Best Surge Protector of 2025: APC Is Our Top Choice

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Geoffrey Morrison Contributor

Geoffrey Morrison is simply a writer/photographer astir tech and question for CNET, The New York Times, and different web and people publications. He's besides the Editor-at-Large for Wirecutter. He is the writer of Budget Travel for Dummies arsenic good arsenic the bestselling sci-fi novels Undersea, and Undersea Atrophia. He's NIST and ISF trained, and has a grade successful Audio Production from Ithaca College. He spends astir of the twelvemonth arsenic a integer nomad, surviving and moving portion traveling astir the world. You tin travel his travels astatine BaldNomad.com and connected his Instagram and YouTube channel.

Surge protectors are antithetic than extension cords oregon power strips. They are an indispensable piece of hardware meant to widen the beingness of your tech and assistance support you against electrical fires and strategy crashes. But choosing the close 1 tin beryllium a challenge. We've rigorously tested 16 of the apical surge protectors disposable for nether $100, carving retired the database you request to person surge suppression to support your electronics safe. Our favourite surge protectors person a precocious joule standing -- fundamentally however overmuch vigor it tin sorb earlier failing. The higher the joule standing the much surge extortion it provides. We besides similar plentifulness of outlets that are arranged truthful you tin usage each of them portion besides not being excessively large and hard to hide.

What is the champion surge protector overall?

The standout performer against each of our requirements was the APC P11U2. Its awesome fig of outlets -- 11 -- is noteworthy, and six of them person a generously wide plan to supply spacing that tin accommodate larger powerfulness adapters. It besides comes with USB ports that let you to straight complaint your devices, a precocious joule standing (more connected that below) and a conveniently agelong powerfulness cord. It adjacent comes with a beingness $250,000 instrumentality extortion policy.

For those seeking surge extortion with circumstantial features oregon smaller sizes, we person much recommendations beneath worthy checking out.

Best surge protectors of 2025

The APC P11U2 checks each the boxes for what I was looking for successful a surge protector. It has six wide spaced plugs, positive 5 much that are person unneurotic and 2 USB ports. It has 2,880 joules of protection, good supra my test's average. Coincidentally, exertion Ty Pendlebury has 1 successful his investigating lab. APC offers a beingness $250,000 equipment extortion policy.

Overall physique prime is rather solid, adjacent though the protective covers for each outlet are superfluous and travel disconnected easily. The cord to link the powerfulness portion to the partition is rather agelong astatine 8 feet, which is convenient.

It's not flashy and doesn't person immoderate of the features of immoderate of my different picks, but for a basic, solid, surge protector, it's the 1 to get. It's worthy noting that APC discontinued the P11U2 successful the past fewer months, but it is inactive disposable astatine Amazon and Newegg. We volition update this database erstwhile we find a suitable replacement.

If the APC supra isn't disposable oregon you're looking for thing a small different, the Tripp Lite TLP1208TELTV offers astir of the features we similar astir the APC. It has lone 4 wide-set outlets but 8 close-spaced ones. There's nary USB, but alternatively you get 3 RJ11 for telephone (one in, 2 out) and 2 coax for cablegram oregon satellite. It has a claimed 2,880 joule rating. I person 1 successful my investigating lab.

It has an 8-foot cord, and comes with $150,000 "Ultimate Lifetime Insurance" sum and a constricted beingness warranty.

It's usually a small much costly than the APC, but if you privation thing to support landlines oregon cable/satellite, it's ideal.

The Belkin F7C01008q has a useful feature: It comes with a wireless switch. Six of the 8 wide-spaced outlets are controlled by this switch, which you tin equine determination adjacent via its included partition equine and sticky-tape. This allows you to instrumentality the existent surge protector down a ample TV oregon console and you won't person to interest astir reaching it to powerfulness connected and off. The protector itself is flat, with acold little bulk than the APC oregon Tripp Lite.

The fancy distant power comes astatine a cost, however. The surge protector has a claimed 1,000-joule rating, which is little than my apical picks. It has a shorter cord too, though astatine 4 feet it should beryllium agelong capable for astir situations. The Conserve Switch has a one-year warranty connected itself, and $100,000 for connected equipment.

If you similar the look of this plan but don't request the switch, cheque retired the Belkin BE112230, listed successful the Others We Tested conception below.

The Accell D080B-051B looks similar a squid oregon possibly a six-legged octopus. (Hexapus?) I consciousness similar this is capable crushed to bargain it, but it whitethorn not beryllium for everyone. Its main payment is that, alternatively of rigid outlets connected a level framework similar astir surge protectors, it has 5 abbreviated cables with the outlets astatine the end. Most radical astir apt won't request this circumstantial benignant of functionality, but I'm definite immoderate of you are looking astatine it and cognize precisely however it volition acceptable successful your home. Also, you know, the squid thing.

The Accell is rated astatine a claimed 1,080 joules. Unlike astir surge protectors, which proceed to walk powerfulness erstwhile they've passed their joule rating, the D080B-051B fails safe, cutting powerfulness truthful your cogwheel is protected against further surges. You volition request to bargain a caller 1 if this should happen, but the full constituent is to support your much costly gear. It's astonishing that much surge protectors aren't built similar this.

Unlike the others connected my list, though, there's nary instrumentality warranty. While this is disappointing, it's not a full deal-breaker, arsenic I sermon below.

Unlike astir surge protectors, the Belkin BP108000 is tubular alternatively of box-shaped. Long and thin, it tin beryllium down oregon nether furnishings amended than astir different designs. Seven of its 9 outlets rotate astir 180 degrees, truthful you tin acceptable large charger partition warts connected each of them. The different 2 outlets are wide spaced from each different but are adjacent to the bottommost of the protector. This won't beryllium an contented if you're plugging successful cables, but grounded partition warts mightiness not acceptable correctly.

It has a claimed 1,800 joule standing and comes with a $150,000 Connected Equipment Warranty. In summation to the powerfulness outlets, determination are besides successful and retired RJ11 telephone connections. The cablegram to the partition is 6 feet long.

The Amazon S9P658O300A00 plugs straight into your partition outlet, adding 4 much places for plugs. All six outlets connected this Amazon Basics protector crook 90 degrees, truthful you tin accommodate up to six partition warts if you crook the apical and bottommost plugs successful the other absorption of the mediate ones.

It's rated for a claimed 1,080 joules. It doesn't person a connected instrumentality warranty.

The tiny PowerPort Strip PD 2 Mini is cleanable for placement connected a table oregon array wherever you often link devices via USB to complaint and occasionally further partition warts. It has a surge standing of 440 joules. The USB-A ports max retired astatine 2.4 amps each, portion the USB-C larboard is susceptible of 3 amps astatine 5 volts oregon 2 amps astatine 9 volts.

The PowerPort Strip PD 2 Mini is besides bully for travel, acknowledgment to its tiny size and 5-foot cord, though the Accell (mentioned below) is amended for those who similar to question light.

If you privation to link big, oregon wide partition warts, the PowerPort Strip PD 2 Mini isn't ideal. As you tin spot from the photo, it doesn't person overmuch abstraction connected either broadside of its outlets. If you're regularly connecting bigger warts, cheque retired the Belkin SRA006p3tt5 mentioned successful the "Other bully surge protectors" conception below.

a powerfulness cablegram plugged into a surge protector

When I tested these surge protectors determination were 3 things I looked for: well-spaced sockets, a precocious joule standing (preferably 1,000 oregon more) and whether it came with a "connected device" warranty. Firstly, 1 of the astir important things was having capable outlets to acceptable the partition wart powerfulness adapters that travel with astir products. These bulky connectors usually instrumentality up 2 oregon much spaces connected mean outlets and powerfulness strips. So I physically checked each powerfulness portion to spot if its outlets were sufficiently spaced to acceptable aggregate warts.

Secondly, a joule standing was required, and each my picks had joule ratings comparable to oregon higher than their competitors. It'd beryllium large to person a minimum oregon recommended joule standing but specified a happening doesn't beryllium for these kinds of products.

I besides gave penchant to products that travel with a warrant successful lawsuit your cogwheel gets destroyed by a powerfulness surge. Nearly each of my picks person this benignant of warranty, often successful the scope of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Are you apt to get your wealth backmost if your cogwheel gets zapped? Hard to say. Insurance similar this is hard to cod on, arsenic immoderate companies volition only replace connected cogwheel "at their option." Having this benignant of warrant does springiness you immoderate bid of mind, however, much than you person without it, and possibly it volition screen you successful a mode your homeowners oregon renters security doesn't.

With each of this successful mind, I compiled a database of astir 50 surge protectors and past chose the apical 16 to test. My past spot of investigating was hands-on. Specs tin archer you a lot, but precise rapidly I recovered immoderate of these to beryllium amended than others. Some had features that seemed utile but weren't. Others were larger oregon smaller than they seemed successful pictures, which successful immoderate cases was a bully happening oregon successful the lawsuit of the question surge protectors, not truthful much. Our apical picks were the ones that had the champion operation of features, specs and felt the astir applicable successful mean use.

The Belkin SRA007p12tt6 is simply a classy-looking 12-outlet surge protector with a matte-white decorativeness that would enactment amended connected a table oregon different disposable spot than astir of the different ample protectors. Six of its outlets are wide spaced, and determination are 2 2.4-amp USB-A and 1 3-amp USB-C outlet (4.5 amps combined max output). The partition plug is conveniently angled astatine 90 degrees astatine the extremity of the 6-foot cable.

The APC P6WU2 (currently unavailable) is simply a chunky wall-mount plan with six side-mounted outlets and 2 USBs connected the front. Depending connected what you're plugging into it, they mightiness clump up oregon not acceptable against the wall. The Amazon S9P658O300A00 tin acceptable much plugs for a somewhat akin footprint. However, the APC has a connected instrumentality warranty ($50,000), portion the Amazon doesn't. For thing akin but smaller, cheque retired the Belkin BSV300ttCW mentioned below.

The Belkin BE112230 shares the level plan of the switched Belkin F7C01008q, conscionable without the switch. It has six wide-spaced outlets, a claimed 3,940 joules of extortion and a connected instrumentality warranty.

The Belkin BST300bg (currently unavailable) is simply a decent question alternate to the Accell. It has 3 outlets connected the beforehand and 2 USBs connected the top. The plug swivels truthful you tin orient it successful aggregate ways. The Accell is simply a small smaller, but this is simply a bully runner-up.

The wall-mounted Belkin BSV300ttCW has 3 outlets and 2 USBs, each connected the front. Its astir absorbing plan diagnostic is simply a lipped apical aboveground wherever you tin thin your telephone portion it's charging.

The cube-shaped Belkin SRA006p3tt5 is akin to the Anker, successful that it's a tiny protector astatine the extremity of a agelong cord. The Anker's smaller size and dedicated USB-C transportation are much convenient, but if you're connecting larger partition warts they'll apt acceptable amended connected this.

Cords plugged into a powerfulness strip.

Power strips and surge protectors mightiness look similar, but lone a surge protector volition support the appliances plugged into it from a surge. Plug-in surge protectors enactment by absorbing and diverting a surge. The other powerfulness is sent to the outlet's crushed ligament -- the 3rd prong successful modern electrical sockets -- and prevented from reaching immoderate devices that are plugged into that socket. A powerfulness portion volition simply springiness you much outlets to plug successful electronics.

The easiest mode to archer the quality betwixt a basal portion and a surge protector is by checking if it has a joule rating. All surge protectors volition person one, and it's fundamentally however overmuch of a powerfulness surge it tin support against.

Get much outlets than you deliberation you need. Generally, the adjacent size up from what you’re considering volition springiness you country to turn if you request to adhd caller cogwheel oregon devices down the road.

Two mightiness beryllium amended than one. If you’re connecting capable devices to capable a surge protector, it’s worthy considering getting 2 smaller ones (say, 2 eights alternatively of 1 12). Spreading retired the electrical load could beryllium safer. Even much practical, it besides mightiness let you to link to 2 antithetic outlets. This is particularly important if you’re connecting a batch of high-power devices. Of course, this isn’t ever possible, but it’s worthy considering.

Make definite it's wrong reach. An easy reachable powerfulness switch, oregon adjacent a wireless remote, tin look similar a elemental happening but 1 that tin amended usability significantly.

A surge protector isn't aways enough. If your determination is prone to lightning strikes, you’ll privation much extortion than conscionable a surge protector. Using a surge protector to support against lightning is similar utilizing a babe gross to halt an elephant.

Yes, though depending connected what you're trying to connect, it mightiness not matter. The outlets successful astir American homes are either 15 oregon 20 amps. This equals astir 1,800 to 2,400 watts. Can you link your TV, soundbar and crippled consoles to 1 surge protector? Generally, yes. Can you link your fridge, aerial conditioner, electrical stove and apparel dryer to one? No. Check the wattage standing connected your gear. You're amended disconnected utilizing much surge protectors, plugged into their ain abstracted outlets.

Need? No, but it doesn't wounded to support your gear. More important erstwhile traveling is having capable outlets to link each your electronics. You'd beryllium amazed astatine however fewer accessible outlets galore hotels have.

No. If lightning strikes your house, a surge protector volition improbable bash thing to prevention your gear. There would conscionable beryllium excessively overmuch powerfulness to handle. Some surge protectors person warranties that mightiness screen immoderate of the outgo of your cogwheel successful the lawsuit of a lightning strike, but not all. It's champion to work the good print. Lighting extortion has to impact redirection, for illustration with a lightning rod, which is beyond the scope of this guide.

To an extent. Generally much costly surge protectors person higher joule ratings (more protection) and amended instrumentality extortion policies if thing happens. Surge protectors with higher prices mightiness see options similar uninterruptible powerfulness supplies (UPS), which are fundamentally surge protectors with built-in batteries, and whole-home surge protection.

The quality betwixt a power strip and a surge protector is that a powerfulness portion is conscionable further outlets, portion a surge protector has further circuitry to assistance support your TV, soundbar oregon thing that's plugged in. While the presumption are utilized interchangeably, there's a large difference.

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