Conference Table Power & Cable Management: A Guide to Table Power Modules (and Cable Cubbies)

Every meeting starts the same way. People sit down, open laptops, and the hunt begins. Where’s a free socket? Who has the charging cable? Does the HDMI lead reach? Someone drags a wire across the table to a wall outlet and trips the power. The first five minutes vanish into logistics instead of the agenda.

The fix is simple: bring power and connectivity to the table itself. This guide shows you how. It covers table power modules (often called cable cubbies), the main types, how to manage the cabling underneath, and how to choose the right setup for a boardroom, desk, or meeting room.

What is a table power module (or “cable cubby”)?

A table power module is a built-in unit that sits flush in a conference table, desk, or workstation. It delivers power and data right where people sit. You’ll also hear it called a cable cubby, a table connectivity box, or an in-table power-and-data module. “Cable Cubby” itself is an Extron brand name that has become shorthand for the whole category.

When closed, the module sits level with the table for a clean surface. When opened, it presents connections at the seat, so devices plug in at the table instead of trailing cables to the wall. A typical module combines several of these:

• Mains power sockets at the table surface.
• USB charging — USB-A and USB-C fast-charging ports.
• Data and AV connections — HDMI, LAN, and similar pass-throughs for presenting and conferencing.
• Concealed cable routing that keeps everything below the surface tidy.

The three types: flip-up, modular track, and retractable

Modules differ mainly in how they open and how you install them. Pick the type based on the table, how the room works, and how completely the unit should disappear when idle.

Flip-up modules use a hinged lid. It flips up to reveal power and connectivity, then folds back flush with the table. They work well on desks, headboards, and conference tables with fixed seating. Tono’s flip-up option is the Thin 2. It offers three power sockets, USB-A and USB-C charging, and HDMI/LAN, in silver, black, or gold.

Modular power tracks run a continuous rail along the table. You can add, move, or reconfigure power and data positions anywhere along its length. This suits larger boardroom tables and spaces where seating changes. Tono’s modular system is the Glide X, with up to five sockets plus USB-A/C and HDMI/LAN.

Retractable modules withdraw fully into the table when idle. They leave the surface completely clear, which suits a table that doubles as a clean working or dining surface. If you need full retraction, confirm the right configuration for your table.

Cable management doesn’t stop at the module

The module solves connectivity at the surface. A truly tidy table also needs good cable management below. A few principles help:

• Route to a single drop. Gather the cabling into one managed path down a table leg or through a floor box, rather than several loose runs.
• Use a cable tray or spine under the tabletop. It carries power and data along the table to the module.
• Plan the floor exit first. Decide where the cabling leaves — a wall, a floor box, or a poke-through — before installation, so no cable runs exposed across the room.
• Separate power and data where you can, to avoid interference on longer runs.

Do this well and people see only a clean tabletop and the connections they need. Everything else stays hidden.

How to choose the right setup

Three questions narrow it down fast.

Is the layout fixed or changing? Fixed seating suits a flip-up module at each position. A table you reconfigure suits a modular power track you can move.

What connections does each seat need? Count the mains sockets, decide USB-A versus USB-C, and confirm whether you need HDMI or LAN for presenting. Buy for how the room actually works.

How invisible should it be when idle? A flip-up module folds flush. A retractable module disappears completely. Match this to how clear the table needs to look between uses.

Looking for a Cable Cubby alternative?

Researching Extron’s Cable Cubby and want to compare options? The category runs wider than any one brand. The right choice comes down to the same three questions above: flip-up vs modular vs retractable, the connections you need, and how the finish suits your furniture.

Tono’s Thin 2 (flip-up) and Glide X (modular power track) cover the common conference-table and desk scenarios. Both deliver power, USB-A/C fast charging, and HDMI/LAN connectivity, with finish options to match the table. Both recess cleanly into the tabletop and conceal the cabling below. For a project, share your table type, seat count, and the connections each position needs, and we’ll recommend the configuration.

Where table power modules are used

Conference and boardroom tables. This is the most common use. The module delivers power and AV at each seat, so meetings start without a hunt for outlets.

Executive and workstation desks. A flush module keeps the desk clear while charging and data stay within reach.

Hospitality and furniture integration. Designers build modules into hotel desks, headboards, and co-working furniture. They add power and USB charging without changing the look.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cable cubby?

A cable cubby — more generically, a table power module — is a built-in unit that sits flush in a table or desk. It provides power sockets, USB charging, and data/AV connections at the surface, and it conceals the cabling beneath. “Cable Cubby” is also an Extron brand name that has become shorthand for the category.

What connections does a table power module provide?

It depends on the model. Most offer mains power sockets, USB-A and USB-C fast charging, and data or AV connections such as HDMI and LAN. Confirm the exact mix for the model you choose.

What’s the difference between a flip-up and a retractable module?

A flip-up module has a hinged lid that opens for access and folds back flush. A retractable module withdraws fully into the table when idle and leaves the surface completely clear. Flip-up suits quick everyday access. Retractable suits tables that double as clean working or dining surfaces.

How do you manage cables on a conference table?

Bring power and data to the table through a built-in module. Then route the cabling below into a single managed path — a tray or spine under the top and a tidy drop to a floor box or wall. Keep the power and data runs apart where you can.

Can a power module be fitted into an existing table?

Yes. The module recesses into the tabletop, which needs a correctly sized cut-out. For a retrofit, check the table thickness and the clearance below the surface against the model’s requirements.

What are the alternatives to an Extron Cable Cubby?

The category includes flip-up modules, modular power tracks, and retractable units from several makers. Choose based on whether your layout is fixed or changing, the connections each seat needs, and how hidden the unit should be when idle. Then compare specific models — such as Tono’s Thin 2 and Glide X — on those criteria.

The bottom line

A clean, productive conference table comes down to two things. First, bring power and connectivity to the surface with a built-in module. Second, manage the cabling properly underneath. Choose between flip-up, modular, and retractable based on your room, match the connections to how people work, and you get a table where every meeting starts on time.

Planning a conference room or desk fit-out? Tell us your table type, seat count, and the connections each position needs, and we’ll recommend the right power-and-data module for the job.

Every meeting has the same false start. People sit down, open laptops, and then the hunt begins — for a free socket, a charging cable, the one HDMI lead that reaches. Wires get dragged across the table to a wall outlet, someone trips the power, and the first five minutes are lost to logistics instead of the agenda.

The fix is to bring power and connectivity to the table, built into the surface itself. This guide explains how — covering table power modules (often called cable cubbies), the different types, how to manage the cabling underneath, and how to choose the right setup for a boardroom, desk, or meeting room.

What is a table power module (or “cable cubby”)?

A table power module is a built-in unit that sits flush in a conference table, desk, or workstation and delivers power and data at the point of use. You’ll also see them called cable cubbies, table connectivity boxes, or in-table power-and-data modules — “Cable Cubby” itself is a brand name from Extron that’s become a common shorthand for the whole category.

When closed, the module sits level with the table for a clean surface. When opened, it presents connections right where people are sitting, so devices plug in at the table instead of trailing cables to the wall. A typical module combines some or all of:

• Mains power sockets at the table surface.
• USB charging — USB-A and USB-C fast-charging ports.
• Data and AV connections — HDMI, LAN, and similar pass-throughs for presenting and conferencing.
• Concealed cable routing so everything below the surface stays hidden and tidy.

The three types: flip-up, modular track, and retractable

Modules differ mainly in how they open and how they’re installed. The right one depends on the table, how the room is used, and how completely the unit should disappear when idle.

Flip-up modules have a hinged lid that flips up to reveal power and connectivity, then folds back flush with the table. They’re quick, one-motion, and suit desks, headboards, and conference tables with fixed seating. Tono’s flip-up option is the Thin 2, which offers three power sockets, USB-A/USB-C charging, and HDMI/LAN, in silver, black, or gold.

Modular power tracks run a continuous rail along or within the table, so power and data positions can be added, moved, or reconfigured along its length. This suits larger boardroom tables and collaborative spaces where seating changes. Tono’s modular system is the Glide X, with up to five sockets plus USB-A/C and HDMI/LAN.

Retractable modules withdraw fully into the table when not in use, leaving the surface completely clear — ideal where a table doubles as a clean working or dining surface. If full retraction is a requirement, it’s worth confirming the configuration for your specific table.

Cable management doesn’t stop at the module

The module solves connectivity at the surface, but a genuinely tidy conference table needs the cabling below handled too. A few principles:

• Route to a single drop. Gather cabling from the module into one managed path down a table leg or through a floor box, rather than several loose runs.
• Use a cable tray or spine under the tabletop to carry power and data along the table to where the module sits.
• Plan the floor exit. Whether cabling goes to a wall, a floor box, or a poke-through, decide this before installation so there’s no surprise run of exposed cable across the room.
• Separate power and data where possible to avoid interference on longer runs.

Done well, the only thing anyone sees is a clean tabletop and the connections they need — everything else is concealed.

How to choose the right setup

Three questions narrow it down quickly:

Is the layout fixed or changing? Fixed seating suits a flip-up module at each position. A table whose layout is reconfigured suits a modular power track that can be repositioned.

What connections does each seat need? Confirm the count and type — how many mains sockets, USB-A vs USB-C, and whether HDMI or LAN is needed for presenting. Buy for the way the room is actually used.

How invisible should it be when idle? A flip-up module folds flush; a retractable module disappears entirely. Match this to whether the table needs to look completely clear between uses.

Looking for a Cable Cubby alternative?

If you’ve been researching Extron’s Cable Cubby and want to compare options, the category is broader than any one brand. The right choice comes down to the same three questions above — flip-up vs modular vs retractable, the connections you need, and how the finish suits your furniture.

Tono’s Thin 2 (flip-up) and Glide X (modular power track) cover the common conference-table and desk scenarios, with power, USB-A/C fast charging, and HDMI/LAN connectivity, and finish options to match the table. Both are designed to recess cleanly into the tabletop and keep cabling concealed below. For a project, the practical step is to share your table type, seat count, and the connections each position needs, and have the configuration recommended from there.

Where table power modules are used

Conference and boardroom tables — the most common application, delivering power and AV at each seat so meetings start without hunting for outlets.

Executive and workstation desks — a flush module keeps the desk clear while charging and data stay within reach.

Hospitality and furniture integration — built into hotel desks, headboards, and co-working furniture to add power and USB charging without changing the look.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cable cubby? A cable cubby — more generically, a table power module — is a built-in unit that sits flush in a table or desk and provides power sockets, USB charging, and data/AV connections at the surface, with cabling concealed beneath. “Cable Cubby” is also an Extron brand name that’s become shorthand for the category.

What connections does a table power module provide? Depending on the model: mains power sockets, USB-A and USB-C fast charging, and data/AV connections such as HDMI and LAN. Confirm the exact mix for the model you choose.

What’s the difference between a flip-up and a retractable module? A flip-up module has a hinged lid that opens for access and folds back flush. A retractable module withdraws fully into the table when idle, leaving the surface completely clear. Flip-up suits quick everyday access; retractable suits tables that double as clean working or dining surfaces.

How do you manage cables on a conference table? Bring power and data to the table through a built-in module, then route the cabling below into a single managed path — a tray or spine under the top and a tidy drop to a floor box or wall — keeping power and data runs separated where possible.

Can a power module be fitted into an existing table? Yes. Modules are recessed into the tabletop, which needs a correctly sized cut-out. For a retrofit, confirm the table thickness and the clearance below the surface against the model’s requirements.

What are the alternatives to an Extron Cable Cubby? The category includes flip-up modules, modular power tracks, and retractable units from several manufacturers. Choose based on whether your layout is fixed or changing, the connections each seat needs, and how hidden the unit should be when idle — then compare specific models, such as Tono’s Thin 2 and Glide X, on those criteria.

The bottom line

A clean, productive conference table comes down to two things: bringing power and connectivity to the surface with a built-in module, and managing the cabling properly underneath. Decide between flip-up, modular, and retractable based on your room, match the connections to how people actually work, and the result is a table where every meeting starts on time instead of with a search for the nearest socket.

Planning a conference room or desk fit-out? Tell us your table type, seat count, and the connections each position needs, and we’ll recommend the right power-and-data module for the job.