Docking laptop to desktop

Recommended by Our Editors

Sometimes the best laptop docking station is the one small enough to take with you. The $149 Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core is a compact [1.2 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches, HWD] docking station that you can easily carry everywhere with your notebook. Compatible with both macOS and Windows laptops, the Belkin Dock Core converts a single Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C port into one DisplayPort and one HDMI port [both supporting 4K UHD monitors at 60Hz], one USB-C PD, two USB-A ports, one audio in/out jack, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

The only potential design concern we have with this docking station is part of what makes it so small: The integrated 6.8-inch Thunderbolt 3 cable cannot be replaced. So be careful how you handle the cable if you drag the dock around your local Starbucks.

If the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core didn't have enough features for you, the company's $299.99 Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro might be just what you need.

This port-packed docking station is compatible with both Windows and macOS and converts a single Thunderbolt 3 port into five USB 3.0 Type-A ports, one USB 3.1 Type-C port, one Thunderbolt 3 port, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, an SD card slot, an audio jack, and a DisplayPort 1.4 output supporting dual 4K panels or a single 5K display at 60Hz.

The included 170-watt power adapter allows the Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro to provide up to 85 watts of power for fast charging of power-hungry laptops. Plus, the SD card reader is rated at UHS-II transfer speeds to help you upload high-res images and video faster.

The Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock [$259.99] turns a Thunderbolt 3 port into nine ports: two data-only USB-C ports, two data-only USB-A ports, two DisplayPorts supporting 4K at 60Hz, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a headset audio jack, and an SD card reader. You also get a Kensington-style security-cable lockdown notch to keep your docking station tethered to your desk.

The dock stands 0.9 inch tall and has an 8.9-by-3.3-inch footprint. It includes a 100-watt-capable power supply for keeping power-hungry laptops and peripherals charged.

Elgato has made a name for itself in recent years with a wide range of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 hub and docking solutions, and the company's $349.99 Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock is another impressive desktop docking device.

The Pro Dock delivers a whole smorgasbord of ports and slots: a full-size SD card reader, a MicroSD card slot, separate headset-audio and headphone-only jacks, four USB 3.1 ports [two Type-A, two Type-C], a Thunderbolt 3 pass-through, a DisplayPort, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

The DisplayPort supports up to 4,096-by-2,160-pixel resolution at 60Hz, while the Thunderbolt 3 port can drive an external monitor at up to 5,120 by 2,880 pixels at 60Hz. However, if you want to use two external monitors at once, both will be limited to 4,096 by 2,160 resolution.

Although it's not a traditional docking station, the G-Technology G-RAID with Thunderbolt 3 [from $629.95 with 8TB to $1,449.95 with 28TB] is a dual-drive RAID enclosure with an integrated Thunderbolt 3 dock built into the back. This aluminum external storage solution is available in multiple capacities using enterprise-class 7,200rpm hard drives.

The docking solution built into the enclosure provides you with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a single USB 3.1 Type-C port, and an HDMI port. The enclosure also features a security cable lock slot to protect the valuable data stored on the RAID enclosure when you're away from your desk.

Our only criticism of this docking solution is tied to its design as a RAID enclosure: The cooling fan is always running to keep the temperature of the drives low. This means you'll have to tolerate a background whirring sound while you're working at your desk.

If you're looking for a docking station whose main aim is to simplify a dual-display setup, then the IOGear Quantum Dual Mode Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro [model GTD737] might be just what you need.

Leave this small docking station on your desk with the included power adapter. When you connect a single Thunderbolt 3 cable [included], you'll have instant access to three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, two DisplayPorts [supporting dual 4K panels at 60Hz], a headset jack, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

Kensington has stepped into the modern age with a compact Thunderbolt 3 dock in the form of the SD2500T Thunderbolt 3 Dual 4K Hybrid Nano Dock [$199.99].

This dock supports MacBooks and Windows laptops and provides you with one USB-C port, two DisplayPorts, three USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, a 3.5mm audio jack, an SD card reader, and even a microSD card reader. The included power adapter supports 60-watt power delivery.

The Kensington family of docking stations has a long history of wide compatibility, and the Kensington SD5300T [$209.99] is no exception. This dock supports dual 4K displays at 4,096 by 2,160 pixels with 30-bit color at 60Hz, or a single external monitor at 5K resolution.

One Thunderbolt 3 port connects to your laptop, and the SD5300t provides five USB 3.1 Type-A ports, one SD card reader, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, and a headset audio jack, as well as another Thunderbolt 3 port and one HDMI port, both of which support external monitors. Of course, as a Kensington product, the SD5300T comes with Kensington Standard and Nano security-cable lockdown slots to keep your docking station secure.

The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a portable docking station that turns a single Thunderbolt 3 port into a desktop-worthy array of one USB 3.1 Type-A port, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, two HDMI ports [both supporting 4K displays], and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

The compact [0.7 by 4.9 by 2.6 inches, HWD] aluminum dock also includes OWC's Dock Ejector software, which safely disconnects external drives connected to the dock and ensures all data is written before disconnection.

Sometimes being able to connect a whole heap of USB devices is more important than having just one Thunderbolt 3 port. The Plugable TBT3-UDC1 Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Dual Docking Station [$199] converts a single Thunderbolt 3 port into lots of USB, plus two DisplayPorts for connecting dual monitors. [Supported resolutions include dual 4K panels at 60Hz with Thunderbolt 3, and dual 4K panels at 30Hz with USB-C.]

Beyond the display connectivity, you get two USB-C ports [good for data only], plus three USB-A 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, and a headset audio jack.

Much like the Belkin Dock Core, the StarTech.com Mini Thunderbolt 3 Dock [$153.99] is a travel-friendly docking solution for owners of modern laptops with Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The dock [model TB3DKM2DP] connects to your laptop via an integrated Thunderbolt 3 cable and converts a single Thunderbolt 3 port into two DisplayPorts capable of outputting 4K [4,096-by-2,160-pixel] resolution at 60Hz on two external monitors. There's also a single USB 3.0 Type-A port and a Gigabit Ethernet jack to help you stay connected.

As with the Belkin dock, we have some minor concern about the durability of any integrated Thunderbolt cable that can't be replaced, but that might not be a worry for folks who just want a compact dock that supports dual displays. Bottom line: If you want a Thunderbolt 3 docking solution that's easy to carry with you, this is another good choiceand if you prefer HDMI to DisplayPort, there's a $168.99 version with two HDMI outputs.

The StarTech.com Triple Monitor USB 3.0 Docking Station [model USB3DOCKH2DP] is a robust USB 3.0 docking solution for older laptops that don't have Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C ports. This $291.99 gadget gives you one HDMI port and two DisplayPorts for connecting up to three monitors to your notebook.

The device supports up to 4K resolution [3,840 by 2,160 pixels] on one display and up to 2,048 by 1,152 on the other two monitors. The pass-through hub built into the docking station gives you five USB 3.0 Type-A ports, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port, a headset jack, and separate 3.5mm audio and mic jacks.

Although this docking station is relatively compact [1.3 by 10.6 by 3.2 inches], it also features a cable lock slot if you're worried about physical security in your home or office.

The latest version of the Wavlink Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station [$209.99] supports 85-watt Thunderbolt 3 host charging and converts a single Thunderbolt 3 port into a desktop-worthy baker's dozen of ports.

This is an ideal docking solution for photographers and videographers using SD and microSD cards to transfer images and video files to the PC for editing. The model UTD01 dock delivers one pass-through Thunderbolt 3 port, four USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a single DisplayPort with 4K/60Hz support, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, both SD card and microSD card reader slots, and a headset audio jack.

If one 4K monitor isn't enough to satisfy your desktop computing needs, the Wavlink UG69PD2 USB-C Dual 4K Docking Station [$269.99] could be the right fit for you. Besides supporting up to 5K resolution [5,120 by 2,880 pixels at 60Hz] on a single DisplayPort monitor, this dock supports two 4K [4,096 by 2,160 at 60Hz] external displays using both HDMI and DisplayPort. It also delivers up to 60 watts of upstream charging [if your laptop supports USB-C host charging].

The Dual 4K Docking Station gives you two USB-C ports, four USB-A 3.0 ports, two HDMI ports, two DisplayPorts, Gigabit Ethernet, and front-mounted 3.5mm jacks for audio output and microphone input.