The 8 Best Laptop Locks Under $150 of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: One lock head for standard and nano slots, with a 6-foot cut-resistant cable.

Kensington's Universal 3-in-1 is the only lock here sold as working in more than one slot type: it fits standard and nano slots from a single head. That matters because laptops change faster than locks, and a universal head follows you from an old work machine to a new thin one.

It wins because the others each cover one slot family. The 1.8 m (6 ft) carbon steel cable has a plastic sheath that resists cutting, and the four-number dial resets to your choice of code. Against the two Kensington single-slot locks, it costs a little more and gives up nothing but a slightly bulkier head.

Buy it for a household or office with mixed laptops. The caveat is that universal heads fit slots, not slotless designs, so a MacBook still needs a different approach.

Slots

Standard and nano

Cable

1.8 m (6 ft) carbon steel

Code

Resettable 4-number dial

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A universal lock that names MacBooks, Surface and Dell as supported.

Multplx sells a universal laptop security lock and states it works with MacBooks, Surface and Dell machines. The cable is described as extremely durable and cut-resistant steel meant to tether the laptop to a desk.

It ranks just below the Kensington Universal because the Kensington documents its slot types, cable length and code range, while the Multplx listing is more general. Its advantage is the explicit mention of MacBook and Surface, two families that frustrate buyers of slot-only locks. For those users it is the more reassuring listing.

Pick it if your laptop is a MacBook or Surface and you want a single lock. The caveat is that the listing gives no cable length or code details, so check the product page before relying on it for a long tether.

Compatibility

MacBook, Surface, Dell

Cable

Cut-resistant steel

Use

Tether to desks

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: Includes an anchor plate so MacBooks and slotless laptops can be locked.

I3C solves the slotless problem with an anchor plate for MacBooks, plus a standard lock head for most other laptops. The lock head itself is stainless steel, which resists wear better than painted zinc.

It ranks third because the plate approach is a workaround, not a real security slot. The Kensington Universal gives a stronger connection into a laptop's reinforced slot, while the I3C relies on an adhesive plate, so its protection depends on how well that plate bonds. For a MacBook, it is still better than nothing, and it has more clarity than a generic listing.

Best for slotless laptops where the choice is a plate or no lock at all. The caveat is that adhesive plates can mar a finish when removed, so decide before you stick it.

Slotless support

Anchor plate

Head

Stainless steel

Fit

Standard slot, most laptops

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A slim-head standard-slot lock with a 5-foot cable for under $25.

This Kensington is built for the standard security slot and uses a slim lock head so it fits thin laptops without crowding adjacent ports. The 5-foot (1.5 m) carbon steel cable resists cutting, and the four-wheel code is yours to reset.

It ranks fourth because it covers only one slot type, which the 3-in-1 outdoes for slightly more money. Against its sibling nano-slot lock, it is simply the other half of the pair: pick the one that matches the slot on your laptop. At under $25 it is the cheapest of the Kensington locks here.

Buy it if you know your slot is standard and you want the lowest price from a brand whose hardware is widely supported. The caveat is a 5-foot cable, a foot shorter than the 6-foot models.

Slot

Standard

Cable

5 ft (1.5 m) carbon steel

Head

Slim, for thin laptops

Price

Under $25

Our verdict: The nano-slot version of the slim Kensington, with the same 5-foot cable.

Thin modern ultrabooks use a nano-size security slot, and this Kensington is cut to fit it. It keeps the 5-foot (1.5 m) carbon steel cable, the slim lock head and the resettable four-wheel code of its standard-slot twin.

It ranks fifth because the Universal 3-in-1 also handles nano slots and adds length, though at a higher price. If you are certain your laptop is nano-only, this model gets you the same security for under $25. The risk is buying the wrong one, since a standard head will not seat in a nano slot.

Pick it for an ultrabook owner who wants the least expensive branded lock. The caveat is cable length: five feet limits where you can anchor.

Slot

Nano

Cable

5 ft (1.5 m) carbon steel

Head

Slim

Price

Under $25

Our verdict: A T-bar standard lock with 10,000 combinations and a 6-foot cable.

This Kensington uses a T-bar locking mechanism for standard slots and is listed for HP, Lenovo and Acer laptops. It has a resettable four-wheel code with 10,000 possible combinations and a 6-foot carbon steel cable that is cut-resistant and anchors to desks.

It ranks sixth because the T-bar design is an older style compared with the newer slim heads, and it fits standard slots only. The extra foot of cable over the 5-foot models is useful for wrapping around a heavy desk leg. Against the N17 Dell model, it fits a wider range of brands.

Good for office laptops that need a long tether. The caveat is the head size, which can crowd the side of a thin machine.

Slot

Standard (T-bar)

Cable

6 ft carbon steel

Code

10,000 combinations

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A Dell-specific lock with a unique engagement and 10,000 combinations.

The N17 is made to fit Dell laptops, with a head designed to seat seamlessly in their security slot. It has a resettable four-wheel code with 10,000 possible combinations, and a unique engagement that forms a strong connection to the machine.

It ranks seventh because it is brand-specific, and the Universal 3-in-1 does the same job for Dell and others at the same price bucket. Where the N17 helps is on older Dell laptops with the Dell-style slot, where a generic head can fit loosely. For those users it is the safest match.

Buy it only for Dell machines that match. The caveat is limited flexibility: if you change brands, the lock becomes less useful.

Fit

Dell laptops

Code

10,000 combinations

Reset

Resettable 4-wheel

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: A 6-foot combination lock for select HP laptops with a four-wheel code.

The NanoSaver is listed for select HP laptops, with a resettable four-wheel number code and a 6-foot carbon steel cable in a plastic sheath that resists cutting. The sheath protects desk finishes from the cable.

It ranks last because the compatibility is narrow and the listing says select models, which means you must verify your laptop. The Universal 3-in-1 offers the same 6-foot cable and more fit options for a similar price. The NanoSaver only wins if your HP model is on its list.

Buy it after checking the HP model list on the product page. The caveat is that a wrong match wastes the purchase, since nano heads are not interchangeable with standard ones.

Fit

Select HP laptops

Cable

6 ft carbon steel, sheath

Code

Resettable four-wheel

Price

$25 to $50