Best Cable Management in 2023
If you’re looking for the best cable management you can buy, you’re in the right place.
Cable management isn’t just about making desks and their environs look neat, although that is a major concern. Good cable management also reduces trip hazards, stops things catching on loose cables and helps you find things more easily.
So let’s take a look at what’s out there, and what you should look for when making your decision.
Products at a Glance
Features and considerations
There are various ways to tidy cables away. You could use cable ties to simply fasten one or more cables together or to a desk leg. Another option is to use a plastic or metal strip to keep cables neat and unseen.
Under-desk trays are ideal for keeping power adaptors, extension bars and so on neatly stowed away but within reach. You should decide if you want a desk tray that is screwed in place or held in place via clamps.
How we picked the best cable management in 2022
The best cable management items for you depends on your individual needs and neatness threshold. You should try to view items before purchase, if possible, to see if they meet your needs.
We chose the four items for best cable management in 2022 using a combination of specs, features and price. All of which should hit a sweet spot to satisfy most users.
Product Reviews
- Clamp be screwed on using thumb and forefinger
- Clamp-on basket so need to drill holes in your desk
If you don’t want to screw in an under-desk tray, you can choose one that clamps on to a desk. The VIVO DESK-AC06-2P is one such device, which means you can swap it from desk to desk if need be. This is handy if you move to another desk in your building or a colleague has greater need of it.
The DESK-AC06-2P is a mesh-style desk tray that fits desktops that are between 0.4in and 2in (1cm to 5.1cm) thick. It weighs 2.1lbs/1kg and can hold loads up to 11lbs/5kgs. The clamp has a thumbscrew for easier securing of the clamp on the desk.
This is the best cable management in 2022 if you want a clamp-on under-desk basket.
- Adheres to wall, no need for screws
- Can conceal many different types of cable
- Might need to order individual pieces too, depending on project
Sometimes you need to cover up and route cables along a wall, and the Legrand Cordmate III meets that need.
Each pack contains four 30in/76.2cm pieces of channel through which cables can be routed. Packs also contain couplings and elbows, and you can order extra pieces online or through electrical distributors.
You cut the channel to fit your needs and then fix it to a wall using the channel’s adhesive pad. Then you can slide the cables into the channel and snap it shut to close it and hide the cables.
The Legrand Cordmate III is a compelling solution for managing cables along walls.
This is the best cable management in 2022 if you want to conceal cables along a wall.
- Provides privacy as well as cable management
- Can be clamped or screwed onto desk
- Skirt solution won’t suit all use cases
The VIVO DESK-SKIRT-60P performs more functions than just cable management, as it shields the backless desks for greater user privacy.
The DESK-SKIRT-60P hangs down from the back of the desk. You can clamp it in place rather than screw it, so you can re-use it with other desks as needed. This is handy if you move to another desk in your office building, for example.
You can attach the clamps to desks between 0.4in and 2in (1cm to 5.1cm) thick. Alternatively, you can screw the skirt in place.
Cables can be stowed in a mesh behind the skirt so that they are out of the way of your legs and feet. You can open and close the mesh with Velcro, so you can adjust, add and remove cables as necessary. You can also store items within the skirt, which adds extra convenience.
This is the best cable management in 2022 if you want an item that performs more than one function.
- Front lip hides items from view
- Must be screwed to desk, so not a solution for everyone
The VIVO DESK-AC06-1C is an under-desk tray that is a solid piece of metal rather than a mesh. This hides items more effectively behind a metal lip, which is good if you prefer a more discreet look. You must screw the VIVO DESK-AC06-1C to the underside of a desk.
The DESK-AC06-1C’s dimensions are 16.5x3x4.5in (42x9x11.5cm) and you can use it to hold anything that fits within them. That could be power adaptors, extension bars, cables and more.
This is the best cable management in 2022 if you need an under-desk basket that discreetly hides items within it.
Is cable management worth it?
Absolutely. Not only does it keep your setup tidy, but can also prevent you from tripping over or snagging yourself on wires, saving you from potentially causing damage.
Are cable ties good for cable management?
Yes, especially since they come in a wide range of sizes. That being said, for most setups, you’ll likely not need them.
Our Verdict
Cable management solutions are diverse, so it’s very difficult if not pointless to judge them against each other. However, the VIVO DESK-AC06-2P is Editor’s Choice due to its clamp-on design and ability to keep things together under your desk.