Guide by WEB PREPA · Updated 8 October 2026 · Diese Seite auf Deutsch

EU common charger label on Shopify: the USB-C charger pictogram and charging label explained

If you sell phones, earbuds, cameras, tablets, laptops or other devices that charge by cable to consumers in the EU, the EU common charger rules ask you to show two small graphics close to the price: a pictogram that tells shoppers whether a charger is in the box, and a label with the charging power. This guide explains what Directive (EU) 2022/2380 requires, which products it covers and how to add the pictogram and label on Shopify.

What the rule requires

The Directive does four things that matter for a shop:

• USB‑C. Covered devices that can be recharged by cable must have a USB Type‑C socket. Devices that charge at more than 5 volts, 3 amperes or 15 watts must also support USB Power Delivery (USB PD).
• A choice without a charger. If you offer a device together with a charger, you must also offer it without one (Article 3a(1)).
• The pictogram. A small drawing shows whether a charging device is included (Article 3a(2) and Annex Ia, Part III).
• The label. A second drawing shows the charging power and whether the device supports USB PD (Article 10(8) and Annex Ia, Part IV).

Both the pictogram and the label are printed on the packaging. When the device is offered to consumers and other end-users, they must also be shown in a visible and legible way and, in the case of distance selling, close to the price indication. An online shop is distance selling.

Which products are covered

The rules apply to these categories, in so far as they can be recharged by cable (Annex Ia, Part I):

Chargers on their own, cables and other accessories are not in this list. If you are not sure whether a product falls into one of the categories, check with the manufacturer.

Who is affected

The Directive speaks of economic operators: manufacturers, importers and distributors. All of them must show the pictogram when they make a covered device available to consumers and other end-users. For the label, the Directive gives importers and distributors the same duty as manufacturers: they must make sure the label is shown and, in distance selling, close to the price. So the duty applies to shops, not only to the brands that make the devices.

The duty is not limited to consumers: the Directive says “consumers and other end-users”, so business buyers are included. The Directive does not set a separate rule for shops based outside the EU. If you sell to the EU from elsewhere, ask an adviser how it applies to you.

What exactly to show, and where

The pictogram

There are two versions: one for “charging device included” and one for “no charging device included”. Its look may vary, for example in colour, solid or outline, or line thickness, as long as it stays visible and legible. If you make it bigger or smaller, you must keep the proportions of the official drawing. The dimension “a” in the drawing must be at least 7 mm.

The label

The label shows two numbers in watts. “XX” is the minimum power the device needs to charge. “YY” is the power it needs to reach its maximum charging speed. If the device supports USB Power Delivery, the label also shows “USB PD”. The same 7 mm minimum and the same rule on proportions apply. You find the numbers in the manual or the spec sheet of the device, under charging or input.

Where on the page

Close to the price indication, visible and legible. On Shopify, that usually means on the product page, right next to or below the price.

Related: software update periods

A separate rule from Directive (EU) 2024/825 has applied since 27 September 2026: for goods with digital elements, traders must tell consumers before the sale the minimum period of software updates, where the producer gives them this information. Many of the same devices are affected, so the app can show software and security update periods next to the charging label.

How to do it on Shopify

Doing it by hand

You can redraw the pictogram and the label from the drawings in the Directive, export one image per power combination, and add the right image to each product, close to the price. For products sold with and without a charger, each variant needs the matching pictogram, so you also have to switch the image when the shopper changes the variant. When data changes, you update every image yourself.

With PREPA: Charger Label

• Draws the official charger pictograms and the label to the EU proportions.
• You pick collections or products and answer 3 simple questions for each group.
• Switches to the “not included” pictogram on variants sold without a charger.
• Shows software and security update periods next to the label, if you enter them.
• Places the block below the price in your theme editor, with a live preview in the app.
• The short text next to the symbols follows your storefront language: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Danish, Swedish and Finnish.

Set up the app in 3 steps

Install the app and open it from Apps in your Shopify admin. A guided setup with 3 steps opens.

1. Enter the charging information

   Click “Choose from collections” or “Choose products” and pick the products that charge with a cable. For each group, answer 3 questions: is a charger (power adapter) in the box, how much power does it need to charge (enter the Min and Max watts, for example 5 W to 18 W), and does it support USB PD fast charging. The live preview shows what your customers will see.

2. Save to your products

   Click “Save to products”. This saves the answers on the chosen products. Nothing is shown in your store until you do this.

3. Show it on the product page

   Click “Add to product page”. Your theme editor opens with the “EU Charger Label” block already added below the price. Click Save at the top right, then come back to the app. The step is ticked automatically.

Variants whose name contains a word from “Variants sold without a charger” show the “not included” pictogram. The default words are: without charger, ohne Netzteil, ohne Ladegerät, sans chargeur, sin cargador. You can change them in Advanced settings. More details are on the help page.

Pricing

Prices are in US dollars. Charges are added to your Shopify bill. You can upgrade or cancel at any time in the Plan card in the app.

Frequently asked questions

Which products need the charger pictogram and label?

Handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops, in so far as they can be recharged by cable.

Where must they appear in my online shop?

In distance selling, the Directive asks for the pictogram and the label to be visible, legible and close to the price indication. On Shopify, that is the product page, next to or below the price.

How big must the pictogram be?

The dimension “a” of the official drawing must be at least 7 mm, and the proportions must stay the same when you resize it. Colour, solid or outline style and line thickness may vary as long as it stays visible and legible.

I sell a phone with a charger. Do I also have to sell it without one?

Yes. If you offer a covered device together with a charger, the Directive says you must also offer it without any charger. The pictogram then shows shoppers which option includes one.

What numbers go on the label?

The minimum power in watts the device needs to charge, and the power it needs to reach its maximum charging speed. Add “USB PD” if the device supports USB Power Delivery. The numbers are in the manual or spec sheet of the device.

I am a retailer, not the manufacturer. Is this my job?

Yes. The pictogram duty applies to all economic operators, and the Directive makes importers and distributors ensure that the label is shown close to the price when they sell at a distance.

Since when do laptops need the pictogram and label?

Since 28 April 2026. The other categories have been covered since 28 December 2024.

What does the app cost?

The Free plan shows the pictogram and label on up to 10 products. The paid plan costs $0.99 per month, with a 14‑day free trial, and covers unlimited products.

Sources

• Directive (EU) 2022/2380 amending the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU (EUR-Lex)
• Directive (EU) 2024/825, for the software update period (EUR-Lex)

Setup details are on the help page. How we handle data: Privacy Policy.