The Best Space-Saving Surge Protectors

Nobody likes bulky surge protectors. They protrude from walls, refuse to hide behind furniture, and look as ugly as sin. So, why not clean up your cable management issue with a space-saving surge protector instead?

Before Buying a Space-Saving Surge Protector

Different situations call for different surge protectors. There are all kinds of things to consider, like the number of outlets you want, or the joule rating you need to keep things safe. The fact that you’re looking for a space-saving surge protector doesn’t make things any easier, as some low-profile surge protectors can be pretty niche.

Here are a few things you should consider before shopping for a surge protector:

• Location: Surge protectors come in all shapes and sizes. Some are great for hiding behind furniture, while others work best on a countertop. Make sure that whatever surge protector you buy works for a specific location in your home—don’t just buy whatever looks nice.
• Joule rating: A surge protector’s “joule rating” determines how much energy it can absorb before it fails. For most applications, you’ll want a surge protector with a rating between 200 and 400 joules. Naturally, heavy-duty situations call for higher joule ratings.
• Outlets and USB ports: Make sure that your surge protector has enough outlets, and that it has USB or USB-C ports (if you need them). All the surge protectors in this article have three-prong outlets, so you don’t have to worry about incompatibility.
• Plug shape: Surge protectors with bulky power cables are a genuine eyesore, and they’re difficult to tuck behind furniture. So, for your convenience, every power strip included in this article has a space-saving L-shaped plug.

Now that you know what you need from a low profile surge protector, it’s time to get into it. Here are the best space-saving surge protectors for every situation.

For Behind Furniture: GE 3-Outlet Extended Surge Protector

Got an outlet that’s hidden behind a couch or bookshelf? Skip the typical power strips and consider picking up a GE 3-port extended surge protector. It’s basically a nice looking 8′ extension cord for indoor use (a 15′ version is also available), with a tangle-proof braided cable to boot.

The GE extended surge protector has a 250-joule rating, so it’s ideal for most indoor applications. You could easily use this surge protector to gain access to your hidden outlets or to add some outlets for the modem and router you’ve strategically tucked behind your couch. (By the way, you shouldn’t put them back there.)

For Everyday Use: Belkin 6-Outlet Surge Protector

The Belkin 6-outlet surge protector is an affordable, low-profile power strip. Its L-shaped plug and thin design set it apart from most surge protectors, and its 6-foot cable is long enough to work well in most situations without getting tangled.

This surge protector has a 600-joule rating, which makes it great for lightweight or heavy-duty applications. You could safely use this surge protector behind your desk, in the garage, or even as a part of your media center.

For Desk Use: APC 6-Outlet USB Desk Power Station

No, this device doesn’t sit on your floor like some cursed space-wasting electric horseshoe. It’s an APC desk power station, and you can clamp it to the side of your desk. Bear with us, it’s pretty cool.

The APC’s top side (which sits on top of your desk) has an easy-access kill switch, a USB-C port, and two 12-watt USB ports. Its bottom side (which hides below your desk) has six outlets, so you can neatly tuck away your computer cables or rearrange them on the fly.

But how does this thing work as a surge protector? Well, it has a 1080 joule rating, so we’d say it makes for a pretty good surge protector. You could easily use this to power your complicated computer setup, or to safely power the tools in your garage.

The Flush Option: POWRUI 3-Outlet USB Surge Protector

You know, most people wouldn’t need surge protectors if wall outlets had more than two ports. And that’s basically the idea behind the POWRUI surge protector. A flush device that adds extra ports to your typical wall outlets, it even has four built-in 30-watt USB ports to eliminate your need for bulky USB power bricks.

This surge protector has a 1680-joule rating, more than enough for everyday applications or heavy-duty use. Just keep in mind it uses up two wall outlets (and only has three outlets built-in), so it won’t work great for messy computer setups or media centers.

For Countertops: GE 5-Outlet USB-C Surge Protector

The GE 5-outlet surge protector strikes a good balance between size and usability. It isn’t a “flush” surge protector, but it sits against your pre-installed wall outlets to save space. The slightly triangular design makes it great for plugging in appliances on a kitchen countertop.

This surge protector has a 560-joule rating, which makes it great for powering small kitchen appliances. It also has a 17-watt USB port and a USB-C port, so you don’t have to leave USB power bricks in the kitchen.

The Bendy Option: Quirky 6-Outlet Flexible Surge Protector

Sometimes the tried-and-true power strip design just won’t cut it. If you need a power strip that can snake between furniture legs or bend to the will of awkward power cables, you should check out the Quirky flexible 6-outlet surge protector.

This is a great all-purpose surge protector with an all-purpose 672-joule rating. It’s a little weird, but it’s the best way to keep those power bricks and laptop chargers from tangling into a giant rat’s nest.