An apparatus comprising: an energy input module that applies an amount of energy to a primary converter of a wireless power transfer, WPT, system, the WPT system comprising the primary converter with a primary transmitter pad and a secondary converter with a secondary receiver pad, the WPT system transferring energy from the primary transmitter pad of the primary converter to the secondary receiver pad of the secondary converter, the secondary converter providing power to a load; a coupling measurement module that measures a coupling coefficient between the primary transmitter pad and the secondary receiver pad when the primary transmitter pad and the secondary receiver pad are separated by a vertical distance and horizontally aligned at a horizontal position; a coupling threshold module that determines if the coupling coefficient is above a coupling threshold, the coupling threshold indicative of a minimum acceptable efficiency for transferring power to the load; and an alignment alert module that sends an alignment alert in response to the coupling coefficient being above the coupling threshold, wherein the energy input module applies the amount of energy to the primary converter: under a no load condition between the secondary converter and the load, wherein the WPT system provides substantially no power to the load during the no load condition; or during a measurement operation, wherein the WPT system transmits a low amount of power compared to an amount of power provided during an operation wherein a load is powered. an energy input module that applies an amount of energy to a primary converter of a wireless power transfer, WPT, system, the WPT system comprising the primary converter with a primary transmitter pad and a secondary converter with a secondary receiver pad, the WPT system transferring energy from the primary transmitter pad of the primary converter to the secondary receiver pad of the secondary converter, the secondary converter providing power to a load; a coupling measurement module that measures a coupling coefficient between the primary transmitter pad and the secondary receiver pad when the primary transmitter pad and the secondary receiver pad are separated by a vertical distance and horizontally aligned at a horizontal position; a coupling threshold module that determines if the coupling coefficient is above a coupling threshold, the coupling threshold indicative of a minimum acceptable efficiency for transferring power to the load; and an alignment alert module that sends an alignment alert in response to the coupling coefficient being above the coupling threshold, wherein the energy input module applies the amount of energy to the primary converter: under a no load condition between the secondary converter and the load, wherein the WPT system provides substantially no power to the load during the no load condition; or during a measurement operation, wherein the WPT system transmits a low amount of power compared to an amount of power provided during an operation wherein a load is powered. under a no load condition between the secondary converter and the load, wherein the WPT system provides substantially no power to the load during the no load condition; or during a measurement operation, wherein the WPT system transmits a low amount of power compared to an amount of power provided during an operation wherein a load is powered.