The Best Outlet Extenders
There's nothing worse than too few power outlets. Struggling behind a bed, nightstand, or couch to find an open slot to plug into gets old after a while. That's why we're bringing you this list of the top outlet extenders on the market. Have all of your power within reach and easily accessible with these awesome accessories. Keep reading, and we'll go into further detail.
What to Look For
There’s more to outlet extenders than meets the eye. To pick out the best ones on the market, we asked the following: How many outlets does it have? Does it include USB ports? And does it have WiFi connectivity? The Addtam outlet extender is a perfectly balanced choice. It has five available AC plugs plus four USB outputs for a total of nine charging options. It doesn’t have WiFi or anything like that, so we also recommend the GHome smart extender if you like fancier features. It connects to your wireless network, so you can turn the outlets on or off with your phone. Or hook it up to a smart home system for easy voice command and scheduling. Read on if you’d like to learn more about all of our favorite outlet extenders.
Addtam USB Wall Charger Surge Protector 5 Outlet Extender
Trying to plug in a big old power brick usually means saying goodbye to the rest of the power outlets. Not with this awesome outlet extender. It adds more slots to a regular power outlet and has them angled away from each other. This lets you plug more devices in without needing a mini-extension cable, for example. And for your USB devices, you won’t even need a power brick — this puppy has plenty of USB ports to charge your devices. All you need is the right cable, and you’re good to go.
Pros:
- Solid plugs stay secure in the wall, even if you’re unplugging constantly
- Safe to use in the bathroom thanks to the surge protection
- Fast charging speeds through the USB, even with multiple devices
Cons:
- A bit bulky
Qinlianf 5 Outlet Extender with 4 USB Charging Ports
Keeping up with the times
Never leave your devices low on battery again. With this 5-outlet extender, you won’t have to separate your charging cables. Now you can have everything connected to one outlet thanks to the multiple USB and AC plugs. We love that it has a USB-C output since most modern devices use this type of cable. Of course, USB-A is still quite ubiquitous, so we appreciate the three older-style USB charging ports as well.
Pros:
- Stays incredibly secure thanks to the middle screw
- A dependable surge protector can save your sensitive electronics like laptops
- USB-C port is useful for more modern charging cables
Cons:
- We wish the USB ports supported the Quick Charge 3.0 standard for fast charging
Hanycony Outlet Extender with Night Light
Let there be sight
Soft lighting at night is so much better than a harsh lamp. That’s why we love this outlet extender from Hanycony. With the diffused lighting, you can always find this outlet at night without blinding yourself and others. It has all of the amenities we’ve come to expect from a modern-day outlet extender: USB ports, surge protection, and well-spaced plugs for easy access.
Pros:
- The fireproof shell adds extra protection and peace of mind
- The night light’s warm lighting is comforting when falling asleep
- Works with or without the screw
- Includes a touch power sensor for turning off the night light
Cons:
- You’ll have to remove your outlet faceplate for this to lay flush with the wall
GHome Smart Outlet Extender with App Control
Modern comforts
Are you the type to forget when to turn off the lights or unplug something? We certainly are, which is why we’re recommending this smart outlet extender. With WiFI connectivity, this bad boy can hook up to an Alexa or Google smart home setup. Even without those, you can use the app to quickly turn these outlets on and off with the push of a button. Don’t want to be bothered with remembering even that? You can elect to set up a schedule where they turn off automatically. Now that’s modern living.
Pros:
- With Alexa and Google Home, you can control this outlet outside of your home
- Highly affordable considering the smart home features
- Individual outlet control that can be set to specific voice commands
Cons:
- Takes a bit of setup with the app to get the smart home features working seamlessly
Hanycony Outlet Extender with Braided Extension Cord
No more straining to reach
Outlet extenders are great, but what if your outlet is in a hard-to-reach location? That’s where this one comes into play. With a tough braided cable, you can extend those pesky hidden outlets to somewhere more useful. This multiplies your usable outlets by 8, so instead of just one, you have plenty of spots to plug in. Not only that, but this even includes a couple of USB ports, so you can save the AC outlets for beefier plugs.
Pros:
- Lightweight enough to travel with
- The durable cord doesn’t fray or kink
- Can use two per outlet since it only requires one plug
Cons:
- Bulkier chargers might not fit on the sides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a hair dryer with an outlet extender?
Most outlet extenders will probably work with hair dryers, but you should make sure to check the maximum wattage. Hair dryers can use anywhere from 800 to 1,800 watts of power. Most outlet extenders are rated to about 1,800 or 1,900 watts, so you should be okay as long as nothing else is plugged in — which kind of defeats the purpose of an outlet expander.
How many outlets can you expand on a standard AC outlet?
You can safely increase the number of outlets from two to ten. The main thing you want to watch out for is the power draw: does the combined wattage draw of your devices exceed the rated wattage for the extender? This is usually easy enough to check on the bottom of your charging plugs. Most extenders will have surge protectors that will shut off power in case too much is drawn.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.