The 10 Best Surge Protectors as of July 2026

How we ranked these surge protectors

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each surge protector does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

We also weigh real-world owner reviews — star ratings and how many people left them — and whether each product has the features you'd expect in its class.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#	Surge Protectors	Score	Best for	Joules	Approx. Price	Amazon links
1	APC Performance SurgeArrest	9.0	Best overall	~2000+ J	£45	View Price
2	Belkin 12-Outlet Surge	8.8	Best high-capacity	~3000+ J	£55	View Price
3	Masterplug Surge 6-Gang	8.7	Best UK value	~900 J	£18	View Price
4	APC Essential SurgeArrest	8.6	Best compact value	~1000 J	£20	View Price
5	Belkin Surge with USB	8.6	Best with USB	~1000+ J	£30	View Price
6	Anker Surge Power Strip	8.5	Best modern value	~1000+ J	£25	View Price
7	Brennenstuhl Premium-Line	8.5	Best European build	~1500 J	£30	View Price
8	Masterplug Surge Tower	8.4	Best tower	~900 J	£28	View Price
9	BG Surge 4-Gang	8.2	Best budget	Mid joule	£14	View Price
10	Amazon Basics Surge Protector	8.0	Best ultra-budget	~800 J	£15	View Price

The full ranking

Best overall

APC Performance SurgeArrest

9.0Our number one pick.

APC's Performance SurgeArrest offers a very high joule rating, filtered protection for sensitive electronics and a lifetime connected-equipment warranty, the choice for protecting AV and computer gear. It is pricey, but the protection is the best.

Protection: 9.4Build: 9.0Features: 9.0Value: 8.6

Pros

Very high joule rating
Equipment warranty
Filtered protection

Cons

Pricey
Bulky

Check price on Amazon≈ £45

Best high-capacity

Belkin 12-Outlet Surge

8.8A superb runner-up.

Belkin's 12-outlet surge protector powers and protects a whole AV or office setup with a high joule rating and a generous connected-equipment guarantee. It is large and pricey, but for big setups it is excellent.

Protection: 9.2Build: 9.0Features: 8.8Value: 8.4

Pros

Protects many devices
High joule rating
Equipment guarantee

Cons

Large
Pricey

Check price on Amazon≈ £55

Best UK value

Masterplug Surge 6-Gang

8.7Rounds out our top three.

Masterplug's surge-protected 6-gang strip offers solid everyday surge protection and sturdy UK-quality build at a great price, a dependable value choice. The joule rating is moderate, but for everyday protection it is excellent value.

Protection: 8.6Build: 9.0Features: 8.2Value: 9.4

Pros

Solid everyday protection
Sturdy build
Great value

Cons

Moderate joule rating
No USB

Check price on Amazon≈ £18

Best compact value

APC Essential SurgeArrest

8.6A standout in the upper half.

APC's Essential SurgeArrest provides reliable surge protection and an equipment warranty in a compact, affordable unit, great for home computers and TVs. It is mid-rated, but trusted and good value.

Protection: 8.8Build: 8.6Features: 8.4Value: 9.0

Pros

Reliable protection
Equipment warranty
Affordable

Cons

Mid joule rating
No USB

Check price on Amazon≈ £20

Best with USB

Belkin Surge with USB

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

Belkin's surge protector with USB combines dependable protection with USB charging ports, a tidy choice for a desk that needs both. It is pricier, but the protection and USB are excellent.

Protection: 8.8Build: 8.8Features: 8.8Value: 8.6

Pros

Protection plus USB
Trusted brand
Tidy

Cons

Pricier
Modest USB speed

Check price on Amazon≈ £30

Best modern value

Anker Surge Power Strip

8.5Great value in the middle of the pack.

Anker's surge-protected power strip adds USB-C and USB-A charging to protected mains sockets in a sleek unit, a modern desk-friendly choice. It is newer to surge gear, but well-built and good value.

Protection: 8.6Build: 8.8Features: 8.8Value: 8.8

Pros

Surge plus USB-C
Sleek build
Good value

Cons

Moderate joule rating
Fewer sockets

Check price on Amazon≈ £25

Best European build

Brennenstuhl Premium-Line

8.5A dependable pick if the price is right.

Brennenstuhl's Premium-Line surge strip is a sturdy, German-engineered protector with a good joule rating and reliable build, a quality everyday choice. It is pricier than basic strips, but well-made and dependable.

Protection: 8.8Build: 9.0Features: 8.2Value: 8.6

Pros

Sturdy German build
Good joule rating
Reliable

Cons

Pricier
No USB

Check price on Amazon≈ £30

Best tower

Masterplug Surge Tower

8.4Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Masterplug's surge-protected tower stacks plenty of sockets and USB ports vertically with everyday surge protection, space-saving for busy desks. It is bulky upright, but the capacity and protection are good value.

Protection: 8.4Build: 8.6Features: 8.8Value: 8.8

Pros

Lots of sockets and USB
Space-saving tower
Surge protection

Cons

Bulky upright
Moderate rating

Check price on Amazon≈ £28

Best budget

BG Surge 4-Gang

8.2A budget-friendly option worth a look.

BG's surge-protected 4-gang extension offers basic everyday surge protection at a low price, fine for general home electronics. The joule rating is modest, but for affordable protection it is good value.

Protection: 8.2Build: 8.2Features: 7.8Value: 9.0

Pros

Affordable protection
Sturdy enough
Switched

Cons

Modest joule rating
No USB

Check price on Amazon≈ £14

Best ultra-budget

Amazon Basics Surge Protector

8.0Rounds out our top ten.

Amazon Basics' surge protector adds basic protection and a couple of USB ports for very little, a sensible cheap choice for everyday gear. The protection is entry-level, but for the price and USB it is good value.

Protection: 8.0Build: 8.0Features: 8.2Value: 9.2

Pros

Cheap with USB
Basic protection
Six sockets

Cons

Entry-level joule rating
Basic build

Check price on Amazon≈ £15

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the surge protectors in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the APC Performance SurgeArrest, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Belkin 12-Outlet Surge and Masterplug Surge 6-Gang are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best surge protectors without overthinking it, the APC Performance SurgeArrest is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £45

Our top picks at a glance

APC Performance SurgeArrest

Masterplug Surge 6-Gang

Belkin 12-Outlet Surge

You might also like

How we ranked these surge protectors

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

APC Performance SurgeArrest

Pros

Cons

Belkin 12-Outlet Surge

Pros

Cons

Masterplug Surge 6-Gang

Pros

Cons

APC Essential SurgeArrest

Pros

Cons

Belkin Surge with USB

Pros

Cons

Anker Surge Power Strip

Pros

Cons

Brennenstuhl Premium-Line

Pros

Cons

Masterplug Surge Tower

Pros

Cons

BG Surge 4-Gang

Pros

Cons

Amazon Basics Surge Protector

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

⚖️ Build your own comparison