Embodiments described herein are directed to wireless power transfer systems, which can include a vertical pair of an inner and an outer coupling capacitors. According to certain embodiments, one plate from each of the outer coupling capacitor at least in part overlaps one plate of the inner coupling capacitor on a primary side and another plate from the outer coupling capacitor at least partially overlaps another plate of the inner coupling capacitor on a secondary side. Each plate of the outer coupling capacitor has a larger area than each plate of the inner coupling capacitor. Further, a power transfer unit is included and configured to transfer power capacitively through the vertical pair of coupling capacitors, where the power transfer unit can include first and second inductors coupled to each plate of the outer coupling capacitor, respectively.