Label chargers and cords with small name tags
The simplest way to label chargers is with a self-adhesive name label on the flat, hard plastic casing: on the adapter itself and on the connector housing at the end of the cord, never in the middle of the round cord. Write a first or last name and preferably a phone number, so the charger can be returned when it is left behind at a friend's house, at work, or at a hotel.
Here you will learn where the label stays put, which ways of labeling cords work best, what you should not cover on a charger, and how many labels a family actually needs.
Which chargers go missing
Most chargers look alike. A white USB-C adapter from a phone is indistinguishable from the neighbor's, and a family with three phones and two tablets soon has a drawer full of cords that nobody knows who they belong to. That is where they get swapped, not because anyone takes the wrong one on purpose.
These are the most common situations in which a charger is left behind or ends up with the wrong person:
- Home: siblings and parents with the same phone brand borrow each other's chargers, and whoever has the faster adapter wants that specific one back.
- School and after-school activities: chargers for school laptops and tablets are kept in the same drawer or charging cart.
- Overnight stays, camps, and youth camps: the charger remains plugged into the wall behind the bed while the bag is being packed.
- Work: laptop chargers on shared desks and in meeting rooms.
- Travel: hotel rooms, trains, and airplanes, where the charger is plugged into an outlet you do not look at when leaving.
- Headphones: AirPods and other charging cases are small, identical, and easy to pick up by mistake.
A name prevents mix-ups at home. A phone number on the second line solves the problem when it is left behind away from home, because whoever finds the charger can then get in touch.
Labeling chargers: where the label should go
A name label adheres best to a smooth, flat, hard surface. A charger has surfaces like that, but not everywhere. The most common mistake is placing the label directly on the thin, round cord: there is almost no surface for the label to adhere to, the cord bends constantly, and the edges lift.
| Part of the charger | Does it work? | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| The flat side of the adapter (the side you see when it is plugged into the wall) | Yes, best | A regular name label fits on most adapters. Leave the printed text unobstructed. |
| The connector housing at the end of the cord (USB-C, Lightning, USB-A) | Yes | The surface is small, so choose small name labels. Place the label lengthwise along the connector housing. |
| The strain relief where the cord enters the connector | Worse | The soft rubber bends constantly. The label comes loose at the edges. |
| In the middle of the round cord | No, not as a flat label | Instead, fold a label around the cord like a flag, see below. |
| The pins or ventilation slots | No | Never cover pins, sockets, or openings in the casing. |
| Charging case for headphones | Yes | Small name labels on the front or underside of the case. |
The labels stick to plastic, metal, and glass, and a charger's casing is almost always plastic. Label both the adapter and the cable: they are often used separately, and an unlabeled cable is just as easy to lose as an unlabeled adapter.
How to attach the label to a charger
- Unplug the charger. Label it when it is not plugged in and is not hot.
- Wipe the surface. The surface should be clean and dry. Oil from your hands makes the label stick less effectively.
- Place the label on a flat part. The side of the adapter or the connector housing, not over label text, pins, or openings.
- Press firmly for about 10 seconds. Apply extra pressure to the corners, as that is where a label starts to come loose.
- Let the adhesive set. The adhesive needs about 24 hours to fully cure, so save heavy use for the next day.
Five ways to label chargers and cables
There are more options than name labels, and for some cables, something else works better. Here's how they differ:
| Method | Good for | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Masking tape and marker | A quick solution for the same evening | The text wears off and the tape loses its grip on cables used every day. |
| Cable tag or clip to write on | Network cables and cables behind the TV or computer that need to be told apart | Sticks out and can get caught in a bag. Handwritten text fades. |
| Writable cable ties | Gathering and labeling several cables in a bundle | Less suitable for a charger that will be carried in a bag. |
| Heat-shrink tubing | Cables that should be labeled permanently, such as tools | Requires a heat gun and must be threaded on from the end. |
| Self-adhesive name label | Chargers taken along: to school, work, or on a trip | Does not stick to round cables, only to flat surfaces. |
For cables that stay in place at home, such as network cables and power cords behind the TV stand, a tag or a writable cable tie is often better than a name label: there, you want to know what the cable connects to, not who it belongs to. For chargers that move between people and places, a printed name label on the adapter lasts the longest and is easiest to see.
The flag trick for cables without a flat surface
If the cable has no connector housing with room for a label, you can fold a label around the cable so that the adhesive sides meet and form a small flag. It attaches to itself instead of the cable. The flag is easy to see but can get caught on things, so it is best suited to cables that mostly stay at home.
What should be written on the label
Short text is easy to read in a small space. Usually, this is enough:
- First name if the only purpose is to tell siblings' chargers apart at home.
- Last name if the charger is shared by the family but needs to be brought home from work or a trip.
- Phone number on the second line for chargers taken from home.
Write who the charger belongs to, not which connector it has. If it is USB-C or Lightning, you can see that from the connector, but you cannot see whose it is. All labels in an order have the same text, so think about which text suits the most items. You choose the design, color, and font in the design tool and see the result immediately. Read more about how it works on ordering name labels.
Do not cover the charger’s marking
A charger sold in Sweden must, according to the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority, be CE-marked and labeled with the type designation, the current and voltage it is designed for, and the manufacturer’s name and address. That text is often on one side of the adapter, in small gray lettering.
Therefore, put the name label on a different side from the marking. If something happens to the charger, or if it is recalled, that text shows which model it is and who manufactured it. Also, do not cover ventilation slots or seams in the casing.
Take the opportunity to check the charger when you label it
When you have all the chargers out anyway, it is a good opportunity to sort out those that should not be used. The Swedish Consumers’ Association has listed warning signs together with the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority. Some of them are:
- The CE marking is missing, or information about the manufacturer and importer is missing.
- The charger is marked for 110 or 220 V instead of 230 V.
- The pins can be wiggled or are bent.
- Something rattles inside when you shake it.
- The cable is pinched, or the casing has started to crack.
- The plastic has yellowed, or the charger gets so hot that you do not want to hold it.
If you find any of these, the charger should be discarded, not labeled. Put it in the electrical waste.
Labeling electric vehicle chargers is something else. If you are searching for labeling electric vehicle chargers, it concerns the letters in a hexagon that indicate which charging connector a car, charging cable, and charging station have. This is a rule for charging infrastructure and has nothing to do with name labels. This page is about labeling your own chargers so they come back to the right person.
Calculation example: how many labels do the chargers need?
Calculation example for a child with a phone, tablet, and headphones:
| Item | Labels |
|---|---|
| Phone charger: adapter and cable | 2 |
| Tablet charger: adapter and cable | 2 |
| Extra charging cable in the school bag | 1 |
| Headphone charging case | 1 |
| Power bank | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
A set of standard name labels contains 124 labels and costs from SEK 139, approximately SEK 1.12 per label. Seven labels for the chargers would then cost around SEK 8, and the rest of the set would be enough for clothes, shoes, bottles, and lunch boxes. For charging cases and headphone cases, small name labels are more suitable because the surfaces are small. More calculation examples per label can be found on the page about the price per name label.
When the labeling does not hold
- The label lifts at the edges: it is attached to a curved or soft part. Move it to the flat side of the adapter or the plug housing and press firmly on the corners.
- The label comes off immediately: the surface was not clean or dry. Wipe it off and apply a new label.
- The label is on a cord that is constantly coiled up: a flat label will not stay attached to a round cord for long. Use the flag method or label only the adapter and plug housing.
- The charger gets hot where the label is placed: choose the part that gets least hot, often the plug housing on the cord. If the charger gets really hot, that is a warning sign in itself.
Rule of thumb: a name label is right for chargers that travel with a person. For cords that stay behind the TV or computer, where you want to know what the cord connects to, a cable tag or writable cable tie is often more convenient. A flat label will not stay attached to the round cord itself for long.
The same labels work on other small items that are easily lost; see labeling socks, mittens, and small parts and what the labels can withstand in the laundry and dishwasher.
Frequently asked questions
How do you label chargers so they do not get mixed up?
Place one name label on the flat side of the adapter and one on the plug housing at the end of the cord. Wipe the surface first and press firmly for about 10 seconds. Write the name, and a phone number if the charger travels from home.
Does a name label stay attached to a charger that gets hot?
The labels are dishwasher- and laundry-safe up to 60°C, but there is no separate information about chargers. Place the label on the part that gets least hot, often the plug housing on the cord. If the charger gets so hot that you do not want to hold it, it should be discarded.
Is there a standard for cable labeling?
For electrical installations, there are standards for how conductors and cables should be labeled and color-coded, and underground cables are labeled and protected according to installation regulations. This is work for a qualified electrician. Labeling your own charging cables with names does not follow any standard: the important thing is that the label stays attached and remains readable.
What do the colors and L and N on a cord mean?
L stands for live and N for neutral. In newer installations, the protective earth is yellow and green, the neutral conductor is blue, and the live conductor is usually brown, black, or gray. Older installations may use other colors, so have an electrician determine this before you touch anything.
Is cable labeling for electrical installations the same as labeling chargers?
No. Labeling systems such as Fleximark and similar products are used to identify conductors and cables in professional installations. Labeling a charger is simply about showing who it belongs to, and a durable name label is sufficient for that.