How Much Wattage Does My Laptop Charger Need?
Last reviewed 8/18/2026
Laptop manufacturers typically document both a minimum wattage needed to charge reliably and a recommended wattage for full-speed charging under load — the two aren't always the same number.
Minimum vs. recommended
A charger at or above the documented minimum wattage will charge the laptop, but possibly more slowly, especially while the laptop is under heavy use (the system may draw more power than the charger can supply, slowing or pausing battery charging). The recommended wattage is what the manufacturer specifies for full-speed charging even under load — this is usually the wattage of the original charger the laptop shipped with.
Where to find these numbers
The original power adapter's wattage is usually printed on the adapter itself and listed in the laptop's official specifications. If only the OEM adapter wattage is published, the recommended USB-C PD wattage is generally the same or close to it — check the manufacturer's documentation for any explicit minimum, since it can be meaningfully lower.
It's not just about the number
Wattage is necessary but not sufficient — the laptop also needs to accept USB Power Delivery input at all, and the charger needs to actually negotiate USB PD (not just supply a high wattage over a non-PD protocol). See "Can I use a higher-watt USB-C charger?" for what happens when wattage exceeds what's needed.