Long enough to use the phone while it charges
A 2m cable is the one that reaches. Plug sockets are rarely where you sit: they are low on the wall behind the bedside table or at the end of the sofa, and a one-metre cable leaves the phone hanging from the socket or balanced on the floor. Two metres reaches the pillow or the arm of the sofa, so you can scroll, message or watch while the phone charges. This page lists every charging cable offered at 2m.
A cable offered in several lengths is listed under each length it comes in, so the same cable can appear on more than one of these pages. Pick the length you want from the choices on its product page.
The kinds of cable at 2m
- Braided and woven cables in nylon jackets, in many colours, which stand up better to being trodden on, caught in a bed frame or pulled across a sofa. See braided cables.
- Right-angle and 90-degree cables whose L-shaped end lies flat along the phone. Lying in bed with the phone held sideways for a film or a game, the plug does not dig into your hand or bend at the neck. See right-angle cables.
- Coiled cables that stretch to their length and pull back, so there is no loop on the floor.
- A 4-in-1 cable with several ends, for a shared bedroom or living room with different phones.
- Cables for iPhone, with Lightning for the iPhone 14 and earlier, as well as USB-C to USB-C and USB-A to USB-C cables for newer phones, some rated up to 240W.
Choosing a 2m cable
Measure first. Run a piece of string along the route the cable will take, behind the bedside table and up onto the bed, and add a little slack so the plug is not pulled tight when you roll over. If two metres only just makes it, a 3m cable will save the plug from strain.
Then match the plugs to the phone and to the charger's socket. For fast charging, USB-C at both ends on a USB Power Delivery charger is quickest. Length makes less difference than people expect at phone power, but a long, thin cable with no rating is the one most likely to slow things down, so look for a stated wattage or amps on a 2m cable.
Questions people ask about 2m cables
Is it safe to charge with the phone in bed?
Keep the phone and the charger on a hard surface, not under a pillow or the covers, where heat cannot escape. Electrical Safety First advises against leaving USB chargers charging overnight; Apple says it is safe to leave an iPhone connected. The guide to choosing a safe phone charger explains both.
How do I stop a long cable wearing out?
Hold the plug, not the cable, when you unplug it, and keep it out of hinges and bed frames. Cable organisers and protectors help.
More to look at