Are charging nightstands worth it?
A buy-or-retrofit guide

Interested in a bedside charging zone? Before you head straight to Amazon to find a preconfigured charging nightstand, do yourself a favor and read this buyer's guide.

The real question is not whether bedside charging is convenient; it’s whether you should buy furniture around a charging feature—or add that feature to furniture you already own or actually want.

Preconfigured solutions can be right for someone who wants an easy, low-cost, low-effort option with a few built-in USB ports. But if you already love your nightstand, you want more/better furniture options, or you value less clutter and more efficient charging, then a preconfigured solution is probably not your best option.

In this blog, we’re going to compare preconfigured furniture with in-drawer outlet retrofits, which allow you to add fast-charging power to any compatible bedside table.

What is the difference between built-in charging and an in-drawer outlet retrofit?

Preconfigured charging furniture comes with USB ports built into the design, whereas an in-drawer outlet retrofit entails adding an outlet system (like Docking Drawer’s Blade Series Outlets) to a compatible drawer in new or existing furniture.

Use the following five comparisons to decide which approach is best for your bedside.

1. Outlet Capacity and Charging Efficiency

Preconfigured charging furniture: You choose the furniture, which comes with a predetermined outlet - typically featuring a combination of two to three slow-charging USB and AC ports. You can choose the furniture, but you cannot choose the outlet configuration that’s best for your needs.

In-drawer outlet retrofit: Choose an outlet configuration around your charging needs. Docking Drawer Blade in-drawer outlets support up to 8 devices in a single outlet, with maximum capacity in configurations like this 15 amp Blade Duo. Choose 65W USB-C for the fastest possible charging speeds.

Before you buy: Make a list of everything you’d like to charge overnight, such as phones, tablets, earbuds, watches and other wearables, and determine how important fast-charging is to your routine.

2. Surface vs Hidden Charging

Preconfigured charging furniture: Devices typically charge on the surface of your bedside table, since outlets are most commonly located on the tabletop. This keeps tech distractions visible throughout the night and can clutter limited surface space.

In-drawer outlet retrofit: Devices and charging accessories have a dedicated place inside the drawer, out of sight. You can keep the table surfaces clear and clutter-free, leaving enough room for your lamp, a book, and a glass of water—and giving an underused drawer a dedicated purpose. Not to mention, tucking devices out of sight to charge overnight can lead to a better night’s sleep. Bonus tip: for children’s rooms, you can lock the charging drawer overnight to keep kids off the phone, promoting better sleep routines.

Before you buy: Decide how valuable bedside surface space is to your room and routine, and how much you value the benefits of tucking out of sight overnight.

3. Furniture and Design Flexibility

Preconfigured charging furniture: The options are limited and typically low-quality. That said, if you don’t already have bedside tables, you’re not picky about the look or style of your nightstands, or if price alone is your main driver, then this may be your best choice.

In-drawer outlet retrofit: Keep your favorite nightstand, preserve a matching bedroom set, or choose bedside furniture that truly complements your space and routine. As long as there is a drawer, you can install a Blade outlet of your choosing.

Before you buy: Ask yourself, “Would I choose this nightstand if it did not have charging?” If the answer is no, consider a retrofit before compromising on furniture you will use every day.

4. Repairs and Updates

Preconfigured charging furniture: Repairability depends on the furniture manufacturer, but in most cases, if the outlet stops working, you need to buy a new nightstand. Do not assume any furniture warranties cover integrated electronics on the same terms.

In-drawer outlet retrofit: Blade Series outlets are built to last a lifetime and covered by a 5-year warranty. Our outlets are repairable, and the modules themselves can be easily replaced or updated if technology changes over time, so you never have to replace the whole unit - let alone the whole nightstand.

Before you buy: Ask yourself, “If a charging port stops working, is a replacement covered? And if not, is the nightstand still valuable to me?”

5. Assembly & Installation

Preconfigured charging furniture: Check whether the nightstand arrives assembled or flat-packed. Preconfigured solutions often require full assembly, which CA be a painstaking and time-consuming process.

In-drawer outlet retrofit: Install the outlet system in a suitable drawer rather than assemble a whole new piece of furniture. Blade Series outlets can be installed by anyone with basic tools in about 30 minutes. They come fully corded to plug into the nearest wall outlet, so no electrical work is required.

Before you buy: Assess the furniture assembly requirements and compare them to the average time needed to install a Blade Series in-drawer outlet (about 30 minutes).

Preconfigured Charging Furniture vs In-Drawer Outlet Retrofit: Comparison Chart