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Wattage · PD 3.1 maximum, 48V
240W is the ceiling of the entire USB-C standard.
48V × 5A = 240W, the highest contract PD 3.1 defines and the most any USB-C connector is rated to carry. Almost no consumer device asks for it as a single contract — which is why nearly every 240W charger on sale is a four-port total with 140W on its best port.
The three EPR rails, and where 240W sits
| Rail | Voltage × current | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| 100W (SPR maximum) | 20V × 5A | MacBook Pro 14″, most Windows laptops over USB-C |
| 140W | 28V × 5A | MacBook Pro 16″, Anker/UGREEN EPR chargers |
| 180W | 36V × 5A | Framework Laptop 16 and a handful of workstation-class machines |
| 240W | 48V × 5A | Charger totals, docks, some monitor and e-bike power supplies |
The honest summary for 2026: single-port 240W consumption is rare. Gaming laptops that could use it mostly retain a barrel-plug DC input for full performance and accept 100–140W over USB-C for charging and light work. Buy 240W for the port count and the 140W primary rail, and treat any device that genuinely negotiates 48V as a bonus. Background: 240W USB-C explained.
The cable is not optional at this level
An EPR contract above 100W is only permitted over a cable e-marked for 240W — 50V, 5A. That marking is different from the 100W/5A e-marker most people already own, and a 240W charger paired with a 100W cable simply stays on the 20V rail and behaves like a 100W unit. USB-IF certified EPR cables carry the 240W logo on the packaging; the chip inside is what the charger interrogates before it will raise the voltage. See the e-marked cable guide and the mechanics in USB-C Power Delivery explained.
What a 240W total actually powers
| Simultaneous devices | Draw | Result |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 16″ (140W) + MacBook Air (70W) + phone (20W) | 230W | All three at full speed — the case 240W was built for |
| MacBook Pro 16″ (140W) + iPad Pro (30W) + Switch dock (39W) + earbuds (5W) | 214W | Fits with margin |
| Two MacBook Pro 16″ (140W each) | 280W | Over budget — one drops to roughly 100W |
| Framework Laptop 16 (180W) | 180W | Depends on the port: 180W needs a 36V-capable port, not just a 240W total |
| Ultrabook (65W) + phone (20W) | 85W | Works, but you have bought four times the charger you need |
240W-class chargers
- 240W
SmallRig 240W 4-Port PD
The value benchmark in this class: 140W PD 3.1 on the primary port with three more devices attached.
- Output
- 240W total
- Ports
- 3× C, 1× A
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Primary port
- 140W
- 240W
Anker Prime 240W Charger
Premium desktop take with per-port power management and PD 3.1 on the top USB-C port.
- Output
- 240W total
- Ports
- 4
- Standard
- PD 3.1
- Form
- Desktop
- 245W
HyperJuice 245W GaN
Multi-port desk unit slightly above the standard's ceiling in total, with EPR on the primary port.
- Output
- 245W total
- Ports
- 4
- Tech
- GaN
Ranked alternatives live on 240W GaN chargers, and the detailed teardown of the value pick is on the SmallRig 240W review.
When 240W is the wrong answer
One laptop, however big: buy 140W — the 16″ MacBook Pro cannot use more, and the price and size gap is significant. A busy desk with one laptop: 160W or 200W covers it. Travel: 240W bricks are heavy and their real advantage disappears when only two devices are attached; 100W travels better. Compare the top two tiers head to head on 140W vs 240W, and see every class on the wattage hub.
FAQ
Is 240W the maximum USB-C can ever do?
It is the maximum PD 3.1 defines: 48V at 5A. Higher power over the same connector would require a new revision of the standard and new cabling, so 240W is the practical ceiling today.
Do I need a special cable for 240W?
Yes, and it is a specific one: a cable e-marked for 240W (50V/5A). A 100W 5A cable is not enough - the charger stays on the 20V rail and delivers 100W.
Does any laptop actually draw 240W over USB-C?
Very few. Most machines that need that much power keep a barrel-plug DC input and accept 100-140W over USB-C. In practice 240W chargers are bought as four-port totals with a 140W primary port.