The best extension leads, compared.
Top pick: Masterplug 4-way switched 2 m – Highest star rating in the set: £9.50, 4.8 from 1,232 reviews, a switch on each socket and 370 joules stated. Best value: Desiretech 4-gang 2 m – £6.99 with 4.6 from 13,380 reviews on a basic 2 m 4-gang. No surge rating in the title. Updated October 2026.
An extension lead is a ready-made flexible cable with a fused BS 1363 three-pin plug and one or more portable 13 A sockets. You use one in the UK when a wall socket is in the wrong place, or when several low-power devices must share one socket. Length, socket count, switches, surge protection and USB are the usual choices. The total load stays at 13 A, and extra sockets do not add amps. A sound lead has a UK plug and shuttered sockets, and the cable should lie loosely. Match the features to the title. A table that adds USB or joules the title never mentions is a conflict. Printed surge joules do not raise the 13 A limit. Pay for switches or USB only if you will use them. Do not plug one lead into another, and do not tape a damaged lead. Treat a lead as indoor unless an IP rating is printed. Length, load and surge are set out in the [extension lead buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/extension-lead/sub/extension-lead-buying-guide).
An extension lead is a ready-made flexible cable with a fused BS 1363 three-pin plug and one or more portable 13 A sockets.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
How long is the run?
Across 1,232 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.8 stars, the highest star rating in this set, the Masterplug SWSRG4210N-MP is a four-socket lead on a 2 m cable at £9.50, with a switch on each socket and 370 joules in the attribute table. Reviewers buy it for the lighted switches and the surge claim, and they use it for hair tools and small appliances they want to turn off separately. The 2 m cable is described as enough for a normal desk or room, and the build is called robust for the price. Status lights are bright, including in a darker room, and the bar is slightly larger than some buyers expected. One reviewer had only just received it, so that comment is not a long-term report. The first 50 stored reviews do not show a separate theme of electrical failure. Wall mounting is not stated on this listing, and there is no USB. The listed current is 13 A at 240 V.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or dressing table within 2 m of a socket, where you want each socket switched
Less suitable: A run of 5 m or more, or a setup that needs USB charging on the same lead
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Masterplug have a switch on each socket?
Yes. The title says individual switches, plus power and surge LED indicators. The cable is 2 m.
What surge figure does the listing give?
The attribute table says 370 joules. It does not state a USB port. Joules do not raise the 13 A limit.
What is the listed current?
13 A, at 240 V in the attribute table. The stored file does not add a separate watt claim for this ASIN.
Across 10,218 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7 stars, the Masterplug BFG5-MP is an unswitched four-socket lead on a 5 m cable at £9.99. Reviewers say that length helps when the only socket is on the far wall, and several describe the cable as tough and the build as solid for the price. The bullets cite BS 1363-2, safety shutters and a wall-fixing option, with a listed current of 13 A. Sockets can be stiff. A UK review says the photo showed a plug that could be unscrewed, while the item received had a fixed moulded plug. The attribute table says 4 USB ports and 1 joule, but the title says basic power and unswitched and the bullets do not, so those table fields are not features of this lead.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A basic indoor run of about 5 m for light loads
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a switch per socket, USB, or a surge rating printed in the title
Specifications
Common questions
Does this 5 m Masterplug include surge protection or USB?
Not in the title or the bullets. The attribute table says 1 joule and 4 USB ports. Those fields conflict with the title, so they are not shown as features.
Is the plug rewireable?
A UK review says the photo showed a plug that could be unscrewed, and the item received had a fixed moulded plug.
What standard does the bullet name?
BS 1363-2, with safety shutters and a wall-fixing option. The listed current is 13 A. That wording is a seller claim. Check the mark on the plug.
Across 2,252 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7 stars, the Masterplug SRG6210N-MP is an unswitched six-socket lead on a 2 m cable at £10.82, with 370 joules and power and surge LEDs in the listing. Reviewers use the shuttered sockets under a desk or in a small office, and repeat buyers report no day-to-day trouble when the wall socket is close. Spacing is described as taking normal plugs, though the housing is lighter than some buyers expected from the photographs. The photo showed a plug with screws, and buyers received a non-removable moulded plug, which stopped one person who needed the plug off to thread a cable. The attribute table says 6 USB ports, while the title and the bullets do not, so USB is not a feature, and there is no switch per socket. The bullet's connected-equipment line, up to £1,000 within three years, is the seller's wording, not a test result.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small office or under-desk run of about 2 m where surge LEDs matter more than switches
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a switch per socket, USB, or more than 2 m of cable
Specifications
Common questions
Are the six sockets switched?
No. The title says unswitched. It does claim surge protection, power and surge LEDs, and shuttered sockets.
Does the listing include USB ports?
The attribute table says 6 USB ports. The title and bullets do not, so USB is not shown as a feature.
What surge figure and warranty line are printed?
370 joules in the attribute table. The bullet says Masterplug will pay up to £1,000 for surge damage within 3 years. That is the seller's wording, not a test result.
Across 656 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7 stars, the PARTH 3026-5m is a six-socket switched lead on a 5 m cable at £23.99, listed at 1.06 kg. Reviewers use the switches in a home office that has one wall socket, and they cite the 5 m length for a television or games setup as a reason to replace two four-gangs. The title and bullets say surge protected, including three-line AC protection, and they do not print joules. The bullet names an H05VV-F 3G 1.25 mm² cable and safety doors, with a 3,250 W line beside the 13 A claim, and the standards field cites BS1363/A and UKCA. Switch lights can be bright. Switches sometimes do not press fully, and one stuck. One review says plugs keep coming out, and the supplied wall fixings are described as useless. Some buyers find £23.99 high next to a basic 5 m lead.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A measured 5 m run where you want a switch on each socket and can accept a surge claim with no joules
Less suitable: Anyone who will only buy surge protection when a joule number is printed
Specifications
Common questions
Does PARTH state a joule rating on this 5 m lead?
No. The title and bullets say surge protected, including three-line AC protection, and they do not print joules.
What cable does the bullet name?
H05VV-F 3G 1.25 mm², 5 m, with individual switches and safety doors. The listed load line is 3,250 W beside the 13 A claim. Follow the ampere marking.
Are the sockets switched?
Yes. Reviews also mention that the switch lights can be bright and that one switch stuck.
Across 13,380 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6 stars, this Desiretech strip is a plain four-socket lead on a 2 m white cable, priced at £6.99. Reviewers use it for bedside and desk runs with several light loads at once, and many short reviews say it works from day to day. There is no surge rating in the title, so a television or a PC is a weak reason to choose it. At least one reviewer calls the plastic cheap, and another reports a unit that arrived broken. The recommended-uses field says outdoor and indoor, but no IP rating is stated, so treat it as an indoor lead. Wall mounting is claimed, and the 13 A figure in the table is a current claim, not a joule rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Lamps, chargers and other light loads within about 2 m of a wall socket
Less suitable: A television or PC that needs a stated joule rating, or any outdoor use
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a surge-protected lead?
No. The title and bullets do not claim surge protection. The table field that says 13 amps is not a joule rating.
How long is the cable?
2 metres, with four sockets. The title also says it is wall mountable.
Can the listing be treated as an outdoor lead?
No. Outdoor appears only as a recommended-uses field. The stored file does not state an IP rating.
Across 3,691 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6 stars, the TESSAN TPS03-UK-C is a tower with eight AC sockets, three USB ports and a 1,700 joule claim, at £25.99. Reviewers like the small footprint beside a television or a desk, and early comments say the base feels sturdy. The bullet limits use to dry conditions, with one master switch and four non-slip feet. Some reviewers want a longer lead, and neither the bullets nor the attribute table state a cable length. Plugs can be hard to seat, bulky plugs can stop the tower standing upright, and a few people notice a little noise up close. The bullet says up to 3,250 W, while the table says 101 A and 8 A. Those current fields conflict, so they are not a load you can plan around. The 14.7 cm by 10 cm size is the body, not the cable.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A dry desk or TV corner where floor space is tight and an unstated cable length is acceptable
Less suitable: Damp rooms, or anyone who needs a known cable length before buying
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the TESSAN cable?
The bullets and the attribute table do not state a cable length. Some UK reviews say they wanted it longer.
What current figure should be used?
The bullet says up to 3,250 W. The table says 101 amps and 8 amps. Those current fields conflict, so they are not used as the load. A normal lead is still 13 A.
Can it be used in a damp place?
The bullet says dry conditions only. There is one master switch, four non-slip feet, and a 1,700 joule claim.
Across 2,834 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6 stars, this Desiretech is a black four-socket lead on a 1 m cable at £4.99. When that metre is enough, reviewers call it neat for a desk, and one detailed review finds the socket spacing acceptable for ordinary plugs. The bullets claim safety shutters and a 13 A fuse, with a BS1363A wording, and they state no IP rating. Several buyers found the cable too short for the place they needed. One reviewer calls the build too light for heavy loads, and another says a hanging hole is upside down so wall hanging fails. It has neither USB nor individual switches, which disappointed a buyer who thought the page implied both.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or bedside where the wall socket is within a metre
Less suitable: Any run longer than 1 m, or heavy appliances
Specifications
Common questions
How long is this Desiretech lead?
1 metre. Reviews include buyers who found that too short for the place they needed.
Does it have USB ports or socket switches?
The bullets do not claim USB or individual switches. One reviewer says the item has neither.
What safety points does the bullet claim?
Safety shutters and a 13 amp fuse, with a BS1363A wording. No IP rating is stated. Check the mark on the plug.
Across 2,224 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6 stars, the DEWENWILS is a black six-way lead on a 3 m cable at £16.99, with 270 joules in the bullet and a spare fuse in the box. Reviewers praise the indicator switches, the wall mounting and a length that suits larger rooms, and one review cites the surge claim for a PC. Some say it feels more solid than cheaper strips, though switches and sockets are often stiff, and one reviewer says the build is not good enough for the price. In one review a socket and its switch failed after about six months. The title says individual switches on a six-way lead, while one bullet says four individual switches, so the switch count is not settled. The bullet also claims a 13 A resettable breaker and 3,250 W. The attribute table puts 13 amps in the surge field, which is not a joule rating, so the figure to use is the 270 joules in the bullet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A larger room where you want switches and a stated 270 joule figure on a 3 m lead
Less suitable: Anyone who needs the switch count to be unambiguous, or a softer socket action
Specifications
Common questions
How many switches does the listing describe?
The title says individual switches on a 6-way lead. One bullet says four individual switches. Both lines are in the stored file, so the count is not settled.
What surge figure should be used?
270 joules, from the bullet. The attribute table says 13 amps in the surge field, which is not a joule rating.
What overload part does the bullet mention?
A 13 amp resettable circuit breaker in the plug, plus a spare fuse. The cable is 3 m and the lead is wall mountable.
Across 2,042 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6 stars, the Hanycony HN6090 is a white eight-socket strip at £19.99 with two USB-A and two USB-C ports, an 1,800 joule claim and a 1.8 m braided cable. Reviewers use it for a television or console setup, and some keep a PC, a television and chargers on it. The side switches turn groups off, not one socket each. The bullet says the four USB ports share 3.1 A, lists USB-C up to 3 A, and says it will not charge a MacBook or any device that needs 14–22 V. One reviewer says the item felt cheap, counted one USB-C and three USB-A against the bullet's two and two, and found a side button the images did not show. A second plug field says Type C beside Type G. The mains plug to rely on is Type G.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A television or console corner that needs extra sockets and phone charging
Less suitable: A MacBook or any USB-C device that needs 14–22 V, or a switch on every socket
Specifications
Common questions
Will the USB-C ports charge a MacBook?
The bullet says no for MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or any device that needs 14–22 V. USB-C is listed up to 3 A, and the four USB ports share 3.1 A.
Is every socket switched?
No. The bullet describes a double switch, one on each side, not a switch per socket. Surge protection is listed at 1,800 joules.
What plug type should be used?
The power-plug field says Type G. Another field says Type C. The mains plug is kept as Type G. The cable is 1.8 m, also written as 6 ft.
Across 223 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.6 stars, the PARTH 3026-10M is a six-socket switched lead on a 10 m cable at £29.99. Reviewers praise the reach across a room, the switch on each socket, and a build that feels solid rather than cheap. Surge protection is given as a reason to buy, and the listing does not state joules. The bullet claims up to 3,250 W and names H05VV-F 3G 1.25 mm², with BS1363/A and UKCA in the standards field. Sockets can be stiff, and in one review a power-indicator light stopped after a few days. At £29.99 this is the dearest lead in the set, and some buyers say that is high beside a basic strip. One stored review about papers and a watermark does not describe this product and was left out of the sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A room where 10 m is the measured run and you want a switch on each socket
Less suitable: A short desk run, or anyone who needs a printed joule rating
Specifications
Common questions
How long is this PARTH lead?
10 metres, with six sockets and individual switches. The bullet claims up to 3,250 W. The load to follow is still 13 A.
Is a joule rating printed?
No. Surge protection is claimed, and the stored file does not give joules.
What do the stored reviews mention?
The long cable and the switches are praised. Complaints include stiff sockets, an indicator light that stopped, and the £29.99 price.
Across 1,378 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.5 stars, the Hanycony HN4WUKC2 is a four-socket lead at £15.99 with two USB-A and two USB-C ports, a switch on each socket and a 1.8 m cable, also written as 6 ft. Reviewers like having both USB shapes beside switched sockets, and one prefers the grey cable because it hides marks. It is used where a bed blocks the wall socket. The bullets claim overload protection and safety doors, and they do not state a joule figure. USB is listed at 3.1 A total, USB-A up to 2.4 A and USB-C up to 3 A, with the device deciding the actual current. Bulky adapters can block the switches. One reviewer expected more length and called a wire of about 2 m too short, and another called the build cheap. The listed warranty is six months.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A bedside or desk where you want switched sockets and USB, and surge joules are not the point
Less suitable: A television or PC you want on a printed joule rating, or a run longer than about 2 m
Specifications
Common questions
Does this Hanycony lead state a joule rating?
No. The bullets claim overload protection and safety doors, not a joule figure. The surge question in the stored file is unanswered.
What USB output does the bullet allow?
Four USB ports at 3.1 A total, USB-A up to 2.4 A and USB-C up to 3 A. The bullet says the device decides the actual current.
How long is the cable?
1.8 m in the title, also written as 6 ft. One review describes the wire as about 2 m and too short for that buyer.
Across 90 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.4 stars, the smallest sample and the lowest rating in this set, the IECOPOWER is a black eight-socket strip at £23.99 with a 2 m cable, a 1,050 joule claim, two USB-C ports listed at PD 20 W and two USB-A ports up to 18 W. Several reviewers say it does the job and looks acceptable. The same sample includes a unit that went pop within seconds of being plugged in, before anything else was connected. USB-C ports are reported not working, including both ports in one review, and one review says the USB ports stopped after about two weeks. Another says USB-C did not charge when four sockets were already in use. The wall fixing is described as not fit for purpose. The bullets do not say each socket has its own switch. The iPhone and iPad lines are the seller's compatibility claim, not a test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A shopper who has read the recent reviews and still wants eight sockets plus PD 20 W USB on 2 m
Less suitable: A first lead for a television, given the small sample and the failure reports
Specifications
Common questions
What USB charging does the bullet claim?
Two USB-C ports at PD 20 W and two USB-A ports up to 18 W. Named iPhone and iPad models are the seller's compatibility line, not a test.
Does each socket have its own switch?
The bullets do not say so. The attribute table lists an on/off switch without saying it is per socket.
How large is the review sample?
90 reviews at 4.4. The stored UK reviews include an immediate pop on plug-in and USB-C ports that reviewers said failed.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. Stars and review counts come from those stored listings. The score follows the star rating. Where two listings share a star rating, the deeper review count is listed first. A table field that conflicts with the title, including USB or 1 joule on a basic lead, six USB ports on an unswitched six-way, and 101 A on the tower, is not treated as a feature. There was no lab test. None of these leads is described as the safest in the UK, and a joule figure is not a promise that a fire cannot start.
Amazon line
35%Stars and review count on amazon.co.uk for that ASIN. The page score follows the star rating. A count under 100 cannot carry the value award on its own. The 90-review row is a sample-size warning in the written assessment.
UK plug, shutters and 13 A load
25%A domestic lead is judged as a BS 1363 plug and portable 13 A sockets. Extra sockets do not add amps. A standards line on the listing is a seller claim. Check the mark on the plug.
Cable length as stated
15%Points follow a length the title or bullets actually state: 1 m, 2 m, about 1.8 m, 3 m, 5 m or 10 m. A tower with no stated length does not receive a length mark.
Printed surge joules
15%Surge scores only when joules are printed: 270 J, 370 J, 1,050 J, 1,700 J or 1,800 J. A surge claim with no joules does not score as a rated surge lead. Joules do not raise the 13 A limit.
Switches and USB that match the title
10%Individual switches, a master switch or USB score when the title or bullets name them. A USB or joule line that appears only in a conflicting attribute table does not score.
The checks run in this order: a UK plug and shutters, the 13 A total load, the measured length, then surge joules only if they are printed, then switches and USB only if you will use them. The table is the twelve stored listings. None of these leads was tested in a lab for this page.
A UK extension lead is a ready-made flexible cable with a fused BS 1363 three-pin plug and one or more portable 13 A sockets. You use it when a wall socket is in the wrong place, or when several low-power devices must share one socket. It is not a new circuit. The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/1768) name BS 1363 for standard domestic plugs and sockets and BS 1362 for the fuse. A line that says BS 1363-2 or BS 1363/A is a seller claim. Check the mark on the plug.
A six-way or eight-way lead is still a 13 A lead unless the listing shows otherwise, and the conflicting 101 A table line on the tower is not a load you can plan around. Do not put a kettle, a heater and a tumble dryer on one lead.
One basic 5 m lead has a table that says 4 USB ports and 1 joule. One six-way has a table that says 6 USB ports. The titles do not. Keep the title, and do not buy those rows for USB or for a 1 joule surge.
Several buyers found a 1 m cable too short. A recommended-uses field that says outdoor is not an IP rating. A photo of a plug with screws is not a promise of a rewireable plug. One review received a moulded plug instead.
A domestic extension lead in this comparison is a fused BS 1363 three-pin plug on a flexible cable, with one or more portable 13 A sockets. SI 1994/1768 names BS 1363 for standard plugs and sockets and BS 1362 for the fuse. BS 1363-2 or BS 1363/A on a listing is a seller claim. Check the mark on the plug. A UKCA bullet is a claim under the 2016 safety regulations, not a certificate checked here. The load is 13 A in total.
Buy surge protection for electronics, and only when joules are printed. This set prints 270 J, 370 J, 1,050 J, 1,700 J and 1,800 J. The two longer PARTH leads say surge protected and print no joules, so that word is not a rated surge. A table that says 1 joule on a lead whose title says basic power is a conflict, not a feature. Joules do not prevent fire and do not allow more than 13 A. Switches and USB are worth paying for only if you will use them.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a few extra sockets for light loads, not a heater, and the wall socket is within about 2 m. The Desiretech 4-gang 2 m is the best value at about £6.99, with 4.6 from 13,380 reviews. It has no surge rating in the title, and the outdoor line is only a recommended-uses field.
You have measured the run and you still have to stay at 13 A. The Masterplug 4-way 5 m is the basic long lead at about £9.99, with 4.7 from 10,218 reviews. The title is unswitched and has no printed joules. The 10 m row in this set is a switched PARTH at about £29.99, also without joules.
You want a surge figure you can read, not a surge word with no joules. The Masterplug 4-way switched 2 m is the top pick at about £9.50, with 4.8 from 1,232 reviews and 370 joules in the listing. Higher joule figures in this set sit on other rows. Joules do not let you exceed 13 A.
The top pick is the Masterplug 4-way switched 2 m at about £9.50, with 4.8 from 1,232 reviews, a switch on each socket and 370 joules in the listing. It has the highest star rating in this set. Indicator lights are bright, wall mounting is not stated, and there is no USB. The best value is the Desiretech 4-gang 2 m at about £6.99, with 4.6 from 13,380 reviews, for lamps and chargers within about 2 m. It has no surge rating in the title. The Desiretech 1 m at about £4.99 is cheaper and too short for many rooms. Scores follow amazon.co.uk stars. This page did not run a lab test.
Masterplug 4-way switched 2 m
Highest star rating in the set: £9.50, 4.8 from 1,232 reviews, a switch on each socket and 370 joules stated.
Desiretech 4-gang 2 m
£6.99 with 4.6 from 13,380 reviews on a basic 2 m 4-gang. No surge rating in the title.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources taken from the research digest. Prices and review counts are a stored amazon.co.uk snapshot, not a live check. This page did not run a lab test.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from stored amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a lab test.
