To some people, asking, “how long the PlayStation 5 power cable?”, might seem like a silly question.
The answer is not exactly headline news.
For me, it was a more important question because I needed to know whether to order a longer power cable for my entertainment setup.
Trying to find the length was like squeezing blood from a stone.
Everybody is focusing on the shape/size of the box and controller. I wanted to know the size and type of power cable. After far more research than I care to admit, I found the answer.
What is the PS5 power cable length? The PlayStation 5 power cable is 1.5 meters long or just shy of 5 feet (4.92 feet). This doesn’t include the plug which will vary per region. The power cable is a standard figure 8 power cord (IEC C7), which is the same as the original PS4 and PS4 Slim.
Everybody has been talking about the power of the next-gen consoles. Nobody talks about how that power gets delivered from the wall.
If you already invested in a longer PS4 power cable read on to find out if you can use it on the PS5. As well as options if you need a longer cable? There is also a great cheap tip for your PS5 Power cable management.
Can you use the PS4 power cable for the PS5?
When it comes to making appliances for use in the home, manufacturers need to follow the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. Each different type of connector is designed for specific currents and heat requirements. Making it easier for global trade and cable compatibility.
Thankfully the PS5 doesn’t use a custom power cable.
I still have nightmares thinking about the Nintendo 64, with its two brick plugs: they might have made it easier to set up but a pain to replace.
It seems Sony and Microsoft have maintained a semblance of sanity by giving us generic standard cables.
Sony has reverted to using the same power cable as the original PlayStation 4. This means as long as you have your cables from your PS4 Classic or the Slim version then you can just swap the boxes and use both the power and HDMI cables.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with the PlayStation 4 Pro, which uses a C17 connection which allows it to pass more current to the console.
At least they didn’t have an external power brick!
Unlike the Xbox 360 consoles, most modern consoles have chosen to keep their power units inside the box. This obviously bulks them up but requires a more sophisticated cooling solution. Long gone are the days of a small family gathering around the Xbox 360 power brick for warmth.
It means that there is just one standard power cable. Standard cables are all well and good but what if you need a longer cable
What if I need a longer cable?
Sometimes your entertainment setup isn’t conveniently next to a power outlet. This could be due to the shape of your room, which could be mandated by the position of doors and windows.
Heck, it could even be down to your Feng Shui master worrying about the wrong power lines running across your room.
If you don’t have control over the power outlet position then there are often only two options. Buy extension lead which is usually the ugly solution. Or just buy a longer power cable.
Sometimes longer is better. (I hope not! I’m screwed otherwise! ed.)
Sony only includes a standard length power cable in the box. Who can blame them? They need millions of them, why spend extra money if you don’t have to. It’s small decisions like this that ultimately keep the price of the console from getting out of control. That is fine for 90% of part-time gamers but we are career gamers. We often require a more custom approach.
So what if you want your C7 power cord to be longer? Well, I have found you two options that will fulfill the need. One black and one white.
This 12ft power cord is an Amazon Basic so you know you are getting a solid product. At 12ft or 3.6 meters should give you that little bit of extra length. It even comes in black or white.
How about this Ipax 15ft white power cable. It will match the PlayStation 5 with it being a white cable instead of the generic black cable. This will give you that little bit of extra length for those awkward setups.
Remember the PlayStation 5 Power cord is a standard size, you will even be able to pick one up at your local hardware store, but on average most stores only stock the standard 1.5 meters, unless your hardware store owner is a cable connoisseur.
Should I use cable management with my PS5 power cable?
If you are anything like me you have an infested snake pit behind your television, with wires coiling around each other in a boa-like death grip. All of them slithering toward the power outlet like it’s feeding time.
There has to be an easy way to get them under control.
There are a wide variety of cable management solutions out there. I find the easiest and most versatile to be good old-fashioned ‘zip ties’.
You needn’t worry about breaking zip ties because they are cheap and disposable and you can even get them in different colors.
You can get 200 zip ties for the price of a Grande Coffee Frappuccino in Starbucks, so they won’t break the bank. Not bad if it helps to tame the snake pit behind the TV.
After your cables are untangled you still might want to know which cable is for which device.
We have all been there: we desperately need to charge our phones but the charger isn’t plugged in and there’s no free socket. So, we take a random guess at which plug to unplug…
AND IT’S ALWAYS THE WRONG ONE!
That’s why I would recommend labeling your plugs. The number of times I have unplugged my PC by mistake verges on the ridiculous.
I bet if I added up all the times I have prematurely unplugged my computer I would have lost hours of work.
I tried at first to just stick a small sticker on top of the plug, only for it to not stick to plastic after a few hours. Then you have to play the game of trying to trace the slippery wire back to its origin. I have found that if you use sticky labels and fold it around the wire the label will stick to itself forever.
Or you can buy some easy to use, and fabulous if I do say so myself, velcro cable labels. Seriously, velcro cable labels are amazing, just check them out here. You can thank me later in the comments section.
So if you ever need to remove your PlayStation 5 power cable to travel, for example, you can do so without the hassle.
Should I use a surge protector?
What is the point of spending $499.99 on a shiny new PlayStation 5 if you are going to not protect it?
I’m not talking about insurance, I protect it from power outages and voltage spikes.
These are the things people don’t talk about or highlight.
Voltage spikes can be an unseen killer of technology. Every device you own from your phone and smartwatch to your PlayStation 5 is basically a computer.
They may look rugged and designed for the ups and downs of everyday life. But inside there is a delicate balance of interconnected components. They need to live in harmony and are only designed to function within certain tolerances to voltage.
A voltage spike for your PlayStation 5 could be the equivalent of an earthquake for people: It can destroy the very foundation of the ecosystem.
That’s why you should invest in a surge protector to safeguard your PlayStation 5 power cable.
You can pick up a low cost surge protector here.
After all, why take the risk!
Conclusion
The PlayStation 5 power cable is 1.5 meters or 4.92 feet in length, that’s the same height as Danny Devito. Although I’m sure Danny Devito would round that up to 5 feet.
If you are not blessed with power sockets then a longer cable might be called for. Thankfully it is a standard cable called a C7, or the adopted name of ‘figure 8 cord’ because of the shape of the end.
And remember, you can pick up a 12ft power cord that’s compatible with the PS5 here.
What Next?
Can I join two power cables together to power my PlayStation 5? No, You should only use cables in a way that has been designed. We in no way endorse or encourage you to change the length of a power cable. It is cheap and safer to get a replacement.
Can I lay the Playstation 5 down on its side, and if so, how do I do it? The PS5 is a beautiful sight to behold. But unfortunately, it’s huge and not everybody can have something that looks like it belongs to the Dubai skyline next to their TV. Check out my article here on how to lay the PS5 down on its side.