Best surge-protected extension leads UK (2026): Belkin and Masterplug compared
A surge-protected extension lead sits between the wall socket and your television, router, computer or games console and is designed to absorb short spikes in mains voltage before they reach the kit plugged into it. This page compares the Belkin and Masterplug leads sold in the UK on the things that separate them: the joule rating the maker publishes, how many sockets and which USB ports they carry, whether each socket has its own switch, and the length of the lead. Every figure is credited to the maker or to an independent UK retailer's specification; we have not tested or measured any of them ourselves.
By Tom Calder · Updated 21 October 2026 · 10 products, all price-tracked
Our picks by type
Photo: AmazonBelkin SRB003
A busy workstation or entertainment centre wanting eight sockets, 900 joules and a USB-C port.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonBelkin BSV804
A home cinema or workstation with many plugs, where you want the higher 900 joule rating.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonMasterplug SWSRG6210N
A desk or media setup where you want to switch each device off without unplugging it.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonMasterplug SRG44N
A room where the wall socket is a long way from the kit.
as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.All 10 compared
| Surge protector | Sockets | USB | Surge protection (maker) | Cable | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 · 1 x USB-C PD, 1 x USB-A, 18W (Belkin) · 900 J (Belkin) · 2 m A busy workstation or entertainment centre wanting eight sockets, 900 joules and a USB-C port. | 8 | 1 x USB-C PD, 1 x USB-A, 18W (Belkin) | 900 J (Belkin) | 2 m | £39.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Belkin's UK page and Viking Direct both list eight outlets, one USB-C and one USB-A port, 900 joules and a 2 m cable. Belkin says the product has a two year warranty including connected equipment cover. Viking Direct describes a wall-mountable body and a protection indicator light, and Belkin lists USB charging at 18W. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A busy workstation or entertainment centre wanting eight sockets, 900 joules and a USB-C port. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only need two or three sockets, or if you plan to run high-draw appliances from it. | |||||
8 · 2 x USB-A, 2.4 A shared · 900 J (Belkin) · 2 m A home cinema or workstation with many plugs, where you want the higher 900 joule rating. | 8 | 2 x USB-A, 2.4 A shared | 900 J (Belkin) | 2 m | £34.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Belkin and BT Business Direct both list eight power outlets, two USB-A ports and 900 joules, which ties with the SRB003 as the highest figure on this page. Belkin says its connected equipment warranty repairs or replaces damaged connected kit in the UK. Eight sockets share one 13A plug, so add up the wattage before loading it. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A home cinema or workstation with many plugs, where you want the higher 900 joule rating. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you would put heaters, kettles or other high-draw appliances on it, or want power through a cut. | |||||
 6 · None · 650 J (Belkin) · 2 m A home office or media unit with five or six mains plugs and no need for USB ports. | 6 | None | 650 J (Belkin) | 2 m | £19.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Belkin's UK page describes a six-outlet strip with a 650 joule rating and a 2 m cord, and BT Business Direct's specification repeats the 650 joule figure. It sits in the middle of Belkin's range for protection energy. Keep the total load within the 13A the plug allows, and do not plug another extension lead into it. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A home office or media unit with five or six mains plugs and no need for USB ports. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need USB charging built in, or if you plan to chain it to another extension lead. | |||||
 4 · 1 x USB-C PD, 1 x USB-A, 18W (Belkin) · 525 J (Belkin) · 2 m A bedside or desk position that needs four sockets and a USB-C port for a modern phone or tablet. | 4 | 1 x USB-C PD, 1 x USB-A, 18W (Belkin) | 525 J (Belkin) | 2 m | £29.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Belkin's UK page lists four outlets, one USB-C Power Delivery port and one USB-A port, with 525 joules and a 2 m cable; Viking Direct's specification agrees on the outlets, cable and rating. Belkin says the unit carries a two year warranty with connected equipment cover for the UK. Belkin lists USB charging at 18W, which suits phones and tablets rather than laptops. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A bedside or desk position that needs four sockets and a USB-C port for a modern phone or tablet. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need more than four mains sockets, or if you expect fast laptop charging from the USB-C port. | |||||
 4 · None · 525 J (Belkin) · 2 m A desk or TV corner that needs four surge-protected sockets and nothing more. | 4 | None | 525 J (Belkin) | 2 m | £14.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Belkin lists this as a plain four-socket strip with a 525 joule surge energy rating and a 2 m lead. BT Business Direct's specification table agrees on the rating and describes the outlets as BS 1363 sockets. Belkin's own page says its connected equipment warranty applies to damage from a surge or lightning strike while the kit is properly plugged in. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A desk or TV corner that needs four surge-protected sockets and nothing more. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want to power something through a cut, or need more than four sockets on one strip. | |||||
 6 · 2 x USB-A, 2.4 A shared · 650 J (Belkin) · 2 m A desk that needs six mains sockets plus a place to charge a phone or tablet. | 6 | 2 x USB-A, 2.4 A shared | 650 J (Belkin) | 2 m | £29.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched It shares the BSV603's six outlets, 650 joule rating and 2 m cable, and adds two USB-A ports. Belkin's page and BT Business Direct both give those figures, and Belkin says the two USB ports share 2.4 A between them. There is no USB-C port, so a USB-C-only device needs its own charger. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A desk that needs six mains sockets plus a place to charge a phone or tablet. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your devices charge by USB-C or need fast charging, or if you want power through a cut. | |||||
6, individually switched · None · 2 m A desk or media setup where you want to switch each device off without unplugging it. | 6, individually switched | None | — | 2 m | £16.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Masterplug says this model is manufactured to BS1363-2, with a three year connected equipment warranty. Videk lists six sockets, each with its own switch, and a 2 m cable. Individual switches let you cut standby loads one by one. No joule rating appears on the Masterplug page. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A desk or media setup where you want to switch each device off without unplugging it. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need a stated surge energy figure, or want USB ports on the strip. | |||||
 4 · None · 2 m A budget four-socket lead for a TV, console or laptop setup. | 4 | None | — | 2 m | £8.70 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Masterplug says this lead is manufactured to BS1363-2 and carries a three year connected equipment warranty. Alert Electrical lists it as a four-socket, 13A, 2 m lead with power and surge indicators. The maker pages we checked do not give a joule rating, so there is no figure to compare against Belkin's. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A budget four-socket lead for a TV, console or laptop setup. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a stated joule rating to compare, or if you need USB charging. | |||||
 6 · None · 2 m A value six-socket lead where a stated joule rating is not a priority. | 6 | None | — | 2 m | £10.82 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Masterplug says the SRG6210N-MP is manufactured to BS1363-2 with a three year connected equipment warranty. Hughes describes six sockets, a 2 m cable, a 13A fuse, surge protection and a thermal cut-out. No joule rating appears on the pages we checked. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A value six-socket lead where a stated joule rating is not a priority. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need a published surge energy figure, or if you want to chain it onto another extension. | |||||
4 · None · 4 m A room where the wall socket is a long way from the kit. | 4 | None | — | 4 m | £12.90 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Masterplug's four-socket surge lead on a 4 m cable. Masterplug says it is manufactured to BS1363-2 with a three year connected equipment warranty, and IC Plus lists it as a four-socket, 4 metre, 13A lead. No joule rating appears on the pages we checked. A surge protector does not keep anything running in a power cut, and a nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit. Best for A room where the wall socket is a long way from the kit. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if the strip will sit within easy reach of the socket, where a 2 m lead is tidier. | |||||
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Before you buy
Start with what a surge protector actually does.
Inside the lead are components that divert a brief rise in voltage away from the sockets, which is why makers rate them in joules, the amount of surge energy they can absorb before wearing out. Belkin publishes 525, 650 and 900 joule figures for its strips; Masterplug's pages state no joule rating, so there is nothing to compare. A higher figure means more capacity, not a different kind of protection. None of these leads can stop a power cut, and a direct or nearby lightning strike can still damage connected kit.
Check the marking.
BS 1363 is the British Standard for 13A plugs and socket-outlets, and BS 1363-2 is the part covering socket-outlets, including the trailing sockets on an extension lead; Masterplug says each of its leads here is manufactured and certified to BS1363-2, and BT Business Direct lists the Belkin BSV400's outlets as BS 1363 sockets. BS 5733 is the general standard for electrical accessories that other standards do not cover, and some surge units carry it, but none of the makers here state it, so we do not claim it. Look for the standard number marked on the plug and the strip itself.
Count your plugs honestly, then respect the 13A limit.
Every lead here ends in a single 13A plug, and the fuse in that plug sets the total load for all the sockets together: roughly 3,000 watts shared, not 3,000 watts each. Televisions, consoles, routers and chargers are small loads, so an eight-way strip suits a media unit well. Heaters, kettles, irons, tumble dryers and washing machines are not: Electrical Safety First says those go straight into a wall socket. Hughes lists a thermal cut-out on the Masterplug SRG6210N, but a cut-out is a backstop, not a licence to overload.
Never plug one extension lead into another.
Electrical Safety First's advice is that daisy-chaining leads risks overloading the first lead and the wall socket, and a surge strip on the end of a reel or a second strip does not add protection. Run one lead from the wall, and if you need more reach, choose a longer cable: the Masterplug SRG44N comes on a 4 m lead where the rest here are 2 m. Uncoil any lead fully before use, never run it under rugs or carpets, keep it away from heat, and position it so the indicator can be seen.
Finally, decide which extras you will use.
Belkin's SRB001 and SRB003 add a USB-C Power Delivery port alongside USB-A, which Belkin rates at 18W, enough for phones but too little for most laptops. The BSV604 and BSV804 carry two USB-A ports sharing 2.4A. Masterplug's SWSRG6210N gives each socket its own switch, so standby loads can be cut one at a time. A plug-in strip only covers what is plugged into it. An electrician can also fit a surge protection device at the consumer unit, which the current UK wiring regulations, BS 7671, expect to be considered for most installations; ask a registered electrician whether yours needs one.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its UK price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
Does a surge protector work in a power cut?
No. A surge protector reacts to a brief rise in voltage; it has no battery and cannot keep anything running when the supply stops. If you need a router or a lamp to stay on through a cut, look at a router battery backup, a UPS or a portable power station. If anyone at home relies on powered medical equipment, register with your network operator's Priority Services Register. Our guide on whether a power cut can damage appliances covers what happens when power returns.
Will a surge protector stop lightning damaging my TV?
Not reliably. A strike on or close to your home can deliver far more energy than a plug-in strip is rated to absorb, and it can arrive by the aerial, phone or broadband line as well as the mains. Belkin and Masterplug offer connected equipment warranties, but those pay out after damage rather than preventing it. The surest step is to unplug valuable kit, including aerial and network leads, before a storm arrives; don't handle cables once lightning is overhead.
What does the joule rating mean?
It is the maker's figure for how much surge energy the lead can absorb over its life before its protective components wear out. Belkin states 525 joules for its four-way strips, 650 for its six-way strips and 900 for its eight-way strips. A higher number means more capacity, not a different kind of protection. Masterplug does not publish a figure for the leads here, so we show none. The rating says nothing about how many watts the lead can carry; that is set by the 13A plug.
Can I plug a surge protector into another extension lead?
Don't. Electrical Safety First advises against plugging one extension lead into another, because the total load can exceed what the first lead and the wall socket are designed to carry, and a surge strip at the end of a chain does nothing to make the chain safer. Use one lead from the wall socket. If you need more reach, buy a longer lead, such as the 4 m Masterplug here, and uncoil it fully before use.
How many things can I plug into a surge-protected extension lead?
As many as its sockets, provided the total load stays within the 13A plug, which is roughly 3,000 watts shared across every socket. Add up the wattage from each appliance's label. Televisions, consoles, routers, lamps and chargers are small loads, so a full eight-way strip is normal for a media unit. Heaters, kettles, irons, hair dryers and washing machines draw too much and belong in a wall socket on their own, which is Electrical Safety First's standing advice.
How do I know when a surge protector needs replacing?
Check the maker's instructions for what the indicator light means. Alert Electrical lists power and surge indicators on the Masterplug SRG4210N, and Viking Direct lists a protection indicator on the Belkin SRB003. If the indicator shows the protection has gone, the sockets may still work but the strip is no longer protecting anything, so replace it. Also replace any lead that is warm at the plug, discoloured, cracked or has loose sockets, and after a known lightning strike or supply fault nearby.
