There is no single number of power sockets that is right for every office desk.
A simple laptop workstation might need very little mains power, while a permanent desk with two monitors, a docking station and other equipment can quickly use four or more connections before the user has plugged anything into the desktop.
For many modern workstations, a useful starting point is two easily accessible power sockets at desk level, with additional sockets underneath the desk for equipment that remains permanently connected.
The important part is working out what will actually be connected before deciding how many sockets to specify.
Start with the equipment on the desk
Before choosing a power unit, list the equipment that a typical user will have at their workstation.
A permanent office desk might include:
- One or two monitors
- A laptop docking station or desktop computer
- A laptop power supply
- A phone charger
- A desk lamp
- Other occasional equipment or accessories
A dual monitor workstation can therefore use three mains sockets underneath the desk before any temporary devices are considered.
This is why simply fitting one or two sockets to the desktop is not always enough. It makes more sense to separate the connections used by permanent equipment from the connections the user needs to reach every day.
Desktop sockets and under desk sockets do different jobs
The sockets that are easiest to reach should normally be reserved for equipment that users regularly connect and disconnect.
An on desk or in desk power unit can provide convenient access for laptops, chargers and temporary equipment without requiring someone to reach underneath the workstation.
Permanent connections can then sit below the work surface using an under desk power unit.
This gives a cleaner result and avoids filling valuable desktop sockets with plugs that may remain connected for several years.
How many sockets does a typical workstation need?
The following examples are useful as a starting point rather than fixed rules.
| Workstation type | Typical equipment | Practical socket provision |
|---|---|---|
| Simple hot desk | Laptop and phone | 1 to 2 accessible sockets plus USB-C charging |
| Standard office desk | Laptop, dock and one monitor | 2 accessible sockets plus 2 to 3 under desk sockets |
| Dual monitor desk | Laptop or PC, dock and two monitors | 2 accessible sockets plus 3 to 4 under desk sockets |
| Meeting table | Temporary laptops and chargers | Accessible power distributed according to seating positions |
It is normally better to allow a little sensible spare capacity rather than design a workstation where every socket is occupied from the day it is installed.
Two accessible sockets is a useful starting point
For an individual workstation, two mains sockets within easy reach of the user works well in many situations.
One might temporarily power a laptop while the second remains available for another device. If USB charging is incorporated into the same unit, phones and compatible laptops may not need a separate mains charger at all.
The Protea, for example, can combine two UK power sockets with USB charging in a compact unit mounted directly onto the desk.
This does not mean every electrical connection should be brought onto the desktop. Monitors, docking stations and other equipment that rarely moves are usually better connected underneath it.
Four sockets underneath the desk can cover most permanent equipment
A four socket under desk power unit gives a typical workstation space for equipment such as:
- Monitor one
- Monitor two
- Laptop docking station or computer
- One additional permanent device
Keeping these connections underneath the work surface leaves the visible desk power unit available for the equipment users actually need to plug in and remove.
The Malmo under desk power unit is designed specifically for this type of concealed workstation distribution.
A two socket desktop and four socket under desk setup can work well
One practical workstation configuration is therefore:
- 2 accessible sockets on or in the desktop
- 4 sockets underneath the desk for permanent equipment
- USB charging at desk level for compatible devices
This is also the thinking behind our Protea Complete Bundle, which combines a Protea desktop power unit, Malmo under desk distribution and a mains power lead as one workstation solution.
It will not be the correct configuration for every office, but it is a useful example of why desktop and under desk power are often better planned together.
USB-C can reduce the number of mains sockets you need
Modern USB-C charging has changed the way office power should be planned.
Historically, charging a laptop or phone usually meant using another mains socket and a separate plug in charger. A suitable USB-C outlet can allow compatible equipment to connect directly to the desk power unit instead.
That can reduce the number of mains plugs around the workstation and keep chargers off the desk and floor.
However, USB-C output varies considerably between products. A charger intended mainly for phones is very different from a higher output USB-C connection intended to charge laptops.
We will look at 45W, 65W and 90W USB-C charging in more detail in our next guide.
What about BS 6396?
If electrical power distribution is incorporated into office furniture, socket numbers cannot be considered in isolation.
BS 6396:2022 covers electrical power, data and telecommunications distribution systems incorporated into furniture.
For a furniture system connected to a single supply, the permitted number of mains socket outlets depends on the protection used within the system. Current BS 6396 configurations allow:
- No more than four socket outlets where each is protected at no more than 5A
- No more than six socket outlets where each is protected at no more than 3.15A
The standard also includes requirements relating to USB and other extra low voltage power, so adding more charging capability is not simply a matter of adding unlimited outlets to the same supply.
For more detail, read our BS 6396:2022 guide.
For a commercial installation, the complete furniture power system should be considered rather than simply counting the number of sockets visible on individual modules.
More sockets do not mean more available power
This is an important distinction.
Adding additional socket outlets does not increase the amount of power available from the electrical supply.
A workstation with six sockets is not automatically capable of supplying twice as much power as one with three. The connected equipment, protection, supply and overall system design all need to be suitable for the intended load.
Office furniture power systems are intended for normal workplace equipment. A spare socket should not automatically be treated as suitable for any electrical appliance simply because the plug fits.
Hot desks may need fewer mains sockets
Hot desks and flexible workspaces often have different requirements from permanent workstations.
If monitors and docking equipment are already installed underneath the desk, the user may only need to connect a laptop and phone when they arrive.
In this situation, one or two accessible mains sockets combined with USB-C charging can provide a cleaner solution than filling the desktop with sockets that are rarely used.
The focus should be on convenient access rather than simply specifying the highest possible socket count.
Meeting tables need power in the right places
For a meeting or boardroom table, the total number of sockets is only part of the decision.
Position is just as important.
Four sockets grouped together at one end of a ten seat table may be less useful than smaller groups of connections positioned where people actually sit.
Integrated in desk power units can help distribute power and USB charging around larger meeting tables while keeping connections accessible when required.
Allow for the workspace to change
Office equipment changes quickly.
A desk that currently uses one monitor may have two in future. A desktop computer may be replaced by a laptop and docking station. New USB-C equipment may remove the need for some plug in chargers altogether.
There is therefore a balance between providing sensible spare capacity and simply adding sockets that are unlikely to be used.
When planning a new office, think about the workstation you expect to have in a few years as well as the equipment being installed today.
So, how many sockets should you specify?
For many individual office workstations, two easily accessible mains sockets combined with three or four under desk connections is a sensible place to start.
A simpler hot desk may need less, while workstations with additional monitors, desktop computers or specialist equipment may require a different configuration.
Rather than starting with a particular number of sockets, list the equipment first. Decide which connections need to be accessible and which can remain underneath the desk. Then choose the desktop power, under desk distribution and USB charging around those requirements.
That usually results in a much neater and more useful workstation than simply installing the largest power unit available.
Important: The examples above are general workstation planning guidance. Electrical furniture systems must be designed and installed appropriately for the intended equipment, supply and applicable standards. For BS 6396 installations, refer to the current standard and seek appropriate professional advice where required.