USB-C charging has become an increasingly useful part of office desk power.
Instead of every employee bringing a separate mains charger to their desk, a suitable USB-C outlet can charge compatible phones, tablets and laptops directly from the workstation.
However, not every desk needs the same charging output. Within the Desktop Power range, the main choice is between 45W and 90W USB-C charging.
Both can work very well in an office. The right option depends on the devices employees use, whether laptops will be charged directly from the desk and how flexible the workspace needs to be.
What does USB-C wattage actually mean?
The wattage describes the maximum amount of power a charger can provide under suitable conditions.
A 45W charger can provide up to 45 watts, while a 90W charger can provide up to 90 watts.
This does not mean a device connected to a 90W outlet will automatically receive 90W.
With compatible USB Power Delivery equipment, the charger and connected device communicate so that the device requests an appropriate level of power. A phone or tablet that requires less power can therefore be connected to a higher output charger without simply receiving the charger's full rated output.
USB-C and USB Power Delivery are not the same thing
This is an important distinction when comparing desk power products.
USB-C describes the physical connector.
USB Power Delivery, often shortened to USB PD, is the charging technology that allows compatible equipment to negotiate higher levels of power through USB-C.
A product having a USB-C socket does not by itself tell you how much charging power it can provide.
That is why it is worth checking the charging output as well as the connector type when specifying desk power.
What is 45W USB-C charging suitable for?
45W is a strong general purpose option for many office workstations.
It provides ample charging capability for phones, tablets, headphones and other everyday USB devices. It can also charge many compatible laptops, particularly smaller and lower power models.
45W can make particular sense where USB-C is intended to provide convenient everyday charging rather than replace the power supply for every possible laptop that might arrive at the desk.
Within our current range, the Protea on desk power unit is available with 45W USB charging, making it a strong option for general workstation charging.
Why would you choose 90W instead?
90W provides considerably more charging capacity and is aimed more directly at laptop charging.
This can be particularly useful in environments where different employees use the same workstation or where the exact laptop model connected to the desk may change from day to day.
90W charging can therefore be a strong option for:
- Hot desk environments
- Shared workstations
- Meeting rooms
- Boardroom tables
- Offices where USB-C laptops are standard equipment
- Workspaces designed to accommodate a wider range of laptop models
Current USB equipped configurations of our Punto, Wave, Rotadock and Omega power units are supplied with 90W dual USB-C charging.
45W vs 90W at a glance
| Charging output | Typical use | Where it can make sense |
|---|---|---|
| 45W | Phones, tablets and many compatible lower power laptops | General office desks and everyday charging |
| 90W | Higher power laptop charging as well as smaller USB-C devices | Hot desks, meeting rooms and laptop focused workspaces |
These are general examples rather than guarantees of compatibility. The charging requirements of the actual device should always be checked.
Does 90W charge everything twice as fast as 45W?
No.
The connected device determines how much compatible USB Power Delivery power it can accept.
If a phone only supports a much lower charging rate, connecting it to a 90W outlet does not suddenly make it charge at 90W.
The main benefit of the higher output is that it can support more demanding equipment, particularly laptops, rather than simply making every connected device charge twice as quickly.
Can 45W charge a laptop?
Yes, many compatible laptops can charge from a 45W USB-C supply.
Whether it is suitable depends on the laptop itself and how much power it requires.
A lightweight business laptop may work very well with 45W charging, while a larger or more powerful machine may be supplied with a higher output adapter.
A laptop that normally expects more power may still accept a lower charging level, but it could charge more slowly or struggle to increase its battery level while performing demanding tasks.
The laptop manufacturer's charging specification should always be checked where USB-C is expected to replace its normal power supply.
When is 90W worth specifying?
The case for 90W becomes stronger when the desk needs to work with a wider variety of equipment.
A permanently assigned workstation is relatively easy to plan because the business knows which laptop the employee will use.
A hot desk is different. One person may connect a lightweight laptop in the morning and somebody with a more demanding machine may use the same desk later that day.
Providing 90W charging gives the workstation more headroom and can reduce the likelihood that employees will still need to carry their own mains power adapters.
Is 90W necessary on every office desk?
Not necessarily.
If employees mainly need to charge phones, tablets and smaller laptops, 45W can be completely appropriate.
There is little value in specifying a higher output purely because the number is larger.
90W becomes more useful where laptop charging is a key part of the workstation design or where the business wants greater flexibility around the equipment that may be connected in future.
Think about how the workstation will be used
A useful way to choose between 45W and 90W is to consider the type of workspace.
Permanent office desk
If the workstation belongs to one employee and their equipment is known, the required charging output can be matched to that equipment.
For many everyday office setups, 45W may provide all the USB charging that is required.
Hot desk
Hot desks have to accommodate different users and different devices.
90W can provide greater flexibility where employees are expected to connect and charge laptops directly from the desk.
Meeting and boardroom tables
Meeting spaces may be used by employees, visitors and customers carrying a wide variety of devices.
A higher output USB-C solution can make sense where the objective is to offer convenient laptop charging without relying on visitors having the correct mains adapter with them.
General charging points
If the USB-C connection is mainly intended for phones, tablets and occasional charging, 45W can be more than sufficient.
What about dual USB-C?
Some desk power products provide two USB-C connections from the same charging module.
This can be particularly useful in shared workspaces and meeting rooms because two compatible devices can be connected without occupying a mains socket.
When comparing dual USB-C chargers, it is worth checking how the available power is distributed when both ports are being used.
The advertised maximum output may not necessarily be available independently from both ports at the same time, so the specification of the particular charging module should be considered where simultaneous laptop charging is important.
The USB-C cable matters too
The charger and laptop are not the only parts of the connection.
The USB-C cable also needs to be suitable for the required charging level.
An unsuitable or damaged cable can prevent a device from receiving the level of power that the charger itself is capable of supplying.
This becomes particularly important with higher output laptop charging.
Using a suitable quality USB-C cable helps ensure the charger, cable and connected device can work together as intended.
USB-C can reduce the number of mains chargers around the desk
One of the main advantages of integrating USB-C into office furniture is that it can reduce reliance on separate plug in chargers.
Instead of connecting a laptop charger to a 13A socket and then running another cable across the desk, compatible equipment can connect directly to the desk power unit.
This can help:
- Reduce the number of loose chargers around the workstation
- Keep mains sockets available for other equipment
- Reduce clutter on and underneath the desk
- Make hot desks easier for employees to use
- Create a more consistent charging setup throughout an office
USB-C does not replace all mains power
Even in an office with high output USB-C charging, conventional mains sockets are still important.
Monitors, desktop computers, docking equipment and other workplace devices may still require mains power.
A well planned workstation can therefore combine accessible desk power and USB charging with under desk power distribution for equipment that remains permanently connected.
This keeps everyday connections within reach while allowing fixed equipment to remain neatly powered beneath the desk.
So, should you choose 45W or 90W?
For many standard office workstations, 45W provides a good balance between everyday device charging and support for compatible laptops.
For hot desks, shared workspaces, meeting rooms and environments where laptop charging is a more important requirement, 90W provides greater flexibility and additional charging capacity.
The best choice is not automatically the highest wattage available.
Start with the devices employees actually use, decide whether the USB-C connection needs to replace their laptop charger and then select the desk power unit around those requirements.
Important: USB-C charging performance depends on the charger, connected device and cable. Always check the charging requirements and USB Power Delivery support of the equipment being connected. Desktop Power product specifications can also vary depending on the selected configuration.