Plugs, Sliding Plates or Lockable Boxes? Best Outlet Covers for a Toddler-Proof Home

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t change our recommendations or the price you pay.

The best outlet covers are the ones that stay on the outlet and that you’ll actually put back. Plug-in caps are cheap and quick, but they only protect an outlet while they’re in it, and a cap a toddler pulls out becomes a small object on the floor. Self-closing plates replace the faceplate and shut on their own when you unplug. Box covers and power strip covers protect outlets that always have something plugged in.

We compared seven covers sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store: two self-closing plates, two packs of plug caps, a lockable outlet box, a cover with a built-in cord shortener and a power strip cover. Every claim below comes from the listings, and we only mention a certification where a listing states one.

If your home was built or renovated recently, it may already have tamper-resistant outlets. We explain how to check, and when an electrician is the better fix, below.

Our Top Outlet Covers Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. WONDERKID Self-Closing Outlet Covers (4 Pack): Best Overall

WONDERKID’s self-closing outlet covers are standard-size covers with a sliding shutter over the outlet. To plug something in, you slide the cover open and insert the plug; when the cord comes out, the listing says the cover instantly closes. The title gives the size as 4.6 x 3 inches, and each pack holds four white covers.

The appeal is that there is nothing to remember. Plug caps only protect an outlet while they are in it, and a parent in a hurry won’t always put one back. A self-closing cover stays on the wall and closes itself, so the outlet is covered whether or not anyone remembers.

WONDERKID says the covers are easy for grown-ups to use but difficult for little ones to figure out, and that they’re made of high-quality plastic built to handle wear and tear. The brand also says its products are made without BPA and ship in eco-conscious boxes. The listing describes installation as a breeze but doesn’t list the steps or which faceplate screw style it uses, so check the product photos against your outlets before you order.

It suits kitchens, living rooms and nurseries where outlets get used daily: lamp and charger outlets, the spot where the vacuum plugs in, or a bedside outlet.

Why we like it

• Closes itself when unplugged
• Four covers in a pack
• Stays on the wall, nothing to lose

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t explain installation or name compatible outlet styles beyond “standard-size,” so compare its photos with your outlets first.

Check Price on Amazon →

2. Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate: Best Single Self-Closing Plate

Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate is a replacement faceplate for a standard outlet. You remove the screw that holds your existing plate, take the old plate off, and fit the Safe Plate in its place. Each receptacle opening has a sliding cap that you push aside to plug in a cord.

When the plug comes out, the listing says the sliding cap closes automatically, so the outlet is covered again without anyone having to remember a plug cap. Mommy’s Helper pitches it as an alternative to hard-to-remove outlet plugs and to bulky outlet covers, and says it’s an excellent option for outlets that always have something plugged in.

The listing says the plate is designed to fit standard outlets and has a white finish that blends with standard wall plates. The specs list it at 5 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches and 0.1 pounds. The listing doesn’t say how many plates come in an order, so read the product page carefully if you need several, and check whether your outlets are the round-hole duplex style before buying.

It suits a parent who wants to try one self-closing plate on a busy outlet, such as the one behind the couch or by the bed, before deciding how many to buy.

Why we like it

• One-screw installation
• Automatic sliding caps
• Low-profile white finish

Watch out for

The pack count isn’t stated and the listing only promises a fit for standard outlets, so check your outlet style and the quantity before ordering.

Check Price on Amazon →

3. Power Gear Outlet Covers (30 Pack, Clear): Best Outlet Plug Covers

Power Gear’s outlet covers are one-piece clear caps that plug straight into unused outlets. Thirty come in the pack, which the listing says is enough to babyproof multiple rooms, and Power Gear names living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and play areas as places to use them.

The listing says the caps block access and prevent objects from being inserted into energized receptacles, fit tightly into standard two-prong and three-prong receptacles, and are designed to be difficult for infants and toddlers to remove. Adults can remove them without tools when they need the outlet.

Power Gear’s listing is the only one here that states a certification: it says the covers are “ETL safety certified” and includes a one-year limited replacement plan, and the warranty field reads “1-year limited warranty.” The manufacturer field names Jasco Products Company. The caps are clear, so they blend with standard wall plates, and the listing describes them as durable plastic for everyday indoor use.

It suits households with many outlets that rarely get used, such as those behind furniture, in a guest room or along a hallway. Keep a count of how many you put in, and check that none have been pulled out and left on the floor. Self-closing covers are a better match for the outlets you use every day.

Why we like it

• Stated ETL certification
• 30 caps in a pack
• Tool-free removal for adults

Watch out for

A cap only works while it’s in the outlet, and one that comes out becomes a small object a child could pick up.

Check Price on Amazon →

4. Jool Baby Outlet Covers (32 Pack): Best Easy-Removal Plug Covers

Jool Baby’s outlet covers are clear plug-in caps sold in a pack of 32. You push one into each unused outlet, and the clear design is meant to blend in with your wall plates rather than draw attention.

The feature that sets them apart is removal. Jool says the caps are made of slightly flexible plastic with a small notch, so adults can remove them without hurting or breaking a nail, while they remain difficult for toddlers to remove. Anyone who has pried a stiff cap out of an outlet with a fingernail or a butter knife will see the point.

The listing says the caps fit standard US outlets and names homes, schools and daycares as places to use them. The specs list a weight of 0.14 pounds; the 1 x 1 x 1 inch size field looks like a placeholder rather than a real measurement. No certification is stated on the listing, and the warranty field is empty.

They suit families who use their outlets regularly and would otherwise leave caps out because they’re a hassle to remove. The easier a cap is to put back, the more likely it is to be back in the outlet when it matters. Store spares out of reach, since a loose cap is still a small object.

Why we like it

• Notched for easy adult removal
• 32 caps in a pack
• Clear, low-key look

Watch out for

Easy for adults can also mean easier for a determined older toddler, so watch for loose caps on the floor.

Check Price on Amazon →

5. Wappa Baby Outlet Cover Box (1 Pack): Best Outlet Box Cover

Wappa Baby’s Outlet Cover Box is a hinged plastic box that mounts over an outlet and closes around whatever is plugged into it. Cords exit the box, but the plugs and the outlet stay enclosed, so a child can’t pull a plug halfway out or reach the outlet behind it.

Wappa describes a patented dual-lock mechanism that it says is easy for adults to open with one hand but difficult for a toddler. The interior measures 5.6 inches high, 3.1 inches wide and 2.6 inches deep, per the listing, which Wappa says fits most electrical plugs and adapters, including bulkier ones that crowd other boxes.

Everything to install it comes in the box: the safety box, screws, a standard electrical plate and a decorative plate. Wappa lists three steps: shut off power and remove the existing outlet plate, insert its plate and the safety box, and attach with the included screws. The listed weight is 0.63 pounds. Wappa names kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and garages as places to use it.

It suits the outlets that always have something plugged in: the TV and game console, a lamp, a nightlight or a charger by the crib. One box covers one outlet, so count the busy outlets in the rooms your child uses most.

Why we like it

• Encloses plugs and the outlet
• Roomy interior for adapters
• All hardware included

Watch out for

Follow Wappa’s first step and shut off power before removing the faceplate, or ask an electrician if you’re unsure.

Check Price on Amazon →

6. Safety 1st Outlet Cover with Cord Shortener: Best Cover With Cord Storage

Safety 1st’s Outlet Cover with Cord Shortener fits over an outlet that’s in use and wraps the excess cord inside it. The listing says it covers the entire outlet and keeps excess appliance cords off the floor, storing up to four feet of cord.

Two problems are handled at once. The cover keeps little fingers away from the plugs and the outlet, and the cord shortener takes up slack that would otherwise lie on the floor, where the listing says it can be an entanglement risk. Safety 1st describes it as ideal for outlets in use.

Removal requires a dual-press operation, which the brand says is easy for parents but tough for children. The listed size is 3 x 3.63 x 6.5 inches and the weight is 0.2 pounds. The listing doesn’t describe how it attaches to the wall, and the warranty field is empty. Safety 1st also suggests using it to shorten, hide or tidy cords elsewhere in the home.

It suits the lamp beside the crib, the bedside clock or any appliance outlet where a long cord trails across the floor. For outlets with several plugs or bulky adapters, a larger box may be the better fit. Check the cover now and then to make sure the release is still latched.

Why we like it

• Covers plugs and tidies cords
• Dual-press release
• Most popular pick here

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t explain how it mounts, so check the product photos and instructions for your outlet type.

Check Price on Amazon →

7. Safety 1st Power Strip Cover: Best Power Strip Cover

Safety 1st’s Power Strip Cover is a box that encloses a power strip, its on/off switch and the plugs in it, with cords exiting the side. The listing says it covers the whole strip and prevents cords from being pulled out.

Fit is the main thing to check. Safety 1st says the expandable design fits power strips up to 13.5 inches long. Measure your strip end to end, including the cord exit, before you buy. The cover can sit on the floor or be mounted on a wall, which is handy behind a TV stand or a desk.

The listed size is 5 x 10.5 x 4 inches and the weight is 0.63 pounds. The warranty field reads “90 Day Limited.” The listing doesn’t state a certification. Because it encloses the switch, a toddler also can’t flip the strip off and on, which matters if the strip runs a nightlight, a monitor or a fish tank.

It suits families with a power strip on the floor in a room where children play, especially behind the TV, under a desk or beside the crib. Pair it with covers on the wall outlet the strip plugs into, and keep the strip itself out of walkways so the cover isn’t kicked around or used as a step.

Why we like it

• Hides the switch and plugs
• Expandable to 13.5 in
• Floor or wall mount

Watch out for

Measure your power strip first; anything longer than 13.5 inches won’t fit, per the listing.

Check Price on Amazon →

How We Chose the Best Outlet Covers

We limited our picks to covers that were in stock and sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store, then compared what each listing says:

• Cover type: plug-in caps, self-closing plates, lockable boxes and power strip covers, so every kind of outlet is covered.
• How it stays on: whether it protects only while in place (caps) or stays on the wall (plates and boxes).
• Adult access: notches, sliding shutters, dual-press and dual-lock releases.
• Fit: standard outlets, interior box space and power strip length, as listed.
• Certification, warranty and popularity: certifications only where a listing states them, the warranty field and Amazon sales rank.

Outlet Cover Buying Guide

Best Outlet Covers for Baby Proofing: Start With Your Outlets

Before buying anything, look closely at your outlets. Tamper-resistant receptacles have built-in shutters behind the slots. Leviton, a receptacle manufacturer, explains that the shutter only opens when pressure is applied to both sides at once, as a two- or three-prong plug does, and says the National Electrical Code requires tamper-resistant receptacles in new residential construction and renovations. If you’re not sure what your outlets are, an electrician can tell you and replace older receptacles with tamper-resistant ones; Leviton says existing receptacles can easily be replaced.

Best Outlet Plug Covers: Cheap, Quick and Easy to Lose

Caps like the Power Gear and Jool Baby packs cost little and go in without tools. KidsHealth advises covering unused outlets with plastic safety plugs. The catch is that a cap only protects an outlet while it’s in place, and a cap that comes out is a small object on the floor. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, notes that small objects can be choking hazards and advises checking floors regularly. Count your caps and check them often.

Best Self-Closing Outlet Covers

Self-closing covers replace or cover the faceplate and shut when you unplug, so there is nothing to put back. The WONDERKID four-pack and the Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate both use sliding covers. Mommy’s Helper says installation means removing the plate screw and fitting the new plate. Check whether your outlets are standard duplex or the rectangular Decora style before buying, since neither listing promises a Decora fit.

Best Outlet Box Cover for Outlets in Use

For outlets that always have something plugged in, a box covers both the plugs and the outlet. The Wappa Baby box has a roomy 5.6 x 3.1 x 2.6 inch interior for adapters, and the Safety 1st cover adds a cord shortener for up to four feet of cord. Wappa’s instructions start with shutting off power; if you aren’t comfortable removing a faceplate, ask an electrician.

Best Power Strip Cover

A power strip on the floor puts several plugs and a switch at a crawler’s eye level. The Safety 1st Power Strip Cover encloses strips up to 13.5 inches long. KidsHealth also advises against overloading electrical sockets. If you’re choosing a strip, our guide to the best surge protector compares lengths and outlet counts.

Electrical Safety Beyond the Outlet

Outlet covers are one layer. KidsHealth also recommends using GFCIs and/or AFCIs, not running wires under rugs, unplugging extension cords when not in use, and considering an electrical inspection. Leviton cites the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s estimate that about 2,400 children a year suffer severe shock and burns from sticking items into receptacle slots. For the rest of the house, see our guides to the best child safety locks for cabinets and drawers and the best stove knob covers for the kitchen.

Electrical Fires, Injuries and Your Policy

KidsHealth notes that GFCIs and AFCIs help prevent electrical shock and fire by shutting off faulty circuits, which is one more reason to have an electrician look at older wiring. How a homeowners or renters policy responds to an electrical fire or an injury at home depends on its terms, so ask your agent rather than assuming. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide and renters insurance costs in Ohio cover the basics to discuss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best outlet covers for baby proofing?

It depends on the outlet. For outlets you use often, a self-closing cover like the WONDERKID four-pack closes itself when you unplug. For unused outlets, caps like Power Gear or Jool Baby are cheap and quick. For outlets that always have plugs in them, a box like the Wappa Baby covers both plug and outlet.

Are self-closing outlet covers better than plugs?

They solve the biggest weakness of plugs: forgetting to put them back. A self-closing cover stays on the wall and shuts when a cord is removed, while a plug cap only protects an outlet while it’s inserted and can end up on the floor as a small object.

Do I need outlet covers if I have tamper-resistant outlets?

Tamper-resistant receptacles have built-in shutters that only open when both prongs press at once, per Leviton. Many families still cover outlets that have plugs in them, since a TR outlet doesn’t stop a child pulling a plug. If you’re unsure what you have, ask an electrician.

Are outlet plug covers a choking hazard?

A cap that comes out of the outlet is a small object, and HealthyChildren.org notes that small objects can be choking hazards. Check outlets and floors regularly, and consider self-closing covers for outlets you use often.

How do I baby proof a power strip?

Use a power strip cover that encloses the strip, its switch and the plugs. The Safety 1st Power Strip Cover fits strips up to 13.5 inches long and can sit on the floor or mount on a wall. Measure your strip first.

The Bottom Line

For most homes, the best outlet covers are a mix. Put self-closing covers like the WONDERKID four-pack or the Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate on outlets you use every day, cap unused outlets with Power Gear or Jool Baby plugs, and enclose busy outlets with the Wappa Baby box or the Safety 1st cord-shortener cover. Finish with the Safety 1st Power Strip Cover behind the TV. If your outlets are older, ask an electrician about tamper-resistant receptacles.

Childproofing a new home and wondering how your policy handles electrical fires or injuries? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or get a free coverage review, and ask your agent what applies to your situation.