Even though we live in an age of “cord cutting”, and this website is all about ditching cable (TV), there’s one thing we still can’t escape: the actual cables. Once you start accumulating devices and set-top boxes near your telly (or your computer), it quickly becomes a jungle of cords and cables… which is where a good cable tidy box can help.
There are several cable management solutions out there (and I’ll go over some of them in this article) – but it all starts with the cable tidy box, which is a – yes – box where you’re meant to put your power strip, while better organising all the cables that come out of it.
In this review round-up, I’ll explain how to use a cable tidy box best, how it works with other cable management products, and things to consider when you’re looking for the best cable tidy box.
Best Cable Tidy Boxes For 2024
Excellent box with proper ventilation and space, made from Electrically-Safe materials.
A big bundle of 3 cable tidy boxes (different sizes), with cable ties and mounting tapes.
Great for tight spots where you still want to hide and manage your cables
A beautiful wooden box with a lock and coloured cable ties
A medium-sized box with the right features and an impressive design – but pricey.
Table of Contents
Cable Management Solutions
These days, the cables behind our TVs and computers are a big mess. Even if you have a nice TV cabinet, there’s still no way to make all those cables “disappear” – you might have an indoor aerial connected (with cables) to your telly and a power strip. And then there’s the Freeview box, and maybe you have a gaming console, and don’t forget the soundbar, and… you get the picture. A messy, cable-ridden picture.
The good news – there are several simple solutions that, while won’t make the cables disappear, can at least hide them better and neatly organise them. And it all starts with…
A Cable Tidy Box
Despite the fancy name, a cable tidy box is – surprise – mainly a box with holes in it. Its primary purpose: a place to put your power strip in (and possibly additional cables). The power cord that plugs into the wall goes into the box on one side, and all the power cables that come from your different devices go in from the other side.
That way, instead of cables running all over the place, and getting tangled, you get a relatively neat flow of cables in one place.
However, all those cables running out from one side of the box still look like a bit of a mess – so you can use…
A Cable Tube / Sleeve
If you want to keep things even tidier, you can use a cable tube, which does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a small flexible “tube” that you can push all your cables into (through a slit that opens and closes). That way, they’re all grouped together behind your cabinet/desk.
Of course, at some point, your cables will have to split up between the different devices – but a tube keeps them grouped at least some of the way.
We recommend the D-Line Cable Tidy Tube, which is perfectly fit for purpose, and even comes in two colours.
A Cable Clip / Tie
If you want something even more straightforward than a cable tube, you can use a cable tie.
It’s a super-cheap solution, and while it won’t hide your cables, you can at least use it to tie them up and group them together, thus avoiding those annoying tangles.
Now let’s go to the centrepiece of the cable management process – the box.
Buying The Best Cable Tidy Box – Things To Consider
Yes, it’s basically a box with holes in it – but there are still a few things you need to look out for when you buy one, if you want it to serve its purpose well and help you tidy up all those cords.
Durable Materials / Heat Resistance
This is not just a question of the cable tidy box lasting you for a long time – it’s also an issue of safety.
You’re going to hide a big power strip inside the box, and power strips (and power plugs) often get pretty hot. If your box is made out of cheap materials, its walls might dent from the heat – or even worse, might catch on fire.
Therefore, you need a box made of durable materials -either reinforced plastic or, in some cases, wood. Ideally, it would also be scratch-resistant.
Ventilation
This is another safety feature – since it’s going to get pretty hot inside that small box with all those power plugs, you want a box with enough ventilation holes so the heat has a place to go (with fresh air coming in).
In addition, it’s important not to cram too much into the box – leave some space inside for air and ventilation.
Size of The Box
The size you need depends on what you intend to put inside the cable tidy box.
First, of course, is the power strip. Consider how many devices, thus power plugs, you would need to use – and leave some room for the future (maybe you’re going to buy a new streamer on Black Friday?).
Once you have the correct power strip, measure it – then make sure the box you’re buying has enough space for the strip, as well as some leftover space on both sides for the cables to go through.
You might also want to slide other cables through the box – such as your aerial cord, your Ethernet cable, etc. – so consider all these, and make sure the box is big enough, but also keep in mind the available space under/behind your cabinet/desk.
Feet Under The Box
Some of the better cable tidy boxes have tiny rubber “feet” at the bottom, so the box doesn’t sit directly on the floor.
This serves two purposes: it prevents the box from slipping around and offers some protection against water, in case you spill something on the floor.
Access Points
The basic design of a cable tidy box has two main holes – one for the power strip’s cable, and another for all the other power cables.
However, some boxes offer additional access points (as in – holes). So you can use a front access point to connect a phone charger, for example (some even have room on top of the box to put your phone on).
Design
Lastly, cable tidy boxes come in different shapes, sizes and designs. If you’re going to hide your box behind a TV cabinet, then the design won’t matter much. But if it’s going to stand in clear view, you might want to look for something that looks good.
The colours are up to you, and some even have wooden parts that make them look beautiful – just make sure they’re also fulfilling their main job (of tidying up your cables), before being pretty.
Best Cable Tidy Boxes For 2024: My Picks
| Rank | Best Cable Tidy Box | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D-Line Cable Tidy Box | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 2 | ASelected 3 Cable Tidy Boxes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 3 | Hama Mini Cable Tidy Box | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 4 | Bamboo Cable Tidy Box | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
| 5 | Bosign Wood Cable Tidy Box | ⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
Best Overall
Excellent box with proper ventilation, electrically safe material and a polished look,
Pros
- Electrically-Safe ABS Material
- Small and Large sizes, up to 6-gang power strip
- Solid design, choose black or white
- Three cable access points
Cons
- The material is a bit thin
- Smaller than it looks - measure your power strip!
Bottom Line
D-Line is a UK-based company that specialises in cable management solutions, so you can trust they’ve done their homework with this cable tidy box.
The box is made of a safety-tested material, with curved ends and a polished push-lock lid. It’s a bit thin, so can feel a bit flimsy – just make sure you don’t fill it too much.
The box comes in two sizes: small (325mm (L) x 125mm (W) 115mm (H)) for a 4-gang power strip, and large (415mm (L) x 165mm (W) 135mm (H)) for a 6-gang power strip. However, if your extension unit is particularly bulky, make sure you measure it first.
There are three access point for sliding cables in/out, so you have some flexibility there, and you can even choose whether you want a black box or a white one.
All in all, this is a cable tidy box that does exactly what it sets out to do, with a decent (if a bit bland) design and an excellent price point.
Best Value
A bundle with 3 differently sized boxes, plus cable ties and tapes.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Comes with cable ties and mounting tapes
- Rubber feet so it's extra stable
Cons
- Only 2 access points
- Thin plastic
- Boring design
Bottom Line
Let’s face it, one cable tidy box is usually not enough in most houses. You need at least one for your TV area, then one near your desktop computer, and perhaps one near the bed… so it can get expensive.
Therefore, this bundle gives you excellent value for money – as you get three cable tidy boxes, in addition to cable ties and mounting tapes (which you use to stick the tied cables under the desk).
The bundled boxes come in three separate sizes – Large (16″ x 6.2″ x 5.4″), Medium (13″ x 5.3″ x 5″) and Small (9.3″ x 4.5″ x 4.8″) – so make sure these are actually sizes that would fit your needs.
The boxes themselves are pretty thin and a bit flimsy, so they’re not as good as some of the others on this list – but if you need more than one, this price is hard to beat.
Small cable management box for tight spots behind your desk/TV.
Pros
- Sturdy despite its small size
- Raised base with rubber feet
- Two Access points
- Easy to open (for cleaning)
Cons
- Mid-range price
- Boring design
Bottom Line
Sometimes you don’t need a big box – or maybe there isn’t a lot of room behind your desk – so this “Mini” box is perfect for those tight spots.
At 23 x 11.5 x 11.8 cm, it has room for a power strip with 3 plugs (but as usual, measure first), and there are two access points for cables.
The base stands on rubber feet, so there’s some protection against water on the floor, and the ventilation hole is on the bottom panel.
The design is a bit boring (it looks like a very plasticky shower step), but it comes in both black and white – and the price is decent, even for such a small box.
A beautiful box with a lock and coloured cable ties
Pros
- Beautiful wooden design made from bamboo
- Room to place phones on top
- Has a security latch (for children)
- Comes with 6 coloured cable ties
Cons
- A bit small compared to some other boxes
- Pricey
The Bottom Line
Who said cable tidy boxes need to be ugly? These boxes, made out of bamboo and wood grain, look lovely and won’t stand out too much in your living room.
The box itself is pretty simple – it has three access points for cables, room for a phone on top (when you’re charging it, for example), and at 34 x 15 x 12cm it should be big enough to hold up to a 5-gang power strip, but always best to measure first.
And since the box was designed by a mother, it has a security latch that prevents babies from opening it (though you can’t actually lock it – so small children will still be able to open it if they wish). And finally, it also comes bundled with six coloured cable ties for easy cable management.
All in all, this one’s a great choice – but it costs a little more than some of the other boxes.
A medium-sized cable tidy box with an impressive design
Pros
- Silicone feet - more stable, and protects floor
- Impressive design with white and natural wood colour
- Place for a phone on top
Cons
- Expensive
Bottom Line
This box is… pretty. It’s still a box, don’t get me wrong – but the colours and the design are impressive – so much so, that it was awarded the Global Innovation Award in Chicago – for a box!
Everything you would expect from a high-quality box is here: 4 access points, silicone feet, and room on top to place a phone that you’re charging.
It’s a bit small – 30 cm (11 3/4″) x Depth: 18 cm (7 1/16″) x Height: 13.8 cm, so even though they say it would fit a 6-gang power strip, you should measure first.
Our main problem with this cable tidy box? It’s pretty expensive, when compared to the other ones in this roundup. But other than that – it’s a great choice.