Best Products > Smart Home 61 61 people found this article helpful The Best Surge Protectors of 2024 Look for the joules rating, the number of outlets, and the outlet protection types By Rebecca Isaacs Rebecca Isaacs Writer Monmouth College Rebecca Isaacs is a writer and an educator. She covers all sorts of products, from video games to e-readers and light therapy alarm clocks to standing desks. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 30, 2024 Fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh Fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh New York University London Metropolitan University Stephen Slaybaugh is a fact checker and music writer with with more than 20 years experience writing about internet retail and consumer tech. He has been featured in Digital Trends, DealNews, and TechRadar. He is a content designer at Bose Corporation and is completing his Master of Arts in Digital Media. lifewire's fact checking process We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Smart Home Audio Camera & Video Car Audio & Accessories Computer & Laptops Computer Components Gaming Gifts Networking Phones & Accessories Smart Home Software Tablets Toys & Games TVs Wearables The best surge protectors should protect your devices from power spikes, have plenty of outlets to handle all your electronics, and have multiple types of connections like USB and Ethernet. Some take it a step further, combining surge protection with battery backup so you can safely power down sensitive electronic equipment such as game consoles and PCs. We tested and reviewed the best surge protectors on the market so you can confidently choose one right for your needs. in this article Expand Our Picks What to Look For in a Surge Protector FAQ Best Overall APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA Amazon View On Amazon $292 View On Walmart $170 View On Best Buy $200 Pros Clear LCD display 10 outlets, including five battery backup outlets Vertical orientation doesn't take up as much space Hot swappable batteries Cons Stepped sine wave (like cheaper options) No USB or additional charging outputs Big and heavy If you’re prone to storms that knock out power, the APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA is your technology lifesaver. The device is part UPS and part surge protector, and it allows you to decide which items need to be protected from spikes and which items you prefer to be on the UPS supply. The UPS side offers up to 865W of battery life to keep your tech devices functioning during power outages, while the surge protection side keeps any currents consistent and safe. Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen A PowerChute system also informs you on what equipment uses how much voltage. You can do that if you prefer to shift some voltage elsewhere. You can even swap out to a more robust backup battery if you feel the one included isn’t suitable for your home. APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA Review Best for Small Appliances BESTEK 6-Outlet Surge Protector Amazon View On Amazon $20 Pros Budget-friendly Great for lamps and phones 1875W protection Cons Not great for computers and gaming consoles Cannot turn plug-ins for optimal usage This BESTEK surge protector comes in two colors and offers an unbeatable price for peace of mind. A power light indicates whether it’s protecting your tech from power surges, and a built-in phosphor bronze conductor keeps up to 200 joules safe. Overload protection and copper technology will keep anything plugged in from overcharging and overheating. Small and under 2 inches thick, the BESTEK can fit discreetly behind almost any tiny appliance or underneath a desk, thanks to its 6-foot-long extension cord. Best Budget GE 6-Outlet Surge Protector Amazon View On Amazon $14 View On Walmart $21 View On Staples $25 Pros Comes with up to 20-foot extension cord Up to 800 joules protection Cons Bulky flat head plug-in GE’s 6-Outlet Surge Protector is the best value if you’re looking for a cost-conscious option. Offering options between 1- and 20-foot-long cords, it can work with almost any space within the home. If you’re short on space, it can be mounted on the wall of a studio apartment and can even work with any cord due to its swivel plug-ins. Eight hundred joules keep almost all tech equipment safe from power spikes, and a built-in circuit breaker will keep tech safe anytime. Best Backup Battery CyberPower EC850LCD Amazon View On Amazon $110 View On Walmart $110 View On B&H Photo Video $110 Pros Eco-friendly 12 outlets Cons No USB ports No swivel plug-in ports The CyberPower EC850LCD is an excellent option to protect your equipment during a power outage. Half of the CyberPower is a UPS system (battery backup), so you can safely keep your computer running long enough to turn it off or charge phones during an emergency. Even better, it can safely run for up to 120 minutes if you're in a time crunch. The other half works solely as a power surge protector, keeping over 500 joules safe. Another perk to this surge protector is that it’s eco-friendly, using compact power chargers and power inverters to create highly efficient power in the event of a power outage. The Best UPS Battery Backups of 2024 What to Look For in a Surge Protector Joules Joules measure how much a protector can take during a power spike. The higher a joules rating, the higher the threshold a protector can withstand. Once the joules reach that threshold, be it one massive spike or a series of smaller spikes, the surge protector isn’t as effective, so higher is better. Outlets Will you need to charge your cell phone on this surge protector? If so, looking for one with USB ports might be in your best interest. Swivel outlets are also critical because setting up multiple cords can sometimes be tricky depending on the plug-in’s bulk. For example, a Nintendo Switch charger could take up less space if used on a swivel outlet. Outlet protection types Depending on the power surge protector, a light may indicate when the threshold of joules has been met, which means it’s time for a replacement. Some protectors don’t have these lights, so take a look and see if the surge protector that caught your eye can indicate whether it’s time for a replacement. FAQ Is there a difference between a power strip and a surge protector? Yes. A power strip offers the amenities of extra outlets without the safety of a surge protector, which prevents dangerous power surges that damage electronics. You can get a power strip, but your gear's security is not guaranteed when the next storm or spike hits. Is a surge protector a necessity? If you enjoy the amenities of your computer without worrying about it breaking down, then yes, a surge protector is essential. One power outage or surge could wipe out your computer, a smart TV, and other electronics, so if you like the peace of mind of keeping your home tech safe, get a surge protector. How does a Surge Protector Work? When a thunderstorm or power spike hits, it can cause a surge of current in the electrical system. That current hits your home items, which are not typically equipped to handle power spikes and can short out electrical items, such as computers or smart TVs. A surge protector stops the excess current from coming into contact with your tech and redirects it back into the grounding wires or uses other dissipation methods to keep it from harming the items in your home. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit