The best retractable sockets, compared.
Top pick: EnergyPro 10 m reel Best value: TERIUX-S pop-up – About £32.99, the lowest shelf price among listings at 60 or above with at least 10 reviews. 3.9 from 13 reviews. A price rule, not a claim that every BS 1363 plug seats. Updated October 2026.
A retractable socket is a pop-up that drops into a worktop or desk, or an automatic cable reel whose socket pulls out of a wall- or ceiling-mounted drum. You buy one in the UK when a kettle or a charger should not cross a kitchen island, or when a garage tool needs a lead that reels back off the floor. Sort the family first. A round tower is not a long garage reel, and a short plug-in extender is not a worktop unit. On a pop-up, check a BS 1363 plug, outlets a UK plug can seat fully, a cut-out that matches the unit, and a clamp that fits the worktop. On a reel, check a marked thermal cut-out and printed wound and unwound ratings. The plug fuse does not protect a coiled drum. USB ports and a wireless pad do not raise the 13 A limit of the one plug that feeds the unit. Those checks, in order, are in the [retractable socket buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/retractable-socket/sub/retractable-socket-buying-guide).
A retractable socket is a pop-up that drops into a worktop or desk, or an automatic cable reel whose socket pulls out of a wall- or ceiling-mounted drum.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will it sit?
The EnergyPro listing is about £60.99 for a 10 m automatic reel that claims a BS 1363 plug and socket and up to 2,300 W when the cable is fully unwound. The star line is 4.7 from 15 reviews, and five UK texts describe a heavy unit with a metal bracket that was straightforward to put on a wall or ceiling, including use with a mower and a trimmer in a garage. One of those reviews describes a 16.5 m EnergyPro reel, so it does not confirm the 10 m title. The specification weight of 45.4 g and the 10 cm cube conflict with those heavy descriptions, and the included-components field says no while a bullet claims a mounting kit. Wound watts are not printed, and sheltered outdoor use is claimed with no IP rating. A high star line on 15 reviews is not a reason to treat 2,300 W as available while the drum is still full.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A garage wall where 10 m and an unwound figure matter more than a large review sample, and the reel stays under cover.
Less suitable: You need a wound rating on the label, or you want to leave the reel in the rain.
Specifications
Common questions
What load does the EnergyPro reel state?
The bullets say up to 2,300 W when the cable is fully unwound, at 230 V. A wound wattage is not printed.
Can it be used outside?
The bullets say sheltered spots such as a shed, garage or under eaves. No IP rating is printed.
How long is the cable?
The title says 10 metres. One UK review describes a 16.5 metre EnergyPro reel, so the review does not confirm the title length.
The Gxpjycfob pop-up is about £61.99, with the title and the ports field both saying four UK plugs, one USB-A, one USB-C and a 15 W Qi pad, for a 100 mm hole. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.4 from eight reviews, and only three UK texts are in the file, one of which calls the pop-up action smooth. One UK review says the clamp thread was too short to pull up through 50 mm of worktop and cupboard together. The bullets claim waterproofing and surge protection without an IP code or a joule figure, and a bathroom question on the page is unanswered. Cable length and a watt rating for the mains outlets are not printed, so four sockets still share whatever plug is on the lead. At this price the 100 mm hole is the convenient part, and the short thread is the part that stops a thick top.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A thin worktop or desk with a 100 mm hole, where you can confirm the nut bites before you commit the cut.
Less suitable: A 50 mm worktop-plus-cupboard stack, a bathroom, or a job that needs a printed IP code.
Specifications
Common questions
What hole does this pop-up need?
The bullets say cut a 100 mm hole, slide the body in from the top, and tighten the ring from below.
Can it clamp a thick worktop?
One UK review says the thread was too short to clamp through 50 mm of worktop and cupboard together.
Is it rated for a bathroom?
A listing question asks about a bathroom. No IP rating is printed. One bullet says water proof and does not give a code.
The Sealey CRM10 is the dearest reel here at about £98.02, with 10 m, two switched 230 V sockets and LEDs, and 1,000 W wound and 2,750 W unwound on the amazon.co.uk listing. The star line is 4.3 from 26 reviews, and UK texts describe a heavy garage unit that reaches a pressure washer or a mower and pulls in more cleanly than a manual drum. Spring failure shows up on units used for carpet cleaning, and one buyer called the supplied socket lightweight and fitted a different double socket. Sealey's own page for this system prints 3,200 W unwound, which is not the 2,750 W on this listing, so the amazon.co.uk figure is the one to plan with. The plug standard is not named, and outdoor use is not claimed even though some reviews take the lead into the garden. Two sockets do not mean two separate 13 A feeds.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A wall-mounted garage reel when you want two sockets and the tool stays under 2,750 W fully unwound.
Less suitable: A single light tool that the CRM101 can feed, or a plan that treats the maker's 3,200 W as the amazon.co.uk rating.
Specifications
Common questions
How many sockets does the CRM10 have?
The title and bullets say two 230 V sockets, each with an LED and a rocker switch.
What are the printed wattages?
1,000 W when wound and 2,750 W when unwound, at 230 V, with a manual thermal trip.
Is it for wall mounting?
The installation method field says wall mount. The bullets describe pull-and-release retraction.
The Sealey CRM101 is about £63.62 for 10 m and a single 230 V socket, with 1,000 W wound and 1,500 W unwound printed on the listing, plus a manual thermal trip and an LED. It scores 4.2 from 91 reviews, and UK buyers use it for a jigsaw, an orbital sander or a vacuum when the spring is working. The same file says the spring or ratchet failed within light use for some people, the last couple of feet stay out, and one buyer reports three units that rewound on their own and damaged a car. A supplier reply quoted in a review puts the load at about 4 A wound and about 6 A fully unwound, which matches a reel that is not a 13 A drum even when the cable is out. The picture has been mistaken for a twin socket. The plug standard is not named as BS 1363 on the card, though reviews describe a lead into a wall socket.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A garage vacuum, jigsaw or sander that stays under 1,500 W with the cable fully out.
Less suitable: A mitre saw or anything else above about 6 A, or a bench that needs two sockets.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the CRM101 cable?
The listing says 10 m, with one 230 V socket.
What load is printed?
1,000 W wound and 1,500 W unwound. A review quotes the supplier at about 4 A wound and about 6 A fully unwound.
Does it have a thermal trip?
Yes. The bullets say an integral manual thermal trip and an LED power indicator.
The Brennenstuhl 1241023300 is a wall or ceiling reel at about £57.62 with 9 m of retractable cable plus a 2 m tail, H05VV-F 3G1.5, a BS 1363 plug and a 13 A socket in the bullets. Across 120 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.0, the largest sample in this set, and UK reviews often use it to clear leads off a workshop floor. Several of those reviews say the plug and socket arrived on the wrong ends, so the unit was useless until it went back. The title says electrical rewind, while a UK review describes a metal spring and a breaker button with a light, and other texts say the ratchet can let go so the cable flies back. Wound and unwound watts are not printed, and you should not copy the 1,000 W and 3,120 W pair from a different Brennenstuhl model. It is the top pick here because of that review depth and a named BS 1363 lead, provided you check the ends before you mount it and you walk the cable in by hand.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A workshop or garage where you inspect the plug and socket before fitting and you only need one socket.
Less suitable: You need printed wound and unwound watts, outdoor rubber cable, or a reel you can mount without checking the ends.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this Brennenstuhl reel be mounted on a ceiling?
The title and bullets say wall or ceiling mounting, slewable up to 180°.
What cable is fitted?
The bullets say 9+2 m of H05VV-F 3G1.5, with a BS 1363 plug and a 13 A socket. Wound and unwound watts are not printed.
Is outdoor use claimed?
A listing question asks. The bullets do not claim outdoor use, and they do not print an IP rating.
The TERIUX-S DS-00A1 is a silver aluminium pop-up at about £32.99 with a 226 mm by 111 mm cut-out, two UK sockets in the title, and one USB-A plus one USB-C. Across 13 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 3.9, and the UK texts praise a flush lid and a solid housing once the rectangle is cut. Two of those reviews say a standard BS 1363 plug is tight or does not seat fully, including a buyer who had already cut the worktop and could not send it back. Cable length is not in the table, and one buyer expected a 1.5 m lead, did not find it, and then needed an electrician. The rectangular opening needs a jigsaw or a router, not a hole saw. It is the best value here on shelf price among listings that still score 60 or above, which does not mean every kettle lead will push home. Surge protection is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or worktop where you can test a BS 1363 plug on the bench before you cut 226 mm by 111 mm.
Less suitable: You have already cut the hole, or you need a round 100 mm tower and a lead length printed on the page.
Specifications
Common questions
What opening does this pop-up need?
The listing says the cut-out is 226 mm by 111 mm. Reviews say that opening needs a jigsaw or a router.
Does a standard UK plug fit?
The table says plug type G. UK reviews say a BS 1363 plug can be tight or fail to seat fully, including one buyer who had already cut the worktop.
Is a supply cable included?
Cable length is not in the specification table. One UK review says a 1.5 m cable was not in the box and that an electrician was then needed.
The SKJJM LQS-0641 is a plug-in extender at about £25.99 with a telescopic arm printed as 19.49 to 28.15 inches, a head that rotates 180°, two AC outlets, USB-A and USB-C at 5 V 2.4 A, and 1,800 joules claimed. It is not a worktop pop-up and not a cable reel. You plug it into a socket that already exists. The line is 3.3 from three ratings and two UK texts, one of which says the unit was not tried, and the other says it sparked and tripped the house electrics on the first plug-in. The 2.4 A figure belongs to the USB ports, not to a stated AC rating. Reach is in inches rather than a cable length in metres. With that review file it stays in the table as a boundary case, not as a substitute for a 10 m reel or a flush tower.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short reach behind a sofa or a desk, and only if you can accept a three-review file.
Less suitable: A kitchen worktop, a garage cable run, or a socket that has already tripped the circuit on a similar extender.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this extender need a hole in the desk?
The bullets say you plug it into an existing socket. No tools and no cut-out are described.
What surge figure is printed?
The specification table says 1,800 joules. The 2.4 A figure is tied to the USB ports, not stated as the AC rating.
Is the plug a UK plug?
Power plug type and plug type both say Type G.
The Normodic SJCZ is listed at about £54.49 as a press-to-raise pop-up for a 120 mm hole, with a 15 W Qi glass panel and three USB ports in the bullets. There is no customer-review line in the file, so this score is missing evidence rather than a poor star rating. The power plug type field says no plug, and the box notes do not describe a cable. The bullets also mention a universal socket at the base, while the highlight says four UK plugs, so the socket count does not agree. A thick case or a camera bump can trip the wireless protection, and the listing says to unplug for 30 seconds before Qi works again. Without a confirmed BS 1363 plug you should not cut a worktop for this unit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a later check, if the listing then shows a BS 1363 lead and you still want a 120 mm hole with Qi.
Less suitable: Any kitchen you are cutting this week, or a buy you need UK reviews for before the hole saw comes out.
Specifications
Common questions
What hole does the Normodic pop-up need?
The bullets say cut a 120 mm hole, remove the ring, slide the unit in from above, and screw the ring on from below.
Does the listing include a UK plug?
The power plug type field says no plug. Cable length is not stated.
What wireless output is claimed?
The bullets say 15 W Qi. A thick case or a camera bump can trip protection. The note says to unplug for 30 seconds before wireless charging works again.
Eight amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. Shelf prices, star ratings and review counts are the figures in the stored listings. No lab test was run. A watt pair is used only when that listing prints it. The top pick is the highest score. The best value is the lowest shelf price among listings that score at least 60, have at least 10 reviews, and are not the top pick.
Amazon stars
30%Stars are (amazon rating / 5) times 30, rounded. A listing with no review line scores 0 on this block. That 0 is missing evidence, not a one-star rating.
Review sample
20%100 or more reviews scores 20. Then 50 to 99 scores 16, 20 to 49 scores 12, 10 to 19 scores 8, 5 to 9 scores 4, 1 to 4 scores 2, and none scores 0.
Spec you can check
30%Points for a named BS 1363 or Type G plug, a printed cut-out or cable length, a reel that prints both wound and unwound watts or a pop-up whose socket count agrees, and a named thermal trip, safety cut-out or joule figure. Points come off for no plug, a socket-count conflict, a printed reel weight under 100 g, an extender-only family, or a waterproof or outdoor claim with no IP code.
UK review outcome
20%No review text scores 0. UK texts that describe the job working, without a repeated defect, score 16. A mixed file scores 10. A repeated defect that stops use scores 6: a plug that will not seat, ends swapped, a spark on first plug-in, or a spring that lets the cable fly.
The checks run in this order: family, then the UK plug and the measurement that matches the job, then a protection you can name, then the shared load. The table is the eight stored amazon.co.uk listings. Watt pairs, IP words and joule figures stay seller claims unless the listing prints the number. None of these units was tested in a lab for this page.
A retractable socket on a UK mains circuit is one of two products. A pop-up rises from a worktop or a desk and pushes back flush. An automatic cable reel lets you pull a socket out of a wall- or ceiling-mounted drum, then guide the cable back. A telescopic plug-in extender only reaches a short way from a socket you already have. Travel strips, flush strips that do not pop up, and clamp-on desk strips are different products. Sort the family first.
A pop-up cut-out is permanent. If a BS 1363 plug is tight or will not go fully home, the worktop is already ruined. Seat a plug on the bench first. A listing field that says no plug is a reason to wait.
The plug fuse does not protect the drum while the cable is still on it. A wound reel is often only about 3 A to 4 A. Read the wound figure on that model. Do not copy another reel's watts.
Every outlet, USB port and wireless pad shares one plug. Do not plug a second reel into the first. A waterproof or surge word without an IP code or a joule figure is not a rating.
Family comes first. A pop-up is for a worktop or a desk. An automatic reel is for a garage or a bench. A telescopic plug-in extender only reaches a short way behind furniture and is not a worktop unit. Travel strips and clamp-on desk strips are different products. The lead needs a BS 1363 plug and a BS 1362 fuse, and each outlet must accept a BS 1363 plug fully. One listing in this set prints no plug. Another has reviews that the plug does not seat. A universal or Schuko socket is not BS 1363.
A reel needs a cut-out in the body. Under BS EN 61242 the UK plug fuse does not protect the cable while it is coiled. The body needs a thermal cut-out, a current cut-out, or a weak point. Electrical Safety First says to unwind the reel, and that a wound reel is often only about 3 A to 4 A. Use only the wound and unwound figures that listing prints. A waterproof or surge word without an IP code or a joule figure is not a rating. No listing here prints an IP code. Keep pop-ups out of splash.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a flush pop-up, a cut-out that matches the top, and a lead that reaches a socket under the counter. The TERIUX-S pop-up is the best value at about £32.99, with 3.9 from 13 reviews and a 226 mm by 111 mm cut-out. UK reviews say a BS 1363 plug can be tight. Test a plug before you cut.
You want a wall reel with a thermal cut-out and an unwound rating that covers the tool. The Sealey CRM10 is about £98.02, with 4.3 from 26 reviews, two switched sockets, 1,000 W wound and 2,750 W unwound on this listing. Two sockets still share one plug.
You want a pop-up on the same 13 A plug, not a second feed. The Gxpjycfob pop-up is about £61.99, with 4.4 from 8 reviews, a 100 mm hole and Type G in the plug field. One UK review says the clamp thread was too short for a 50 mm stack.
The top pick is the Brennenstuhl 9+2 m reel at about £57.62. It has the highest score, 4.0 from 120 reviews, and a BS 1363 plug named on the listing. UK reviews include swapped plug and socket ends, so check the ends before you mount it, and walk the cable in by hand. Wound watts are not printed. The best value is the TERIUX-S pop-up at about £32.99, the lowest shelf price among listings that score at least 60, have at least 10 reviews, and are not the top pick. The line is 3.9 from 13 reviews. UK reviews say a BS 1363 plug can fail to seat. This page did not run a lab test.
TERIUX-S pop-up
About £32.99, the lowest shelf price among listings at 60 or above with at least 10 reviews. 3.9 from 13 reviews. A price rule, not a claim that every BS 1363 plug seats.
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. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in the stored listings. 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.
