HomeUS → China
Do I need an adapter from the US to China?
No adapter needed for phone or laptop in China.
United States: Type A/B, 120 V, 60 Hz → China: Type A/I, 230 V, 50 Hz.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 230 V. Your Type A plug fits China's Type A sockets. Earthed Type B plugs do not fit, so for those pack a Type I adapter.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 230 V. Your Type A plug fits China's Type A sockets. Earthed Type B plugs do not fit, so for those pack a Type I adapter.
Single-voltage device (120 V) on a 230 V supply. A plug adapter alone will damage it; you need a voltage converter, or a dual-voltage model.
Some models are dual voltage and some are not. Check the INPUT line on the charger: 100–240 V works on 230 V with just a plug adapter; a single voltage needs a converter. Your Type A plug fits China's Type A sockets. Earthed Type B plugs do not fit, so for those pack a Type I adapter.
Some models are dual voltage and some are not. Check the INPUT line on the power supply: 100–240 V works on 230 V with just a plug adapter; a single voltage needs a converter. Your Type A plug fits China's Type A sockets. Earthed Type B plugs do not fit, so for those pack a Type I adapter.
Single-voltage device (120 V) on a 230 V supply. A plug adapter alone will damage it; you need a voltage converter, or a dual-voltage model. China runs at 50 Hz, not 60 Hz. Motors and clocks may run at the wrong speed; heating elements are unaffected.
What to buy for China (on amazon.com)
Some links on this site are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Why
Plug shape. The US uses Type A (two flat parallel pins) and Type B (two flat parallel pins and a round earth pin). Sockets in China are Type A (two flat parallel pins) and Type I (two flat pins in a V shape and a flat earth pin). They are compatible, so no adapter is needed.
Voltage. The US is 120 V; China is 230 V. Different voltage families. Dual-voltage devices (INPUT 100–240 V) are fine; single-voltage devices need a converter or will be damaged. Adapter or converter?
Frequency. The US is 60 Hz; China is 50 Hz. Chargers and heating elements do not care; motorised appliances and mains clocks may run at the wrong speed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an adapter from the US to China?
No, not for a phone or laptop: your Type A plug fits China's Type A sockets. Earthed Type B plugs do not fit, so for those pack a Type I adapter.
Do I need a voltage converter from the US to China?
Only for single-voltage appliances. The US is 120 V and China is 230 V, so an US hair dryer, straightener or kettle needs a step-down converter (or a dual-voltage model). Phones, laptops and chargers marked INPUT 100–240 V just need the plug adapter.
Will my US phone charger work in China?
Yes. Phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage (100–240 V). You do not even need an adapter.
What about the reverse trip, China to the US?
No adapter needed in the United States, but your hair dryer or straightener needs a voltage converter. Full guide to the US.