What USB cable do I need for fast charging?
You need a USB-C cable that supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD). The cable must be rated at or above the wattage of your charger. For phone fast charging (20–45 W), a 60 W USB-C cable works. For laptop charging (65–100 W), use a cable rated for 100 W (5 A).
Why the cable matters
Not all USB-C cables carry the same current. A thin USB-C cable (charge-only or data cable) is typically limited to 3 A, which caps delivery at 60 W even if your charger outputs more. A thicker cable with a 5 A rating can pass up to 100 W.
Using the wrong cable doesn't damage devices — the charger and device negotiate automatically — but you'll charge at a slower speed than the setup is capable of.
Wattage requirements
| Use case | Charger wattage | Minimum cable rating |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone fast charge | 20–45 W | 60 W USB-C (3 A) |
| iPad / tablet fast charge | 20–30 W | 60 W USB-C |
| Small laptop (MacBook Air, etc.) | 61–67 W | 100 W USB-C (5 A) |
| Full laptop (MacBook Pro, ThinkPad) | 67–100 W | 100 W USB-C (5 A) |
| GaN multi-port charger | 100–140 W | 240 W (USB4 cable for 140 W+) |
Proprietary fast charge protocols
Some fast charging (Qualcomm Quick Charge, Samsung Super Fast Charging, OnePlus Warp) uses proprietary signaling over USB-A or USB-C. These require both a matching charger and cable from the manufacturer. Standard USB PD cables will still charge these devices — just at slower speeds.