I tested the best laptop docking stations – here’s what I recommend for your office setup

Why we like it: I picked the CalDigit TS4 as the best laptop docking station overall because it is the most capable of the eight entries. With 18 ports — which include three Thunderbolt 4 ports, five USB-A inputs, and dual SD card readers, just to name a few — it covers just about every connection I could ever need. The USB-A ports are notable because they provide data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps, allowing users to quickly move files between devices. Additionally, it has a power delivery of 98W, enough to charge both a laptop and a smartphone at the same time.

I really appreciate the CalDigit TS4’s size. It measures 4.46 x 1.65 x 5.55 inches and weighs about 1.4 pounds, so you can take it to the office. It can even output video signals to dual 4K displays simultaneously, helping future-proof your setup.

Who it’s for: CalDigit’s docking station is perfect for power users with demanding tasks. If you routinely work with external drives or high-resolution displays, this device’s versatility will save you from contact plugging and unplugging. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS laptops. The TS4 even works with iPads.

Who should look elsewhere: At nearly $400, the CalDigit TS4 is one of the most expensive options on this list. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone on a tight budget. I also wouldn’t suggest the docking station to people who have a triple monitor setup. The dock can’t support that many panels at once.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock specs: Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB-C, 5x USB-A, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x SD card slot, 1x microSD card, 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, 1x front combo audio in/out, 1x rear audio out, 1x rear audio in | Display: HDMI:  Dual 6K @ 60 Hz (1), Dual 4K @ 60 Hz (1), 8K @ 60Hz (1); DisplayPort: 4K @ 144Hz (1); supports up to 2 total displays 

Why we like it: When initially making this list, I was stuck between choosing the CalDigit TS4 and the Kensington SD5000T5. The former may have come out on top, but for certain people, the Kensington dock is the superior choice. It is one of the first docking stations ever to support the Thunderbolt 5 standard. As a result, its USB-C ports perform significantly better than the more common Thunderbolt 4.

The dock provides up to 140W of power delivery to quickly recharge devices, boasts blazing-fast data transfer speeds of up to 80 Gbps, and can support triple 4K display setups. I should mention that with the Bandwidth Boost feature, those transfer speeds can go as high as 120 Gbps. It turns any laptop setup into a full workstation.

If you look at the attached image, you’ll notice some ridges on the side of the dock. Those aren’t for show; they increase the device’s surface area and help keep it cool.

Review: Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station

Who it’s for: The Kensington SD5000TS EQ Docking Station is a great device for hybrid professionals and power users who want next-gen connectivity. A data transfer speed of 80 Gbps is no joke. You can move a large movie file from computer to computer in almost no time at all. The best part is that it is compatible with both Windows and macOS.

Who should look elsewhere: If the Kensington SD5000TS is so good, why did it not take the top spot? There are two main reasons why. First, it’s big, measuring 8.89 x 3.82 x 1.57 inches. You can’t put it on its side because it’ll just fall over. It will demand a large amount of desk space from you. Secondly, it is strict about which operating systems it supports. Your computer must at least run on Windows 11 23H2 or macOS 14.5. Older systems are out of luck.

Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station specs: Ports: USB 3.2 Type-A (2); USB Type-C (4); 3.5 in/out audio jack; Gigabit Ethernet (1) | Display: Supports up to three 4K displays at 144Hz or two 8K monitors @ 60Hz

Why we like it: I’m a big fan of the very thoughtful design of the Baseus 11-in-1 Spacemate. Unlike the previous entry, this places its assortment of ports in a vertical, tower-like design. At just 2.6 x 2.6 x 4.84 inches, it takes up barely any room on your desk, making this docking station a good pick for small setups. You could tuck it away behind your laptop or a Mac Studio, where it’ll be within arm’s reach but never in the way.

It’s 11 ports cover a wide range of standards. Just to name a few, they consist of dual HDMI outputs, a couple of Thunderbolt ports that support data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. What’s particularly great about the Spacemate is that it is fully plug-and-play across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. This means you won’t be forced to install drivers onto your computer, wasting valuable time. It works right from the get-go.

Review: Baseus 11-in-1 Spacemate docking station

Who it’s for: The Baseus 11-in-1 Spacemate is best suited in the hands of people with limited desk space. For example, video editors working with multiple drives could get a lot of use out of this. Software developer who needs to connect a bunch of Android phones fall under this potential user base, too.

Who should look elsewhere: Although it supports macOS, I wouldn’t recommend it to MacBook owners because it does not support triple 4K displays due to a macOS limitation. It’s best suited in the hands of Windows users. That said, there is a , but it costs twice as much.

Baseus 11-in-1 Spacemate docking station specs: Ports: USB-A 2.0 (3), USB-C (2), HDMI (2), DisplayPort (2), Gigabit Ethernet (1), 3.5 audio in/out jack (1) | Display: up to three displays simultaneously in 4K resolution on Windows

Why we like it: Office workers looking for a docking station should consider the Dell WD19S-180W, and there are two major reasons why I recommend it. First, it can send a video signal from your laptop to three displays in Quad HD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) simultaneously. Each one will run at a refresh rate of 60Hz. You have the option to send out a 4K resolution signal, but only to a dual-monitor setup.

Secondly, it can provide 130W of power directly into your devices to quickly charge them. The device also has the ExpressCharge Boost feature, which, according to Dell, can fast charge your laptop from zero to 35% in about 20 minutes or up to 80% in about an hour. What’s more, it houses a wide array of ports from twin DP inputs to three USB-A ports. A unique feature of the dock is its modular design. You can remove the end of the device and replace it with a supporting component. However, at the time of this writing, it appears Dell no longer sells these modules.

Who it’s for: I recommend the Dell Dock – WD19S to anyone running a multi-monitor setup who also needs fast charging and dependable connectivity. It’s right at home in IT departments, too. Dell gave its dock a MAC Address pass-through and remote port disablement to keep important data safe.

Who should look elsewhere: I would not recommend the Dell Dock – WD19S to MacBook owners because it does not support macOS – only Windows 10, Windows 11, Ubuntu 18.04, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Plus, the module design may feel like wasted potential, so you can’t do anything with it anymore. Remember: the modules are no longer on sale.

Dell WD19S 180W specs: Ports: USB-A 3.2- 9 pin (2), USB-A 3.2 with PowerShare (1), USB-C 3.2 – 24 pin (1), USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort (1), RJ-45 (1), DisplayPort (2), HDMI 2.0 (1) | Display: 4K @ 60Hz, Quad HD @ 60Hz; up to three displays

Why we like it: The Belkin Connect Universal Pro Dock completely changed my daily workflow. It transformed my laptop into a desktop-like setup — minus the bulky tower. The accessory offers 11 thoughtfully chosen ports, including USB-A 3.2, HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, microSD, Ethernet, and more. Everything works smoothly, whether you’re transferring large files, plugging in multiple other peripherals, or extending your display signal.

Its flat design played a major role in my enjoyment. You’ll notice the front of the dock is slanted. Placing a laptop on top of the rubber strip causes the computer to sit at an angle, which improves airflow beneath the machine. Hot air won’t be trapped between your laptop and the table. It’s a small flourish, but it makes a noticeable different. Your device will run cooler and quieter.

Review: Belkin Connect Universal USB-C 11-in-1 Pro Dock

Who it’s for: This dock is perfect for hybrid workers or students looking to turn their laptops into a proper workstation setup. Graphic designers, programmers, and content creators will benefit a lot, too. You’ll be able to support a ton of accessories through the Belkin Connect Pro Dock. For example, you could plug in an SD card and a hard drive while still having enough room for an external monitor.

Who should look elsewhere: The power cable on the back is non-removable, which can limit placement options if your laptop’s USB-C is on the wrong side or out of reach. Although it delivers 100W of charging, the Belkin Station recharges personal computers more slowly than a laptop’s own power adapter. This is because some of the energy is lost within the Pro Dock.

Belkin Connect Universal USB-C 11-in-1 Pro Dock specs: Ports: USB-A (2), USB-C (2), 4K HDMI (2), VGA (1), Gigabit Ethernet (1), 35mm audio in/out (1), SD card reader (1), microSD card reader (1) | Display: up to three monitors simultaneously, 4K@ 60Hz to one display

Why we like it: Docking stations work across multiple operating systems without one being better supported, and they’re great at existing as generic devices. But if you want something that specializes in Apple products, I highly recommend the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station

If you look at the device compatibility list on Satechi’s website, you’ll see that it supports a wide range of Apple hardware, from legacy devices like the 2016 MacBook Pro to the newest M4 MacBook models. This level of MacBook compatibility is unmatched. Plus, just like the Baseus Spacemate, it works right out of the gate. There is no need to spend several minutes installing software drivers. 

Besides its Apple compatibility, the Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station boasts impressive display output. It can connect up to four different monitors and display images at 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 60Hz. If you only have a single monitor, you can send a video signal up to 8K resolution.

Who it’s for: Unsurprisingly, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is perfect for Apple users. It expands a MacBook’s usability and also recharges iPhones and Apple Watches. Creative professionals, in particular, will love how easily this dock integrates with their workflow. The support for DisplayLink and multiple video outputs allows for complex monitor setups and helps increase productivity.

Who should look elsewhere: Looking at the specs sheet, it’s very clear that macOS devices are the priority for the Satechi Docking Station. It does work “with most of the Thunderbolt/USB-4 devices like…” the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, but it’s not universal.

Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multi-Display Docking Station specs: Ports: Thunderbolt 4 to host (1), in/out audio (1), SD 4.0/UHS-II card slot (1), USB-A 3.2 (2), Thunderbolt 4 downstream (3), HDMI 2.0 (2), 1GB Ethernet port (1), power supply | Display: up to 8K/60 with one display; up to 4K/60Hz across four displays

Why we like it: If you prefer working on a Windows machine, the Orico 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock is right up your alley. This feature-rich docking station provides reliable performance for a broad group of professionals, from photographers to 3D artists. That’s because the device offers true Thunderbolt 4 performance, delivering data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps and can output an 8K video signal to a single monitor (or a 4K signal to two monitors).

Be aware that this performance is exclusive to Windows PCs. Similar to previous entries, it sports a wide variety of inputs, including USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and more. The dock also has daisy-chain capability, meaning you can connect multiple computers to it.

Who it’s for: Because of its unique capability, this dock is a clear fit for Windows users with demanding workflows. It supports multi-monitor setups, high-speed data transferring, and wired network connections. Orico’s Thunderbolt 4 dock is perfect for people looking to turn their laptop into a serious workstation.

It does work with Apple tech. The problem is that, because of software restrictions implemented by Apple, your experience will be more restrictive. You’ll be able to send a video signal to a single external display.

Review: Orico 12-in-1 Thunderbolt

Who should look elsewhere: Obviously, I wouldn’t recommend the Orico dock to Apple users because of the restriction. I also wouldn’t recommend it to people who frequently as its power adapter is huge. And the worst part is that it’s required to use the dock fully. It can’t receive power from a computer.

Oricoo 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock specs: Ports: USB-A 3.1 (1)  USB-A 2.0 (2), 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports (2), 10Gbps USB-C (1), DP 1.4 (1), SD card slot, micro-SD card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm audio jack | Display: 8K resolution at 30Hz (Windows only), Dual 4K resolution at 60Hz

Why we like it: Rounding out the list is the Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C Universal Laptop Docking Station. This accessory is primarily meant for older laptops. It is limited in what it can do, but what it does, it does quite well. The device’s main feature is its broad OS compatibility. This dock supports multiple Windows systems, from Windows 11 all the way to Windows 7 and everything in between. Similarly, it works with older macOS versions, too, going as far back as macOS Mojave.

Plugable’s dock doesn’t have a Thunderbolt port in its input array. To compensate, the company packages a special USB-A cable with a removable Thunderbolt cap, allowing it to switch between the standards on the fly if necessary. The dock can output a 1080p video signal to a pair of monitors or a Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) video signal to one monitor. 

Also: This $12 USB-C accessory has saved me hundreds of dollars in repairs

Who it’s for: I recommend the Plugable Universal Laptop Docking Station to people still holding onto their old Windows 7 laptop or anyone looking for a budget-friendly option. This is one of the cheapest options on this list, retailing for less than $100. Additionally, if you hop between multiple operating systems, this dock can keep up.

Who should look elsewhere: Don’t expect Plugable’s docking station to provide top-notch performance. It does not support 4K resolution. And as the name suggests, it houses USB-A 3.0 ports, which means you won’t receive fast transfer speeds. It’s functional, if a little outdated.

Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C Universal Laptop Docking Station specs: Ports: USB 3.0 Type-A (2); USB 2.0 Type-A (4); HDMI (1); DVI (1); Gigabit Ethernet (1); 3.5mm audio jack (1); microphone jack (1) | Display: 1920×1200 at 60Hz (2); 2,560×1440 at 50Hz via HDMI (1)