The best socket towers, compared.
Top pick: Sameriver tower, length lines conflict Best value: Addtam 8-way tower, 1.8 m – About £17.99, the lowest price among other Type G rows rated at least 4.6. 4.7 from 584 reviews. No joule figure and no switch stated. Updated October 2026.
A socket tower is a vertical UK extension lead: several BS 1363 sockets on a column, usually with USB-A or USB-C ports, fed by one fused plug into one wall socket. You buy one to tidy a desk, a television cabinet or a bedside table. Eight or twelve outlets still share one fuse. Judge it by the plug, the fuse, the shutters, a cable length that matches every line of the listing, and a load inside 13 A. Kettles, heaters, toasters and microwaves belong in a wall socket. How to read length, socket count and a conflicting plug row is in the [socket tower buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/socket-tower/sub/socket-tower-buying-guide). USB on this kind of tower is mostly for phones, often under 20 W in total, so a laptop that needs 45-65 W still uses its own mains charger. Desk leads are mostly 1.8 m or 2 m. Choose 3 m or 5 m only for reach, and do not guess if the title and a bullet disagree. One extension per wall socket, with no daisy-chain and no flex under a rug.
A socket tower is a vertical UK extension lead: several BS 1363 sockets on a column, usually with USB-A or USB-C ports, fed by one fused plug into one wall socket.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
How many AC sockets do you need?
The Sameriver ZYC05 lists eight AC sockets and four USB ports at £31.34, with 4.7 from 10,100 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest sample in this set. The title and the item-length row say 10 m, one bullet says 2 m, and a reviewer describes a 5 m lead, so the three lengths stay side by side. USB is listed as 17 W and 3.4 A. Four switches are described as individual and per side, and buyers praise turning pairs off, including one person helping an older relative. The current row is 13 A, while bullets say 3,250 W and the highlight also says 2,990 W. The body is called a bit flimsy, and one short review says the unit did not last very long. A bullet mentions gardens and patios, and the attributes contain no IP rating. The length clash is why this star line sits behind the top pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A room where you want side switches and a large review sample, once you have measured the cable in the box against the 10 m title.
Less suitable: A job that depends on a known 10 m reach, outdoor use, or a printed surge rating in joules.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the cable?
The title and the item-length row say 10 m. Another bullet on the same listing says a 2 m cable. Do not treat those as the same fact.
Is it specified for outdoor use?
One bullet mentions gardens and patios. The attribute table has no IP rating, so outdoor use is not established.
What USB output is claimed?
Four USB ports at up to 3.4 A and 17 W in total on the listing.
The Kemelo FMK235 lists eight AC sockets, four USB ports and a 3 m lead at £24.99. The line is 4.7 from 5,810 reviews, and buyers mention monitors and chargers under a desk, with some ordering a second unit. USB is three USB-A ports at 5 V / 2.4 A and one USB-C port at 5 V / 3.1 A, and a review says those ports are not on the four switches. The plug-type row says Type B, North American, while a review describes 13 A 3-pin sockets, so the listing and the review disagree and both stay visible. Surge protection is claimed without a joule number, beside a current row of 13 A and 3,250 W. One buyer noticed a slight noise at close range. The bullet says not to use it somewhere humid or hot, there is no IP rating, and the attribute dimensions disagree with a bullet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A work-from-home desk that needs about 3 m, once the plug in your hand matches the 3-pin sockets a reviewer described.
Less suitable: An order you will not inspect for a UK plug, or a place that is humid or hot.
Specifications
Common questions
What plug does the attribute row name?
Type B, described as a North American 3-pin. A UK review instead describes 13 A 3-pin sockets. Check the plug in the box.
Are the USB ports switched?
A review says the four USB sockets are not on the individual switches. The whole unit has a separate power switch.
How long is the cable in the title?
3 m.
The HAFINO night-light tower lists eight AC sockets, five USB ports and a 1.8 m lead at the captured price of £20.62. Across 2,224 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.7, and the plug-type row says Type G, which is why the listing score of 73 is the highest here and this is the top pick. USB is up to 2.4 A per port and 5 A shared, so several phones can charge while a laptop still wants its own mains brick. Four switches sit on the column. A review says the USB ports, the green indicator and the touch night light stay available when you would rather they were off, and one buyer covered the green light because it was too bright in a bedroom. The listing claims 1,800 joules and three brightness levels. The body is about 12 cm square and 875 g, and reviewers like that it is not a very tall tower. The night light does not change the 13 A, 3,250 W row.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk that wants eight sockets, side switches and a night light, if a glow in the room is acceptable.
Less suitable: A dark bedroom, a 12-socket cluster, or a lead of 3 m or 5 m.
Specifications
Common questions
Do the side switches turn off the USB ports?
A UK review says the USB sockets stay active, the green LED stays on, and the touch light still works. Do not assume the switches kill the USB rail.
What surge figure is listed?
1,800 joules, plus a circuit-breaker claim in the bullet.
How bright is the night light?
The listing says three brightness levels. One bedroom user covered the green power light because it was too bright.
The KLINTOS JA-B01 lists 12 AC sockets, six USB ports and a 5 m lead in the title, at £28.03. The line is 4.7 from 1,162 reviews. USB is two USB-C ports at 5 V / 3.1 A and four USB-A ports at 5 V / 2.4 A, and buyers say charging is slower than stated. Both plug rows say Type C. The comparison leaves listed current blank, while a bullet names a 3,250 W overload trip and the attribute table also prints 13 A beside a voltage of 5 V. Surge protection is claimed at 1,400 joules, and four switches, one per side, are praised for a home office and a TV cabinet. One review says the earth pin arrived broken and the buyer fitted a new plug, another says the strain relief would not enter a skirting socket, and a further review expected a 2 m cable.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A room that needs about 5 m of reach and 12 sockets, after you have checked the earth pin and that the plug is a UK 13 A type.
Less suitable: A skirting-board socket with little clearance, or an order placed without looking at the Type C rows.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the KLINTOS cable on the title?
The title says 5 m. One review talks about a 2 m cable, which may be another variant mixed into the reviews.
What surge figure is stated?
1,400 joules, as a listing claim.
What arrived damaged in a review?
One buyer says the earth pin was broken on arrival and they fitted a new plug. Check the plug before first use.
The toomke 12-way lists 12 AC sockets, six USB ports and a 3 m lead at £23.99, with plug type G. The line is 4.7 from 624 reviews. USB is three USB-C ports at 5 V / 3 A and three USB-A ports at 5 V / 2.4 A, with a stated total of 3.8 A or 19 W, and reviewers say it works and is not fast. Four switches are used to isolate groups, including AV kit, without pulling every plug. Large adaptors above the earth pin block the next socket. One unit beeped continuously until the seller replaced it, and a side button failed after about 12 months of light use, after which that buyer stopped treating the tower as safe. Four non-slip mats are claimed on a two-sided column weighing 1.09 kg, overload protection is claimed without joules, and the extra reach is still one 13 A plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or a small lab that needs 12 sockets and about 3 m, if you will stop using it when a switch fails.
Less suitable: A setup of large plug-in bricks, or anyone who wants a joule rating and a long failure-free record in the reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the stated USB total?
The bullet says 3.8 A and 19 W shared across 3 USB-C and 3 USB-A ports.
What failed in reviews?
One unit beeped until the seller replaced it. Another buyer says a button failed after about 12 months of light use.
Will a large adaptor block the next socket?
A review says a power adaptor that sits above the earth pin takes out the neighbouring socket.
The Addtam AD6WC2UK puts eight AC sockets and four USB ports on a 1.8 m braided lead, listed at £17.99. The line is 4.7 from 584 reviews, and the plug-type row says Type G, which is why this is the best value in the set. USB-A is listed up to 2.4 A and each USB-C port up to 3 A. A switch is not stated, and there is no joule rating. The listing claims short-circuit, over-current, over-temperature and over-voltage protection, plus child-safety shutters. Reviewers call it tidier than a flat lead behind a small TV, mention the braid, and one says it does not get hot in their use. The reservation that does appear is USB speed. The first 50 reviews do not repeat a melt or a return, and they also do not show years of wear.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small TV or a desk where eight sockets and a short braided lead are enough, and you can live without a printed joule rating.
Less suitable: A 3 m or 5 m run, a 12-socket layout, or a buyer who wants a surge energy figure before they pay.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Addtam cable?
The item length and the bullet both say 1.8 m.
Does the listing give a surge energy in joules?
No joule figure is in the captured attributes. The bullet lists short-circuit, over-current, over-temperature, over-voltage, and over-charge protection.
What did reviews say about USB speed?
One buyer says the USB ports work but is not sure they charge particularly fast.
The Wolf Power WPTEL-271125 lists 12 sockets the bullet calls UK plugs, six USB ports and a 2 m lead at £22.98. The line is 4.7 from 139 reviews, a smaller sample than the towers with thousands of ratings. Four switches, one per side, let reviewers run a printer, a NAS, a lamp, a router and a phone from one column. Surge protection is claimed without a joule figure, and a 13 A fused plug is claimed. USB is two USB-C ports and four USB-A ports, and more than one review says it is not fast charging even though the bullet says smart charging. Awkward plugs waste a neighbouring socket, and one buyer found the footprint larger than the photos. The material attribute offers ABS, polycarbonate or metal, so the case is not pinned down, and twelve holes do not raise the 13 A row.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small cluster of low-power kit where 12 sockets and side switches matter more than a large review sample.
Less suitable: Fast USB charging, a known surge energy in joules, or a lead longer than 2 m.
Specifications
Common questions
How many UK sockets does the listing claim?
12 UK plug sockets, plus 2 USB-C and 4 USB-A, on a 2 m cable.
Is fast USB charging stated by buyers?
More than one review says the USB ports do not fast-charge.
What is the stated current?
13 A, with a 13 A fused plug named in the bullet.
This HAFINO tower lists 12 AC sockets, five USB ports and a 1.8 m lead at £24.63, with 4.6 from 3,886 reviews. One USB-C port is claimed at 18 W, with USB-A up to 2.4 A per port, and a buyer says charging was slower than the listing. The plug-type row says Type B and the power-plug row says Type G, so both lines stay visible. The surge attribute prints 3,250 watts, which is the load figure, not joules, beside a 13 A current row. Reviewers describe a compact, sturdy column for mixed devices. One asks for a steadier base so it does not topple. The number-of-items field says 17 on a single-tower title. Twelve sockets do not raise the 13 A line, and the pins are not settled until you see them.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk that needs 12 sockets and an 18 W USB-C claim, after you have checked that the plug is BS 1363.
Less suitable: A buyer who will not open the carton to settle a Type B row, or anyone who reads 3,250 W in the surge cell as stored energy.
Specifications
Common questions
What plug type does the attribute row show?
Plug type is filed as Type B. That is not a BS 1363 description. Check the pins against a UK socket before use.
Is 3,250 watts the surge rating?
The surge-protection field contains 3,250 watts. Elsewhere that same number is the 13 A load claim. It is not a joule rating.
What USB-C output is claimed?
The bullet says one USB-C port at 18 W maximum.
The TESSAN TPS03-UK-C stands eight AC sockets on four faces, with three USB ports and a 2 m lead, listed at £25.99. Across 3,691 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, and buyers describe it as tidier than a flat multi-plug on a windowsill or a floor. A single switch on the top cuts the whole tower, which several reviews call handy, and the listing claims 1,700 joules with a red surge light and a green earth light. The current rows disagree: one says 8 A and another says a maximum of 101 A, so both figures stay on the table until you read the plate. Some plugs need force to seat, and the column will not stay upright once the plugs are bulkier than a standard 3-pin. At least one buyer called the cable short. Eight sockets still share that one plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk or windowsill where you want eight sockets, a top switch and a stated joule figure, and you will check the amp plate because the listing disagrees with itself.
Less suitable: A run longer than 2 m, a dark bedroom that needs every light off, or any setup that leans on bulky adaptors to keep the tower upright.
Specifications
Common questions
How many mains sockets does this TESSAN tower have?
The listing says 8 AC outlets on four faces, plus 3 USB ports. The attribute row that says 11 outlets counts those together.
What surge figure does the listing give?
The attribute row says 1,700 joules, with overload protection also claimed. That figure is the maker's claim, not a test run for this comparison.
Is the current rating consistent on the listing?
No. One row says 8 A and another says a maximum current of 101 A. Treat both as unresolved and check the plate on the unit.
The hotimy HOTIMY-PC2M14-3250 lists eight AC sockets, four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports on a 2 m lead at £21.99. The line is 4.6 from 2,186 reviews. The USB bullet caps the group at 3.6 A or 18 W, and a buyer called the charging not brilliant. Two side switches are claimed, without a separate master switch. The plug-type row says Type C, which is not a description of a BS 1363 plug, and overload cut-off is claimed with no joule figure beside the 3,250 W in the model code. Buyers like the tall shape and a reviewer mentions the digital load display. One says the tower still topples however the plugs are arranged, and others wish the 2 m cable were longer.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk that wants several USB-C ports and a load display, after the plug in the box matches a UK socket.
Less suitable: A hallway or a carpet edge where a tip is likely, or a buyer who needs the listing to say Type G before they order.
Specifications
Common questions
What plug type is on the attribute row?
Type C. That is not a BS 1363 plug description. Confirm the pins before you rely on it in a UK socket.
How is this tower switched?
The bullet says two switches, one on each side, not a switch on every socket.
What did reviews say about stability?
One buyer says it still topples however the plugs are arranged. Another calls the 2 m cable too short.
This toomke tower lists eight AC sockets, three USB-C ports and three USB-A ports on a 1.8 m lead at £19.99. The line is 4.6 from 1,875 reviews. The listing says four switches each govern two AC outlets and leave the USB ports unaffected. A buyer cites about 15 W on USB-C and 12 W on USB-A and felt that was not enough. The plug-type row says Type B and the power-plug row says Type G, so the conflict stays on the table. Overload protection is claimed without joules, beside a current row of 13 A and 3,250 W. One buyer returned it because eight sockets were too few, another reports fan noise while it stays on, and the plug arrived scuffed for a third.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An older house with too few wall sockets, where you want side switches and you accept that USB stays live.
Less suitable: A 12-socket layout, a laptop that needs a high-watt USB-C charge, or a buyer who needs one plug type on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Which plug type should you believe?
The plug-type row says Type B and the power-plug row says Type G. Those conflict. Look at the pins.
How long is the cable in the title?
1.8 m. A review describes a 3 m 8-way, so reviews may mix lengths.
Are the USB ports high power?
A buyer says the USB-C output is 15 W and USB-A is 12 W, and that this was the part they disliked.
The SE UKASE T8A2C is an eight-socket tower with two USB-A ports, one USB-C port and a 2 m lead, listed at £17.99. The captured line is 4.4 from 65 reviews, the thinnest sample in this set. The bullet claims a BS 1363 plug, a 13 A fuse, a 1.25 mm² three-core cable and a Type 3 surge device quoted as Uc 255 V, Uoc 3 kV and Up 1.5 kV line to neutral. Load is printed as 13 A and 3,120 W at 240 V, and the USB group is 2.4 A in total. Buyers mention angled sockets and shutters when several plugs are in. One UK review says the kill switch named in the listing was not on the unit. Another reports a burnt-plastic smell and overheating in a living room, which is the reason this price does not become the best value.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A kitchen of small gadgets if you want a Type G listing at £17.99 and you will unplug at the first hot smell.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a large review sample, a switch they can see on day one, or a lead they will leave running unattended.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing claim a UK plug standard?
Yes. The bullet says it complies with BS 1363 and quotes a 13 A fused plug. Confirm the mark on the plug you receive.
What USB output is stated?
2 USB-A and 1 USB-C with a total of 2.4 A. That is a phone-charging claim, not a laptop power-delivery figure.
Did reviewers find every listed control?
One UK review says the kill switch described in the listing was missing. Another describes a burnt-plastic smell and overheating.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. The stored score uses up to 50 points for stars, up to 20 for review volume and 10 for a Type G plug row. Those three blocks are shown here as weights that sum to 100. Six points come off one row because the title says 10 m and a bullet says 2 m. That penalty is not a fourth weight. Shelf prices, star ratings and review counts are the figures in the stored listings. No lab test was run. The top pick is the highest total. The best value is the lowest price among the other rows with plug type G and an amazon rating of at least 4.6. It is not the second-highest score.
Amazon star line
62%Star points equal the amazon rating divided by 5, times 50, then rounded. That block is the largest share of the listing score. There was no lab test and no separate safety mark.
Review volume
25%Review-volume points are 20 at 5,000 reviews or more, 16 at 2,000 or more, 12 at 1,000 or more, 10 at 400 or more, 6 at 100 or more, and 3 otherwise.
UK plug type
13%Ten points apply only when the plug-type row starts with Type G. Type B or Type C scores nothing on this block, because a UK wall socket is BS 1363 and that row does not show it.
The checks run in this order: the UK plug and fuse, the 13 A load, the cable length, then socket count, switches, USB and any stated joule figure. The table is the twelve stored amazon.co.uk listings. Joule figures stay maker claims. None of these towers was tested in a lab for this page.
A socket tower is a vertical UK extension lead. Several BS 1363 sockets sit on a column, usually with USB-A or USB-C ports, and one fused plug goes into one wall socket. People use one on a desk, under a television or beside a bed when a flat bar wastes space or blocks large adaptors. It does not add power. Eight or twelve outlets share one BS 1362 fuse, normally 13 A. Electrical Safety First says use one extension per wall socket and do not daisy-chain.
A 3,250 W line is usually 13 A at 250 V. Eight or twelve sockets do not multiply it. USB ports are not mains outlets. Do not daisy-chain, and do not run the flex under a rug.
If the title says 10 m and a bullet says 2 m, those are two claims. If one row says Type B or Type C and another says Type G, the plug is unresolved until you see the pins.
Socket switches are not a promise that the USB rail goes off. On more than one tower in this set, reviews or the listing say the USB ports stay live. A hot smell, scorch marks or sparks means stop using the tower.
Start with the plug. A domestic lead needs a correctly fitted BS 1363 plug and a BS 1362 fuse, normally 13 A. In this table, Type G with no second plug line appears on the night-light tower, the Addtam, the TESSAN, the SE UKASE, the Sameriver, the Wolf Power and the toomke 12-way. The HAFINO 12-way and the toomke 8-way print Type B and Type G. The hotimy and the KLINTOS print Type C. The Kemelo plug row says Type B, North American, while a review describes 13 A 3-pin sockets.
Count AC sockets apart from USB. Eight sockets suit a desk. Twelve help when plug-in bricks are bulky. Neither count raises the 13 A fuse. A switch per face is useful for standby. The night-light tower, the Sameriver, the KLINTOS, the toomke 8-way, the Wolf Power, the Kemelo and the toomke 12-way state four switches. The hotimy states two side switches. The TESSAN has one switch on the top for the whole tower. The Addtam does not state a switch. The HAFINO 12-way says switches without a count.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want about eight sockets, a short cable and USB for phones, with the laptop brick in a mains socket. The HAFINO 8-way tower with night light is the top pick at about £20.62, with 4.7 from 2,224 reviews, Type G and a 1,800 joule claim. A review says the USB ports and the lights stay on.
You want room for bulky adaptors and a switch on each face. The Wolf Power 12-socket tower is about £22.98, with 4.7 from 139 reviews, Type G, 12 sockets and four side switches on a 2 m lead. The review sample is small, and there is no joule figure.
You need a 13 A lead for now, and a plan to stop using it as a permanent socket. The Addtam 8-way tower is the best value at about £17.99, with 4.7 from 584 reviews and Type G. No switch is stated, and there is no joule figure. The 13 A limit still applies.
The top pick is the HAFINO 8-way tower with night light at about £20.62. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.7 from 2,224 reviews, the plug-type row says Type G, and the listing claims 1,800 joules. That is the highest listing score in this set, 73. A review says the USB ports, the green light and the touch light stay on. The best value is the Addtam 8-way tower at about £17.99, the lowest price among the other Type G rows rated at least 4.6. It has 4.7 from 584 reviews, eight sockets and a 1.8 m lead. No switch is stated, and there is no joule figure. It is not the second-highest score. This page did not run a lab test.
Addtam 8-way tower, 1.8 m
About £17.99, the lowest price among other Type G rows rated at least 4.6. 4.7 from 584 reviews. No joule figure and no switch stated.
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.
