USB charging has become a standard part of many office desks, meeting tables and shared workspaces.
The specification used to be relatively simple. Add a USB-A charging port and employees could connect many of the phones and accessories they already owned.
That is changing quickly.
USB-C is now used across modern laptops, phones, tablets, docking equipment and other workplace devices. It can also support much higher charging outputs than the USB charging commonly found in older desk power products.
So if you are planning a new office, should you still specify USB-A, move entirely to USB-C, or provide a mixture of both?
The answer depends on the devices the workplace needs to support.
What is the difference between USB-A and USB-C?
USB-A is the familiar rectangular USB connector that has been used on computers, chargers and accessories for many years.
USB-C uses a smaller reversible connector that can be inserted either way around.
The physical connector is only part of the difference.
USB-C has also become the main connection used for modern USB Power Delivery charging, allowing compatible equipment to negotiate substantially higher charging outputs.
This means a suitable USB-C desk charger may be able to power devices that would previously have required a separate mains adapter.
USB-C does not automatically mean high power charging
This is an important distinction when comparing desk power products.
Seeing a USB-C socket does not tell you how much charging power it provides.
Different USB-C chargers can provide very different outputs.
For example, a USB-C port intended mainly for phones may provide considerably less power than a 45W or 90W charging module designed to support compatible laptops.
When specifying desk power, look at the charging output rather than simply whether the connector is USB-C.
Our 45W vs 90W USB-C charging guide explains this in more detail.
Where does USB-A still make sense?
USB-A remains useful because there is still a large amount of equipment in circulation that uses it.
This can include:
- Older phone charging cables
- Wireless headset chargers
- Computer accessories
- Smart watches and wearable chargers
- Small desk accessories
- Older company issued equipment
Replacing every USB-A cable in an existing workplace simply because a new desk has been installed may not be practical.
For refurbishment projects where employees continue using existing equipment, retaining some USB-A charging can therefore make sense.
Where does USB-C make more sense?
USB-C should generally be given greater priority when specifying power for a new workplace.
Modern laptops, phones and tablets increasingly use USB-C, and higher output USB-C charging can reduce the need for employees to bring separate mains adapters to their desks.
This is particularly useful in:
- Hot desk areas
- Flexible workspaces
- Meeting rooms
- Touchdown areas
- Shared project spaces
- Workplaces using USB-C laptops
In these environments, the desk needs to support a wider range of users rather than one employee with a permanently installed charger.
Think about the expected life of the furniture
Office furniture often remains in service much longer than the electronic equipment sitting on it.
A desk installed today may still be used after several generations of laptops and phones have been replaced.
That makes current compatibility only one part of the specification.
You should also consider what devices employees are likely to be using in several years' time.
For a completely new office installation, specifying only USB-A may provide good compatibility with older equipment today but leave the workspace increasingly dependent on adapters as devices continue moving towards USB-C.
Does that mean every USB-A port should be removed?
No.
There is a difference between prioritising USB-C and pretending USB-A no longer exists.
If a workplace has a known requirement for USB-A devices, providing an appropriate number of USB-A connections can still improve usability.
A mixed charging arrangement can be particularly useful during the transition between older and newer equipment.
The important thing is to make that decision deliberately rather than automatically repeating the USB specification used on an older project.
A mixed USB-A and USB-C solution can work well
Where both connection types are genuinely required, a mixed charging unit provides a useful middle ground.
For example, the Protea on desk power unit is available with 45W charging using USB-A and USB-C, providing convenient charging at desk level for a mixture of workplace devices.
This type of arrangement can work well where employees still use USB-A accessories but also need USB-C charging.
When dual USB-C is the better approach
For newer laptop focused environments, dual USB-C can be a more appropriate specification.
Higher output USB-C charging allows the desk power system to support compatible laptops as well as phones and tablets.
This can be particularly valuable where organisations want employees to arrive at a workstation with their laptop and USB-C cable rather than carrying a separate power adapter.
Desktop Power also offers desk power configurations with 90W dual USB-C charging for applications where higher output charging is required.
You can browse the current desk power range to compare the available installation and charging options.
USB-C can reduce reliance on mains sockets
Traditionally, an employee charging a laptop would use one of the desk's UK mains sockets for the laptop power adapter.
If suitable USB-C laptop charging is built directly into the desk power unit, that mains socket may remain available for other equipment.
This does not necessarily mean fewer mains sockets should always be installed.
It does mean the charging strategy should be considered when deciding how many sockets the workstation actually needs.
Our guide on how many power sockets an office desk needs looks at the wider workstation requirement.
Charging output matters more at hot desks
A permanently assigned workstation can sometimes rely on an employee's existing charger being left at the desk.
A hot desk is different.
Different employees may arrive with different laptops and accessories each day.
Providing useful USB-C charging within the furniture can make the desk much easier to use without relying on every employee carrying a separate mains power supply.
For that reason, USB-C output deserves particular attention when planning flexible and shared workspaces.
Meeting rooms are another strong case for USB-C
Meeting rooms often need to accommodate employees, visitors and external contractors using different equipment.
Accessible USB-C charging can provide a convenient way to keep compatible laptops and mobile devices powered during longer meetings.
It can also help avoid multiple laptop power adapters being connected around the table.
For modern meeting and boardroom furniture, accessible USB-C alongside conventional mains power provides useful flexibility.
Do not assume every laptop can charge at the same wattage
Laptop charging requirements vary considerably.
A smaller business laptop may operate comfortably from a lower output USB-C charger, while a larger or more powerful machine may require substantially more power.
The device and charger normally negotiate the charging level they both support.
If the charger cannot provide the device's preferred power level, charging may be slower or the laptop may continue to rely on its dedicated power adapter.
This is why the workplace equipment should be considered before deciding whether 45W or 90W charging is appropriate.
The cable matters too
The charging module is not the only part of a USB-C charging system.
The cable connecting the desk charger to the device also needs to support the required charging performance.
An unsuitable or low specification cable can limit charging even when the desk power unit and laptop support a higher output.
For managed workplace deployments, it can therefore be useful to consider whether suitable USB-C cables will be supplied to employees or whether users will provide their own.
Think about charging separately from data
USB-C can be used for charging, data and video, but a USB-C charging port built into a desk power unit should not automatically be assumed to provide all of those functions.
If the workplace requires monitor connectivity, networking, docking or AV connections through the desk, those requirements should be specified separately.
Do not assume that because a port physically accepts a USB-C plug it is connected to the office data or display system.
What should you specify for a new office?
For most new office projects, USB-C should now be the starting point.
Consider USB-A as an additional compatibility requirement rather than automatically making it the main charging connection.
A practical approach might be:
- Existing office refurbishment: consider mixed USB-A and USB-C where older equipment remains in use
- New fixed workstations: prioritise USB-C and select the charging output around the company laptop fleet
- Hot desks: give higher output USB-C strong consideration
- Meeting rooms: provide accessible USB-C alongside appropriate mains power
- Legacy equipment areas: retain USB-A where there is a genuine operational requirement
Ask employees what they actually connect
One of the easiest ways to improve the specification is also one of the simplest.
Check what equipment employees currently use.
For a larger office project, record:
- The laptop models being deployed
- Their normal charging requirements
- Whether USB-C charging is supported
- Which USB-A accessories remain in regular use
- Whether employees use docking stations
- Whether the workplace is moving towards hot desking
This provides a much better basis for specifying desk charging than simply choosing the same USB module used on the previous fit out.
Do not forget the rest of the workstation power system
USB charging is only one part of desk power planning.
You still need to consider:
- UK mains sockets
- Permanent equipment underneath the desk
- GST18 mains connections
- Cable management
- Desk layout
- Building power supplies
- Relevant furniture electrical requirements
Our office fit out desk power guide covers the complete workstation planning process.
USB-C is the direction of travel, but specify for the workplace you actually have
USB-C is increasingly the more useful connection for modern office charging, particularly where laptops and flexible working are involved.
That does not make USB-A worthless overnight.
The best specification balances the equipment employees use today with the equipment the workplace is likely to support during the lifetime of the furniture.
For many new installations, that means making USB-C the priority while retaining USB-A only where there is a clear compatibility requirement.
Important: USB charging performance depends on the charging module, connected device and cable. Confirm the charging requirements of the equipment being supported before specifying a workplace charging solution.