- 10.00/10 1. Premium pick: Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma
- 8.40/10 2. Editors choice: Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock
- 9.20/10 3. Best value: Plugable UD-3900 Dual Display Universal Docking Station
- 9.00/10 4. CalDigit TS3 Plus
- 9.20/10 5. Microsoft Surface Dock 2
- 8.40/10 6. Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock
- 9.20/10 7. Dell D3100 USB 3.0 Docking Station
- 9.20/10 8. Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
- 7.80/10 9. Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock
- 9.00/10 10. Kensington SD2500T
Compared to desktop PCs, laptops have fewer ports, smaller screens, and compact keyboards; but it doesn't have to stay that way.
A laptop docking station takes up only one port on your laptop but converts your portable device into a fully-fledged desktop productivity machine.
Here are the best laptop docking stations available today.
The Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma is a powerful laptop docking station suited for gaming and productivity setups. It transforms a single Thunderbolt 4 port on your laptop into a whopping nine ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports.
There is a UHS-II SD Card Reader, three USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and an audio jack. The dock is well built with an all-aluminum chassis and features the signature Razer Chroma Underglow to add a sweet ambiance to your desk.
You can customize and sync the RGB lighting to match your gaming accessories. In terms of productivity, the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma supports dual 4K displays at 60Hz or a single 8K at 30Hz through the downstream Thunderbolt ports.
It delivers 90W of power to the host, capable of charging the most power-hungry notebooks in the market. The dock is compatible with Mac and Windows 10 PCs with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports.
- 10 ports in one
- 90W laptop power delivery
- Connect up to two 4K displays or single 8K
- Razer Chroma Underglow
- Brand: Razer
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows 10
- Weight: 0.75 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4
- Output: 3x Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader (UHS-II), 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo
- Nine downstream ports
- Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Charges your laptop
- Solid all-aluminum build
- Customizable RGB lighting
- No DisplayPort or HDMI
- Short warranty
The Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is the best all-around docking station you can buy for your laptop. It's compatible with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C laptops, offering a total of 12 downstream ports for your peripherals.
This dock doesn't break the bank, yet it offers dual 10Gbps USB-C ports, SD and microSD card slots, and support for USB-C laptops. The dock connects to the laptop through Thunderbolt 3 and provides 85W of charging power, which is enough to support full-speed charging on most laptops.
There are two USB-C ports at the front along with a USB-A port, a combo audio in/out port, and SD and microSD cards slots with support for SD 4.0 and UHS-II speeds. One of the USB-C ports supports 18W PD, ideal for fast-charging phones. On the rear, you get two Thunderbolt 3 ports, three additional USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 4K HDMI port.
The second Thunderbolt 3 port and HDMI allow you to connect dual 4K 60Hz monitors for increased productivity. If you're on a Windows laptop, you can even use a splitter to connect up to three 4K monitors.
- 13 ports in one
- 85W laptop power delivery
- Connect up to two 4K displays or single 5K
- Fast UHS-II card readers
- Brand: Anker
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows, iPadOS, Linux OS
- Weight: 1.08 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3
- Output: 1x Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB-C 3.1 Gen2, 4x USB-A 3.1 Gen1, 1x HDMI 2.0, SD/microSD Card Reader, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo
- 12 downstream ports
- Charges your laptop
- Charges your laptop
- 10Gbps USB-C ports with charging
- Compatible with USB-C laptops
- Huge power brick
The Plugable UD-3900 Dual Display Universal Docking Station is the best budget docking station. It adds 11 ports to your laptop with support for dual monitors at less than half the price of some premium options. It's a great choice if you want to add multiple USB-A ports to your laptop or connect external monitors for productivity.
The UD-3900 has a vertical design, which is excellent for a space-constrained workspace. It occupies less desk space giving you more room for other desk peripherals. Connecting the dock gives you access to an HDMI port, DVI, dual USB 3.0, four USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and audio input and output jacks.
You can connect dual monitors through the HDMI and DVI ports. The HDMI port supports a single monitor of up to 2560x1440 and 1920x1200 if you connect two monitors. However, there are some limitations. The dock does not support DisplayPort connections, DVI dual-link, and HDCP.
- 11 ports in one
- Supports dual monitors up to 1920x1200 at 60Hz
- Six downstream USB ports
- Brand: Plugable
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows
- Weight: 0.8 pounds
- Connectivity: USB-A 3.0
- Output: 1x HDMI 1.3, 1x DVI, 2x USB 3.0, 4x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, 3.5mm Microphone Jack
- Affordable
- Plenty of ports
- Good display resolution
- Good performance
- Does not charge your laptop
- Doesn't support 4K
The CalDigit TS3 Plus is the best docking station for the MacBook Pro. It connects via Thunderbolt 3 and adds 14 ports to your Mac, including a Thunderbolt 3 port, DisplayPort, two USB-C, five USB-A 3.1 (Gen1), SD Card Reader, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF), and Audio In and Out ports.
The dock supports dual 4K external displays through Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort. It delivers up to 87W of power, enough to support full-speed charging on the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models. The digital audio port is a great addition for audiophiles, and there is also a UHS-II SD Card Reader and 10Gbps USB-C port for quickly transferring files.
CalDigit went above and beyond to ensure this dock fits perfectly in the Apple ecosystem. It's one of the few laptop docking stations that support Apple's SuperDrive CD/DVD player. It's also compatible with the 2021-edition iPad Pro.
- 15 ports in one
- 87W power delivery
- Connect up to two 4K displays or single 5K
- Brand: CalDigit
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows
- Weight: 1.04 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3
- Output: 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB-C, 5x USB-A 3.1 Gen1, SD Card Reader, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF), 3.5mm Headphone Jack, 3.5mm Microphone Jack
- 14 downstream ports
- Charges your MacBook at full speed
- Solid and sturdy design
- Supports dual 4K external monitors
- No HDMI ports
The Microsoft Surface Dock 2 is the best docking station for the Surface Pro 7. It's designed for Surface devices, offering a total of eight additional ports to turn your laptop into a desktop PC. The dock connects to the host through Surface Connect cable, so it only works with Surface computers.
At the front, you'll find two 10Gbps USB-C ports capable of 15W charging, ideal for quick-charging phones and tablets. There are two additional USB-C ports at the back that supports external displays up to 4K at 60Hz each, two USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and an audio combo jack.
The rear USB ports also support 10Gbps data transfer speeds and up to 7.5W of charging power. The dock provides 120W charging power back to the laptop, enough for powering any Surface device while running full throttle.
Additionally, Microsoft Surface Enterprise Management Mode (SEMM) opens new ways to manage your docking station. For instance, you can disable the ports on unauthorized devices and push firmware updates via Windows Update on your Surface laptop.
- Eight ports in one
- 120W laptop power delivery
- Supports dual 4K monitors at 60Hz
- Smart enterprise-grade controls
- Brand: Microsoft
- Compatibility: Microsoft Surface laptops
- Weight: 1.13 pounds
- Connectivity: Surface Connect
- Output: 4x USB-C 3.2, 2x USB-A 3.2, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo
- Seamless integration and compatibility with Surface devices
- Charges your Surface device
- Four 10Gbps USB-C downstream ports
- Support fast charging on all Surface devices
- Only compatible with Surface devices
- No HDMI or DisplayPort
Add more ports to your M1 MacBook with the Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock. This small and compact dock features four Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 10Gbps USB-A port.
You can get up to 85W charging power to charge your Mac and the ability to connect a 4K or 8K external monitor. While this docking station is capable of dual 4K displays, you'll only be able to use a single external display on the M1 Macs.
It's how they were designed, so it's nothing to do with the dock. Still, this is an excellent solution to expand the functionality of your M1 MacBook or M1 Mac Mini, making it more suitable for professional work.
- Five ports in one
- 85W power delivery to laptop
- Supports dual 4K monitors at 60Hz or a single 8K at 30Hz
- Brand: Anker
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows 10
- Weight: 0.55 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4
- Output: 3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen2
- Small and compact design
- Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Fewer USB-A ports
The Dell D3100 USB 3.0 Docking Station allows you to connect up to three monitors to your Dell laptop, including one 4K and two Full HD monitors. It's made by one of the stalwart brands in the PC Hardware space, so you can rest assured that the performance will be reliable despite the lower price.
The D3100 connects via a standard USB port, making it compatible with most Dell laptops in the market. Onboard, you'll also find three USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports for your external peripherals such as keyboard and mouse. There are two audio output ports and a Gigabit Ethernet port with support for Wake-On-LAN, ideal for corporate environments.
- 11 ports in one
- Supports one 4K and two FHD monitors
- Wake On LAN
- Brand: Dell
- Compatibility: Dell Laptops with Windows
- Weight: 0.43 pounds
- Connectivity: USB 3.0
- Output: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 3x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Headphone Out, Audio Out
- Plenty of ports
- 4K display support
- Incredible value
- HDMI and DisplayPort ports
- Does not charge your laptop
The Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is perfect for the latest Thunderbolt 4 laptops. It has 12 ports to its name, including a Thunderbolt 4 downstream port and dual HDMI ports. What makes this dock unique from the other Thunderbolt 4 docking stations released this year is the varied selection of ports.
While Thunderbolt-equipped monitors are becoming popular, a lot of people still use monitors with HDMI connectivity. The Apex Thunderbolt 4 Dock adds two 4K HDMI ports to connect external monitors. The downstream Thunderbolt 4 port also supports external displays up to 8K at 30Hz, allowing you to future-proof your setup.
The dock delivers up to 90W for charging and an additional 20W via the front-facing USB-C port. You get a couple of USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a high-speed SD Card Reader, and a mic/headphone combo jack. The dock is compatible with laptops with a Thunderbolt 4 port and Intel-based Macs running macOS Big Sur or later.
- 12 ports in one
- 90W laptop power delivery
- 20W USB-C Power Delivery port
- Connects up to three 4K monitors
- Brand: Anker
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows 10
- Weight: 0.99 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4
- Output: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen2, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen2, 2x USB-A 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo
- Incredibly small and compact
- Dual 4K HDMI ports
- Charges your laptop
- Excellent performance
- Not compatible with M1 Macs and Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Windows laptops
The Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is an outstanding laptop docking station for connecting dual monitors. It adds nine downstream ports to your laptop, including two HDMI 2.0 ports that support dual external displays at up to 4K at 60Hz.
There is no Thunderbolt 3 downstream port, but you get two USB-C ports with fast 10Gbps speeds and up to 15W of charging power. Onboard, you'll also find the standard USB ports, LAN, UHS-II SD Card Reader, and an audio jack.
The dock delivers 85W for charging the host laptop, making it ideal for use with demanding 15-inch laptops. The premium design and slim profile make it an excellent choice for office and professional environments.
- 10 ports in one
- 85W laptop power delivery
- Supports dual 4K monitors via HDMI
- Brand: Corsair
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3
- Output: 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-C 3.2, 2x USB 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader (UHS-II), 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo
- Premium, durable design
- Wide range of ports
- Charges your laptop
- Can connect up to two monitors
- Expensive
The Kensington SD2500T Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Dual 4K Hybrid Nano Dock with 60W PD is a dual DisplayPort docking station that supports two monitors up to 4K at 60Hz or a single 8K at 30Hz.
It's an excellent alternative to the Corsair TBT100 if you prefer DisplayPort to HDMI. As the name suggests, the dock is compatible with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C laptops and delivers up to 60W to charge your laptop.
You get a pair of DisplayPort, five USB ports, SD and microSD card readers, Gigabit Ethernet, and an audio port. Not bad for a docking station that costs less than the competition.
- 11 ports in one
- 60W power delivery
- Up to 8K or dual 4K monitor support
- UHS II SD 4.0 card readers
- Brand: Kensington
- Compatibility: macOS, Windows
- Weight: 0.71 pounds
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3
- Output: 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen2, 3x USB-A 3.2, SD/microSD Card Reader, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo
- Plenty of ports
- Supports up to 8K monitors
- Charges your laptop
- Supports USB-C laptops
- Lower power delivery than competitors
FAQ
Q: Do Docking Stations Work With All Laptops?
Universal docking stations work with any laptop that has a compatible connection. For instance, a Thunderbolt 3 docking station can work with any computer with a Thunderbolt 3 port.
However, laptops with proprietary connectors like the Microsoft Surface devices require docks explicitly made for them. Make sure to check the connectivity options of your laptop before buying a docking station.
Q: Are Laptop Docks Worth It?
Laptops docks are worth it if you want to turn your ultrabook into a desktop PC. As laptops get thinner, sacrifices are made, meaning you'll continue to see fewer of the ports you need.
Take the 13-inch models of the MacBook and Dell XPS, for example. These ultrabooks come with only Thunderbolt 3 ports, so to use plug-in legacy USB peripherals or connect HDMI/DisplayPort monitors, you'll need to snag a docking station or spend more money on dongles.
Adding a laptop docking station to your setup is an easy way to get more from your device. From additional USB ports to external monitor outputs, you can turn a single port into a hive of media and productivity. The best part? You remain with a thin and light laptop for your travel needs.
Q: Does a Docking Station Charge a Laptop?
Most Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB-C laptop docking stations provide additional charging power to your laptop. The Microsoft Surface Dock 2 can also charge Surface laptops using the proprietary Surface Connect interface. However, docking stations with a standard USB 3.0 connection do not support laptop charging.
