A charger sitting plugged into the wall with nothing connected still draws a small amount of power — here's whether that's actually worth worrying about.
Short Answer
Modern genuine chargers draw negligible standby power (typically under 0.1-0.5 watts) when idle, so the electricity cost is minimal. The bigger consideration is safety, not electricity savings.
Why the Electricity Cost Concern Is Mostly Overstated
Modern chargers, especially GaN ones, are designed to minimize idle power draw. Leaving one plugged in 24/7 typically adds a negligible amount to a monthly electricity bill — far less than most people assume.
The Real Reason to Unplug: Safety, Not Savings
- Reduces wear on the outlet and charger over years of continuous use
- Lowers fire risk marginally — any electrical device connected to power has some baseline risk, however small; unplugging when not needed removes that risk entirely during those hours
- Protects against power surges — unplugging during storms or unstable electricity (common during load shedding recovery) protects the charger from surge damage
When Unplugging Actually Matters More
- During thunderstorms or known unstable power periods
- If you're using an unbranded or lower-quality charger without proper surge protection
- Extended absence from home (travel, etc.) where no one would notice an issue developing
Bottom Line
It's a reasonable habit for safety and surge protection, but you don't need to feel guilty about the electricity cost — that part is genuinely minor with a properly made charger. Genuine chargers from Anker and Apple include surge and overcurrent protection built in.
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