USB-A or USB-C Wall Socket: Which Should You Spec? | TEO
Fit USB-A as standard on a rewire today and the client's next three phones won't have a single cable that plugs into it.
Quick Answer
Spec USB-C as the default on any rewire or new build from 2026 onward. Most phones, tablets and laptops sold in the UK now ship with USB-C as standard, accelerated by the EU's common charger mandate, which has shifted manufacturer behaviour well beyond the EU market. USB-A still earns a place on sockets serving older peripherals, but it shouldn't be the only port on a new install.
Why has USB-A stopped being the safe default?
For years, fitting a USB-A socket was the obvious choice because every phone, regardless of brand, used it. That stopped being true once Apple moved iPhones to USB-C and the rest of the Android market had already standardised on it years earlier. The EU's common charger directive forced the issue further by mandating USB-C on phones, tablets and cameras sold in EU member states, and manufacturers building one global hardware spec rather than a separate UK-only design means that shift reaches UK shelves too.
The practical result for a spec sheet in 2026: a client who's just replaced their phone almost certainly has a USB-C device now, and a wall socket with only USB-A ports leaves them reaching for an adapter or charging from a plug-in block instead of the wall.
USB-A vs USB-C: what's actually different beyond the connector shape?
| Feature | USB-A | USB-C |
|---|---|---|
| Typical output | 5W to 12W (1A to 2.4A) | 18W to 30W with Power Delivery support |
| Reversible plug | No, one orientation only | Yes, fits either way |
| Laptop charging capable | No | Yes, with sufficient wattage and PD support |
| Current device compatibility | Older phones, many peripherals, cameras | Current phones, tablets, most 2023+ laptops |
Trade Note:
Not every USB-C port supports Power Delivery, and not every PD port outputs enough wattage to charge a laptop. Check the specific socket's PD wattage rating before promising a client it'll charge their laptop from the wall, "USB-C" alone doesn't guarantee that.
Should you fit both ports on the same socket?
For most domestic rewires, yes, a combined USB-A plus USB-C socket is the sensible middle ground. It covers a client's current USB-C devices while still serving older peripherals, a USB-A-only camera charger, an existing cable they're not ready to replace, without forcing a choice that ages badly either way.
USB-A only
Lowest cost, ageing fast
Cheapest option per socket, but increasingly mismatched to what people actually own. Reasonable only where you know the use case is fixed and USB-A, a wall-mounted older device, not general bedroom or kitchen sockets.
USB-A + USB-C combined
Best general-purpose spec
Covers both device generations without forcing the client to choose. The right default for bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms on any rewire where you don't know exactly what will plug in over the next five years.
Specifying sockets for a full rewire? Default to combined USB-A and USB-C unless there's a specific reason not to.
See USB Socket Range →Does fitting USB-C affect anything on the BS 7671 side?
No, not directly. USB charging sockets are low-voltage output devices fed from the standard 230V ring or radial circuit, and the wiring side of the installation is governed by the same BS 7671:2018 requirements as any other socket outlet, ring final circuit design, RCD protection, and so on. The USB port type and wattage is a product spec decision, not a compliance one. Where it does matter is total circuit loading if you're specifying high-wattage Power Delivery sockets across multiple rooms on one circuit, check the combined draw against the circuit's rated capacity as you would for any other load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not as the only port. USB-A still serves older peripherals and cables, but USB-C should be the default on any new socket given how much of the device market has moved to it.
Only if the specific socket supports Power Delivery at a sufficient wattage, typically 30W or higher for most laptops. Not all USB-C ports include PD support, so check the product spec rather than assuming.
Largely driven by the EU's common charger mandate, which required USB-C on phones, tablets and cameras sold in EU states. Manufacturers building one global hardware spec carried that change into UK and other markets too.
For most general-purpose rooms, yes. It covers both current and older devices without forcing a choice that ages badly in either direction over the next few years.
It can, if you're specifying multiple high-wattage Power Delivery sockets across one circuit. Check combined draw against the circuit's rated capacity the same way you would for any other load.
No. The wiring side of the installation follows the same BS 7671:2018 requirements as any socket outlet. The USB port type and output is a product spec choice, not a separate compliance category.
Spec the Port Your Client's Devices Actually Use
USB-A, USB-C, and combined sockets from BG Evolve, in stock and ready to ship.
Shop USB Wall Sockets →
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