The best surface mounted sockets, compared.
Top pick: SHPELEC metal clad 2-gang Best value: SHP white 2-gang 25 mm – £6 and 4.5 from 3,447 reviews are the strongest price against review volume, with deductions for a plastic-box complaint and no explicit BS 1363 line. Updated October 2026.
A surface-mounted socket is a fixed UK 13 A outlet that sits on the wall in its own pattress or metal-clad box, rather than a flush plate in a chased recess. You use one when you cannot chase a wall, or when a garage or utility room needs a socket on the surface. Quality, for a shopper, is a shuttered socket the listing ties to BS 1363, a box that is actually in the pack, and an enclosure that matches the room. The [surface mounted socket buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/surface-mounted-socket/sub/surface-mounted-socket-buying-guide) sets the order: confirm it is a surface fitting, match the gangs, read the standard line, then match the enclosure. A 2-gang plate does not raise the circuit’s allowed current. A plate that only fits a standard back box is a flush faceplate, and it is not this category.
A surface-mounted socket is a fixed UK 13 A outlet that sits on the wall in its own pattress or metal-clad box, rather than a flush plate in a chased recess.
28 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will the socket sit?
This grey switched metal-clad double gives you a 13 A surface fitting for £7.39, with BS 1363 stated on the listing. Its 4.6-star average from 201 amazon.co.uk reviews is the highest star rating in this comparison. Reviewers describe a metal socket and back box, although the included-components line names only the socket, so the carton contents are not presented consistently. More than one review reports missing or too-short fixing screws, while another buyer found the screws in a sealed bag. The details also print a second ASIN that differs from the page URL, which makes exact model verification harder. It is a credible low-cost workshop-style option, but the listing inconsistencies keep it behind the named Knightsbridge model.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A dry indoor utility area where a low-cost grey metal-clad double suits the wall.
Less suitable: Buyers who need completely unambiguous box contents or a stated weatherproof rating.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the back box listed in the box contents?
Included components say socket. Mounting type says surface mount. Reviewers describe a metal socket and back box.
Which ASIN is on the page?
The scrape URL is B0C7WV2YDR. The details block also prints ASIN B0C7X73VGR.
Are fixing screws always included?
More than one review reports missing or short screws. Another review found screws in a sealed bag.
This £5.98 white double is presented in the title as a switched 13 A socket with a pattress, and its 4.5-star average comes from 3,811 reviews. On price and review volume alone, it would look like the obvious budget choice. The problem is that the attribute data also says Type B and NEMA 5-15, which conflicts with the UK socket description and remains unresolved. There is no separate included-components line to confirm the pattress, and no BS 1363 or IP rating is stated. Those are not minor wording gaps when you are selecting a mains accessory for a UK installation. Until the seller confirms the exact UK model and standard, the similarly priced SHP listing is the more defensible value choice.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a purchase where the seller has first confirmed that the supplied item is the UK 13 A version.
Less suitable: Ordering without model confirmation, outdoor use, or any job requiring unambiguous UK compliance information.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the pattress included?
The title says double wall socket and back box pattress. There is no separate included-components list.
Is the plug type UK or US?
The attribute line says Type B and NEMA 5-15. The title and UK reviews describe a 13 A double. The conflict is unresolved.
Is it for outdoor use?
The page asks and does not answer. There is no IP rating.
This £6 white 2-gang fitting is the straightforward value option when you need a low-profile 25 mm surface socket for a dry indoor wall. Its 4.5-star average from 3,447 amazon.co.uk reviews is backed by far more ratings than any other item in this comparison. Buyers repeatedly praise the price and unobtrusive profile, which supports its role as the best-value pick. The trade-off is a plastic enclosure, and reviews include a report of the back box snapping around the cable entries. The captured listing says it is made to BSEN specifications but does not print BS 1363, while switching and exact box contents are also not stated. Choose it for a light-duty, price-sensitive job, but not where the fitting is likely to be knocked or exposed to moisture.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-cost double socket on a dry, lightly used indoor wall.
Less suitable: Garages with regular knocks, damp positions, or buyers requiring an explicit BS 1363 claim.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a surface-mounted double?
The title says 13 A double socket, 25 mm surface mount, 2-gang, Type G, white.
Is a British Standard number printed?
A bullet says manufactured to BSEN specifications. BS 1363 is not printed.
What do reviews say about the box?
Praise is for price and a low profile. Complaints include a back box that snapped at the cable entries.
The Knightsbridge MR9000 is a named grey metal-clad 2-gang socket for a dry garage or workshop, with double-pole switching and BS 1363 stated. At £5.99, it combines the lowest tier of pricing with a 4.5-star average from 475 amazon.co.uk reviews. Workshop users often praise the robust format, making it the top pick when a plastic pattress would be vulnerable to knocks. The amazon.co.uk components line lists instructions rather than the back box, although trade listings for the MR9000 say that a box is supplied, so you should verify the current pack. Two reviews report switch trouble under a steady high load, including one serious fire allegation; that is not a failure rate, but it is a reason not to select a socket plate as a substitute for proper continuous-load circuit design. There is no RCD in the plate, and the manufacturer sheet rates the model IP20, so it is neither an outdoor socket nor a complete garage protection solution.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A dry garage or workshop wall where a low-cost metal-clad double is protected by a correctly designed circuit.
Less suitable: Outdoor or damp locations, or continuous heavy loads that have not been assessed by an electrician.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a surface metal-clad socket?
The title is Knightsbridge MR9000 metal clad 13 A 2-gang DP switched socket. Mounting type says surface mount.
Does the listing include an RCD?
No RCD is listed. The wattage line says 2,990 W. Two reviews report switch trouble under a steady high load.
Can it go outdoors?
The page asks and does not answer. There is no IP rating on the amazon.co.uk listing. The manufacturer sheet rates the model IP20.
This white 1-gang switched socket is the compact choice in the group, and the title pairs it with a 25 mm surface box. It is listed at 13 A and 230 V, with an 86 x 86 x 25 mm box dimension that suits a single outlet position. The 4.5-star average from 236 amazon.co.uk reviews gives it a useful body of buyer feedback. However, the included-components field names only the socket, so the promise of a box is not consistent across the listing. The specification line mentions CE and RoHS, while a bullet mentions BSEN, ASTA and Kitemark, but BS 1363 is not printed in the captured data. It makes sense for a simple dry-room single replacement only after you confirm exactly what the seller will supply.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A single dry indoor socket position where one outlet is enough.
Less suitable: A double-socket upgrade, wet locations, or an order where confirmed box contents are essential.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it come with a back box?
The title says a set with a 25 mm box. The included-components line names only the socket. A bullet gives box size 86 x 86 x 25 mm.
Is it for outdoor use?
The page asks and does not answer. There is no IP rating.
What standard is printed?
A bullet says BSEN, ASTA, and Kitemark. The specification line says CE and RoHS. BS 1363 is not printed.
This two-pack puts two matt-black metal double sockets and their surface boxes into one order, which suits a matched pair of visible indoor fittings. At £28.99 for the pack, it costs more per fitting than the basic grey and white singles in this comparison. The 4.4-star rating from 120 amazon.co.uk reviews is encouraging, and the listed 710 g weight supports the impression of a substantial metal set. However, the available listing data does not say whether the outlets are switched or double pole. It also gives no BS 1363 claim and no IP rating, so the finish should not be mistaken for evidence of compliance or weather resistance. Choose it chiefly when the black two-pack and included boxes solve the job, rather than when you need the clearest technical specification.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two visible indoor socket positions where a matching black metal finish matters.
Less suitable: Outdoor or damp locations, or buyers who need an explicitly stated standard and switching specification.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a back box included?
The included-components line says socket and back box. The pack count is 2.
Does the listing state BS 1363?
No BS 1363 line is in the raw file. The plug type attribute says Type G.
Is it rated for a bathroom?
The page asks the question and does not answer it. There is no IP rating.
This five-pack supplies screwless matt-black 2-gang sockets with 25 mm surface pattresses, making it the bulk option for a coordinated indoor refit. The listing states 13 A, 230 V and BS 1363, while IP20 confirms that the set is intended for dry indoor conditions rather than weather exposure. At £54.99, the pack works out at roughly £11 per position before installation materials. Its 4.1-star rating from 50 reviews is the weakest established review score in this set. More importantly, two of the ten review texts available for assessment say that the face would not clip onto or fit the supplied box. The shallow 25 mm box also leaves less working room than a deeper pattress, so this is a style-led bulk buy with a meaningful fit caveat.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A dry indoor project needing five matching black surface sockets.
Less suitable: Outdoor positions, one-off purchases, or installations where a deeper box is needed.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the pattress a surface box?
The title and a bullet say a 25 mm surface-mount pattress is included, where a chased box is not possible.
Can it be used outdoors?
The listing states IP20. That is not a weatherproof rating. The bathroom question is asked and not answered.
Do the faces fit the boxes?
Two of the ten reviews say the face does not clip or fit the back box. The other reviews are short praise.
This black powder-coated steel double arrives as a stated set with a metal back box and fixing screws, avoiding one of the common contents ambiguities in this category. The listing also claims 13 A, 250 V AC, BS 1363 and double-pole switching on each outlet. A side knockout should suit visible cable entry in a dry garage or workshop, provided the installer follows the box instructions and earths the metal enclosure correctly. At £11.99, it sits above the low-cost grey metal-clad options but below the decorative two-pack on a per-set basis. There were no customer reviews in the captured amazon.co.uk file, so durability and fit are not supported by buyer experience here. No IP rating is printed either, despite references to sheds and outbuildings, so it should not be treated as weatherproof.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A dry garage or workshop where clearly listed box contents and a black steel finish are priorities.
Less suitable: Outdoor exposure or buyers who want established review evidence before ordering.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the steel box in the pack?
Included components list the 2-gang metal-clad socket, the metal back box, and fixing screws.
Will it isolate live and neutral?
The bullets say double-pole switching on each outlet. No RCD is mentioned.
Is it weatherproof?
The bullets name garages, workshops, sheds, and outbuildings. No IP rating is printed.
For this comparison we scored eight amazon.co.uk surface-mounted socket listings. The 0–100 scores are editorial. They use star ratings and review counts, how clearly the listing states a UK 13 A format, BS 1363, switching, and a supplied surface box, the GBP price against pack size and construction, and whether reviews and attributes agree. They are not a laboratory test and not an electrical safety certification.
Amazon rating and review evidence
35%Both the star average and the amount of supporting feedback matter. A product with no captured reviews cannot score strongly here.
Suitability and specification clarity
30%Credit for an explicit UK 13 A format, a BS 1363 claim, a stated switching arrangement, a supplied surface box, and a clear indoor-use boundary.
Value
20%The listed GBP price is judged against pack size, construction, and the information supplied, rather than price alone.
Review sentiment and listing consistency
15%Repeated fit, breakage, missing-part, or switch complaints reduce the score, as do conflicting model, plug-type, or included-components fields.
Start with the wall, not the finish. If you cannot chase a recess, you need a surface pattress or a metal-clad box, not a flush plate. Plastic suits a dry, lightly used wall. Steel suits a dry garage or workshop that gets knocks. Rain needs an IP66 socket, and none of these eight states that rating. Then read gangs, the BS 1363 line, and whether switched means double pole. Prices in this set run from about £5.98 to about £54.99 on amazon.co.uk.
A surface-mounted socket is a fixed UK 13 A outlet that sits on the wall in its own pattress or metal-clad box. A flush plate sits in a chased recess. A plate that only fits a standard back box is a flush faceplate, and it is not this category. You choose a surface fitting when you cannot chase the wall, or when a garage, workshop, or utility room needs the socket on the surface.
A faceplate that only fits a standard back box needs a chased recess. A surface socket brings its own pattress or metal-clad box. If the title does not name that box, you are not looking at this category.
Steel is for knocks in a dry garage or workshop. None of these eight states IP66. IP20 means indoor touch protection. A listing that names sheds without an IP rating is not an outdoor socket, and a metal box must be earthed.
The NANDEYIBI title describes a UK 13 A double, and the attribute line also says Type B and NEMA 5-15. Those cannot both be the product you fit. Confirm the model before you order, and do not read 13 A as a continuous 3 kW promise.
The first check is whether the product is actually a surface fitting. The title or the included components should name a surface pattress or a metal-clad box. A plate that only fits a standard back box is a flush faceplate, and it belongs in a different comparison. Next, match gangs to the job. 1-gang is one 13 A outlet. 2-gang is two outlets on one plate. Neither number increases the current the circuit is allowed to carry, so a double is not a way to run a heavier load.
The enclosure has to match the room, and the box has to be in the pack you think you are buying. A plastic pattress, often 25 mm deep, suits a dry, light-duty wall. Metal clad suits a dry garage or workshop where a plastic box would be knocked, and a metal box must be earthed. IP66 weatherproof gear is a different product, for rain. IP20, stated on one black five-pack, is indoor touch protection only. No IP rating means unknown, not weatherproof. None of these eight states IP66.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are adding a socket on a dry surface, or replacing a cracked one, and you can isolate the circuit for a like-for-like swap. The SHP white 2-gang is the low-profile £6 option with 4.5 from 3,447 reviews. Stop if the work is a new circuit or a special location.
You want steel rather than a plastic pattress, and RCD protection still has to be designed into the circuit. The Knightsbridge MR9000 is the named grey metal-clad double at about £5.99, with double-pole and BS 1363 claims. It is not an outdoor socket.
You are buying a finish and a surface box, not a weather rating. The SHPELEC matt-black two-pack puts two 2-gang sockets and their surface boxes in one order. The listing does not state BS 1363, switching, or an IP rating.
The top pick is the Knightsbridge MR9000: a named grey metal-clad 2-gang at about £5.99, with double-pole and BS 1363 claims and 4.5 from 475 reviews, for a dry garage or workshop on a correctly designed circuit. The best value is the SHP white 25 mm double at £6, with 4.5 from 3,447 reviews, for a dry light-duty wall. Skip both if the wall gets wet. None of these eight states IP66, and a socket plate is not an RCD.
SHP white 2-gang 25 mm
£6 and 4.5 from 3,447 reviews are the strongest price against review volume, with deductions for a plastic-box complaint and no explicit BS 1363 line.
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.
Public UK sources on BS 1363, socket boxes, and Part P. Listings checked in October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores compare published listings and review texts. They are not a laboratory test.
