The best laptop docking stations for 2024: Expert tested

CalDigit's TS4 docking station takes the top spot on our list. It is a direct follow-up to the also great TS3 Plus and proves that bigger is sometimes better. The TS4 comes with a whopping 18 ports, the most on this list. To list a few, it has three Thunderbolt 4 inputs on the back, three USB-C inputs around its body, five USB-A ports, and two distinct SD card slots. You have one for mini cards and one for the larger-sized options.

Because of the extra ports, the device is larger than its predecessor, although not by much. The TS4 won't take up much room; however, you can stand it upright if you're short on space.

In addition to port expansion, many of the inputs have seen an upgrade. For example, each USB-A port can transmit data speeds of up to 10Gbps. The Thunderbolt ports fast charge your laptop and smartphone thanks to the TS4's 98W power delivery feature. That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improvements.

CalDigit's device is compatible with Windows laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, Intel-based Macbooks, and M1 MacBooks. However, the docking station can output to an 8K screen and two 4K displays. It can't support triple display setups.

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 

The Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Docking Station is a beast. It's a large docking station that can turn your compact laptop into the center of an all-encompassing desktop setup. This device supports Thunderbolt 5, the next-gen Thunderbolt standard that, according to Intel, delivers "significant improvements in connectivity speed and bandwidth benefits" That's exactly what Kensington's docking station offers.

It has data transfer speeds of up to 80Gbps. With the Bandwidth Boost feature activated, those speeds go as high as 120Gbps. The Thunderbolt ports can fast-charge laptops and smartphones in almost no time since they boast up to 140W power delivery. Unlike the previous entry, this docking station can send a video signal out to three 4K monitors at 144Hz or two 8K monitors at 60Hz.

Kensington's device almost earned the top spot on this list. However, it failed to usurp CalDigit's TS4 for three reasons. One: It only has 12 ports instead of 18. Two: It's huge. You'll have a hard time finding a place for it on your desk. And three: It's the most expensive option on this list at $400.

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.

Many docking stations are bulky. They take up a lot of space on a desk, and if you don't have room to spare, it can make having one of these devices a real pain. If this sounds like you, we recommend picking up the NewQ 16-in-1 docking station. 

Instead of being a flat brick, NewQ's device stands upright on top of a base. It has all the major ports you could ever want from a docking station: multiple USB-A ports supporting different versions, two audio jacks, RJ-45 input for Ethernet, and two HDMI ports. And that's not all. This docking station can also provide a laptop with at least 96W of power to recharge its battery.

What's unique about this device is it can bypass the two-display limit on M1 and M2 MacBooks. This means you can connect your MacBook to up to three individual displays at once and in 4K resolution. It is a real upgrade for Apple users. Of course, this ability extends to Windows and even SteamOS.

NewQ 16-in-1 specs: Ports: USB-A 3.2 (2), USB-C 3.2 (1), USB-A 2.0 (2), TF Card Slot (1), SD Card Slot (1), USB-A PD Out (1), USB-C PD Out (1), 3.5mm audio port (2), DP 1.4 (1), HDMI 2.0 (2), Gigabit Ethernet Port (1) | Display: HDMI: up to 4K @ 60Hz, DisplayPort: up to 4K @ 60Hz; supports up to three monitors on Windows, two monitors on MacOS

Office professionals looking for a laptop docking station should definitely check out the Dell WD19S 180W. There are two major reasons why you would want this. First, you can display your laptop on up to three displays at once in Quad HD resolution (2560 × 1440 pixels) at a refresh rate of 60Hz. You do have the option to output a 4K resolution image, but you can only do so on a dual display setup.

The second reason is it can provide 130 watts of power to your devices. If all the nearby outlets are being used, you can connect your laptop to the docking station to charge it. Dell states that thanks to its ExpressCharge Boost feature, the docking station charges a computer up to 35 percent in 20 minutes and up to 80 percent in about an hour.

It houses a wide array of ports, from twin DP inputs to a pair of USB-C 3.2 ports and an HDMI option. A unique feature of Dell's WD192 is its modular design. You can remove the end of the device and replace it with a supporting component, like the Dell Thunderbolt Dock module. Just make sure you have a tiny screwdriver on hand because the screws connecting the two halves are small.

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

Docking stations can get big. After all, many of the high-end models can have as many as 15 ports on them, sometimes more. We recommend the Baseus 10-in-1 for consumers looking for something more portable. It's quite small, with the main body measuring just 5.3 inches long, and weighs less than 4 ounces so that you can fold the cable and put it in your pocket when you're on the go. 

Review: This 10-in-1 docking station is a multitasker's dream, and it's 35% off right now

On the body, you have a decent array of ports, such as a USB-C input, an Ethernet port, and two HDMI ports, which allow for an impressive 4K resolution at 60Hz on two different monitors (or 120Hz on one). And the best part? This device is dirt cheap for a docking station at around $50. 

Like all docking stations, this little powerhouse can get quite warm under a heavy load, so users should take this into consideration with where it's placed. Additionally, if you use an Android device, note that it doesn't support screen casting. 

Baseus 10-in-1 Docking Station specs: Ports: USB-C (1), USB-A (3), SD card reader (1), microSD card reader (1), HDMI (2), Ethernet port (1) | Display: 4K@120Hz with one display, 4K@ 60Hz with two displays

Docking stations work across multiple operating systems without one being better supported. They're great at existing as generic devices. But if you want something that specializes in Apple products, then we highly recommend the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink. 

This thing was made for MacBooks. If you look at the device compatibility list on Satechi's website, you'll see that Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station supports a ton of a Apple hardware, including old models like the 2016 MacBook Pro. The Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station does work with Windows laptops and Chromebooks, so long as they have a USB4 interface. But it's clear the device favors one OS over the other.

Besides the Apple compatibility, the Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station boasts some impressive features. It can connect up to four different monitors and display images at 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 60Hz. It can also send a signal up to 8K resolution at 60Hz to a single monitor. The device can reach charging speeds of up to 96W, powering MacBooks, iPhones, and Apple Watches.

Professionals, in particular, will appreciate its data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. Plus, it's not bulky. Satechi's machine sports a thin form factor that's lightweight and easy to carry.

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

For those who own older laptops, we recommend the Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C Universal Laptop Docking Station. This device has 11 ports in total, with two of them being a pair of USB 3.0 inputs on the front for older machines to connect to. Because it supports an older protocol, the docking station does suffer from limited performance. It can't do 8K or even 4K resolution video.

Still, it does a pretty good job at what it can do. For instance, it can send video signals out to a pair of HDMI displays at a resolution of up to 1,920 x 1,200 pixels at a refresh rate of 60Hz. For a single screen, that quality gets bumped up to Quad HD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) at a refresh rate of 50Hz. 

Also: This 6-in-1 USB-C hub exposes your worst cables from the best ones

True to its name, Plugable's docking station has support for a wide array of operating systems from Windows 11, macOS, and ChromeOS. It's even capable of supporting laptops running Windows 7. 

Even if you decide to let go of your beloved Windows 7 laptop finally, you can still keep this docking station and continue to use it when you upgrade since it comes with more modern USB-C inputs. What's particularly interesting about this model is it comes with a microphone port -- the only entry on this list to have one. Having this port available can be handy on older machines that may have malfunctioning parts or it's already being taken up by another device. Plugable's docking station essentially can add this functionality back to those models.

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: 1920x1200 at 60Hz (2); 2,560x1440 at 50Hz via HDMI (1)

The Dell Dual Charge Dock is a unique device. It's a docking station with a wireless charging stand on the front. You can place your Android phone, iPhone, or even the case for your wireless earbuds on it to charge while you work. The stand is covered in a textured cloth with a little ledge so the device won't fall off.

But, there is a catch. The Dual Charge Dock only works on Qi-certified products such as iPhones, AirPods, and certain Android smartphones. It does offer 90W Power Delivery passthrough for its ports so you are able to charge non-Qi-certified devices without a problem.

Dell's gadget is proof that big things come in small packages. It houses only eight ports in total. These inputs send a video signal out to a single 8K display at 30Hz or a pair of 4K screens at 60Hz. Plus, the Dual Charge Dock's compact size allows it to sit on your desk without taking up much space. 

However, due to its limited array of ports, we don't recommend this for office settings where you may need a more robust device. The Dual Charge Dock is a solid pick if you don't need a big 15-port docking station and are on a budget. Plus, it's one of the cheapest options on this list.

Dell Dual Charge Dock specs: Ports: USB-A 3.2 (4), USB-C 3.2 (1), HDMI 2.1 (1), DisplayPort 1.2 (1), RJ-45 (1) | Display: Supports up to two 4K displays at 60Hz, supports single 8K display at 30Hz