A docking station is scored on ports and expansion first, then on charging power, compatibility, and value. Our pick is the CalDigit TS4, with an SR Score of 91, the best dock of the Thunderbolt 4 era — 18 ports, 98W charging, and exceptional build. The Anker 778 (87) is the value runner-up. For the most laptop charging, the Dell WD22TB4 (85) leads at 130W.
The ranking
| Rank | Dock | Best for | Connection / price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CalDigit TS4 | Most ports | Thunderbolt 4 / ~$380 | 91 |
| 2 | Anker 778 (12-in-1) | Value | Thunderbolt 4 / ~$250 | 87 |
| 3 | Dell WD22TB4 | Max charging | Thunderbolt 4 / ~$280 | 85 |
| 4 | Anker 777 (12-in-1) | Clean desktop | Thunderbolt 4 / ~$230 | 84 |
| 5 | CalDigit TS5 | Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 5 / ~$500 | 83 |
| 6 | Kensington SD5700T | Pro reliability | Thunderbolt 4 / ~$300 | 82 |
| 7 | Anker 568 USB-C (11-in-1) | USB-C value | USB-C / ~$180 | 79 |
Methodology
The Dock Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Ports & expansion (30) — port count, types, and monitor support.
- Power delivery (20) — wattage to the host laptop.
- Compatibility (20) — Mac and Windows support, Thunderbolt/USB4.
- Value for money (20) — what the dock costs for what it does.
- Build quality (10) — materials and thermal design.
Ports lead because expansion is the entire reason to buy a dock. Re-weight Value up and the Anker docks climb.
CalDigit TS4
The most-ports pick, around $380. Eighteen ports, 98W laptop charging, and Thunderbolt 4 — works with Mac and Windows. The port count and build quality justify the price for professionals.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 30/30 |
| Power delivery | 18/20 |
| Compatibility | 19/20 |
| Value for money | 14/20 |
| Build quality | 10/10 |
Trade-off: the most expensive Thunderbolt 4 dock here, and it runs warm.
Anker 778 (12-in-1)
The value pick, around $250. A 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock with ultra-fast data and 100W charging — most of the TS4’s usefulness for less.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 25/30 |
| Power delivery | 18/20 |
| Compatibility | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 19/20 |
| Build quality | 8/10 |
Trade-off: fewer ports than the TS4 and a less premium chassis.
Dell WD22TB4
The max-charging pick, around $280. A Thunderbolt 4 dock that delivers 130W to the laptop — ideal for power-hungry Dell and other high-draw notebooks.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 24/30 |
| Power delivery | 20/20 |
| Compatibility | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 16/20 |
| Build quality | 8/10 |
Trade-off: best paired with Dell hardware; fewer ports than the TS4.
Anker 777 (12-in-1)
The clean-desktop pick, around $230. A 12-in-1 desktop Thunderbolt 4 dock with 90W PD, a tidy layout, and strong overall value.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 24/30 |
| Power delivery | 17/20 |
| Compatibility | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 19/20 |
| Build quality | 8/10 |
Trade-off: 90W may not fully power the most demanding laptops.
CalDigit TS5
The Thunderbolt 5 pick, around $500. A next-gen dock with Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth and higher power delivery for the most demanding professional setups.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 28/30 |
| Power delivery | 19/20 |
| Compatibility | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 11/20 |
| Build quality | 10/10 |
Trade-off: Thunderbolt 5 is overkill for most Windows PCs right now, and it is pricey.
Kensington SD5700T
The pro-reliability pick, around $300. A Thunderbolt 4 dock built for IT-managed fleets, with a solid port set and a long warranty.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 24/30 |
| Power delivery | 17/20 |
| Compatibility | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Build quality | 9/10 |
Trade-off: fewer ports than the TS4 at a similar price.
Anker 568 USB-C (11-in-1)
The USB-C value pick, around $180. An 11-in-1 standard USB-C dock for laptops without Thunderbolt, covering common ports at a lower price.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Ports & expansion | 22/30 |
| Power delivery | 16/20 |
| Compatibility | 15/20 |
| Value for money | 18/20 |
| Build quality | 8/10 |
Trade-off: USB-C, not Thunderbolt, so monitor and bandwidth support is more limited.
How to choose
Check your laptop’s port first. For Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 machines that need many peripherals and dual monitors, the CalDigit TS4 is the gold standard, with the Anker 778 and 777 as strong-value alternatives. If your laptop needs heavy charging, the Dell WD22TB4’s 130W leads. Only the highest-bandwidth pro workflows benefit from the Thunderbolt 5 CalDigit TS5 today; most buyers should save money with a Thunderbolt 4 dock. For a laptop without Thunderbolt, the Anker 568 USB-C covers the basics. Confirm how many external displays your machine supports — Apple Silicon chips can cap this regardless of the dock. Re-weight toward Value and the Anker 778 wins; weight Ports, as we do, and the CalDigit TS4 takes the top score.
Verification
- CalDigit TS4 — 18 ports, 98W PD, Thunderbolt 4, ~$380 verified via Windows Central and Tom’s Hardware.
- Anker 778 — 12-in-1, 100W charging verified via Windows Central and Anker.
- Dell WD22TB4 — 130W charging verified via PCWorld.
- Anker 777 — 12-in-1, 90W PD, value verdict verified via Windows Central.
- CalDigit TS5 / Kensington SD5700T / Anker 568 — specs and pricing verified via PCWorld and Windows Central roundups.
Related rankings
- Best USB-C Hubs & Docks 2026: 7 Scored
- Best 4K Monitors 2026: 7 Scored
- Best Portable Monitors 2026: 7 Scored
- Best Power Banks 2026: 7 Scored
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best docking station in 2026?
- The CalDigit TS4 — the best dock of the Thunderbolt 4 era, with 18 ports, 98W laptop charging, and build quality that justifies its price for professionals. It works with both Mac and Windows.
- Do I need Thunderbolt 5?
- Not yet for most people. Thunderbolt 4 docks deliver more than enough bandwidth for typical multi-monitor and peripheral setups, and they cost less. Thunderbolt 5 makes sense only for the highest-bandwidth pro workflows.
- Will a Thunderbolt dock work with my USB-C laptop?
- Generally yes for data, but to drive multiple monitors and get full power you want a laptop with Thunderbolt 4 or USB4. Pure USB-C laptops may be limited to a single external display via DisplayPort Alt Mode.
- How much power does a dock supply to my laptop?
- It varies. The Dell WD22TB4 delivers 130W; the CalDigit TS4 delivers 98W; many compact docks deliver 90-100W. Check your laptop's charging requirement against the dock's power-delivery rating.
- Can a dock run two external monitors?
- Yes. Thunderbolt 4 docks support dual 4K displays (or a single higher-resolution one). On Macs with Apple Silicon, the number of external displays can be limited by the chip, not the dock.