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Quick answer: a cheap power strip only adds outlets; it does nothing about voltage spikes [4]. For a TV, computer or game console, buy a strip that’s listed to UL 1449, the safety standard for surge protective devices [2], with a low VPR, since lower means better protection [4], and a joule rating in the thousands for costly gear [8][9]. Don’t overload it: the CPSC links about 2,000 home fires a year to electric cords and plugs [1].
At a glance
- Home fires tied to cords and plugs
- About 2,000 a year, killing 60 people [1]
- Standard for surge protectors
- UL 1449, Surge Protective Devices [2]
- Standard for power strips
- UL 1363, Relocatable Power Taps [3]
- Voltage protection rating (VPR)
- Lower is better [4]
- Before you buy
- A testing-lab label on the package and the product [1]
How we chose
We chose these strips from their makers’ spec sheets and the public safety record. We didn’t test them ourselves.
- A UL 1449 listing. UL 1449 covers surge protective devices, and plug-in strips fall under its “Type 3” category: protection at the point where you plug in [2]. Strips are also covered as power taps under UL 1363, which applies to indoor, cord-connected strips rated up to 20 amps [3]. Every pick names UL 1449 on its spec sheet; we note UL 1363 where the maker lists it.
- A stated VPR or clamping voltage. UL says the lower the VPR , the better the protection [4]. We list what each maker publishes. UL 1449 itself doesn’t judge whether a given rating is enough for a specific device [2], so treat it as a comparison number.
- A joule rating and a shutdown feature. Joules describe how much surge energy a strip can absorb. Its protection can be used up by one big event such as lightning or by many smaller surges, Tripp Lite notes [8], so we favored strips whose makers say they cut power when that happens.
- Nothing recalled. We checked each brand and model number against CPSC recall notices on November 6, 2026, and would have dropped any match [5].
Our picks
Best for: A TV stand or home office with cable and phone lines
Tripp Lite Protect It! 12-Outlet Surge Protector (TLP1208TELTV)
It has 12 outlets on an 8-foot cord and runs your coax cable and a phone or DSL line through it too, so a surge can't sneak in on those wires. Tripp Lite lists a 330-volt let-through rating line to ground, and the strip cuts power to its outlets if its protection fails [8].
- 12 outlets; 8-ft cord with right-angle plug [8]
- 2,880 joules; UL 1449 let-through 330 V (L-G), 400 V (L-N, N-G) [8]
- Coax (2.2 GHz) and RJ11 phone/DSL protection [8]
- EMI/RFI filtering up to 40 dB; resettable 15 A breaker [8]
- $150,000 lifetime connected-equipment insurance (U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico) [8]
Safety check: Listed to UL 1449 and UL 1363 per Tripp Lite; no CPSC recall found for Tripp Lite or this model (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: It has a plastic housing [8]. Tripp Lite's page also mentions 3,880 joules in one paragraph; its spec table says 2,880, which is the figure we use.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Expensive electronics: a home theater, a desktop PC, network gear
Tripp Lite Isobar 6-Outlet Surge Protector (ISOBAR6ULTRA)
It's built in a metal case with three isolated filter banks, so noise from one device doesn't reach the others. Tripp Lite gives it a 330-volt UL 1449 let-through rating, its lowest common figure, and a 3,330-joule rating [9].
- 6 widely spaced outlets; 6-ft cord with right-angle plug [9]
- 3,330 joules; UL 1449 let-through 330 V [9]
- EMI/RFI filtering 40 to 80 dB; 3 isolated filter banks [9]
- Metal housing; 12 A breaker; mounting slots [9]
- $50,000 lifetime connected-equipment insurance (U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico) [9]
Safety check: Certified to UL 1449, 5th edition, per Tripp Lite; no CPSC recall found for Tripp Lite or this model (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: Six outlets and a 12-amp breaker make it a strip for electronics, not for power-hungry appliances [9]. It has no USB ports or coax protection.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: A desk where you also charge a phone
CyberPower 8-Outlet Surge Protector with USB-C (CSP806UC18W)
It adds a USB-C port and a USB-A port to eight AC outlets, so a phone charger doesn't take up an outlet. It's listed to both UL 1363 and UL 1449, and it has keyhole slots for mounting under a desk [10].
- 8 outlets; 6-ft cord [10]
- 2,400 joules; clamping voltage 800 V per CyberPower [10]
- 1 USB-C (15 W) and 1 USB-A (2.4 A); 18 W shared [10]
- EMI/RFI filtering [10]
- $300,000 connected-equipment guarantee; 1-year limited warranty [10]
Safety check: cETLus listed to UL 1363 and UL 1449 per CyberPower; no CPSC recall found for CyberPower or this model (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: CyberPower publishes a clamping voltage, not a UL 1449 VPR, so the two numbers aren't directly comparable with the Tripp Lite picks. Its USB-C port is rated 15 W [10], so plan on a separate charger for a laptop.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Hotel rooms and airport gates
Tripp Lite Protect It! 3-Outlet Travel Surge Protector (TRAVELER3USB)
Three outlets and two USB-A ports on an 18-inch cord that wraps around the body. It shuts off its outlets if its surge protection is used up, rather than keep running unprotected [11].
- 3 outlets; 18-in cord with right-angle plug [11]
- 1,050 joules [11]
- 2 USB-A ports sharing 2.1 A [11]
- 120 V only; it won't work on 220 V power abroad [11]
- $25,000 lifetime connected-equipment insurance [11]
Safety check: Listed to UL 1449 and UL 1363 per Tripp Lite; no CPSC recall found for Tripp Lite or this model (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: It has the lowest joule rating here and no USB-C port. Tripp Lite's spec page doesn't list a VPR for it, and the page's web address says 540 joules while the specs say 1,050.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
What to look for
- UL 1449 on the label. That’s what makes it a surge protector. A strip listed only to UL 1363 is a power tap, which may have no surge parts at all [3][4].
- The lowest VPR you can get. UL’s guide says lower is better, and the ratings it describes start at 330 volts [4].
- Joules for your gear. A higher rating means more surge energy absorbed before the protection is spent [8]. Our picks range from 1,050 to 3,330 joules [9][11].
- A shutdown or “protected” light. Several picks cut power when their protection is spent [8][9][11]. If yours only has a light, check it now and then.
- Coax and phone jacks if you need them. A surge can arrive on cable or phone wiring, not just the power line [8].
What to avoid
- Strips with no maker name or testing mark. The CPSC says not to use counterfeit goods and to look for a certification label from an independent testing lab on both the package and the product [1].
- No-name strips sold only online. The CPSC has announced recalls of several, including ANNQUAN strips sold on Amazon, which had no overcurrent protection and could start a fire if overloaded [6], and HEZI strips, whose ungrounded metal case posed an electrocution risk [7].
- A damaged strip. UL says to throw out a strip whose cord is frayed or whose insulation is cracking [4].
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Power Up With Safety: Extension Cords & Power Strips (NSN-09-2)
- UL Standards & Engagement: UL 1449, Standard for Surge Protective Devices (scope)
- UL Standards & Engagement: UL 1363, Standard for Relocatable Power Taps (scope)
- UL Solutions: Guide to Power Strips and Surge Protectors
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls
- CPSC: ANNQUAN Brand Power Strips Recalled; Sold on Amazon
- CPSC: HEZI Brand Power Strips Recalled (2026)
- Tripp Lite by Eaton: Protect It! 12-Outlet Surge Protector TLP1208TELTV
- Tripp Lite by Eaton: Isobar 6-Outlet Surge Protector ISOBAR6ULTRA
- CyberPower: CSP806UC18W Surge Protector
- Tripp Lite by Eaton: Protect It! 3-Outlet Travel Surge Protector TRAVELER3USB
Common questions
What is the difference between a power strip and a surge protector?
A plain power strip is just an extension cord with several outlets. A surge protector has parts inside that divert voltage spikes away from what's plugged in. Look for UL 1449 on the label; that's the safety standard for surge protective devices.
What does the VPR on a surge protector mean?
VPR is the voltage protection rating from UL 1449 testing: roughly how much voltage gets through to your devices during a surge. Lower is better. 330 volts is the lowest rating you'll commonly see on plug-in units.
How many joules do I need in a surge protector?
There's no official minimum. Joules describe how much surge energy the unit can absorb over its life, so more is generally better for expensive electronics. Compare joules together with the VPR and a UL 1449 listing, not on their own.
When should I replace a surge protector?
Replace it if the cord or case is damaged, or if its protection light goes out. Many models, including several on this page, cut power to the outlets on their own once their surge protection is used up, so the strip stops working instead of running unprotected.