{"id":477842,"date":"2022-07-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/"},"modified":"2022-07-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T21:00:00","slug":"does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/","title":{"rendered":"#Does the Length of a USB Cable Affect Charging?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2966e044bc8\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2966e044bc8\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/#%E2%80%9CDoes_the_Length_of_a_USB_Cable_Affect_Charging%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Does the Length of a USB Cable Affect Charging?&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/#Does_Cable_Length_Matter\" >Does Cable Length Matter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/#Will_a_Longer_USB_Cable_Charge_Slowly\" >Will a Longer USB Cable Charge Slowly?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/#StarTechcom_USB-C_to_USB-C_Cable\" >StarTech.com USB-C to USB-C Cable<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/does-the-length-of-a-usb-cable-affect-charging\/#Should_You_Be_Concerned_About_USB_Cable_Length\" >Should You Be Concerned About USB Cable Length?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CDoes_the_Length_of_a_USB_Cable_Affect_Charging%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Does the Length of a USB Cable Affect Charging?&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<!-- UNCACHED CONTENT --><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-749026 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/usb-power-brick.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"USB power brick\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/unplugging-usb-cable-power-adapter-disconnect-1874227606\" data-credittext=\"Jin Odin\/Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/unplugging-usb-cable-power-adapter-disconnect-1874227606\">Jin Odin\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From smartphones to laptops, we charge multiple devices each day, and many of them use a USB cable for delivering power. But if you use a cable with more length, are you risking longer charge times? Here\u2019s everything you need to know.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_Cable_Length_Matter\"><\/span>Does Cable Length Matter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The length of a USB cable can impact the amount of power it\u2019s delivering from one end to another, but there are several caveats. Additionally, you can\u2019t simply say that if you use a long <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/53587\/usb-explained-all-the-different-types-and-what-theyre-used-for\/\">USB<\/a> cable, you\u2019ll get a slower charging speed, or that faster charging always comes with a shorter cable. But before we talk about these caveats, it\u2019s essential to understand why the cable length matters.<\/p>\n<p>When an electric current passes through a wire, it\u2019s not a free flow. Instead, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.electronics-tutorials.ws\/resistor\/resistivity.html\">current encounters resistance<\/a> from the wire, which causes energy loss. As a result, voltage drops when the current reaches its destination.<\/p>\n<p>However, the resistance between two points depends on several factors, including not just the length of the wire but also its cross-sectional area, temperature, and the material used in the wire.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-763802 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/anker-charger-cable.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Anker Charger Cable\" width=\"650\" height=\"390\" data-credittext=\"Anker\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Anker<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The longer a wire is, the more resistance the electric current will experience. So a one-meter cable will have less resistance than a two-meter cable. Similarly, the resistance of a wire increases with an increase in temperature. So if you are charging a device when the surrounding temperature is high, the resistance will also be higher than when the temperature is lower.<\/p>\n<p>However, the resistance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area. Meaning if a wire is thicker, the current will get less resistance. But if the wire is thinner, the resistance will be higher. In the US, the wire thickness is commonly measured in gauge. That said, it\u2019s important to remember that a lower gauge number indicates thicker wire, whereas a higher one means thinner. So lower gauge wires have lower resistance, and higher gauge wires have higher resistance.<\/p>\n<p>And finally, the electrical resistance also depends on the material from which the wire is made. Silver has the least resistance, followed by copper, gold, and aluminum. USB and other cables typically use copper as it\u2019s cheaper than silver, but copper alloys are also used to increase the physical strength of the cables.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, yes, the length of the USB cable matters when it comes to the charging speed. But is the voltage drop significant enough to be noticeable, and do the cable manufacturers account for this voltage drop?<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Why You Shouldn&#8217;t Bother Repairing Damaged Charging Cables<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_Longer_USB_Cable_Charge_Slowly\"><\/span>Will a Longer USB Cable Charge Slowly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-724808 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/wall-charger.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"wall charger\" width=\"650\" height=\"298\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/phone-plugged-on-socket-wall-charging-1006841665\" data-credittext=\"paikong\/Shutterstock\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/phone-plugged-on-socket-wall-charging-1006841665\">paikong\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>By now, it has become clear that there can be a voltage drop if you use a longer USB cable. But, as mentioned, multiple factors can affect the level of the voltage drop. Most important of which is the gauge of the wire. Temperature and wire material don\u2019t matter as much because most USB cables typically have copper wires, and your surrounding temperature will not change whether you have a short or long cable.<\/p>\n<p>As voltage drop is an unfortunate reality, USB cable manufacturers typically account for this and use lower gauge wire in long cables to reduce the overall electric resistance. But if a manufacturer has not done so, you may see a meaningful voltage drop in long cables, leading to slower charging. Untrustworthy and no-name brands sometimes try to save money by using higher gauge wire in longer cables.<\/p>\n<p>But you won\u2019t encounter this issue if the cable is USB-IF certified and from a reputed brand. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usb.org\/\">USB-IF or USB Implementers Forum<\/a> is a non-profit that maintains the USB standard, and it has recommended minimum DCR (DC resistance) requirements. According to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usb.org\/sites\/default\/files\/USB%20Type-C%20Spec%20R2.0%20-%20August%202019.pdf\">USB-IF specification<\/a> (PDF), there shouldn\u2019t be more than 500 mV (0.5V) drop in a cable from end to end at the rated maximum current.<\/p>\n<p>To give you an example of what a 0.5V drop might mean for your phone\u2019s charging speed, if a charger pushes 3A of current at 5V, your phone should ideally get 15W of charging. But because of the voltage drop, 5V becomes 4.5V, and your phone only gets around 13.5W of charging speed. And 0.5V is the maximum drop in USB-IF certified cables, which you will only see in long cables, such as two, three, or more meters.<\/p>\n<p>So if you plan to buy a long USB cable, look for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/USB-Cable-USB-IF-Certified-Charging\/dp\/B07F5TL1QB\/?tag=hotoge-20\">a USB-IF certified cable<\/a> from a reputed brand to avoid dealing with slower charging.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-box  \">\n<div class=\"product-img product-img-noaward\">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"presentation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/USB-Cable-USB-IF-Certified-Charging\/dp\/B07F5TL1QB\/?tag=hotoge-20\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31nMtNTR9pL._SL160_.jpg\" height=\"147px\" width=\"150px\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"product-title \">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Shop for StarTech.com USB-C to USB-C Cable\" aria-label=\"Shop for StarTech.com USB-C to USB-C Cable\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/USB-Cable-USB-IF-Certified-Charging\/dp\/B07F5TL1QB\/?tag=hotoge-20\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"StarTechcom_USB-C_to_USB-C_Cable\"><\/span>StarTech.com USB-C to USB-C Cable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"product-features\">This StarTech.com USB-C cable is an excellent long USB cable for charging. It comes with USB-IF certification and supports up to 100W of charging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Apart from cable manufacturers, fast charging standards, such as Qualcomm Quick Charge, are also mindful of the voltage drop in long, thin cables. As a result, these standards try to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qualcomm.com\/products\/features\/quick-charge\/faq\">minimize charging issues<\/a> by pushing a high voltage.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Be_Concerned_About_USB_Cable_Length\"><\/span>Should You Be Concerned About USB Cable Length?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While technically it\u2019s true that the length of a USB cable can affect its charging speed, as a consumer, you shouldn\u2019t worry about it. Most people would probably never buy a USB cable longer than one or two meters, and the voltage drop is minuscule for these sizes. And if you want a longer USB cable, USB-IF certification and respected brands are your friends. You can also check out our best USB-C cables and the best Lightning cables roundups for cable recommendations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/810652\/does-usb-cable-length-affect-charging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Does the Length of a USB Cable Affect Charging?&#8221; Jin Odin\/Shutterstock.com From smartphones to laptops, we charge multiple devices each day, and many of them use a USB cable for delivering power. But if you use a cable with more length, are you risking longer charge times? Here\u2019s everything you need to know. Does Cable&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":477843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/usb-power-brick.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-477842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}