Monitor Power Cable Types: C13, C5 MIDI, C7 and DC Barrel
Quick answer / TL;DR: Monitor power cable types fall into three IEC families and one vendor-specific type: C13 for larger monitors, C5 (MIDI) and C7 (figure-8) for compact ones, and a DC barrel for some all-in-ones. The inlet on the back of the screen decides which one you need.
Monitor power cables look interchangeable in a photo and are not in a warehouse. The three IEC families differ in size, earth and typical use, and the barrel type is locked to a specific vendor. Naming the inlet is the whole game.
This guide identifies each monitor power cable type, says which monitors use it, and gives the replacement rules that avoid the classic wrong-cord order.
The Three IEC Families on Monitors
C13 / C14 – the large-monitor standard
Monitors from about 24 inches up, and all professional panels, usually take the C13 cord into the C14 inlet – the same lead a desktop PC uses. That is why one C13 stock covers both the tower and the big screen on the same desk. It is rated 10 A at 250 V with three conductors including earth.
C5 (MIDI) / C6 – the compact standard
Compact monitors, some all-in-one PCs and older panels use the C5 cord into the C6 inlet – the smaller rounded trapezoid. Same 10 A rating in a smaller package. If the inlet is a small trapezoid, do not order the C13: it will not fit.
C7 (figure-8) / C8 – the two-wire standard
Many mid-size monitors use the C7 figure-8 cord into the C8 inlet: flat, two pins, no earth, two-wire. It is the most common monitor cord in home offices, and the most commonly lost one.
And the Vendor Barrel
Some all-in-one PCs and a few monitors feed through a round DC barrel with a center pin, often via a small external brick. The barrel is vendor-specific in diameter and voltage (5 V, 12 V or 19 V are common), so a barrel replacement must match the label on the original – it is never a generic part.
| Cable type | Inlet on monitor | Typical monitor | Earth? |
|---|
| C13 | C14, wide rectangle | 24 inch+ panels, pro displays | Yes |
| C5 (MIDI) | C6, small trapezoid | Compact monitors, AIOs | Yes |
| C7 (figure-8) | C8, flat oval | Home office monitors | No, two-wire |
| DC barrel | Round, center pin | Some AIOs, special panels | Vendor-specific |
All three IEC families are stocked in 1.8 m and 2 m with the regional wall plug; barrel replacements require the vendor diameter and voltage from the original label.
Replacement Rules That Avoid the Wrong Order
- Name the inlet before ordering – a photo of the back of the screen is enough
- Prefer the same length as the original; 1.8 m or 2 m covers most desks
- Match the earth: do not substitute a two-wire C7 where the device expects an earthed C13
- For barrel inlets, photograph the plug end and the label before ordering
Real-World Applications
Office refresh: a fleet of 27-inch panels all takes C13, so one stock length serves the monitors and the towers. Home office: the 24-inch monitor is C7 and the dock is C7 – one cord family, two devices. Refurb line: sort incoming panels by inlet family at intake, because the C13 and C7 cords are the two that get mixed up in shipping.
Related reading: The desktop-side families in one table — power-computer-cable
Related reading: Buying the replacement: the full buying guide — monitor-power-cable-buying
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of monitor power cables are there?
Three IEC families: C13 (into the C14 inlet) for large and professional monitors, C5 (MIDI) for compact monitors and some all-in-ones, and C7 (figure-8) for most home-office monitors. Some all-in-one units use a vendor-specific DC barrel instead of any IEC family.
How do I tell which power cable my monitor needs?
Look at the inlet on the back: a wide rectangle with three slots is C14, so buy a C13 cord; a small rounded trapezoid is C6, so buy a C5; a flat oval with two pin holes is C8, so buy a C7; a round barrel needs the vendor-matched cord from the label.
Can I use a computer power cord for my monitor?
If both are the C13 type, yes – the same IEC 60320 lead works on a tower and a large monitor. If the monitor uses the smaller C7 figure-8 inlet, a C13 cord will not fit, and the C7 cord is the right part.
Is a figure-8 (C7) monitor cord safe without an earth pin?
Yes, for the devices it is specified for. Monitors with C8 inlets are double-insulated designs that do not require an earth connection; the two-wire C7 cord is the correct, rated part for them. The earth pin on C13 and C5 cords is for earthed metal chassis like desktop towers.
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