Double Sockets

Double sockets with USB charging

Most of the double sockets we stock include USB charging ports, so you can charge a phone or tablet straight from the wall and keep both outlets free for plugs. That means fewer bulky adapters cluttering a worktop or bedside table. If you only need the two outlets, we stock plain double sockets too.

The port is the real decision. USB-C is the small, reversible port on recent phones and tablets, while USB-A is the familiar rectangular port older cables and accessories use. We stock USB-A, USB-C and combined versions, and a combined socket suits a household with a mix of devices. Some are fast-charge designs. Charging output varies, so to top up a laptop, check the output, where we list it, against your laptop charger.

Choosing the switch on a double socket

We stock switched double sockets in double-pole and single-pole versions. A double-pole switch disconnects both the live and the neutral when you turn it off, giving a more complete break for appliances that stay plugged in. A single-pole switch disconnects the live only, which is common in homes and fine for everyday use. If you are unsure, double-pole is a sensible default.

We also stock a few unswitched designs, for spots where a plug should never be turned off by mistake, such as behind a fridge. Some have key-lockable switches, so the outlets stay as you set them until someone with the key changes them.

Double socket finishes and insert colours

We stock double sockets in chrome, brass, black, white, grey and silver, so matching your light switches is easy. The sheen matters as much as the colour. Brushed metal has a soft, grained look, polished metal catches the light for a brighter, more classic feel, and matt finishes sit quietly against painted plaster. A few have an antique finish, which suits a period home.

The insert is the part around the outlets and rockers. We stock black, white, grey and chrome inserts. A black insert gives crisp contrast against brushed chrome or brass, a white insert keeps things light against pale walls, and grey sits neatly between the two. For more colour, we stock blue double sockets in shades from sky to navy. A few come in copper.

Screwless and edged double socket plates

Most of our double sockets are screwless. The fixing screws sit behind a front plate that clips into place, so no screw heads show. It is the cleanest look for a painted or papered wall, and it pairs well with screwless switches.

Prefer a different profile? We stock flat plate, rounded-edge and square-edge styles. A flat plate sits slim against the wall for a crisp line, a rounded edge gives a softer outline, and a square edge lines up neatly with skirting boards and door frames. A few are combination plates, with module positions for other outlets on the same plate.

Metal or plastic double sockets

The majority of our double sockets are made from metal, the natural choice where a socket is on show and you want it to match metal switches. If you choose metal, the plate must be earthed, and your electrician will check that when it goes in. We stock stainless steel double sockets too, a practical partner for stainless steel appliances in a kitchen.

We also stock plastic double sockets in ABS, polycarbonate and resin. Plastic keeps things simple and low-key, and it makes sense in a utility room, a rented flat or anywhere you want the socket to blend into a white wall.

Double sockets around the home and office

Many of our double sockets suit a study or home office, where a desk can easily need more outlets than the wall offers. Choose one with USB charging and a monitor, a lamp and a phone can share one spot without a tangle of adapters. Many suit commercial spaces too, from offices and shops to reception areas.

Some have a built-in night light, a soft guide in the dark. A few are smart-home designs, so check how each one connects before you plan around it. A few are outdoor rated. Outdoors, a socket needs that rating plus RCD protection, so ask your electrician to plan the circuit and the cable route.

Fitting double sockets safely

We always recommend a qualified electrician to fit double sockets. In England and Wales, Part P of the Building Regulations applies to electrical work in a home, and a registered electrician can tell you whether your job needs to be notified and certify the work.

A single socket box will not take a double socket, so swapping one for the other usually means a larger box or a surface-mounted one. We stock a few back boxes here too. USB double sockets carry electronics behind the plate and can need a deeper box than a plain socket, so compare the minimum box depth, where we list it, with the box in your wall.