Right-angle plugs win in tight spaces.

Yes, if you’re squeezing a cord behind a bookshelf or between a sofa and the wall, the right-angle plug is your friend.

Standard flat plugs stick straight out of the outlet, which means you need at least a few inches of clearance behind whatever you’re plugging in. Right-angle plugs bend the cord 90 degrees so it runs flush against the wall. That extra inch or two makes the difference between the thing actually fitting or being pushed away from the wall.

There’s a catch: right-angle plugs are directional. You have to orient them so the cord runs the way you want. Some can rotate, but most are fixed. If the outlet is horizontal or the plug doesn’t point in the right direction, you might be stuck. In those cases, a low-profile flat plug that’s extra thin can work too.

Bottom line: for tight spaces, go right-angle, but check which way the cord will sit before you buy.