The 10 Best Power Strip Towers
This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in September of 2020. Power strips are frequently kept under desks, but that can make access a hassle. For collaborative work spaces, kitchens, and tool stations, power strip towers may be a better choice. These often provide more space between outlets, and many offer surge protection and USB charging ports as well. Our selections include a range of options that should provide a solution for every space and need. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Bestek 8-Outlet
2. Aukey PowerHub XL
3. Jackyled Charging Station
Editor's Notes
September 10, 2020:
Power strip towers serve two fundamental purposes: provide extra outlets, and protect electronics.
The first is easy to manage, although we recommend buying more outlets than you think you'll need — devices have a habit of multiplying, and it's always useful to be able to share. Products like the Jackyled Charging Station and Aukey PowerHub XL will have enough flexibility for most desktops.
Surge protection is a trickier topic. Products are rated in joules, providing a cumulative total of how much energy they can absorb before passing spikes through to electronics. That rating applies to a single large surge, or to a series of small ones. That means that power strips will deteriorate over time, and that towers with higher ratings will last longer. Unfortunately, outside of a lab there's no way to test how much protection remains.
Surges due to lightning strikes are relatively infrequent, but power supplies are rarely uniform, and some grids are better than others. If you live in an area with frequent blackouts or brownouts, we recommend replacing surge protectors every few years to mitigate some risk. If long-lasting surge protection is your top priority, a traditional surge protector or smart power strip will still outperform most towers.
For buyers who plan on charging their phones and tablets through a tower, it's worth checking the amperage of the USB ports. Most modern products will provide at least 2 amps, and many offer 2.4. The higher the number, the faster your devices will be able to charge. If you charge multiple devices simultaneously, pay attention to the total amperage — rows of USB ports usually draw from the same well, and plugging in many devices can dilute the current. The Bestek 8-Outlet provides up to 8A total, which is enough to quickly charge several gadgets.
Finally, make sure that you don't exceed the recommended Watts of your chosen tower. This will likely only be a problem in garages, kitchens, or tool benches, but plugging in too many high-Watt appliances can overload a strip and require a reset.
4. Tessan Desktop
5. JackyLED Wireless
6. Beva Charging Station
7. iClever 8
8. Ntonpower Protector
9. SmallRT Extension
10. Safemore Multi-Plug
Sheila is a writer and editor living in sunny Southern California. She studied writing and film at State University of New York at Purchase, where she earned her bachelor of arts degree. After graduating, she worked as an assistant video editor at a small film company, then spent a few years doing freelance work, both as a writer and a video editor. During that time, she wrote screenplays and articles, and edited everything from short films to infomercials. An ardent lover of the English language, she can often be found listening to podcasts about etymology and correcting her friends’ grammar.