Many people leave their phone charger plugged into the wall all day, even when the phone isn’t connected. The good news is that a modern, reputable charger normally draws only a tiny amount of electricity while sitting idle, so it isn’t going to dramatically increase your power bill. However, unplugging it can still be a sensible habit for a few reasons.

Chargers remain connected to household electricity whenever they’re plugged in. A properly made charger is designed to handle this safely, but damaged cables, cracked adapters, loose outlets, counterfeit chargers, or poorly manufactured electronics can overheat or fail. The risk becomes greater if the charger feels unusually hot, makes buzzing noises, smells burnt, has discoloration, or is covered by bedding, clothing, or other materials that trap heat.

Another reason to unplug unused chargers is simple wear and energy conservation. Even though standby electricity consumption is generally very small, dozens of devices left connected around a home can add unnecessary usage over time. Unplugging also protects equipment from some electrical problems, although a surge protector provides better protection against voltage spikes.

So leaving a good-quality charger plugged in without a phone is usually not inherently dangerous. The bigger concern is damaged or low-quality equipment. If a charger becomes excessively warm or shows visible damage, stop using it immediately.