Best Surge Protector in 2023 - Surge Protector Reviews and Ratings

We spent over 27 hours researching and testing 15 different kinds of surge protectors and found that cord length, warranty, and number of outlets were most important. The Belkin BP112230 outlet Surge Protector scored well above the other surge protectors that we tested and is our top pick. This is the perfect surge protector for your home or office. It provides 8 outlets that have sliding safety covers, and features a right angle plus that doesn’t get in the way of your electronics. There is a detachable cord management clip that helps to keep all the cords organized. There is a lifetime warranty on this product.

Surge Protector Reviews

If you have electronics that are left plugged in such as computers, cell phones, big screen TVs and other expensive items, you will want to have a means of protection between the electronics and the outlet in the event of bad weather. Not having your equipment protected properly can result in the items being ruined in the event of a power surge or bad lightening storm.

There is a large selection of surge protectors on the market in a variety of styles, capabilities and price points. With so many choices available it can be difficult to figure out which ones are good and which ones should be passed over. We are going to help you understand what makes a good quality surge protector so you can sort through all of the choices and make a selection that will work for your electronic protection needs.

A surge protector prevents voltage spikes from entering a computer, TV or other electronic device that is plugged into them. You get what you pay for when it comes to a surge protector so don’t try and get out with the cheapest model possible; your electronics will be what pays for that low cost, low quality surge protector.

It’s important that you don’t confuse a power strip with a surge protector. They can look similar but a power strip does nothing to protect the equipment plugged into it. They are just special looking extension cords that can handle many items. Unless it says surge suppressor on it somewhere, it is more than likely just a power strip and should not be used for that purpose.

1. Belkin BP112230

Best Overall Surge Protector

5/5 Product Rating

Belkin does it again with this 12 outlet pivoting plug surge protector with 8 rotating and 4 stationary surge protected outlets.

It has an 8 ft heavy duty power cord and provides protection for all of your important electronic equipment at home and at work.

The design of this surge protector and the rotating and stationary outlets allow plenty of room for large block outlets.

There is also extra room for large adapter plugs and even has the capability to protect phone lines so the phones continue to work even if the power surges or spikes.

The damage resistant housing keeps the surge protector working well and there are protected indicator lights as well.

– Darius Spieth

2. APC

Best Overall Surge Protector – Runner Up

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APC Surge Protector with USB Ports, P11U2, 2880 Joule, 8′ Cord, Flat Plug, 11 Outlet Power Strip Black

4.8/5 Product Rating

This surge protector is the perfect piece of equipment to charge smartphones, cameras and tablets as well as protecting them from surges and spikes.

When the surge arrest is on, there is a surge protection LED that is illuminated.

When this occurs it means that conditioned utility power is being supplied to the outlet.

The flexible cord rotates and the right angle plug makes plugging this in easy and it stays out of the way as well.

There is constant protection from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference which is a valuable protection to have to ensure that there is video and audio quality maintained at the proper levels.

This surge protector provides guaranteed protection via a multi-stage wiring that ensures lifetime protection. Make sure your electronic equipment is protected in the event of a surge or spike with this APC surge arrest protector.

– Darius Spieth

3. Belkin

Best Budget Surge Protector

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Belkin Power Strip Surge Protector with 8 AC Multiple Outlets, 8 ft Long Flat Plug Heavy Duty Extension Cord for Home, Office, Travel, Computer Desktop,…

4.5/5 Product Rating

Belkin’s 1 outlet home and office surge protector will protect your electronic equipment from any kind of surge and spike due to inclement weather or power outages.

It is perfect for high end home offices and professional work spaces as well.

This is the perfect item for protecting laser printers, home theater systems, big screen TVs, computers and much more.

The outlets on this surge protector have sliding safety covers. It also features a detachable cord management clip that helps keep the cables organized.

The right angle plug allows the cord to stay close to the wall so it is not in the way of stands or entertainment centers.

Belkin offers a lifetime warranty on this surge protector as well as a $300,000 connected equipment warranty which means if your equipment is plugged into the outlet and gets damaged, there is a warranty in place to cover that damage. Please read the warranty information carefully so you understand all that is involved in keeping it active.

– Darius Spieth

Summary of Our Top Picks
Surge protection is very important when it comes to keeping all of your office or home electronic equipment safe in the event of a power surge or lightening storm. These three surge protectors that we have reviewed above are all excellent choices to provide high level protection for your electronics including stereos, computers, televisions, game consoles and more.

Several of these surge protectors also offer connected equipment warranties which protects the equipment when it is connected. If something happens to it while using the surge protector, and it meets the restrictions, it will be replaced.

Continue learning about surge protectors and how to choose the perfect one for your needs from all the choices available by reading our buyer’s guide. It contains the information you need to sort through all the different surge protectors and make a decision on which one is the right one.

4. Belkin BE108200

5. Belkin BP106000

6. Belkin BP108000

7. Tripp Lite 7

8. Tripp Lite 3

9. Belkin 6

10. APC P11VT3

Surge Protector Buying Guide

Why use it?

There are many reasons that a person should use a surge protector. Whether it is at home or in the office, electronic equipment needs to be protected against power surges and spikes.

If the surge is bad enough, it can damage the electronics beyond repair. We have listed several reasons that surge protection is important and the benefits that can be had by using a good quality one to protect all of your electronics.

On average, a regular household can get as much as 350+ power surges each year.
Brownouts, voltage spikes, power surges and over voltage can occur as much as 5 times per day.
As much as 50% of electronic equipment failures can be linked to power surge failures.
If equipment is subjected to frequent power surges the equipment can become damaged which will shorten their lifespan and cause you to have to replace them more often.
Power spikes and surges are the leading cause of data loss with computers.
Getting the right surge protector for your electronic equipment will ensure their safety and extend their lifespan.
Choosing to use a surge protector will protect all the valuable equipment in your home or office. In addition, many surge protectors are backed by the connected equipment warranties which give you even more safety and security.

Types

There are several different kinds of surge protectors on the market. We have listed their differences below so you can better sort through the choices when you are shopping for one.

Whole House Surge Protectors – These are surge protectors that have been installed in the home’s main electrical system. It will guard the entire house’s outlets from external power surges. It can also provide some protection against any power surges that occur due to appliances. It is best to use additional point-of-use surge protectors in addition to the whole house system for additional protection within the home as well.
Surge Protector Strips – These are most commonly used as point of use protection. They are plugged into a regular electrical outlet and several pieces of equipment can be plugged into one strip. Make sure that the power strip states that it is a surge protector or suppressor which is the only ones that are designed to handle any kind of power surges. If it does not state that they are surge protectors or suppressors, they are simply power strips and won’t provide any protection from surges at all.
Battery Backup/Uninterrupted Power Supply – Battery backups have many uses. They give instant power to any devices that are connected so there is no interruption in the event of a power surge or power outage. They also provide surge protection but this will be something you want to check on to be sure. The UPS or uninterrupted power supply works by running the equipment off the battery constantly. The power that is coming from the outlet keeps the battery charged at all times. One of the benefits to this configuration is that it will further separate the electronic devices from any surges or spikes.

Wall Mounted Surge Protector – These look just like a regular electrical outlet but it has a surge protector built right into the plug. They are good for providing basic level protection in the spaces that a full fledged sure protector doesn’t fit.

Things to Look For

When you start shopping for surge protectors, there are several basics that you will want to look for. We have listed these below.

USB Ports – A surge protector with usb ports can charge mobile devices as well as tablets quickly and safely while protecting them from surges.
Multiple Outlets – Surge protectors come with many different amounts of outlets. It is better to buy the surge protector that you need for the area you are using it in. You can get multiple protectors that will have different outlet amounts that you can customize to the needs you have. Variations include 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 12 outlet varieties.
Cord Length – Cord length will vary from protector to protector. Choose the cord length that fits the area you will using it in. You will not need a protector with a 10 foot cord if it is only 3 feet from the outlet.
LED Indicators– This will let you know whether the surge protector is grounded correctly and if the devices are being protected.
Protective Housing – The protective housing is important to help the surge protector resist corrosion, scratches, impacts and other things that can potentially ruin it.
Joules – These will range from 300 to more than 4000 joules. The higher end your items are that you are protecting the higher joules you want.
Outlet Safety Covers – These are imperative for homes where children are present. These safety covers prevent children from sticking objects into unused outlets.

Features

There are many different features that a surge protector can have. You want to look for protectors that have features that will work with your needs. Below are many of the features that you will see offered with certain surge protectors.

Auto warning device – These are alerts that are in the form of lights or alarms that will let you know when the surge protector needs to be replaced with a new one. The elements of a surge protector wear out after a time, so replacing the protector with another one is important to have continued protection for your electronics.
Power shut down – This auto shut off system will cut the power to a strip’s outlets whenever the surge protection elements have reached capacity. The benefit to this feature is that it will not leave your items vulnerable to more surges while you are thinking it is fine.
Warranties – Warranties are always a good idea to replace any defective unit or unit that has been damaged. Each warranty will more than likely have different restrictions and rules so read them to know exactly what the warranty covers.
Line Conditioner – This system will constantly adjust the current that is coming from your outlets and will smooth out irregular fluctuations along with actual surges.
Cord Fire Protection – This feature will cut off the power whenever a sensor picks up on damage to the wire insulation due to fire or some other cause.

Safety Covers – Covers that block the unused outlets. Sometimes these are attached to the device and sometimes they are individual pieces.
Concealed Design – This feature keeps everything neat and tidy.

Conclusion

Surge protectors are very important in keeping all of your electronics safe and free from power surge damage. It is not wise to ever have electronic devices plugged directly into a wall outlet without protection or to have them just plugged into a power strip.

Choosing the right surge protector is something that should be taken seriously and the information given in this guide can be used to sort through all of the choices so the right selection is made. You will be very glad that you took the time to protect the electronics from surges and spikes that occur in the home and office on a regular basis.