Desk cable management: what to buy first (and what to skip)

A clean desk setup comes down to one idea: get the power strip off the floor and onto the underside of the desk. Everything else is just tidying the last few feet of cable.

Step 1: an under-desk cable tray

A tray holds your power strip and the extra length of every cable. It's the single biggest improvement.

• Clamp-on trays need no drilling. Check the clamp's range against your desk thickness, and make sure there's a lip on the back edge of the desk to clamp to.
• Screw-in trays are sturdier and sit flatter. Use short screws so they don't come through the top of the desk.
• Mesh trays let chargers and power bricks breathe. Solid trays look cleaner from the side.

Measure the length of your power strip before buying. A tray that's too short is the most common mistake.

Step 2: one cable down the leg

Ideally only one cable, the power strip's plug, goes from the desk to the wall. Run it down a desk leg with a cable sleeve or a few adhesive clips. If you have a standing desk, leave enough slack for the desk's full height range.

Step 3: tidy what's on top

• Reusable hook-and-loop ties beat zip ties. You can redo them when you add a device.
• Weighted or adhesive cable clips keep charging cables from falling behind the desk.
• A desk grommet, if your desk has a hole, routes cables straight down.

What to skip

• Big cable boxes on the floor, if you can mount the strip under the desk instead. They hide the mess but still collect dust.
• Cheap adhesive clips on textured or dusty surfaces. Clean with rubbing alcohol first, or they'll fall off within a week.

Safety note

Don't bury power bricks in a tight solid box with no airflow, and never chain power strips into each other. If your strip has a surge rating, check it's still working; many have an indicator light.