000 equipment protection policy.
6. BEST FOR UNDER A DESK
BESTEK 8-Outlet 6-Foot Extension Cord Surge Protector
PROS
- Two separate outlets for larger adaptors
- Four USB ports
- Works with some appliances
CONS
Bestek’s 8-Outlet surge protector is ideal as an accessible, under-desk power solution. We found that eight outlets were more than enough for a fully outfitted, single work-station desk. Two of them are set apart from the others specifically for devices with large plugs. The other six are spaced more tightly, and we 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 best suited for it, and they self-adjust the current when charging multiple devices simultaneously. The lighted on/off switch has an integrated circuit breaker for overload protection on all outlets, so your gadgets will be safe from fluctuations in voltage or a sudden lightning strike.
7. BEST SPACE-SAVER
One Beat 6-Outlet Surge Protector
PROS
- Thick power cord
- Side outlets help prevent cords from getting tangled
CONS
- Doesn’t supply enough power for larger appliances
The AC outlets on this surge protector from One Beat have ample space in between them to accommodate bulkier adaptors like laptop charging blocks. There are two outlets on the front panel and two on each side, which is convenient if you’re plugging in devices with cords that aren’t as flexible and need to lay flat. It’s space-saving and not very long, so it will work well for desktops and workstations.
The surge protector auto-detects your connected devices for charging efficiency, and the lighted on/off switch has an integrated circuit breaker and will automatically cut power if the voltage gets overwhelming.
8. BEST FOR TRAVEL
Anker PowerPort Cube Power Strip
PROS
- Includes an adhesive pad
- Compact enough to fit in laptop bags and briefcases
- Connected equipment warranty
CONS
- No surge protection
The compact cube-shaped PowerPort from Anker is more of an extension cord with USB ports than it is a surge protector. Its tiny size means it doesn’t take up space on a desk and will always be close for easy plugging and unplugging.
The PowerPort comes with an adhesive pad to keep it from moving around, wherever you decide to put it—it’s super sticky, so you can even tack it on a wall. We were able to do away with multiple AC adapters thanks to this Anker.
There are three AC outlets and three USB ports, so it will power all the personal electronic devices you need for work or play. Its compact size also makes it ideal for travel, and the cube can easily fits into a briefcase or laptop bag. Similar to the Belkin and APC surge protectors, Anker has a connected equipment warranty, with coverage up to $25,000.
