By device · Amazon Kindle
Kindle: about 9W, 5V only. Buy nothing expensive.
A Kindle never leaves the 5V rail and never draws much beyond 9W. That single fact makes this the cheapest page on the site: the charger in your drawer from a phone you no longer own is, almost certainly, the correct one.
The spec, in one paragraph
Maximum input: roughly 9W (5V at under 2A). Protocol: none required — a Kindle does not negotiate a high-voltage PD contract, it just takes 5V. Amazon quotes about two and a half hours to a full charge from a 9W adapter on current USB-C models, and noticeably longer from a computer's USB port, which often supplies half an amp. Amazon has not included a wall adapter with most Kindles for years, which is why people end up here.
Which cable? Check the port before you order anything: the Kindle (11th generation, 2022), the Paperwhite from the 2021 generation onward, Kindle Scribe and Colorsoft all use USB-C. Kindle Oasis, older Paperwhites and the 10th-generation basic Kindle use micro-USB. Any decent cable of the right shape works; there is no e-marker, no 5A rating and no wattage class to think about (cable guide).
Paperwhite Signature Edition models add Qi wireless charging. It is convenient on a nightstand and slower than the cable — as wireless always is, because the difference leaves as heat.
Charger → time to full
| Source | What happens |
|---|---|
| Computer USB port (0.5A) | Works, but four hours or more |
| 5W legacy USB-A cube | Fine. Around three to four hours |
| 9W (5V/1.8A) adapter | The device's own ceiling. About 2.5 hours |
| 20W USB-C PD phone charger | Identical to 9W — the Kindle caps itself |
| 65W laptop charger | Also identical. Safe, and pointless on its own |
Three sensible buys
- 20W
Amazon Basics 20W USB-C Charger
The honest answer: a plain 20W USB-C cube that charges the Kindle at its ceiling and a phone at full speed.
- Output
- 20W
- Ports
- 1× USB-C
- Use
- Kindle + phone
- 33W
Anker 323 Charger (33W)
One USB-C and one USB-A, so a USB-C Paperwhite and a micro-USB Oasis share a single outlet.
- Output
- 33W total
- Ports
- 1× C, 1× A
- Use
- Mixed Kindle households
- 65W
UGREEN Nexode 65W 3-Port
Travel pick, and the only reason to spend more: Kindle, phone and a laptop from one plug in a hotel room.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Build
- GaN
Don't waste money on
A "fast charger for Kindle". There is no such thing. The device caps around 9W; the extra watts on a 30W or 65W brick are simply never requested.
A branded replacement adapter. Amazon's own 9W unit is fine, but so is every certified 5V charger ever made. Buy on ports and plug shape, not on badge.
A wireless charging pad, if speed matters. Only Signature Edition models support it, and it is slower than the cable.
Compare with other low-draw gear: AirPods, Apple Watch, GoPro, or start from the device index. Travelling with it? Travel charger picks.
FAQ
What wattage charger does a Kindle need?
About 9W is the device's ceiling. Any 5V USB charger works, and a 20W USB-C phone charger charges it no faster than a 9W one.
Is it safe to charge a Kindle with an iPad or laptop charger?
Yes. The Kindle draws only what it asks for, so a 30W or 65W adapter delivers the same current a small one would.
Which Kindles use USB-C?
The 2022 basic Kindle, Paperwhite models from the 2021 generation onward, Kindle Scribe and Colorsoft. Oasis and earlier models use micro-USB.
Why is my Kindle charging so slowly from my laptop?
Computer USB ports commonly supply around half an amp. A wall adapter roughly halves the charge time.