We spoke to experts at the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), who recommend whole-house surge protection as a baseline. “The 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) introduced surge protection as a requirement for dwelling units,” says ESFI program manager Daniel Majano. “Dwellings are now required to be protected by listed Type 1 or Type 2 surge protective devices (SPDs), which are typically installed in your breaker box or electrical panel. For full protection, a cascading system should be applied: whole-home as the first level, then point-of-use SPDs for specific products.” Especially for houses built before 2020 without whole-home surge protection, point-of-use (Type 3) SPDs are still a critical layer of defense for your most valuable electronics, so we researched power-strip-style surge protectors that are safe, dependable, and officially certified while still affordable and convenient enough for various household situations. Based on our research, the APC Performance SurgeArrest P11VNT3 is our top pick for its performance, extra ports, and protection level for the price. Read on for our full list of the best surge protectors. APC offers a variety of similar models with comparable protection, but a defining element of the P11VNT3 is its extra ports. In addition to 11 standard three-prong outlets (with safety shutters), you’ll find ports to plug in a coaxial cable, telephone, and Ethernet line, with cables included to complete each connection. Unfortunately, the downside to protecting your Ethernet connection through the P11VNT3 is that it limits your speed to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), even if you have a Gigabit internet network, which can be up to ten times faster than 100 Mbps. One hundred Mbps is plenty for basic web surfing, for example, but makes it tough to stream high-resolution video on multiple devices. The P11VNT3 also lacks USB ports for device charging, a feature you can find on other surge protectors. However, if you’re looking for a model to place on the floor behind an entertainment center or workstation, the product’s bulky size makes it an excellent option for this use case. Add these to the four stationary outlets down the center, and you can plug in and protect up to 12 devices—plus a coaxial cable and phone/fax line. However, if features like USB ports for charging other devices and automatic shut-off are priorities for you, this large unit lacks those. Importantly, the UL-listed BP112230-08 can reliably safeguard all the electronics you entrust to it. Rated at 4320 joules, it can withstand more surges than nearly any other comparable product. Once it exhausts that protection, power will continue to flow through, but a green indicator light will turn off to let you know it’s no longer protecting your equipment. If a surge does damage your plugged-in property, Belkin offers a generous warranty of up to $300,000, but meeting the specific conditions to redeem that amount won’t be easy. The device is ETL listed, so it’s certified by one of the nation’s primary safety testing labs. Its 720-joule rating is enough for smaller, lower-value appliances, but it represents a lower end of surge protection that you might not want to risk with many big-ticket appliances. One important function it does include that competitors often don’t is automatic shutdown. That means this surge protector won’t keep your electronics running unprotected if it wears out without you noticing. This model’s main marketed feature is its braided power cord, and it indeed feels sturdy and resistant to twists and tangles. If the 4-foot cord length of the base model seems too short for your space, this model is available with 6- and 10-foot cable versions. The device has a durable enclosure that meets standards for indoor or outdoor use and universal installation on the side of essentially any type of panel (provided you have a dedicated 50-amp double-pole circuit breaker available). As one measure of its protective capabilities, the CHSPT2ULTRA can handle a maximum single surge current of 108,000 amps. In comparison, a typical lightning flash might carry a current of 30,000 amps, so a good Type 2 SPD will often cover at least this figure. One important thing to note is that whole-home SPDs offer protection for your entire residence by connecting directly to your electrical system. However, their installation is generally best left to a professional electrician. What differentiates the HS300 from plain smart power strips/outlets is its surge protection, which is ETL certified for safe and dependable performance. Its 1710 joules of energy absorption is decent, as is a voltage protection rating (VPR) that indicates it can bring surges down to 500 volts. (Premium surge protectors usually have a 330-volt or 400-volt rating.) Overall, its surge performance is middling; if strong surge protection is your priority, a dedicated “non-smart” alternative may be the better investment. Like many other Kasa Smart products, the HS300 also provides real-time energy monitoring. This feature lets you track which of your devices use the most power and when so you can adjust your usage accordingly. On its front face are two full-size USB-A ports that deliver 15 watts of power each. One modern-device-friendly USB-C port supports up to 45 watts, allowing it to charge laptops in addition to smartphones and tablets. This port is also compatible with a variety of fast-charging technologies to quickly power up just about any device. Tucked away out of sight on the back are three traditional AC outlets covered by the device’s surge protection. Unfortunately, that level of protection amounts to only 300 joules, and a large surge could let enough voltage through to damage your electronics. For that reason, the PowerExtend USB-C 3 Capsule best serves primarily as a charging hub with some bonus electrical security rather than as full-time protection for important equipment. The ISOBAR8ULTRA’s UL-certified, network-grade surge protection includes an impressive 3840 joules of suppression for its lifetime, along with a maximum surge current rating of 97,000 amps reflecting its ability to handle large spikes. Additionally, the outlet arrangement uses what’s called isolated noise filter banks, designed to help eliminate electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference and deliver cleaner audio and video from the equipment you plug in. This level of performance, along with its higher cost, might be more than what average consumers need. However, this Tripp Life model offers valuable peace of mind when you have crucial systems or equipment you can’t afford to lose. The rotating three-level tower (taller and shorter versions are available) has ten widely spaced outlets and four 2.1A USB ports, with an independent on/off switch for each layer. You’ll find a carrying handle built into the top, and the power cord is retractable, so only the length you need is visible. The design considerations combine to make the device ideal for nightstands, coffee tables, and desktops. This tower could also be ideal for shared workstations, giving users easy access to outlets while protecting their equipment from electrical issues like overload, short circuits, and surges. While the Power Strip Tower could be a welcome addition to many work or common spaces for less high-priority devices, it lacks automatic shut-off and offers a surge absorption lifespan of only 900 joules. You can find better long-term solutions for your more premium fixtures. Finally, the POWRUI Outdoor Smart Plug has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP44 to attest to its weather resistance—specifically, protection against water splashes coming from any direction and objects over 1 millimeter, like wires and screws. The VII Series Power comes in 6- and 8-outlet varieties, each with five USB ports: two USB-A, two USB-C, and a USB-C Power Delivery port that supports up to 45 watts for charging laptops. It lists surge protection rated at an impressive 4000 joules, but unfortunately, power will still go through to your equipment if protection runs out. You can monitor the LED indicator icons for when that happens. As a bonus, noise filtration features help reduce interference from other devices that might affect your video and audio signals. It’s a significant investment for a surge protector, though Austere backs your investment with a lifetime guarantee on the product itself. This product also comes with a seven-year component guarantee to replace any device damaged while plugged into it, with no limit on the device’s value. If you’re looking to add a base layer of whole-home surge protection, the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Complete Home Surge Protective Device is widely compatible and more simple for a homeowner with enough electric expertise to install while still providing excellent levels of surge coverage to an entire residence. “Third-party testing and certification of an SPD to the UL 1449 safety standard ensures the product is safe from shock, electrocution, fire, and arc flash when properly installed and operated,” explains Bryan P. Holland, a Senior Technical Field Representative for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). “Unlisted SPDs may result in a hazard to life and property, and may also incorporate unsafe toxic materials, conflict minerals, or inferior materials not permitted by the standard.”

Voltage and Surge Protection

Officially tested surge protectors receive various ratings based on their performance, which manufacturers may or may not disclose for their products. One of the more relevant figures is voltage protection rating (VPR), or clamping voltage. This figure represents the threshold where the device “clamps” down and prevents extra voltage from getting through, so a lower number is better. The best surge protectors have a rating of 330 volts, with the next-best rating being 400 volts, which still represents good performance. Whole-home surge protectors, in particular, can involve even more ratings and technical figures, but if you have an electrical professional involved with the installation, they will factor everything in to determine the ideal solution for your home. “Typical SPD ratings such as VPR, nominal discharge current (In), and surge current rating (SCR) are a design consideration,” says Holland. Holland also notes they “need to be determined on a case-by-case basis by evaluating all the conditions that are present and a complete risk assessment of the premise’s wiring system.”

Joule Rating

The figure more commonly shown on surge protectors to indicate their performance is joule rating, which is the amount of energy the device can absorb before it stops functioning. It’s not a number you can monitor throughout an SPD’s lifetime, but the protection is “used up” when it faces a large surge event or, more commonly, many small surges across several years. “The higher the joule rating, the more protection,” says ESFI program manager Daniel Majano. “If you are protecting computers or higher-end electronics, you will need a joule rating of over 2,000.”

Number of Outlets

Larger surge protectors might have eight to twelve protected outlets and allow you to plug in more devices, provided you’re fine with a bulkier unit taking up more floor space. You can also find surge protectors designed to be compact and/or portable, with two to four outlets and occasionally USB ports for charging. Some travel units even have just a single outlet. Another factor to consider is the size of the power plugs you intend to plug in. The outlets on many surge protectors, especially long power strips, are close enough that large AC adapter plugs will block off other spots. For multiple large adapters, look for a surge protector with extra space between outlets or rotating/pivoting outlets that let you reposition your plugs to fit.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Anton Galang is a freelance writer and reviewer with a degree in journalism who covers smart home products and other home electronics for The Spruce. He first started working in the consumer tech realm in 2007 as part of PC Magazine and, more recently, as a contributor for Lifewire. “A power surge is a brief overvoltage event that can damage electrical devices and is a common cause of the failure of electrical equipment,” says Majano. “Power surges can damage and reduce the lifespan of household appliances and electronics. Eighty percent of surge incidents are caused by internal sources. Surge protective devices protect against these damaging power surges.” “Power surges can damage and reduce the lifespan of heating and air conditioning systems, washers and dryers, water heaters, ranges and refrigerators, lighting, and entertainment systems,” explains Majano. The surge protector should also include some indicator for whether protection is active or not, or safer yet, automatically cut off power to your devices if it’s no longer functioning. In researching the top surge protectors for this article, Anton considered over 50 models across over 20 brands, consulting reviews from consumers and testers, as well as documentation from manufacturers and other electrical organizations. For expert insight on safety and technical factors, he connected with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), speaking with Daniel Majano, a program manager who developed programs dedicated to the advancement of electrical safety in both workplace and residential settings. ESFI also shared recommendations from Bryan P. Holland, a Senior Technical Field Representative for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).