USB Power Delivery Profiles Calculator

Look up standard USB-PD voltage/current profiles (5V, 9V, 15V, 20V, PPS). Compute cable current requirements and e-marker capabilities for a target load.

Calculator Electronics Updated Apr 23, 2026
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How to Use
  1. Enter required load power and voltage (or pick a standard PDO).
  2. Tool shows matching PDOs, required cable e-marker rating, and validates against USB-PD 3.1 spec.
Input
W
V
Presets
PD Profile Match
Best PDO
—
Current
—A
Cable Rating
—
Spec
—

Show Work

Enter values.

Standard PDOs

5V Fixed
Up to 3 A (15 W)
Default on all USB-C.
9V Fixed
Up to 3 A (27 W)
Typical phone charging.
15V Fixed
Up to 3 A (45 W)
Small laptops.
20V Fixed
Up to 5 A (100 W SPR)
Laptops.
28/36/48V EPR
Up to 5 A (140/180/240 W)
USB-PD 3.1 EPR.
PPS
3.3-21 V, 50 mV steps
Programmable for battery charging.

History of USB Power Delivery

USB-PD 1.0 (2012) raised USB power from 7.5W (5V/1.5A) to 100W (20V/5A) - enough to charge laptops. PD 2.0 (2014) added VBUS negotiation over CC lines that made USB-C ubiquitous. PD 3.0 (2017) introduced PPS (Programmable Power Supply, 3.3-21V in 50mV steps) for Li-ion direct-charge architectures. PD 3.1 (2021) EPR (Extended Power Range) adds 28V, 36V, 48V up to 5A = 240W, enough for gaming laptops. USB-C plus USB-PD has become the universal charging standard.

About This Calculator

Enter required load power and target voltage. The tool matches against USB-PD standard fixed PDOs (5/9/15/20/28/36/48V), computes current draw, and reports cable rating needed (3A/5A with e-marker) and spec compliance (USB-PD 2.0 SPR vs 3.1 EPR).

For production: USB-PD compliance requires certified source/sink controllers (Cypress CYPD, TI TPS65987) and USB-IF certification testing. Everything runs client-side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PDO?

Power Data Object — a 32-bit descriptor in PD packet specifying voltage/current pair. Sources advertise their PDOs, sinks pick one. Fixed PDO: exact V+I; PPS: programmable within a range (3.3-21 V, 50 mV steps).

E-marker?

Electronic marker chip in the USB-C cable reporting its rating. Above 3A current or 20V voltage, cable must have an e-marker. 5A cables need a 100W e-marker; 240W (EPR) cables need USB4 EPR e-markers.

EPR vs SPR?

SPR (Standard Power Range): 5-20V, up to 100W. EPR (Extended Power Range): adds 28V, 36V, 48V levels for up to 240W (48V × 5A). Requires USB-PD 3.1 and EPR-capable cables.

Common Use Cases

Laptop Charger

65W typical: 20V × 3.25A. MacBook Pro 16" needs 140W: 28V × 5A (EPR).

Phone Fast Charge

Galaxy S24: 9V × 2.77A (25W) or PPS from 3.3-11V.

Monitor Power

USB-C monitor: 15V × 3A (45W) to charge laptop while displaying.

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