Best eSATA Hard Drive Enclosures of 2025

Mike Davis Avatar
Mike Davis
Last Updated: Jan 6, 2025

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eSATA hard drive enclosures are an excellent way to expand your computer's storage capacity. These enclosures allow you to connect an external hard drive to your computer via the eSATA interface, which provides faster transfer speeds than USB. They are compatible with both desktop and laptop computers, and can accommodate 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives. Some enclosures even support multiple hard drives, allowing you to create a RAID array for added data redundancy. With eSATA hard drive enclosures, you can easily store and access large amounts of data without sacrificing speed or convenience.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Vantec NexStar JX USB 3.2 Gen1x1 Enclosure with eSATA Cover #TOP 1
Vantec NexStar JX USB 3.2 Gen1x1 Enclosure with eSATA
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Syba SY-ENC50104 4 Bay 3.5” SATA III HDD Non-RAID Enclosure Cover #TOP 2
Syba SY-ENC50104 4 Bay 3.5” SATA III HDD Non-RAID Enclosure
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Cover #TOP 3
Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 eSATA Hard Drive Enclosures

#TOP 1

Vantec NexStar JX USB 3.2 Gen1x1 Enclosure with eSATA

NST-358SU3-BK
Black
Vantec NexStar JX USB 3.2 Gen1x1 Enclosure with eSATA Cover
Vantec NexStar JX, USB 3.2 Gen1x1, 3.5" or 2.5” SATA III HDD/SSD Drive Green Enclosure with eSATA (NST-358SU3-BK), Black

The Vantec NexStar JX enclosure is designed for large capacity SATA III HDD/SSD drives, supporting both 3.5" and 2.5" sizes. Its aluminum casing provides effective cooling while vents exhaust hot air and let in cool air. With maximum transfer rates up to 5 Gbps for USB 3.2 Gen1x1 and up to 6 Gbps for eSATA, you can easily add storage to any system or appliance. It's hot-swappable, plug & play without rebooting, and doesn't require drivers for Windows OS and OSX. Great for DVR, PVR, NAS, and more.

What We Like
Supports both 3.5" and 2.5" drives
Effective cooling with aluminum casing and vents
High transfer rates up to 5 Gbps for USB and 6 Gbps for eSATA
#TOP 2

Syba SY-ENC50104 4 Bay 3.5” SATA III HDD Non-RAID Enclosure

SY-ENC50104
Black
4 bay
Syba SY-ENC50104 4 Bay 3.5” SATA III HDD Non-RAID Enclosure Cover
Syba SY-ENC50104 4 Bay 3.5” SATA III HDD Non-RAID Enclosure – Supports USB 3.0 & eSATA Interface, Black

The Syba SY-ENC50104 4 Bay 3.5” SATA III HDD Non-RAID Enclosure is a great choice for those looking for a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective way to store and access up to four HDDs with a capacity of up to 18TB per drive. It features a Forced Convection Process to help speed up the air circulation and heat ventilation, adjustable cooling fan with 3 speed settings, and no A/C adapter required. Customers have praised its portability, ease of use, and ability to hot-swap drives.

What We Like
Supports up to four HDDs with a capacity of up to 18TB per drive
Forced Convection Process helps speed up the air circulation and heat ventilation
No A/C Adapter Required. Direct DC Power Connection to the Unit
Adjustable cooling fan with 3 speeding setting (low, high, and auto)
Portable, easy to use, and hot-swappable drives
#TOP 3

Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure

HF2-SU3S3
Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Cover
Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure – USB 3.0 eSATA Support 24TB HDD (HF2-SU3S3)

The Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure is a great option for those looking for an enclosure that can handle up to 4 drives with no raid features. It features a 2022 New Chipset, 2 Year Warranty from Mediasonic Store, supports all brand of 3.5" SATA 1 / 2 / 3 hard disk drive up to 18TB per drive, and up to 4 x 18TB, transfer rate up to 5.0Gbps via USB 3.0, transfer rate up to 6.0Gbps via eSATA, support 2.5” SATA SSD / HDD up to 12TB, built-in temperature sensor, Smart Fan with Auto and Manual mode, and ONE Button interface selection to switch USB 3.0 or eSATA.

What We Like
Great price relative to other options
Looks sleek and compact
Has airflow and can maximize by taking off the front plate
Easy to install and setup
Good transfer speeds
#TOP 4

Vantec 2.5" SATA HDD Enclosure

NST-266SU3-BK
Vantec 2.5" SATA HDD Enclosure Cover
Vantec 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s to USB 3.0/eSATA HDD Enclosure, Black Color (NST-266SU3-BK)

The Vantec 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s to USB 3.0/eSATA HDD Enclosure is a hard drive enclosure that allows you to easily add storage to any system with USB 3.0, 2.0, or 1.1. It is SATA III specification max 6Gbps and compatible with SATA II/I. An attractive LED indicates power and HDD activity. With no drivers needed for Windows OS and OSX, this hard drive enclosure is easy to use.

What We Like
Easy to add storage to any system
Fast data transfer with SATA III specification and USB 3.0
No drivers needed for Windows OS and OSX
#TOP 5

OWC Mercury Elite Pro eSATA/FW800/FW400/USB3.1 Enclosure

OWC
OWCMEP944FW8EU3
Enclosure
OWC Mercury Elite Pro eSATA/FW800/FW400/USB3.1 Enclosure Cover
OWC Mercury Elite Pro eSATA/FW800/USB3.1 (Enclosure)

The OWC Mercury Elite Pro is a high-speed storage solution for Mac or PC with an impressive 7200 RPM, 32MB cache and multiple interfaces including eSATA/FW800/FW400/USB3. It comes with pre-installed backup and utility software, as well as over 1.5GB of freeware/shareware/public domain software. All cables are included for your convenience. This hard drive enclosure has a 3 year OWC limited warranty.

What We Like
High-speed 7200 RPM with 32MB cache
Multiple interfaces including eSATA/FW800/FW400/USB3
Pre-installed backup and utility software, and over 1.5GB of freeware/shareware/public domain software
#TOP 6

StarTech.com S352BU33RER 2-Bay HDD Enclosure

S352BU33RER
Black
2-Bay
StarTech.com S352BU33RER 2-Bay HDD Enclosure Cover
StarTech.com USB 3.0 / eSATA Hot Swap HDD Enclosure with UASP - 2-Bay Trayless 3.5” SATA III (6 Gbps) Hard Drive Enclosure (S352BU33RER), Black

The StarTech 2-Bay HDD Enclosure offers impressive speed and efficiency for your data transfers, supporting SATA III speeds of up to 6 Gbps via eSATA. You can easily expand your storage with its versatile RAID options, including JBOD and RAID 0 and 1, which provide either increased capacity or data redundancy. The trayless design allows you to install and remove drives quickly, saving you time and hassle. Additionally, it is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, ensuring you can use it with your preferred setup without any issues.

What We Like
Fast data transfer speeds
Supports multiple RAID configurations
Easy drive installation
Wide operating system compatibility
#TOP 7

CENMATE 4 Bay Hard Drive Enclosure

cenmate
4 Bay No Raid
CENMATE 4 Bay Hard Drive Enclosure Cover
CENMATE 4 Bay Hard Drive Enclosure with Cooling Fan for 2.5/3.5" SATA HDD/SSD with USB A/C 3.0+eSATA Cable, 3.5 Hard Drive Reader Supports 80TB Capacity(NO RAID/NAS)

The CENMATE 4 Bay Enclosure is designed to support both 2.5 and 3.5-inch HDDs and SSDs, offering a massive storage capacity of up to 80TB. This makes it perfect for both personal and business use, helping you save valuable space on your devices. With its built-in silent fans and aluminum alloy construction, it ensures that your data remains cool and secure without any noise. You can enjoy fast data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, allowing you to move large files in just seconds. Plus, it’s easy to set up and compatible with multiple operating systems, making your experience hassle-free.

What We Like
Massive 80TB storage capacity
Fast 5Gbps data transfer
Silent cooling fans
Wide compatibility
#TOP 8

StarTech.com 3.5" External SATA Hard Drive Enclosure

S351BMU33ET
Black
StarTech.com 3.5" External SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Cover
StarTech.com 3.5" External Hard Drive Enclosure with eSATA Cable

The StarTech.com SATA Hard Drive Enclosure is a versatile and user-friendly solution for quick and easy access to your data. With its trayless design, you can easily swap drives in and out as needed. The enclosure is compatible with SATA I and II, and can be connected through USB 3.0 for fast transfer speeds. It also features a sleek and compact design, saving space on your desk. The fanless design ensures a quiet operation, allowing you to focus on your work without any distractions. Whether you need to back up, archive, or recover data, this hard drive enclosure provides maximum compatibility and convenience.

What We Like
Versatile functionality
Easy to use
Saves space
#TOP 9

CENMATE 4 Bay RAID Enclosure

cenmate
4 Bay RAID
Black
CENMATE 4 Bay RAID Enclosure Cover
CENMATE 4 Bay Aluminum Hard Drive RAID Enclosure with Cooling Fan for 2.5“/3.5" SATA HDD/SSD with USB A/C 3.0+eSATA Cable, Tool-Free HDD Enclosure Supports 80TB Capacity, 8 RAID Modes, DAS(NO NAS)

The CENMATE RAID Enclosure offers a reliable external storage solution for both personal and enterprise use. Supporting up to 80TB of storage, it accommodates both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDDs and SSDs, helping you save precious desk space. With eight RAID modes, you can easily manage your data according to your needs, though switching modes requires careful handling to avoid data loss. The enclosure features a built-in cooling fan that operates quietly, ensuring your drives stay cool without adding noise to your environment. Additionally, it supports high-speed data transfer up to 6Gbps, enhancing your workflow efficiency.

What We Like
Supports 80TB storage capacity
Multiple RAID modes available
Quiet cooling fan
Fast data transfer speeds
#TOP 10

Vantec NexStar 3 External Hard Drive Enclosure

NST-360SU-BL
Blue
Vantec NexStar 3 External Hard Drive Enclosure Cover
Vantec NexStar 3 NST-360SU-BL 3.5-Inch SATA to USB 2.0 and eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosure (Midnight Blue)

The Vantec NexStar 3 Enclosure offers a sleek, mirror-finished aluminum casing that helps keep your hard drive cool during use, which can extend its lifespan. You can easily expand your storage capacity with either USB or eSATA connectivity, making it versatile for different systems. With eSATA, you can achieve impressive transfer speeds of up to 3Gbps, ensuring quick data access and transfer. Additionally, the included SATA to eSATA bracket simplifies the installation process, allowing you to set up your new storage solution with ease.

What We Like
Cool aluminum casing
Easy storage expansion
Fast transfer speeds
SATA to eSATA bracket included
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is eSATA still used?

eSATA connectors are less common nowadays, as USB-based enclosures are more convenient. However, if your computer has an eSATA port, you can connect external drives like hard disk drives (HDDs) or optical drives using an eSATA cable. If your computer lacks an eSATA port, you can purchase an adapter bracket.

2. Do you need an enclosure for an external hard drive?

If your hard drive is not already set up as an external hard drive, you will need an enclosure that has a USB cable or a cable with a SATA adapter on one end and a USB connector on the other. This will allow you to connect your hard drive to a computer via USB.

3. What are the disadvantages of eSATA?

One disadvantage of eSATA hard drive enclosures is their cost. They tend to be more expensive compared to older USB enclosures because eSATA requires a separate power cable. On the other hand, USB drive enclosures can draw power directly from the USB bus.

4. Can I put an SSD in a SATA enclosure?

Yes, you can put an SSD (Solid State Drive) or a standard 2.5-inch hard drive with the proper SATA connectors into a SATA enclosure. Just make sure the enclosure is compatible with the type of drive you want to use.

5. How long do hard drive enclosures last?

The average lifespan of an external hard drive enclosure, assuming no physical damage occurs, is around 3-5 years. However, it can vary depending on the make, model, and storage conditions. If you use an external hard drive to back up your data, it's a good idea to consider replacing it every few years to ensure the safety of your data.

Editor's Notes

During our esata hard drive enclosure research, we found 24 esata hard drive enclosure products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 39,757 customer reviews through our big data system to write the esata hard drive enclosures list. We found that most customers choose esata hard drive enclosures with an average price of $65.23.

The esata hard drive enclosures are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of esata hard drive enclosures, including Vantec, IO CREST, Mediasonic, OWC, StarTech.com. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Mike Davis Avatar

Mike Davis is a professionally trained electrician with six years of working experience in the electronics industry. He has written an array of web and mobile-based articles for e-magazines and blogs. He loves trying out some novel and popular gadgets and his expertise is in the areas of electronics and computers which is built over many years of working and personal experiences.