How do I choose a surge protector for a home office?

Treat a surge protector as a safety device first and an outlet multiplier second. UL says the first thing to look for is UL certification, and CPSC says you want grounded or polarized plugs plus a clear label from the manufacturer and testing lab. That matters because the strip is protecting expensive electronics from both surges and bad wiring.

For a home office, the practical rule is simple: plug in low-heat gear like a computer, monitor, router, or charger, and keep space heaters, toaster ovens, and other high-draw appliances off the strip. UL also notes that you need to know the electrical rating, because the number of outlets is not the same thing as safe capacity.

If your desk setup keeps growing, buy the strip with a little slack so you are not forced into daisy chains later. The same buy-once, adjust-later logic shows up in the monitor stand and desk lamp guides too.

If you are shopping now, look for a UL-listed surge protector with enough spacing for bulky plugs.