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Look under your desk and you'll probably find a tangle of power strip, charging cables, and monitor wiring — cables you have to nudge aside every time you vacuum. It looks messy, but if you're renting, drilling into a wall or desktop for a proper installation isn't really an option. A cable tray is a bar- or mesh-shaped storage piece that gathers cables together under the desk and lifts them off the floor, and whether it works in a rental depends heavily on the mounting method. Here we compare four products with an eye on whether they hold up in a rental.
Our Picks — The Right One for You
SONATURE SONATURE
- Desktop thickness1 to 5 cm
A no-drill clamp type that fits desktops 1 to 5 cm thick. 7 kg capacity, with non-slip pads and ties included. At the listing date (2026-09-02) it has the lowest price of the four (¥1,881).
IMILLET IMILLET
- Desktop thickness0.1 to 5.5 cm
- MaterialCarbon steel, lacquered
20 kg is the highest of the four. It extends from 28.5 to 55 cm and fits desktops 0.1 to 5.5 cm thick.
NODOCA NODOCA
- Desktop thickness18 to 32 mm
- MaterialSteel, non-slip
- IncludedHook-and-loop band
Clamp type, no drilling, 5 kg capacity. Needs a desktop 18 to 32 mm thick and at least 5 cm deep.
FLEXISPOT CMP027
- MountingScrew mount
- MaterialSteel and nylon mesh
At 90 cm it is the longest of the four. Screw mount (drilling required), 3 kg capacity.
Pros and Cons of Under-Desk Cable Trays
Before you buy, here's a rundown of what a cable tray gets you, and what's worth watching out for.
Pros
- Many models use a clamp mount that needs no drilling, so you can use them in a rental without worrying about restoring the original condition
- Weight capacity varies widely, so you can pick a model that can also hold a power strip or AC adapters
- Lifting cables off the floor means less effort dodging them when you vacuum
Cons
- If your desktop is less than 5 cm deep, some clamp-style models physically can't attach
- If you only have a handful of cables and zip ties or velcro straps are already doing the job, there's less need to add one
- Screw-mount models are fixed to the desktop with screws, making them a hard sell for renters
How to Choose an Under-Desk Cable Tray: 6 Points
Here are 6 points to check before you buy. The figures in the diagrams come from the official and retail-page specs of the products in this article.
If You Rent, Can It Go On Without Drilling?
The mounting method decides whether it works in a rental. A clamp type just grips the desktop with no drilling; a screw type is fixed to the desktop with screws, which makes it harder to choose when renting.
Measure Your Desktop Thickness and Depth
A clamp will not grip if the desktop thickness is outside its range. Measure your desk before you buy and compare it with the supported thickness.
Weight Capacity (Will a Power Strip Go On It?)
Cables alone are light, but a power strip or AC adapters need more capacity.
Related pickIMILLET IMILLET（Weight capacity 5/5）
Tray Length
A longer tray holds more cables and gear, but check that it clears your legs and chair. Extendable types let you adjust the width.
Related pickFLEXISPOT CMP027（Tray length 5/5）
Accessories and Features
Ties and clips in the box mean you can tidy the wiring without buying extras.
Related pickSONATURE SONATURE（Accessories and features 5/5）
What to Measure Before You Buy
Most failed installs can be avoided by measuring first.
Spec Score Ranking
→ Swipe sideways to see the full table. Use the buttons to re-sort. Click a product name for details. You can also sort by clicking a column heading.
| Rank | Product | Buy (prices as of date shown) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SONATURESONATUREClamp type, mesh box | 3.60 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | See on Amazon¥1,881See on Rakuten¥2,258Price as of 2026-09-02 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 2 | IMILLETIMILLETClamp type, extendable tray | 3.50 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | See on Amazon¥2,999See on Rakuten¥3,599Price as of 2026-09-02 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 3 | NODOCANODOCAClamp type, steel tray | 2.30 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | See on Amazon¥3,299See on Rakuten¥4,222Price as of 2026-09-02 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 4 | FLEXISPOTCMP027Screw mount, mesh tray | 2.06 | 1 | 1 | 5 | – | 3 | See on Amazon¥5,500See on Rakuten¥5,500Price as of 2026-09-02 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
Prices are as of 2026-09-02. They change with sales and stock, so please check the current price on the linked page.
A "–" in the table means the manufacturer and retail pages do not list that item (it is not counted in the score).
What each criterion means, and its weight
Each criterion is scored 1 to 5 and the overall score is the weighted average. The exact thresholds are in How the Spec Score Is Calculated.
- Ease of mounting (renters)weight 30%
- Mounting (starts at 1 point, +1 for each that applies)
- Weight capacityweight 25%
- Weight capacity (kg)
- Tray lengthweight 15%
- Tray width (maximum for extendable types)
- Desktop thickness rangeweight 15%
- Range of supported desktop thickness (max − min, clamp types only)
- Accessories and featuresweight 15%
- Accessories and features (starts at 1 point, +1 per listed item, max 5)
- Overall Spec Score
- Shown only when at least 4 of the 5 criteria have a score; the weighted average is taken over the criteria that do.
Compare 2 to 3 products side by side
Tick "Add to compare" in the table above and the products appear here (up to 3).
Product Notes
SONATURE・Clamp type, mesh box
SONATURE SONATURE
- Ease of mounting (renters)4/5
- Weight capacity3/5
- Tray length2/5
- Desktop thickness range4/5
- Accessories and features5/5
Good forBest for renters who want the simplest possible install
Good points
- Clamp mount, no drilling; fits desktops 1 to 5 cm thick
- 7 kg capacity with silicone non-slip pads
- Comes with a cable holder, clips, label tags and cable ties
Things to note
- 7 kg capacity leaves less room than IMILLET for several power strips
- At 40 cm wide it is the shorter side of the four
IMILLET・Clamp type, extendable tray
IMILLET IMILLET
- Ease of mounting (renters)2/5
- Weight capacity5/5
- Tray length4/5
- Desktop thickness range5/5
- Accessories and features2/5
Good forBest if you want to pile a power strip on top too
Good points
- 20 kg capacity, the highest of the four
- Extends from 28.5 to 55 cm to match the desk
- Handles desktops 0.1 to 5.5 cm thick, the widest range of the three that list one
Things to note
- Supports desktops 0.1 to 5.5 cm thick; it cannot be fitted outside that range
- At full length it is 55 cm and 1.6 kg, so check the space
NODOCA・Clamp type, steel tray
NODOCA NODOCA
- Ease of mounting (renters)3/5
- Weight capacity2/5
- Tray length3/5
- Desktop thickness range1/5
- Accessories and features2/5
Good forBest if your desktop thickness and depth fit (43 cm long)
Good points
- Clamp mount, no drilling; can also face outward
- 5 kg capacity with non-slip
- Hook-and-loop band included
Things to note
- Fits desktops only 1.8 to 3.2 cm thick, the narrowest range of the three that list one
- Needs at least 5 cm of desktop depth for the clamp; not for rounded or stepped edges
FLEXISPOT・Screw mount, mesh tray
FLEXISPOT CMP027
- Ease of mounting (renters)1/5
- Weight capacity1/5
- Tray length5/5
- Accessories and features3/5
Good forBest if you own your desk and know what is under the top
Good points
- 90 cm wide, the longest of the four
- Nylon-mesh tray, with hook-and-loop straps included
- Brackets, strap and bolts included
Things to note
- Screw mount, which makes it harder to choose when renting
- 3 kg capacity, the lowest of the four
Still deciding? Check these in order
Still deciding? Check these in order
A clamp-mounted, no-drill model — the SONATURE, IMILLET or NODOCA — means nothing to restore when you move out.
The IMILLET, with the highest weight capacity of the four at 20 kg, is the one to look at.
The SONATURE had the lowest listed price at the listing date (2026-09-02, ¥1,881). The NODOCA needs at least 5 cm of desktop depth to fit.
Best Pick by Situation
If you're renting and just want the simplest setup, SONATURE is the pick. If you want to stash heavier items like a power strip too, go with IMILLET. If your desktop is 18 to 32 mm thick and has enough depth, NODOCA is the candidate. And if you own your desk, know what's underneath, and want a larger installation footprint, FLEXISPOT CMP027 fits the bill.
Mounting Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
A clamp will not grip if the desktop's thickness falls outside the range on the product page, so check that range before buying. The NODOCA needs at least 5 cm of desktop depth and cannot be used on rounded or stepped edges. With the screw-mount FLEXISPOT, check the underside of your desktop before you order.
First Steps After You Buy
Before installing, measure your desktop's thickness, depth, and the material underneath it — doing so helps you avoid failures like not being able to mount it, or having it end up looser than expected. Before running your cables through for real, do a trial placement first, check that it doesn't get in the way of your chair or legs, and then fix it in place — that cuts down on redoing the work. If you're planning to load it with something heavy like a power strip, it's worth double-checking the weight capacity on the product page again.
How the Spec Score Is Calculated
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5, and the overall score is the weighted average. We use the manufacturer's official figures; where the official site could not be read, we fill in from Amazon, Rakuten Ichiba, Kakaku.com and similar retail or comparison pages (only pages that match the exact model number). A criterion with no published figure is left out and the average is taken over the rest (for care and features, only items that are actually listed earn points).
| Ease of mounting (renters) (30% weight) | Mounting (starts at 1 point, +1 for each that applies) (1) no drilling (2) anti-slip stated (3) can be mounted facing outward or inward |
|---|---|
| Weight capacity (25% weight) | Weight capacity (kg) 20 kg or more = 5 / 10+ = 4 / 7+ = 3 / 5+ = 2 / below = 1 |
| Tray length (15% weight) | Tray width (maximum for extendable types) 80 cm or more = 5 / 55+ = 4 / 43+ = 3 / 40+ = 2 / below = 1 |
| Desktop thickness range (15% weight) | Range of supported desktop thickness (max − min, clamp types only) 5 cm or more = 5 / 4+ = 4 / 3+ = 3 / 2+ = 2 / below = 1 |
| Accessories and features (15% weight) | Accessories and features (starts at 1 point, +1 per listed item, max 5) Ties or hook-and-loop bands / cable clips or holder / label tags / mesh (airflow) / extendable |
Summary
This comparison uses published specs, not hands-on impressions. Decide what to look at first, based on whether you rent and on your desktop thickness and depth, then choose.
Related Articles
Update history
Show update history (2)
- Rewritten on the new template (Spec Score, product detail pages).
- Display improvements (summary at the top, ranking cards, sortable comparison table with side-by-side compare, in-page navigation). Scores, prices and links are unchanged.