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Jan 11, 2024

Best Cable Organizers 2022

Modern tech would have us believe that a fully wireless, cable-free future is near — but even if most of your gadgets and gizmos are technically wireless, it doesn't take much for a nasty batch of cables and cords to pop up like weeds in the spring. One surge protector here, two HDMI cables there, a bunch of chargers and a few lightning cables later, and before you know it, you’re sitting in a forest of tangled cables or something out of The Matrix. I know the experience all too well; I’ve tested speakers, monitors, headphones, and all kinds of other tech products, and I’d be lost without cable organizers to tame my office. Whether you’re trying to reorganize your WFH setup or declutter the space behind your entertainment center, these small yet handy products can make a big impact. To find the best ones available, we spoke to TikTok tech experts, tech specialists, and writers about the cable organizers they recommend.

Best overall | Best zip-tie multipack | Best cable clips | Best cable-organizer bag | Best cable rack | Best heavy-duty Velcro tie | Best desk skirt | Best leather | Best cable ties for your nightstand

Storage type and design: Before you can wrangle your cables into order, you’ll need to pick the best tools for your situation. Options like straightforward Velcro strips or zip ties can bunch unruly cables together without breaking the bank, or you can snag something a little fancier like a set of clips to keep important cables handy under your desk, or a cable bag to keep everything tidy while you’re traveling. You can also get a rack to mount under your desk or other furniture to hide cables that might clash with your room's whole vibe.

Capacity: Some organizers work for only single cables or even single specific-size cables, while others can be adjusted to accommodate multiple cables of various sizes.

Stationary vs. portable: Organizers that are attached (whether by adhesive or clamps or some other mounting method) are meant to be stationary, while ties and bags are great for travel or home use.

Single-use, permanent, or reusable: Zip ties and clips that attach using adhesive can realistically only be used once (and if you’re concerned about the adhesive damaging the surface you want to use, you may want to consider an alternative). Some desk-mounted organizers, like the two listed below, require you to drill holes to attach the rack or organizer permanently. Velcro and wire ties and, of course, bags are meant to be reused.

Velcro tie | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary or portable | Reusable

Velcro cable ties are one of the most adaptable, useful, and inexpensive cable organizers available. I’ve used them for years, whether to keep lightning cables and camera cables neatly wrapped or to bundle smaller items like pens and pencils. The adjustable and reusable ties are eight inches long and can fit a variety of different-size cables; one tie can easily hold three USB-C cables or a combination of a USB-C cable and an HDMI or an ethernet cable. They also have a sliding design, which allows you to tighten them very easily. This pack comes with 100 ties, which is extremely useful if you need them in different spaces around your home.

Velcro tie | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary or portable | Reusable

Amazon reviewers praise these Velcro ties, particularly when it comes to wrangling the cords of kitchen appliances such as blenders or food processors. "No more small appliance cords making a mess in the cabinets," writes one reviewer, who notes that they are "very tough," especially compared to thinner cable ties. The ties are seven inches long and ¾-inch wide — about a quarter inch wider than our best overall pick — making them a bit more durable and well suited for organizing heavier cables. They lack the pull-through tightening design but are still adjustable. They also come in several colors beyond the typical black, including pink, green, red, purple, and blue, in case you’d like to color-code your cables or add some flair to your organizational game.

Steel-wire core with rubber coating | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary or portable | Reusable

A tidy nightstand is just as important as a neat workstation; nobody likes fumbling through a jumbled mess right before bed or first thing in the morning. Strategist writer Kitty Guo praises the Nite Ize ties for their flexibility, thanks to a steel-wire interior and a grippy rubber exterior, as well as the various color and length options. As a bonus, she says, they’re the ultimate fidget toy: far superior to any spinner, popper, or other gewgaw that's expressly intended to keep your hands busy.

Bag | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Portable | Reusable

This Ruggard cable case was recommended to us by B&H senior technologist Mark Steinberg. One of the more interesting details he pointed out is the clear window that allows you easily identify any cable you might need while on the go. The case is weather resistant, and one side has 12 dedicated cable slots with elastic loops to hold cables securely. (You can store additional or larger cables in the pocket on the other side.) The Ruggard comes with six Velcro cable ties for keeping cables wrapped while in the case. And if you like the design but don't need to carry as much, it comes in a smaller size that has six dedicated cable slots with three Velcro ties.

Plastic zip ties | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary | Single-use

Zip ties can be especially great for larger cables that you might have in the living room or in a basic sound-system setup. My plan of attack when using zip ties is to coordinate which cables go into which devices. Television cables all sorted, check. Audio cables sorted, check. Once you have the cables bunched together, zip-tie them up and you’re good to go. Velcro is a little more forgiving; you can easily detach and readjust a Velcro cable tie, but zip ties, while adjustable, tighten in only one direction and are a little harder to remove. I also like to use a small piece of masking tape to label which cables are for which device. Because zip ties require some work to unlock (and sometimes you’ll just have to cut them off), I recommend them strictly for stationary situations. They can also be used as a good cable-storage option; you can pack away cables in a box with the zip ties keeping them coiled so they are easy to identify and reuse. All of the zip ties in this pack of 100 are eight inches long, and you can trim any extra length as needed. They come in black or clear, so you can match them to your cables if you like.

Self-adhesive clip | Each clip holds one thin cable, fixed size | Stationary | Single-use

Professional organizer Daniel Loya, the owner of Spaces Transformed, recommends these BlueLounge cable clips for keeping track of "unruly" cords that are always "slipping off your desk and out of reach." Plus he says the self-adhesive backing can be easily removed, should you ever want to move them. This package includes nine clips, and each one holds a single cable. The clips are best for stationary situations like a home office — you can place them on the edge of your desk closest to a power outlet where you might have a laptop charger or iPhone charger plugged in, and this clip will hold the cable so it doesn't slide off the top of the desk.

Leather clips | Holds up to 6 thin cables | Stationary | Fixed size (4.72" x 3.15" x 1.18")

Queer Eye's Bobby Berk uses these TopHome leather cable organizers in his home office. "It's so smart looking, and everyone has cords hanging all over the place, so this is a great way to organize them that still looks chic," says Berk. The TopHome holds up to six thin cables, and you can stick the leather clip to the side of your desk using the included adhesive. You can also order a three-pack of single clips that each hold just one cable. They come in three different leather colors, but "I’m really into this kind of desert color right now, and the leather I think looks really expensive for this type of item instead of using one that's plastic," Berk says. "It shows interest in your space and makes it unique without a bunch of pattern and color bombarding you. In addition to your home office, I’d also recommend everyone get one for the kitchen."

Rack | Holds multiple cables | Stationary | Permanent (27.5" x 6.25 " x 1.5")

Tony Ow, a TikTok creator who goes by TonyTechBytes, and Abhishek Mishra, a TikTok creator who goes by Dose of Tech, recommend the Ikea Signum cable rack. "The Signum screws on underneath your desk and is large enough to fit multiple power strips," says Mishra. "The best thing about it is you can zip-tie the cables to each individual piece of metal, making cable management a breeze." Ow says the Signum is easy to install and likes that "you can secure it to the bottom of a table top with screws and throw all your cables onto it. I love using it for a no-frills cable management solution." The wire design allows for airflow so nothing overheats — just note that the cables are still visible within the rack, so they won't be completely hidden.

Rack | Holds multiple cables | Stationary | Permanent (‎20.75" x 4.75" x 2")

Sean Hollister, senior news editor at the Verge, says he used to have a rats’ nest of wires under his desk, and he tried a number of cord keepers and wraps before landing on the Mount-It. "These privacy panels have built-in pockets for cables," he says. The large mesh pockets open and close with Velcro strips, so everything inside is easy to access, and cables can enter or exit the pockets in multiple directions. Hollister uses them to hide a lot of mess as well as his ethernet switch. You can choose between 41-inch or 60-inch widths, depending on the size of your space.

• Bobby Berk, Netflix's Queer Eye• Sean Hollister, senior news editor at the Verge• Daniel Loya, professional organizer and owner of Spaces Transformed• Abhishek Mishra, TikTok creator @Dose of Tech• Tony Ow, TikTok creator @TonyTechBytes• Mark Steinberg, B&H senior technologist

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Best overall | Best zip-tie multipack | Best cable clips | Best cable-organizer bag | Best cable rack | Best heavy-duty Velcro tie | Best desk skirt | Best leather Best cable ties for your nightstand Storage type and design: Capacity: Stationary vs. portable: Single-use, permanent, or reusable: Velcro tie | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary or portable | Reusable Velcro tie | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary or portable | Reusable Steel-wire core with rubber coating | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary or portable | Reusable Bag | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Portable | Reusable Plastic zip ties | Holds multiple cables, adjustable | Stationary | Single-use Self-adhesive clip | Each clip holds one thin cable, fixed size | Stationary | Single-use Leather clips | Holds up to 6 thin cables | Stationary | Fixed size (4.72" x 3.15" x 1.18") Rack | Holds multiple cables | Stationary | Permanent (27.5" x 6.25 " x 1.5") Rack | Holds multiple cables | Stationary | Permanent (‎20.75" x 4.75" x 2")
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