Smart plugs or a smart power strip: which suits a living room
Updated
A smart plug controls one device. A smart power strip controls several outlets, often with surge protection. Here is how to pick for a TV stand, lamps and a media setup.
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Which one should you pick?
One plug per lamp lets you name each one, group them and put them on separate schedules or scenes.
A strip with individually switched outlets turns off the whole stack in one step and usually adds surge protection.
Plugs with energy monitoring report watts and kWh for the single device plugged into them.
Use a strip on the TV stand and plugs on the lamps; control both from the same app or the same Matter ecosystem.
Smart plugs vs Smart power strip
| What changes | Smart plugs | Smart power strip |
|---|---|---|
| What it controls | One device per plug, individually named | Four to six outlets, some switched individually, some always on |
| Typical price | $10–$25 each; $12–$30 with energy monitoring | $25–$60 for a smart strip |
| Surge protection | Usually none; check the label | Often built in; look for a joule rating and a listed safety mark |
| Suited to | Lamps, fans, a coffee maker, a single appliance | TV, console, soundbar, streaming box and other grouped electronics |
| Rated load | Printed on the plug, commonly 15 A (1,800 W at 120 V); smaller plugs may be lower | Printed on the strip; the total of all outlets is limited by one cord and plug |
| Wall space | A bulky plug can block the second outlet of a duplex receptacle | One plug into the wall, with the extra outlets on a cord |
| Standby power | Cuts power to the one device it controls; the plug itself draws a small amount | Cuts power to a group; the strip itself draws a small amount |
| Failure mode | One failed plug affects one device | A failed strip takes the whole stack offline |
| Renter-friendly | Yes, no tools or changes to the wall | Yes, plugs into an existing outlet |
What each one really does
A smart plug sits between the wall outlet and one device and switches it on or off. It cannot dim a lamp, and it cannot read what a TV is doing. It only turns power on and off. A smart power strip does the same job for several outlets at once, and many models mix switched outlets with “always on” ones so a router or a recording device keeps its power.
In a laboratory evaluation of twenty advanced power strips, researchers separated the designs into groups: load-sensing strips that cut power when a device falls below a threshold, strips with a controlled outlet that follows a master device, remote or IR-switched strips, and USB power-sensing strips. The same report found that USB power-sensing sometimes failed to detect standby on desktops and that master-and-slave designs had problems with some LED TVs. In practice, this means a strip that you control by schedule or by voice is more predictable than one that tries to guess when your TV is off.
When smart plugs are the right choice
Pick plugs when the things you want to automate are far apart: a floor lamp by the sofa, a fan in the corner, a holiday tree. Each plug gets a name, so “living room lamp” and “reading lamp” are separate voice commands. Plugs with energy monitoring show the draw of the device, which helps you find a console or an old amplifier that uses more than you expect.
The cost adds up if you buy six plugs for one stand of electronics. A strip is cheaper than five plugs and tidier.
One rule applies to both: a plug is not a place for a space heater unless it is rated for that load, and heaters should go straight into a wall outlet. The Electrical Safety Foundation advises matching the wattage rating of the appliance to the cord and not using a cord with a lower rating.
When a smart power strip is the right choice
A strip suits the TV stand: television, soundbar, console, streaming box and charger. You can turn the stack off when nobody is watching, so that its standby draw stops. The Department of Energy’s method for estimating use is watts times hours divided by 1,000, which gives kilowatt-hours; multiply by your rate in cents per kWh for a cost. A stack that draws 20 W in standby around the clock uses 20 × 24 × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 175 kWh a year, about $32 at 18 cents per kWh.
Keep one outlet always on for devices that must not lose power, such as a DVR or a network box. Check that the always-on outlet is clearly marked on the strip.
- Total load: add the labeled watts of everything on the strip and stay below the strip’s rating.
- Do not chain strips together or plug a strip into an extension cord; ESFI states that multiple-outlet devices must be plugged directly into mounted receptacles.
- Look for a listed safety mark on the strip or plug (UL, ETL or similar) and, for surge protection, a stated joule rating.
Mixing both, and the smart home side
You do not need to choose. Most living rooms end up with a strip behind the TV and two or three plugs on lamps. Pick devices that share one ecosystem or support Matter so that all of them appear in one app. A strip with Matter or the same voice assistant as your plugs lets you build a “movie night” scene: lamps off, TV stack on.
If your strip is Wi-Fi only and your plugs are Thread or Zigbee, they can still work together through your voice assistant, but a scene may take a second longer to run. See our guides on plugs and outlets for the wiring differences.
Shop by need
Lamps spread around a living room
What to look for: Matter or your ecosystem, compact body so the second outlet stays usable, 15 A rating, energy monitoring optional
Typical price: $10–$30
See options on AmazonTV stand with console, soundbar and streaming box
What to look for: individually controlled outlets, one or more always-on outlets, surge protection with a stated joule rating, listed safety mark
Typical price: $25–$60
See options on AmazonEntertainment center that needs a no-app option
What to look for: load-sensing or master-controlled outlets, no app required, clear labels for always-on outlets
Typical price: $20–$45
See options on AmazonFrequently asked questions
Can I plug a smart power strip into a smart plug?
It is better not to. The plug’s rating limits the whole strip, and stacking controls makes automations harder to understand. Put the strip in a wall outlet and use its own switched outlets.
Do smart plugs work with a surge protector?
Yes, but plug the surge protector into the wall and the smart plug into the protector only when the combined load stays within both ratings. A strip with built-in smart outlets avoids the question.
Does turning off a TV stand really save money?
It depends on what is plugged in. Use the DOE formula, watts times hours divided by 1,000, with the standby watts you measure or read on a monitoring plug. Many stands draw only a few watts idle, so measure before you count on big savings.
Will a smart strip turn off a DVR or router by accident?
Only if you plug them into a switched outlet. Put those devices on the always-on outlet, and check your schedule before you leave the house.