The PS5 may be taking all the limelight, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking with the PS4 for now. Yet, if you’ve spent any worthwhile time with the last-gen console, you’ll be more than familiar with the PS4 controller’s battery life, which leaves little to be desired. Picking up one of the best PS4 charging docks, even all these years later, is still one of the best ways to breathe new life into your DualShock 4 controller and your aging PS4 console.
The best PS4 charging docks can not only help keep your controller juiced up, but it’s a saving grace for clutter too. Everything from extra controllers, move wants, and even PSVR headsets can be organized and kept all in one place, saving you from any accidental damage or losing parts of your PS4 setup altogether.
There’s a lot of choice when it comes to charging docks, which is not surprising as the console has been available for a long time. To make finding the ideal charging dock a breeze, we've narrowed down our top picks from Sony's official offerings to third-party docks that fit most of the best PS4 controllers. We’ve even included docks that can keep your console cool, store a stack of games, and a VR headset if you have one - and you can find them all below.
The Quick List
This officially designed charging station lets you free up one of the ports on your PS4, and can charge two DualShock 4 controllers at a time so they'll always be juiced up and ready to go.
The Lenboken-KJH All-in-One charging display is compatible with all versions of the PS4, from the original model, Slim and Pro version. It can also keep your console, and accessories cool thanks to its included two high-speed fans.
This PowerA charging dock is not only officially licenced for the Ps4, but it can charge two DualShock 4 controllers through an AC adaptor. That way, you don't need to have your PS4 running to ensure your controllers are good to go.
This compact Beboncool PS4 controller charger comes with handy LED indicators to let you know your gamepads are charged and good to go, and can charge two DualShock 4's at once, too.
The Asterion PSVR charging stand can charge and store away not just your PSVR headset, but extra DualShock controllers, move controllers and even a headset too - and comes with some blue lighting some added PS4 flare.
I invested a magnitude of playtime into the PS4, but I don't know if I'd of managed it without a charging dock at my disposable. Whether it was playing the console in my spare time, or during my time as a gaming tech writer, PS4 charging docks can be instrumental at enhancing the experience of the older console but there's a lot o them out there. That's why I'm here to help recommend what charging dock is a better fit for your PS4 needs and budget.
Recent updates
March 11 - As it stands, no brand-new PS4 charging docks have come across my testing bench, namely as the manufacturers and accessory makers have shifted their attention to the PS5. With that in mind, our list of the best PS4 charging docks has remained the same, but for this update, I still overhauled the page, which included adding a quick links section at the beginning of the guide, adding more questions to the FAQ section so it's easier than ever to know what PS4 charging dock best fits your Sony gaming needs.
1. Sony PlayStation DualShock 4 Official Charging Station
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Your first port of call, still, should absolutely be the official charging dock. It's a solid unit, that's reliable, robust, houses the controllers beautifully and looks the part too.
As usual with Sony's official charging docks, this is a mains-powered dock so does require that extra socket - the flip side of that is that this frees up one of your valuable USB ports on your PS4. Thus making it perfect for those who maybe use hard drives, wireless headsets, and controllers - or a combination of all three. I've got one of these at home and used it all the time - and even if you have to store it mose of the time, it's great for powering up multiple pads to ensure you're primed for a couch co-op session with friends and family.
However, it's not being made anymore and you'll be quite hard pushed to find it new anywhere. However, if you can find a good second-hand or refurbished one then this is still as good as it gets.
2. Lenboken-KJH All-in-One
Lenboken’s dock really does do it all, and is a top choice for the PS4 gamer who picked up every accessory for their console, and uses them too. It keeps two controllers and two Move wands charged, the PSVR headset neatly mounted, and adds a hook for your headphones to hang from too. It comes with a clip to change the size of its docking slot to fit all three revisions of the PS4 console, original, Slim and Pro, keeping it upright and cooling it with two high-speed fans mounted in the base. Four separate indicators show the charging status of the controllers and wands, while an additional USB hub provides extra front-mounted ports for charging while playing, or using USB storage with your console. Power comes from the PS4’s own front USB ports, with two cables supplied.
3. PowerA DualShock charging dock for PS4
This one is the officially licensed version, and it does exactly what you'd expect. It charges a pair of DualShock 4 controllers at the same time, and does so through the supplied AC adaptor. That means you don't need to have your console switched on to use this, and you can charge your controllers at any time, leaving them fresh each time you play. It even has a simple design and the official PlayStation logo on there, as this is an officially licensed product. It doesn't do much else, other than charge controllers, so don't try and hang your VR headset, Move controllers, or damp laundry on there - it won't do anything for any of these items. No cooling here, but you don't need that for just charging controllers.
4. BEBONCOOL PS4 Controller Charger
Sometimes, the simpler way is better. What more do you need than charged controllers? Your PS4 has its own fans. A shelf will hold your games. Your Move controllers don’t get used much and the PSVR lives on the floor. Happiness is a warm DualShock, and this dock gives you that. It’s compact, with LED indicators that tell you whether your controllers are charged, and gives you somewhere to put your controllers when you’re not using them, rather than leaving them attached to the console with microUSB cables. The dock is powered by USB, so you can plug it into a cellphone wall adapter. Use one with enough output, 5V/1A or better, and the dock will completely charge two controllers in two hours.
5. Asterion PSVR Charging Stand with Optional Illumination
Denuded of any controllers to charge, this dock looks rather like a trophy won by a middle manager at a golf tournament. Filled up with PSVR headset, two DualShocks, two Move controllers and some headphones, it looks like one of Boston Dynamics’ canine robots, poised to leap. The aggressive look comes fully from the position of the PSVR, which isn’t even being charged by the unit but is tilted downward into the Schwarzenegger scowl of angry robots everywhere, and looks particularly menacing with the lighting switched on. This quick-charge dock comes with a 3,000mA wall adapter, and with the quick-charging port on the back can charge five PS4 accessories at the same time. An extra layer of thought has been put into its design: there’s a touch-sensitive button to control the blue lighting, and the PSVR’s cable can be kept neatly in a special winding groove so it’s not hanging down the back. The accessories are packed tightly together, shrinking the dock’s footprint down to just 10in tall and 6.5in wide.
Best PS4 charging docks: FAQ
Can you charge two controllers on PS4?
In short: yes! The PS4 has two USB ports both of which can charge controllers - and both of which can be used at the same time. So if you're happy for your USB ports to be taken up with USB cables, charging your pads, then you're all set already.
However, the best other way to charge two controller on PS4 is with one of the great PS4 charging dock options on this list. This will only take up one USB slot at maximum - and maybe none at all if they plug straight into the mains - and will be a cost effective way of making sure you stay juiced.
Are PS4 charging docks compatible with PS5 DualSense controllers?
The short answer is no. The DualSense controllers of the PS5 have a type-C port for charging, which is not compatible of that of the Micro B USB cables for the PS4. If you want to charge your PS5 controllers, you will have to use the accompanying cable provided with your PS5 console, or pickup one of the officially licenced or third-party PS5 charging docks currently available.
Are the best PS4 controller chargers compatible with the PS5?
The PS5 doesn't use DualShock 4 controllers, and so the best PS4 charging docks are not compatible with the next-gen console. The official PS5 controller, the Dualsense, uses a USB-C connection for charging, instead of the microUSB that's utilized by PS4 controllers. With that in mind, you will have to grab one of the many officially licenced, and third-party PS5 charging docks and stands if you want a dock for the PS5.
Now we're well into the life of the PS5, you may want to check out your accessory options on that new machine - so head over to our best PS5 accessories page, as well as our best PS5 headset and best PS5 SSD guides.
