The best extension cords provide consistent power to electronics out of reach of the wall outlet. Our favorite extension cord is the US Wire and Cable 74050, but there are plenty of other quality options. Jump to a detailed look at the best extension cords, or check the list below:
TL;DR — These are the Best Extension Cords:
- US Wire and Cable 74050
- Cable Matters 16 AWG Heavy Duty Extension Cord
- Maximm Cable Rotating Extension Cord
- Voltec 05-00364 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord
- Iron Forge Cable 25-ft Lighted Extension Cord
- meross Smart Power Strip
- Masterplug 60' Cord Reel
- Belkin 12-Outlet Surge Protector
- Eshldty Outdoor Power Strip Surge Protector
- Anker 615 USB Power Strip
We've selected some of the best power cords ready to handle everything from long, 100-foot runs to short connections that need a little extra wiggle room. There are extension cords that can take on power-hungry tools, ones with multiple outlets to plug in several electronics, and options with surge protection to keep your pricey devices safe.
The Best Extension Cords
1. US Wire and Cable 74050
Best Extension Cord
When you need an extension cord that’ll go the distance, literally, you can’t go wrong with the US Wire and Cable 74050 extension cord. This thick 12-gauge wire carries up to 1,875 watts of power and comes in 50 and 100-foot varieties. Clearly, it’s ready to carry a boatload of juice super far, so you can turn your backyard shed into an epic gaming PC lair or maybe just use it for tools, whatever your prerogative.
You don’t need to worry about the US Wire and Cable 74050 holding up in those stints outside, as it’s wrapped in a durable, weather-resistant vinyl sleeve ready to keep running power -35 degree Fahrenheit weather. The cord is also a highly-visible bright yellow to prevent tripping, running it over with the lawn mower, or other incidents. If you’re doing a long run with the cable, an indicator light on the female connector even shows if it’s carrying power, both for your safety and so you don’t have to constantly run back to ensure the other end is plugged in.
2. Cable Matters 16 AWG Heavy Duty Extension Cord
Best Budget Extension Cord
You don’t need to drop tons of dough to extend your outlet’s power where you need it. Just look at the Cable Matters’ 16 AWG Heavy Duty Extension Cord. It keeps things simple and affordable, letting you go a skosh further with its one-foot length for outlets slightly out of reach or up to 50 feet to run power across the garage or basement floor. Adding to the value is the cords are sold as pairs, and with the prices on offer, you’re essentially getting two for one.
Cable Matters ensures its extension cord can keep up with what its powering, delivering 16 gauge copper wires that support up to 13 amps to power a 1,625-watt device. Though it’s only rated for indoor use, those wires are covered in some serious insulation and a vinyl jacket for added durability. They are also black to blend well in most spaces, while the plug is grounded and three-pronged furthering safety, reliability, and usability.
3. Maximm Cable Rotating Extension Cord
Best Indoor Extension Cord
To keep your gaming TV, mesh router, and other electronics within reach of a power outlet, you need the Maximm Cable Rotating Extension Cord. Perfect for indoor use, it’s a crisp, clean white, blending well with baseboards and walls in many places but bright enough for people to notice when it’s running across the middle of a room during a reno. Adding to the cord’s functionality is a flat, rotating plug, letting you slot it behind a TV stand or other furniture, regaining access to outlets you might have otherwise lost.
Maximm’s three-prong cord offers 1,625W and supports 13 amps on its 16 gauge wires, making it ready to use with all your high-power electronics. It’s also grounded, has a PVC insulator, and is UL certified, ensuring its safety and durability. Of course, this cable comes in a variety of lengths from one to 50 feet, so you’re sure to find the size that’ll best work for your space.
4. Voltec 05-00364 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord
Best Outdoor Extension Cord
If you’re working with tools in a shed or hanging up the holiday lights, you need an extension cord that keeps up with them and the elements. One of the best options available is the Voltec 05-00364 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord, and it’s ready to spend some time outside, thanks to the ruggedized build. The cable rocks a flexible jacket for easy handling but is still resistant to water, sunlight, and rough use, and you’ll be good to use it outside year-round, as it withstands temperatures from -40 to 140F degrees.
Sure, it’s great that Voltec’s extension cord is heavy-duty and ready to live outside, but you might be wondering if it can handle your power-hungry tools and electronics, and rest assured it can. Offering a 12 gauge wire which supports 15 amps and 1,875W, it should have no problem providing juice to high-draw devices. The extension cord is also a perfect 25-foot length to reach faraway places and bright yellow for high visibility.
5. Iron Forge Cable Illuminated Extension Cord
Best Heavy Duty Extension Cord
For a heavy-duty, ready-for-anything extension cord, you can’t go wrong with the Iron Forge Cable. It offers a wide range of lengths from three to 100 feet and has the biggest wire gauge on our list at ten, so you get higher amperage and wattage at 15 amps and 1,875 watts, respectively. That ensures consistent power, even throughout big projects with seriously beefy power tools like saws, compressors, and generators.
Where other cables fail and become a fire risk, the Iron Forge Cable stands up to the heat—and cold. It has thermoplastic insulation ready to handle temperatures from -40 to 140F degrees, along with moisture and abrasion. Even the prongs of the extension cord are reinforced to prevent bending or breaking, while the female connector lights up to indicate power is on and the cable is bright yellow, furthering safety.
6. meross Smart Power Strip
Best Smart Extension Cord
Smart home devices make your life much easier, and the meross Smart Power Strip brings those smarts to a power strip with a six-foot extension cord. Connecting it to your home Wi-Fi and the meross app brings control over the four AC outlets individually and the four USB-A ports as a single group. From there, you can set timers and even control them when you're away from home, while Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings support means you can sync up your whole smart home system and enjoy voice control.
The meross Smart Power Strip isn’t your average extension cord/power strip combo, as overload protection is included to keep your electronics safer than a standard extension cord. It’s also made with a flame-retardant PC material to prevent potential fire risks. And to make your life easier, the strip’s four AC outlets have a bit of space between them to connect a handful of devices, and the four USB-A ports are perfect for powering or charging a smartphone or tablet.
7. Masterplug 60' Cord Reel
Best Extended Length Extension Cord
Do you constantly have big projects going on around your house and yard? If so, you'll need a lengthy extension cord for all those power tools, and the Masterplug 60-foot Cord Reel offers you 60 feet to work with. Adding to its value is a durable spool for rolling and unrolling the bright green cable, preventing knotted wires and unruly mess. There’s even a handle for easy carrying and a cord guide to reduce tangles.
Now, this extension cord can keep up with the majority of your projects, thanks to the 14-gauge wires ready to carry up to 1,560 watts at 120 volts and 13 amps. The reel itself also includes four three-prong outlets to take advantage of that power load, acting as a power strip of sorts. And since you’re likely to end up far from the power source with a 60-foot spool, there’s a built-in on/off switch and LED power indicator to let you know when there’s power, while a built-in thermal breaker is included as the cable can’t safely carry its maximum load when coiled up.
8. Belkin 12-Outlet Surge Protector
Best Extension Power Strip
When you want to extend both the reach of your outlet and the number of electronics you can plug in, Belkin has you covered with their 12-Outlet Surge Protector. Firstly, this powerstrip features a long 10-foot cord with a right-angle prong, making it ideal for reaching outlets in tight spaces like behind a bed or gaming desk. Then, you get six vertically-aligned outlets in the center and three on either side for bulkier plugs, letting you use it for a whole entertainment setup or PC battle station.
Now given its name, you can also add surge protector to its list of attributes, which means this power strip/extension cord combo can also save your precious electronics like a gaming PC or high-end 4K TV from dangerous storms and power outages. Belkin’s 12-Outlet Surge Protector absorbs an impressive 4,156 joules and 6,000 volts of spike voltage, while an indicator light tells you when the strip is grounded and protected. Just remember its protection will eventually wear out, so plan on replacing it every 3-5 years.
9. Eshldty Outdoor Power Strip Surge Protector
Best Waterproof Extension Cord
Most extension cords have some form of surge protection to guard your connected devices, but the Eshldty Outdoor Power Strip Surge Protector takes its safety features a lot further. Beyond protecting your devices against power surges up to 1,500 joules, it can withstand being splashed with liquids thanks to an IPX6 rating. In other words, it'll even work in the rain—though it should not be submerged.
The power strip’s safety features don’t stop there, as the plugs offer shockproofing, require more force to insert or remove, and the whole thing has flame retardance up to an insanely high 1,382 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, it’s on our best extension cord guide, so you’ll appreciate the 6, 9, and 15-foot length options available on 16 AWG cable that rotates to fit in different spaces easier. You even get three well-spaced AC outlets to plug in multiple devices.
10. Anker 615 USB Power Strip
Best Portable Extension Cord
Sometimes you need a little extra cord length when you’re on the go. Maybe you’re on vacation and want to get a little work done on the hotel balcony, or you’re sitting at the airport, and an outlet is just slightly out of reach. That’s where the Anker 615 USB Power Strip comes in handy, giving you an extra three feet of length to play around with in a super compact form factor that’ll easily fit into a carry-on.
There’s a lot more to the Anker 615 USB Power Strip with five ports for charging up and plugging in, including two AC outlets, along with two fast-charging USB-C ports offering a 65W output and a USB-A. There’s even a system that monitors temperatures and prevents over-voltage. And when you’re done powering up, the cord will tightly wrap around the mini power strip while a silicone cover keeps everything in place.
What To Look for in an Extension Cord
Shopping for an extension cord isn’t the most complex task, but there are still a few things to keep in mind to find one that matches your needs.
Take note of the wire size an extension cord uses, referred to as its “gauge” or “AWG.” A wire’s gauge is its diameter, and the lower the gauge, the higher its diameter. A lower gauge extension cord is a good fit for heavy-duty devices that draw a lot of power, like saws, generators, and bigger appliances. Whereas high gauge extension cords are a better fit for smaller household devices.
Hand in hand with gauge, pay close attention to the level of current an extension cord is rated to carry, which is usually listed in amperage and wattage. Before choosing an extension cord, be sure to check the electricity needs of the device you intend to power. Don’t overpower your extension cord. If it’s rated for 10 amps, stick to that. Over-taxing the cord can cause failure or even catch fire. To be safe, it’s best to get a little more than what you need.
Likewise, think of every place you may need to use this extension cord and choose the type that matches your needs. How far does it need to reach? Will you be using it inside, outside, or both? Many come in multiple lengths and are rated for indoor and outdoor use, which usually means some water resistance but don’t count on that. Read the descriptions and don’t push any electrical cord beyond its intended purpose.
Finally, no matter what you intend to use it for, remember that extension cords are temporary solutions. A well-made cord will last many years but is no replacement for a dedicated outlet. If you plan on keeping the device you’re powering in its position, it’s often a wiser idea to pay a professional to place an outlet in a convenient position, both for aesthetics and long-term safety.
Extension Cords Vs. Surge Protectors
Though we technically have surge protectors on this best extension cord guide, there are some major differences between the two.
The main purpose of an extension cord is to extend the power from an outlet to a device that’s out of reach. There are three-wire and two-wire cords. Three-wire cords are more heavy-duty, have higher amperage, and are slightly safer thanks to a grounded wire. You’ll generally use these cords with higher-powered electronics or outdoors. Two-wire cords are less durable and carry less power, so you’ll often find them inside to extend power to lamps or stereos. For the most part, extension cords will only power one device at a time, though there are options that come with multiple outlets.
Rather than extending power to out-of-reach electronics, a surge protector is meant to protect your devices from voltage spikes that could damage them. You’ll find surge protectors often look like your typical power strip, offering multiple outlets and even USB ports for powering electronics. They come in various cord lengths but won’t stretch nearly as far as many extension cord options. Their lifespan is also shorter than an extension cord, as their ability to protect against surges will be worn out after stronger or multiple power surges.
Chris Coke is a tech critic that cares way too much about mechanical keyboards. Check him out at IGN, MMORPG.com, or PC Perspective. Follow him on Twitter @gamebynight.
