Under-Desk Cable Trays

Cables off the floor

A laptop desk gathers plugs: the laptop charger, a monitor, a lamp, a hub or dock, a phone charger, perhaps speakers. They usually end in an extension lead on the floor with a tangle of spare cable round it, right where your feet go. The Health and Safety Executive's workstation checklist asks for cables to be tidy and not a trip or snag hazard, and for room under the desk to move your legs. An under-desk cable tray lifts the lead, the plugs and the spare cable up under the desk top, out of sight and out of the way.

What is in this range

• Steel and iron wire trays, open baskets that hold an extension lead and chargers with air round them. Some come in single and double-deck sizes.
• Solid steel trays with rounded edges, which clamp to the desk.
• A fabric tray, 36 inches long, for a whole row of plugs.
• A cable net of oxford cloth with eight holes for the cables to pass through.
• A PVC tray and a 40cm tray that stick on, and a woven cable box with slots for the cables and holes to let heat out.

How they fix

Most trays here fit without drilling. Clamp trays grip the edge or the underside of the desk top with screw clamps, and come off again without marks: check the clamp's stated range against your desk's thickness. Self-adhesive trays stick to the underside, which needs to be flat, clean and dry. Some trays also give the choice of screws, for a desk you are happy to drill.

How to choose a cable tray

Length. Measure your extension lead. The tray should be longer than the lead, with room for the plugs.

Weight. A lead with several chargers in it is heavier than it looks. A clamp or screw fixing holds more than a sticky pad.

Air. Chargers get warm. An open wire or mesh tray lets heat out better than a closed box.

For the cables that run across the top of the desk, cable clips, sleeves and trays keep them in line. The guide to setting up a laptop desk covers the rest of the desk.

Questions people ask about cable trays

Will a cable tray fit a standing desk?

Yes, if it fixes to the desk top rather than the frame. Leave enough slack in the cables to the wall for the desk to rise.

Can I put a power brick in the tray?

Yes. Leave space round it so it can stay cool.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Cable clips, sleeves and trays
• Desk organisers
• Laptop docking stations
• USB-C hubs
• Footrests
• Guide: Setting up a laptop desk that is kind to your back