
GE 54638GE Surge Protector Power Strip 6-Outlet 2-Pack
Ranks first, with two 6-outlet strips in the box and a lifetime warranty listed.
- AC outlets
- 6
- Surge protection
- 800 J
- Cord length
- 6 ft
A garage strip takes more abuse than a living room one. Look for a resettable circuit breaker, a low AWG number, a metal or sturdy housing and mounting slots for a wall or bench. Surge protection in joules matters for sensitive gear, but power tools lean on the breaker and cord. Outlet count and cord length decide how you lay out the space. We put 22 products on one spec sheet so you can compare these points side by side and see which ones the makers leave unpublished.
Quick answer
Ranked from 22 power strips that met our standard, compared on circuit breaker, surge protection, and heavy-duty housing.
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Ranks first, with two 6-outlet strips in the box and a lifetime warranty listed.

Eight outlets, a 14 AWG cord, metal housing and a resettable circuit breaker.

A 15 ft cord, 10 outlets and 2800 J in an aluminum housing.
| Spec | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Scoreout of 100 | 74 | 64 | 61 | 59 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 54 |
| AC outlets | 6 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 12 (best in row) | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Surge protectionJ | 800 J | 2700 J | 2800 J | 4800 J (best in row) | 1200 J | 2700 J | 3300 J | 1200 J | 2700 J | 1200 J |
| Cord lengthft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 15 ft (best in row) | 4 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 5 ft | 6 ft |
| Max powerW | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W | 1875 W |
| Cord gaugeAWG | — | 14 AWG | 14 AWG | 12 AWG (best in row) | 14 AWG | — | 14 AWG | 14 AWG | 14 AWG | 14 AWG |
| USB ports | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| Individual outlet switches | — | — | — | Yes (best in row) | — | No | Yes (best in row) | — | — | Yes (best in row) |
| Resettable circuit breaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| Wall mountable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Housing material | — | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal | Metal |
| Plug type | — | — | Standard | Standard | — | Flat 45° (best in row) | Flat 45° (best in row) | — | — | Flat 45° (best in row) |
| Safety certification | ETL (best in row) | ETL (best in row) | ETL (best in row) | ETL (best in row) | ETL (best in row) | None listed | ETL (best in row) | ETL (best in row) | — | ETL (best in row) |
| Warrantyyr | Lifetime* (best in row) | — | 1.5 years | — | — | — | 1.5 years | — | — | — |
We reviewed 25 power strips and kept only the 22 that pass every check below. Those are ranked by a Best Score built from spec fit for this job, warranty, sales rank.
These reviews are based on specifications and listing information for the five top-ranked strips. Each one looks at a different part of what a garage needs.
Top-ranked two-pack with the lowest surge rating
This GE set ranks first on our spec score, and it ships as a two-pack. Each strip has six outlets, a 6 ft cord and a 1875 W rating. For a garage, that means one strip for a bench and one for a shelf or a second wall. Plugging them into separate wall outlets spreads the load.
The weak point is surge protection. The maker does not publish a cord gauge or housing material. Those two specs matter when you run a saw or compressor, so treat this as a light-duty garage strip for chargers and electronics.
It does include a resettable circuit breaker, keyhole slots for wall or desk mounting, and ETL certification. The warranty is listed as lifetime, tied for the longest on the page. Twist-to-close covers keep dust and debris out of unused outlets. The flat plug leaves the neighboring wall outlet usable.
VerdictA fine extra strip for garage electronics, but not the one for heavy tools.
Metal strip with 2700 J and a 14 AWG cord
This strip fits a workshop well. The yellow aluminum housing is built for rough use, and the 14 AWG cord gives you a listed wire size for tools. A lower gauge number means thicker wire, and two models on the page list 12. Cord length is 6 ft.
Surge protection is 2700 J, well above the 800 J on the GE strips. A 15 A circuit breaker handles overloads, and the strip is rated for 1875 W. The listing mentions a fire protection coating and wide-spaced outlets for bigger plugs. It lists eight outlets, enough for a bench of tools and chargers.
The listing mentions USB ports but does not give a count, so check before you count on them. It is wall mountable with two hanging holes and carries ETL certification. The maker does not publish a warranty length. A cord wrap strap keeps slack tidy. One note: the listing says to protect it if used outdoors.
VerdictIt ranks third and is the highest-ranked metal strip, a sound bench pick.
15 ft cord and 10 outlets in metal
Reach sets this strip apart. Its 15 ft cord ties for the longest on the page, so a bench can sit well away from the wall. That matters in a garage, where the nearest outlet is often across the room. The cord is 14 AWG, the same as most models that list a gauge.
With 10 outlets and 2800 J of surge protection, it can cover a busy bench. The total is still capped at 1875 W, so outlet count does not add capacity. A 15 A circuit breaker with reset handles overloads. The housing is extruded aluminum, and the listing names construction sites, labs and harsh environments as its target.
Safety certification is ETL, and the warranty is 1.5 yr. The plug type is standard, so it may cover the second socket of a wall outlet. A hanging hole allows wall mounting. Individual outlet switches are not listed.
VerdictA reach-first metal strip that ranks fourth, best for a large bench far from the wall outlet or when many tools share one spot.
4800 J and 12 AWG in a short 4 ft strip
This strip stands out on protection. For power tools, that is the most relevant pairing. The listing also calls the metal shell thickened and fireproof.
The trade-off is size. It has 4 outlets, the fewest on the page, and a 4 ft cord, the shortest. You will need to place it close to the wall outlet. Each outlet has its own switch, so you can cut power to one tool without unplugging it.
The spec sheet has no circuit breaker entry, but the listing describes a dedicated overload breaker. The rating is 1875 W, and the listing says not to exceed it. It is wall mountable with a screw mount, and ETL certified. The listing says it comes as a two-pack. A warranty length is not published.
VerdictStrong protection on paper for heavy tools, but a short cord and four outlets limit how you set it up.
Best among the reviewed tools
Power tools can pull enough current to overload a strip. A resettable circuit breaker cuts power when that happens. The ranked strips are all rated for 1875 W, so add up your tool loads and stay under it. The outlet count does not raise that limit.
AWG is wire thickness, and a lower number means thicker wire. Thicker cords handle tool current better. Among the models that list a gauge, 12 AWG is the thickest and 14 AWG the most common. Longer cords add reach, up to 15 ft, but check the gauge first.
Joules measure how much surge energy a strip can absorb. Ratings here run from 800 J to 4800 J. Higher is better for valuable electronics such as chargers and shop radios. A high joule number with no listed breaker does not show overload protection, so look at both.
Metal housing resists knocks, and keyhole slots or screw holes let you mount the strip on a wall or bench so it stays off the floor. Every ranked strip lists wall mounting. Check for a safety certification, such as ETL, and skip any that list none.
Only if the combined draw stays under the strip's rating, which is 1875 W on every ranked strip. Many large tools draw more at startup, so check the tool's label and consider a direct wall outlet or a heavy-duty extension cord for big machines.
A lower AWG number means thicker wire. Among the models that list a gauge, 12 AWG is the thickest, and 14 AWG is the most common. Thicker wire suits tools better, especially on longer cords up to 15 ft.
No. Surge protection guards electronics against voltage spikes and is measured in joules. A circuit breaker trips when too much current flows, which protects against overload. For a garage, you want both, so check that the spec sheet lists a resettable breaker as well as a joule rating.
Yes, if it is wall mountable. Every ranked strip here lists wall mounting, using keyhole slots, hanging holes or screw mounts. Use screws that fit the slots, mount it where it will not get wet, and keep the cord clear of walkways.
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