Don't let power spikes ruin your electronics, appliances and the like. Plug anything important into a surge protector. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
Surge protectors aren't the sexiest devices, but you know what else isn't sexy? Fried electronics and appliances. I speak from experience: A couple of years back, a lightning storm caused the lights to flicker on and off repeatedly — and zapped not only a soundbar, but also my refrigerator. Ugh. With my years of expertise as a technology journalist and product reviewer, how could I let that happen? Why didn't I have the best surge protectors deployed around my house?
Needless to say, I have since remedied that issue. For the uninitiated, these devices promise to "diffuse unwanted voltage," a fancy way of saying they absorb any excess power (which can happen during lightning storms, brown-outs, etc.) and drive it to the ground wire, effectively keeping your appliances and electronics safe. There's an Institute of Engineering and Technology article that explains more about this if you're interested.
OK, but how much do you have to spend on effective surge protection? Not much, thankfully. And what are the best surge protectors for your refrigerator, computer, TV and the like? (One size doesn't fit all.) Find my picks below, followed by factors you should consider when purchasing a surge protector and answers to frequently asked questions.
A word about testing: Because it's not possible for me to create storms on demand (I'm not Thor), I can't say with 100% certainty that these products are bulletproof (make that lightning-proof). Instead, I'm relying on a combination of personal knowledge, brand reputation, product specifications and user ratings. Of course, there are lots of good products out there beyond my list here. The best surge protector is the one you actually have vs. not having any protection at all.
Update, Sept. 3, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability and removed any products that were not ETL- or UL-certified. At the same time, we added several new products that met that criteria.
As noted earlier, we don't have a fancy lab in which to test these products, and even if we did, controlled testing might not tell the whole story. The reality is that anytime electricity is involved, there are variables and variations — and very few guarantees, to be honest. While a catcher's mask offers a solid degree of protection against wayward fastballs, there's always the chance a wild pitch might do some damage.
In choosing the products for this story, we looked at things like technical specifications, brand reputation, user ratings and — where possible — personal experience. (I've used two out of the five products listed above and one that's virtually identical to a third one.) Most important, we selected surge protectors with some kind of certification (usually ETL or UL), as we consider that essential for safe operation.
Certifications: Always look for some kind of certification, which means the surge protector was tested by an independent lab and certified to meet various safety requirements. The two most common, at least in the U.S., are ETL and UL, both nationally recognized testing laboratories.
Joule rating: Come on, electricity, it's hard enough understanding amps, volts and watts — now you want to throw joules at us? I'll keep it simple: Joules are another unit of energy, but specifically with regard to energy transfer. In surge-protector terms, the higher the joule rating, the more energy it can absorb before failing. Unfortunately, you can't just take a "more is always better" approach, because it depends on what you're trying to protect. A refrigerator has lower needs than, say, a TV, because the former is mostly motor-driven and less sensitive to voltage spikes, while the latter contains delicate electronics that are easily damaged by surges.
Plug style: If it's a surge protector that has a corded plug (as opposed to one that, itself, is a wall plug), consider a flat, aka 90-degree, plug. That way it won't stick out nearly as far and potentially interfere with an appliance or piece of furniture nestling up against the wall.
As a general rule, avoid plugging in anything that consumes a lot of power: a microwave, a hair dryer, large appliances like refrigerators (unless it's a surge protector specifically designed for them, like the ones above). And don't plug in a second surge protector, either (see below).
No. All the no. It would be like putting instant coffee in the microwave; you might actually go back in time. But, seriously (and with apologies to Steven Wright), this kind of "daisy-chaining" is dangerous and not recommended.
Not necessarily. They may have a few extra features, higher joule ratings and so on, but as long as the product is ETL- or UL-certified and offers the protections you need, it should be safe (and effective) to use.
As noted above, it depends on what you're trying to protect. A higher joule rating indicates better energy absorption, so "best" here depends on your devices. For basic protection, 600–1,000 joules is a good starting point, but look for at least 2,000 joules for higher-end electronics like computers, TVs, game consoles and appliances.
Not many, but some — including the Belkin 12-Outlet Power Strip, above. This is definitely something to consider if you're plugging in, say, an expensive TV or laptop. Just be sure to read all the fine print so you know what exactly is covered and what's needed in order to file a claim.
Unfortunately, yes. The more joules they absorb over time, the less effective they become. A good rule of thumb is to replace your surge protectors every three to five years.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, not all power strips can protect against surges — and not all surge protectors are power strips. (See the Ludger plug, above.) Make sure that you're buying exactly what you need.
Instead of tackling outlets and devices on an individual basis, why not just blanket your home with surge protection? There are products that do exactly that, installing inside your electrical panel (aka breaker box) and absorbing power surges from storms, bad wiring, etc. This might be a great solution if you live in a storm-prone area.
However, they won't necessarily save your devices from a direct lightning strike on your house, and they're not super-cheap: This popular whole-home surge protector (4.8 stars from over 2,700 buyers) sells for $186. And you'll probably need to hire an electrician to install it.
