USB Versions & Speeds Reference
Decode USB 1.1 → USB4: signaling speeds, connectors, and the confusing Gen renaming.
What it does: Look up the real speed, connectors and marketing name for any USB version, and see through the 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen renaming.
When to use it: When buying a cable or drive, reading a spec sheet, or wondering whether two "USB 3" labels mean the same thing.
Pick a USB version to see its speed and connectors. Note: the figures are signaling rates? , not the throughput you actually get.
MEANS —
No history yet. Each calculation is automatically saved to this device.
How to use the USB reference
Pick a standard → read its speed and connectors → cross-check the full table.
- 01
Pick the standard
Select a USB specification from the dropdown — e.g. USB 3.2 Gen 2. The list spans USB 1.1 through USB4 Version 2.0.
- 02
Read the speed and connectors
The card shows the official marketing name, the signaling rate (Mbps/Gbps), and which connectors carry that mode.
- 03
Cross-check against the table
The full reference table below lets you scan every version at once and trace the renaming history (since-year column).
USB versions, speeds & connectors
Rates are USB-IF signaling rates; real-world throughput is lower due to encoding and protocol overhead.
| Spec | Marketing name | Signaling rate | Connectors | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB 1.1 | Full-Speed | 12 Mbps | A, B | 1998 |
| USB 2.0 | Hi-Speed | 480 Mbps | A, B, Mini, Micro | 2000 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 | SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps | 5 Gbps | A (blue), B, C | 2008 (USB 3.0) |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 | SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps | 10 Gbps | A, C | 2013 (USB 3.1) |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps | 20 Gbps | C only (dual-lane) | 2017 |
| USB4 Gen 2x2 | USB4 20Gbps | 20 Gbps | C only | 2019 |
| USB4 Gen 3x2 | USB4 40Gbps | 40 Gbps | C only (Thunderbolt 3 compatible) | 2019 |
| USB4 Version 2.0 | USB4 80Gbps | 80 Gbps | C only | 2022 |
USB-IF specifications and branding guidelines.
Common questions, answered in 3 minutes
Why are there so many names for the same 5 Gbps?
USB-IF renamed the original 5 Gbps mode every time the spec was revised: it launched as USB 3.0 (2008), was folded into USB 3.1 as "Gen 1" (2013), then into USB 3.2 as "Gen 1" again (2017). USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 are all the exact same 5 Gbps SuperSpeed link — only the label changed.
Does a USB-C connector mean it is USB 3 or fast?
No. USB-C is just the physical connector shape. A USB-C port can run anything from USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) up to USB4 (40/80 Gbps), or only carry power. Always check the marketing speed label, not the connector.
Is USB4 the same as Thunderbolt?
They are closely related but not identical. USB4 is built on the Thunderbolt 3 protocol that Intel contributed to USB-IF, so USB4 Gen 3x2 (40 Gbps) is electrically Thunderbolt 3 compatible. Thunderbolt 4/5 add stricter mandatory requirements (minimum bandwidth, more PCIe lanes) on top of the USB4 base.
Will I actually get the listed speed?
No — the figures are signaling rates (the raw line speed). Encoding (8b/10b or 128b/132b) and protocol overhead mean usable throughput is lower; for example USB 3.x "5 Gbps" delivers roughly 400–500 MB/s in practice, and real numbers also depend on the drive, cable, and host.
Standards and sources referenced by this tool
| Item | Value / Formula | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USB 1.1 / 2.0 speeds | 12 / 480 Mbps | USB-IF specifications |
| USB 3.x SuperSpeed (Gen naming) | 5 / 10 / 20 Gbps | USB-IF specifications |
| USB4 (incl. Version 2.0) | 20 / 40 / 80 Gbps | USB-IF specifications |
Rates are signaling rates per USB-IF; real-world throughput is lower due to encoding and protocol overhead. Naming follows the latest USB-IF branding — refer to USB-IF as authoritative.