The Best Extension Cords for Your Home and Garage

If you’ve always just bought whichever extension cord happens to be sitting on the shelf at your local hardware store, you’re missing out on cords that are safer, more durable, and more flexible than the ones most commonly available at brick-and-mortar retailers, and they’re much easier to use in cold weather. After spending more than 45 hours researching over 65 different extension cords, talking with two safety experts, and testing 12 of the most promising for flexibility—some even in zero-degree temps—we recommend the U.S. Wire & Cable 50 FT. Extreme All-Weather Extension Cord. For a more stylish indoor option, we like the Cordinate Décor Extension Cord with 3 Grounded Outlets.

The U.S. Wire & Cable 50 FT. Extreme All-Weather Extension Cord offers an excellent combination of functionality and usability. The thick, 12-gauge wires inside are rated to handle up to 15 amps—as much as most residential breakers will allow—making it safe to use with most tools and equipment. It’s also the most flexible cord we’ve ever used, so it’s as easy to work with in the height of summer heat as it is the depths of a near-zero-degree winter. The outlet end has a small LED that lights up when the cord is live. If you’re going to own only one extension cord, the 50-foot version is versatile enough to maneuver across a two-car garage, run between two rooms indoors, or stretch deep into a yard or driveway. We’ve seen it priced anywhere between $50 and $90, which may induce some serious sticker shock, but it’s a reasonable price for a high-quality extension cord that can survive even the harshest conditions and has a lifetime warranty.

If the U.S. Wire & Cable isn’t available, we also like the Southwire 1638SW0061 Polar/Solar Supreme Extension Cord. It has all the same characteristics of our top pick but is a little stiffer, making it just a tad trickier to coil up at the end of the day.

Another very similar option is the Clear Power CP10091 50 ft TPE Rubber Heavy Duty Extension Cord, which proved easy to handle. It’s a little stiffer than our main pick but otherwise offers the same powering capabilities, and it has a locking switch at the plug end that prevents whatever you’re plugging into it from disconnecting accidentally. It’s a decent feature, but we have suspicions about the mechanism’s long-term durability. Also, there are enough other ways to secure the plugged connection of an extension cord that we don’t think this is necessary.

If you live in a warmer climate and don’t need a cord that’s flexible through the cold depths of winter, we also like the Iron Forge Tools 12/3 SJTW Heavy Duty Yellow Outdoor Extension Cord. It has the same power rating as our other picks, but the cable sheath is made of a different material (the kind most hardware store cords are made of), so it’s stiffer in general and won’t be as loose in colder temperatures. In our testing it sat flat on the ground, but it’s harder to spool than our other picks.

If you need an indoor cord just to plug in a lamp or phone charger, the 10-foot Cordinate Décor Extension Cord with 3 Grounded Outlets is the best choice. Unlike many inexpensive cords for indoor use, the Cordinate has a third prong for grounding, which provides extra protection against electrical shorts and shocks. Plus, it has a flat plug that’s less likely to be bumped out of the socket by furniture, pets, or people; half-plugged cords and damaged wiring can increase the risk of fire. Some other indoor cords share these characteristics, but what really sets the Cordinate apart is that it’s available in a wide array of colors. Cords like these aren’t meant to be used outdoors or with high-power tools and equipment—they’re intended only for low-power use around the home or office.

All of the picks in this guide are available primarily from online retailers; the best extension cords are rarely found on shelves at big-box hardware stores. But if you need a cord right now, we do have tips for how to pick the best extension cord at your local hardware store.