The Best Cable Management Trays for Desks in 2024

With many of the best monitors shipping with vast connectivity options, including HDMI and DisplayPort, the need for efficient cable management must be addressed. Whether you’re a gamer, office worker, or programmer, you are likely to deal with many wires daily. It pays to have a great way of organizing cables to avoid tripping over them and suffering personal injury. Having a great cable management system also makes your setup look neat and presentable.

While a couple of gaming desks come with in-built cable management trays, not many of them offer enough functionality. As such, Game Rant has curated a guide for the best cable management trays for desks that you should consider in 2024. If you’re also looking for a new desk, feel free to check our best desks guide.

This No-Screw under desk cable management tray is a great choice for gamers who want an affordable way to reduce clutter and make their desks look neat. One of the tray’s standout qualities is the fact that it doesn’t need a drill to be installed. So if you’re not feeling up to being a handyman, simply peel off the red protective film to reveal the adhesive that will ensure the tray stays attached to the desk once it makes contact. Built with quality materials such as PVC, you’re assured that this tray won’t fall off easily or wear out. It’s suitable for various desk surfaces such as wood and especially glass, since it doesn’t require screws.

If you’ve got heavy wires, this tray can hold them with ease. It’s designed to accommodate up to 20 lbs of cord, ensuring that your gaming consoles, monitor, and peripheral cables are stored neatly to maintain a pristine gaming set-up. Aside from gaming set-ups, this tray is also handy for music studies and even offices. However, some users have noted that the tray could be a bit wider to accommodate larger surge protectors, though most say it isn’t a dealbreaker. Despite this flaw, its impressive suite of features and remarkable build quality redeem its status as one of Game Rant’s best cable management trays for desks to consider.

The cable management tray from Reflying looks like a traditional tray, but comes with a few adjustments. Similar to the No-Screw tray above, you can install this without needing to drill anywhere. It uses a screw clamp design, which allows you to attach the tray to a desired position under the desk without permanently installing it. No need to worry about the clamps potentially scratching the desk either, as they come with soft rubber pads which make them safe to use. This tray is also suitable for diverse desk surfaces, including wood, marble, and glass.

Its innovative hollow curved design allows you to conveniently store your power strip, thereby reducing the risk of tripping over cables and sustaining personal injury. Regarding its durability, this tray was made with powdered carbon steel, which makes it possible for you to keep using it for a long period. While this tray comes with one pack, you can also up the ante and get more room for your cables by getting the two-pack variant for a little less than double the price. However, the Velcro cable ties included in the package have been criticized for being of sub-par quality. Many user reviews recommend that you should get velcro ties of a higher quality to secure your cables firmly.

If neither of the above picks interests you yet, then maybe the Uprite Ergo cable manager should do the trick. Ideal for electric adjustable desks, the Uprite Ergo cable manager allows you to store several cords inside one long powerstrip. What’s more, it comes with six high-quality velcro cable ties, ensuring that your cords are secured and won’t be damaged if they’re accidentally pulled. Another incredible aspect of the Uprite Ergo cable manager is that it’s built with a lightweight mesh material. Aside from being light enough to not increase the desk’s weight when lifted, it also features a fire-retardant UL coating that keeps you free from electric fires.

If you need to add or reduce the number of cables in the power strip, the cable organizer is designed to allow you to easily unfold it and roll it back up. It’s available in three colors — black, gray, and white. A major downside is that it’s intended for height-adjustable desks. So, if you don’t have one, using it on a regular desk may not deliver the same value.

The Vivo cable management tray is a fantastic option for gaming desks and other setups thanks to its great design and exciting features. The tray’s design is the hallmark of versatility, with gamers able to install it either on standing or regular desks. So, no matter the kind of desk you have, the tray will keep your cables neatly arranged. The Vivo tray is also quite wide, allowing you to store many cables. Thanks to its metal build, the tray is sturdy and can hold up to 11 lbs of weight. It’s worth mentioning that its compatibility is limited to wood desks and desks made with medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

The tray’s design also wears a modern minimalist look, which makes it easily fit into any desk set-up. Also, the tray’s design is half closed, which keeps cords secure and allows you to conveniently add or remove a cable through the front opening. One of the tray’s downsides is that it requires drilling holes into the desk during installation. If you’re hesitant about drilling, then this may not be the right cable tray for you. Users have noted that the tray is not as wide enough as they’d prefer.

Standing desks demand a certain kind of cable management tray to lower the chances of the wires becoming overstretched when the desk’s height is elevated. Thankfully, the Vari cable management tray is one of the standout options for standing desk owners, primarily because it’s built not to stretch the cords when the desk is rising. It comes with two outlets on both sides of the tray, allowing you to conveniently add or remove cords.

As mentioned, it’s designed in a way that allows it to keep your cords in place when the desk is being raised. So, no need to worry about the wires from your gaming monitor getting stretched. It’s the perfect support for your powerstrip and cables, hence why it earned its pick as one of our best cable management trays for desks. Vari promises a swift installation that’ll only take minutes by using the metal mounting brackets included with the tray. Users have noted that the tray may seem insufficient for those who have lots of wires.

Although the D-Line cable management box is technically not a tray due to its unconventional design, it’s still the ideal way to conceal your cords. Beyond gaming or office monitors, it can also be used to organize the wires from TV mounts and Christmas decorations. Unlike regular trays, your wires are completely out of sight, which not only makes your setup look great, but also makes it difficult for pets or toddlers to get their hands on electric wires. Since the wires are hidden, this also makes it less likely for you or anyone else to trip over loose cables and suffer personal injury.

It wears a modern design that allows for three exit holes, giving you multiple ways to add or remove cords. The holes also act as a means of ventilation, ensuring that the wires get to cool off when needed. Additionally, the box is made from top-tier ABS plastic which is certified as electrically safe, thereby giving you less to worry about. However, some users have expressed concerns about the box’s build quality, saying that the plastic feels somewhat cheap and doesn’t justify the pricing.

How to Choose the Right Cable Management for Your Desk

When shopping for cable management trays, one sure way to not feel daunted by the variety of options is to have a clear idea of what to look for in each product. Below are five parameters for deciding on one of the best cable management trays for desks.

Price: When exploring the various cable management trays, consider the price of a tray and the number of features it packs. This will help you determine if a product is simply overpriced and not worth the purchase.

Installation: As the guide has shown, cable management trays can be attached to your desk via different methods. Some require that you drill holes in your desk, others involve the use of clamps, and for some, you just need to glue them to the intended surface. Make sure you decide on which method works best for you before making a purchase.

Compatibility With Desk: Some trays work best with height-adjustable desks, while some are ideal for regular desks. A handful of them work on both, providing incredible versatility. Decide whether your desired tray is compatible with your desk to determine if it’s worth getting.

Durability: Nobody wants to buy a cable management tray that’s only good for a few weeks or months. To prevent that, ensure that you consider the kind of material used to make the tray. For instance, trays made with metal or PVC material tend to last longer.

FAQ

Q: How do you organize wires on a standing desk?

Like traditional desks, you need cable management to avoid clutter and to maintain a neat set-up. While a cable management tray is the ideal option, you can also explore cable ties and hooks.

Q: What is the difference between a cable duct and a cable tray?

The major difference between a cable duct and a tray is that the former is completely closed while cable trays are open.

Q: How can I manage cables under a desk?

You can try out a couple of solutions such as cable management trays, adhesive cable mounts, or cable grommets. No matter the method you settle for, ensure that it meets your needs.