USB outlets replace a standard faceplate and free the 13A sockets for other things. They are one of the most requested small upgrades, and the main thing worth thinking about is the output specification rather than the fact of having one.
What to check before choosing
Output is the differentiator. A low-output USB-A pair will charge a phone slowly and a tablet barely at all.
- Total output across both ports, not per port
- USB-C with power delivery if you charge laptops or tablets
- Whether the back box is deep enough for the module
- Position — bedside, desk and kitchen worktops earn them most
Where they make sense
Bedsides, home offices, kitchen worktops for tablets, and hallway drop zones. Less compelling behind furniture you never reach, where a standard double socket serves better.
The honest trade-off
Charging technology moves faster than wiring accessories. A plug-in charger can be replaced in seconds; a built-in module is a faceplate change. For most households a mix is the right answer — built-in where tidiness matters, plug-in where speed does.
Common questions
- Do USB sockets use power when idle?
- A very small standby draw, negligible in practice.
- Can they be fitted to existing back boxes?
- Usually, though some modules need a deeper box.
- Do I get a certificate for a faceplate swap?
- Like-for-like accessory replacement is minor; we still test and record where appropriate.
- Can you fit them throughout the house?
- Yes, and doing several in one visit is far cheaper than one at a time.
List the positions you want and we will do them in a single visit.
Related guides
- Adding Sockets Instead of Living With Extension LeadsExtension leads are a symptom: the room has fewer outlets than the way you live in it.
- Electrics for Working From HomeMost home offices were bedrooms, and bedrooms were wired for a lamp and an alarm clock.
- Ring and Radial Socket CircuitsBoth designs are valid; the choice affects cable, protection and how faults present.