As modern laptops shrink in size, ports are usually a casualty. There's no longer room in many sleek and light laptops for the likes of USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, and SD card readers, but they're still required for many workflows. That's where the versatile Thunderbolt connector comes into play. It's the best way to save space and still get a high-performance connection, and connecting a great Thunderbolt dock can help you regain the missing ports.

You could add a bunch of dongles or USB hubs to your workflow, but for a more permanent setup, a Thunderbolt docking station is the way to go. These docks connect to your PC with one cable, opening up a much broader selection of ports at the other end. We've collected here the best Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 docking stations to help you find the perfect companion for your laptop.

Our favorite Thunderbolt docks in 2024

Kensington's SD5780T is an evolution of its older SD5700T, bringing wider compatibility for Windows and Mac devices. It's designed to be used horizontally with its wide aluminum shell, but it can also be mounted below your desk thanks to pre-drilled holes. Kensington offers mounting kits that are sold separately.

The dock has two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (as well as a third for the host laptop connection), four USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, and a UHS-II SD card reader. The dock can deliver up to 96W of charging power back to the host device, and you can charge other accessories with the front ports. In my Kensington SD5780T review, I remarked that it "brings a mix of 10 downstream ports that can handle a broad range of accessories, including external monitors, headsets, removable storage, and inputs."

The dock supports dual 4K monitors each at 60Hz, one connected with HDMI and other with Thunderbolt or USB-C. Kensington's standard and Nano lock slots are located on one side for extra security, and Kensington offers a three-year warranty to protect your purchase. This is the best Thunderbolt 4 dock for most people, but try to pick it up when on sale as it's quite expensive.

Thunderbolt 4 docks don't come cheap, and most of the options in this collection approach or exceed the $300 mark. CalDigit's Element sits at around $200, still expensive compared to Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C docks but affordable for the latest standard. It's a slim aluminum dock with reversible design, sporting three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back (along with the AC power input) and four USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports on the front.

The dock can handle dual 4K displays at 60Hz each, but you will need a modern USB-C monitor to avoid extra dongles. The four USB-A ports are great for accessories and removable storage. It'll even put out up to 60W of charging power to your laptop, with lesser charging available through the Thunderbolt 4 and USB-A ports.

The Element Hub can work well on its own for those who don't need a wide variety of ports, but it can also be daisy-chained to another Thunderbolt 4 dock to expand connectivity even further.

CalDigit's TS4 is the most expensive Thunderbolt 4 dock in this collection, but the combination of a high-end design, wide port variety, and outstanding performance make it worth the money for power users and professionals. It's made from a solid chunk of aluminum with ribbed sides to better dissipate heat, and it can be easily used horizontally or vertically. In my CalDigit TS4 review, I noted that "the TS4 can handle more accessories with better charging potential than many other docks, and it's the perfect pairing with a modern laptop that includes Thunderbolt 4 or USB4."

It has two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (plus one more for the host connection), three USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), five USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), DisplayPort 1.4, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm audio combo, 3.5mm audio in/out, and UHS-II SD/microSD card readers. That's 18 total ports, and it can handle dual 4K display each at 60Hz. It'll also deliver up to 98W of power to your host laptop, with charging also available via USB.

Plugable makes a wide range of docking stations, but there's really none better than the 16-in-1 model if you have a bunch of 4K monitors to connect to your laptop. When connected to a Windows laptop, the dock can handle up to four 4K displays at 60Hz each; on Mac it's cut down to dual 4K displays at 60Hz each. The dock's two HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort 1.2 ports do hog up enough bandwidth that you don't get any downstream Thunderbolt 4 outputs, but for many people that won't be a problem.

As Senior Editor João Carrasqueira noted in his Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock review, the only real problem encountered during testing was a sticky microSD card slot. Otherwise, this is a fantastic alternative to our top pick for those who have a lot of screens.

It's no surprise that Razer was first to add RGB lighting to a Thunderbolt 4 dock. Its Chroma RGB dock follows the Razer laptop design with a sleek black exterior and customizable underglow lighting, making it a perfect addition to the desk of any gamer. In my Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma review, I noted that "it's a great choice for laptop gamers, but it can also work in a more professional setting thanks to full lighting customization."

Apart from the swanky RGB lighting, the dock offers a UHS-II SD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (with a fourth for the host connection with up to 90W charging), Gigabit Ethernet, and three USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports. There are no DisplayPort or HDMI hookups, so you will have to rely on Thunderbolt 4 for video out. With these the dock can support up to dual 4K displays at 60Hz each.

CalDigit's TS3 Plus is the first Thunderbolt 3 docking station I ever used, and it's still a mainstay on one of my desks despite the move to Thunderbolt 4 in most laptops. The TS3 Plus still works great with Thunderbolt 4 laptops, though you have to be OK with not fully utilizing your laptop's newer port.

The dock offers two Thunderbolt 3 (one reserved for the host laptop connection with up to 85W charging power), five USB-A 3.1, two USB-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, Ethernet, SP/DIF, UHS-II SD card reader, and 3.5mm audio in and out. The dock will run two 4K displays each at 60Hz via DisplayPort and Thunderbolt.

Like the TS4, the TS3 Plus has an all-metal design with ribbed sides to better dissipate heat, and it can be used vertically or horizontally on your desk.

HP's Thunderbolt Dock G4 is a top option to pair up with a great business laptop, and it even comes in 120W and 280W flavors. The former is suited for your standard Ultrabooks, Chromebooks, and MacBooks, while the latter — with up to 230W charging for the host — is much better suited to mobile workstations with monster power demands. I'm focusing here on the 120W model, which is much more affordable and easier to find.

The dock has a useful selection of ports including one downstream Thunderbolt 4 (the host cable is unfortunately fixed permanently), two USB-C 3.2, four USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.0, two DisplayPort 1.4, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. There's also a Kensington lock slot and HP Sure Start for added security. It can even run up to four 4K displays simultaneously.

The real beauty here are the included remote device management tools. It has Intel vPro active management support, eTag asset management, PXE boot, Wake-on-LAN, and MAC address passthrough to make your professional life much easier and more secure. Be sure to take a look at our HP Thunderbolt 4 G4 Dock review for more information on how this accessory can transform your professional workflow.

Kensington's SD5780T might be the top recommended Thunderbolt dock for most people, but its price has been seen to fluctuate greatly if not holding firm at $300+ (depending on the retailer). If you find that it's not on sale, but you love what it has to offer, Plugable's TBT4-UDX1 dock is essentially the same thing available at a competitive price. At the time of writing, it's priced at $290 at major retailers, lower than the SD5780T's standard price.

In our Plugable TBT4-UDX1 review, XDA Senior Editor João Carrasqueira remarked that the "[...] docking station can fit in many different setups, making it a very versatile option." He did have some issues using it with anything other than Thunderbolt 4/USB4, so be sure your laptop is using this standard.

Standout features include a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, two downstream Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.0 for video, and a durable metal shell. Plugable also throws in a USB-C to HDMI adapter to help with a multi-monitor setup. The dock can charge your host laptop with up to 96W of power, and the host cable is removable to prevent permanent damage. You get a two-year warranty to protect your purchase.

Finding the best Thunderbolt dock for your laptop

Thunderbolt 4 docking stations for laptops don't come cheap. That's because they offer the best performance currently available, and they're usually backwards compatible with standard USB-C, USB4, and the older Thunderbolt 3 standard. While we have included a Thunderbolt 3 dock in this list, most people buying a new docking station should stick with Thunderbolt 4 for better future-proofing. It's best to pair a Thunderbolt 4 dock with a great Thunderbolt 4 laptop.

With that in mind, the Kensington SD5780T is currently the best Thunderbolt 4 dock for most people. The price often drops to around $200 during major sales events, and it has the right collection of ports to handle most workflows. If it's not on sale, the Plugable TBT4-UDX1 is a solid alternative.

The SD5780T has 10 downstream ports (with one Thunderbolt 4 port for the host laptop connection), and it's capable of handling up to two 4K displays at 60Hz each. It has a lengthy three-year warranty, it's built to last from an aluminum shell, and it can even be mounted thanks to pre-drilled holes.

Our roundup of the best USB-C hubs can also help if you're shopping for something a lot less permanent that you can take with you on the go.