Which desk accessories are worth buying for a home office?

Each of these four accessories answers a problem you can check at your desk in a minute: too few outlets, a screen at the wrong height, weak light, no camera for calls. If you do not have the problem, skip the product.

Which desk accessories are worth buying, and what decides each one?

The leader of each comparison scores between 8.0 and 8.5 out of 10.

Is a surge-protected power strip worth buying?

A surge-protected strip pays off once your computer, monitor and chargers outnumber the wall outlets. Outlet counts among the surge protector power strips compared run from 6 to 18, but surge ratings spread much wider: seven list a joule figure, from 200 J to 2,700 J, and only two reach 2,700.

The ALESTOR 12-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 4 USB is the comparison winner at 8.5, with 2,700 J, 15 A, four USB ports and the longest warranty listed, two years, though it lists no wall mounting. The Nuetsa 8-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 4 USB matches the 2,700 J as the best-value pick (8.0) in a compact 8.6 × 3.9 inch body, but its listing is inconsistent about ETL certification. The Yintar 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 3 USB is the budget pick at 1,680 J. The Amazon Basics 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, 2-Pack lists only 200 J.

Is a monitor arm worth buying?

A monitor arm earns its place when one screen needs a height, distance or angle that its own stand cannot give. Match the load first: in our monitor arm comparison, rated loads run from 15.4 to 44 lb per screen, and five of the eight arms hold one screen while three hold two.

The WALI Adjustable Single Monitor Arm (up to 34 in) wins at 8.1. It is rated for 26.4 lb on flat screens, carries the longest warranty, 10 years, and fits desks between 0.39 and 2.76 inches thick with a clamp or grommet base. The ErGear Single Monitor Arm is the best-value pick at 7.6, with 19.8 lb and tool-free VESA mounting. The 5Rcom Single Monitor Arm (13–35 in) is the budget pick and reaches farthest, 21.2 inches, but it carries a one-year warranty and does not spell out its VESA patterns. If you only need a small lift, read when a plain monitor stand is enough first.

Is an LED desk lamp worth buying?

An LED desk lamp is worth buying when room light does not reach your work surface, but the specs make comparing hard. Of the eight LED desk lamps compared, only three list lumens (800, 750 and 500), and only two give a color rendering index (CRI), the Honeywell at 93 or higher and the Galnolt at over 90.

The Honeywell H7 LED Desk Lamp wins at 8.4 with stepless dimming from 10 to 100 percent, five color temperatures from 2700 to 5000 K and a two-year warranty. The catches: 4 lb, no clamp option and the top price class. The Airlonv LED Desk Lamp with Clamp (best value, 7.8) has a 17 inch light bar and dims down to 1 percent, but lists no lumens, CRI or warranty. The ZenBeam LED Gooseneck Desk Lamp with Clamp (budget pick, 7.7) remembers its settings. The FREEUP 4-in-1 LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger adds a 15 W charger, a speaker and a clock, lists no dimming and ranks last.

Is a webcam worth buying?

A webcam makes sense when the screen you work on has no camera of its own. Seven of the eight webcams compared record 1080p, only the UGREEN lists 2K, and only the two Logitech C920 models focus automatically.

The Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam (1080p/30 fps) leads at 8.0 with autofocus, a glass lens, a 78° view, a privacy shutter, stereo microphones and a one-year warranty. The UGREEN 2K Webcam with Microphone has the widest view, 95°, but fixed focus, no stated warranty and a 2K mode that needs a computer, port and app that all support it. The EMEET C960 1080P Webcam with Microphone (best value, 7.8) and the Acer A610 1080p Webcam with Microphones (budget pick, 7.7) carry the longest warranties, two years. Seven of the eight include a privacy cover; the premium Logitech C920x HD Pro Webcam (1080p/30 fps) does not list one.

What should you check before you order?

• Weigh your monitor and read the VESA holes on its back. Seven of the eight arms name 75 × 75 and 100 × 100 mm, and the WALI drops from 26.4 to 19.8 lb on curved screens.
• Read the certification line. Five of the eight strips name ETL or TUV, while the SUPERDANNY Flat Plug Power Strip, 6 Outlets, 4 USB lists no joule rating and shows plug type A where the other seven show grounded type B.
• Look at your desk edge, because a clamp lamp needs one to grip. The ZenBeam takes desks up to 2.2 inches thick.
• Compare your sitting distance with the focus range: the fixed-focus EMEET stays sharp from 11.8 to 118.1 inches (30 to 300 cm).

How we compared the four categories

Everything above comes from four of our comparisons, which rank eight models each from manufacturer specifications and price class. We handled no product, and a missing figure costs points instead of being filled in. Performance counts most, at 35 percent in all four, and how we weigh the criteria is spelled out on the methodology page. More desk gear is in the other computer and office comparisons.