Plug adapter for China from the United States
What travellers from the United States need to charge and power their devices in China: plugs, voltage and frequency, with the rest of the trip basics below.
Plug adapter
Needed for some plugs
Your Type A plugs fit. For Type B plugs, bring an adapter to Types A and I.
Voltage
Higher: 220 V
The United States 120 V → China 220 V. Devices made for 110–120 V only need a step-down converter.
Frequency
Different
60 Hz → 50 Hz. Chargers don't mind; mains-timed clocks and some motors may run fast or slow.
Your plug, their socket
In China: Type I (angled flat pins) and Type A sockets are standard. Older combined sockets also accept Europlugs (Type C), but they are no longer installed.
Your devices in China
Look for the “INPUT” line on the charger or label. A range such as 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz means the device adapts by itself and needs only a plug adapter.
| Device | Usually | In China |
|---|---|---|
| Phone, tablet and laptop chargers | 100–240 V | Plug adapter only |
| Camera and power-bank chargers, e-readers | 100–240 V | Plug adapter only |
| Electric shavers, toothbrushes | often 100–240 V; check | Check the label: single-voltage ones need a converter |
| Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons | single voltage | Will burn out on 220 V: buy a dual-voltage model or use the hotel's |
| Kettles, irons, travel cookers | single voltage, high power | Leave at home: converters for these are heavy and costly |
| Plug-in clocks, timers, some fans | 60 Hz | May run fast or slow on 50 Hz |
A plug adapter does not change voltage. Plugging a 120 V-only appliance into 220 V through an adapter will destroy it within seconds and can start a fire.
The rest of the trip basics
- Time
- China is 13 h ahead of the United States right now (UTC+8 vs UTC−5, capitals).
- Money
- The Chinese Yuan (CNY): 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (ECB reference rates, 2026-10-30). Everyday prices are about 48% of the United States'.
- Driving
- On the right, as at home.
- Advisories
- US: Level 2 Exercise increased caution. UK: no FCDO warnings. Details
- Next holidays
- 1 Jan New Year's Day · 5 Feb Chinese New Year's Eve · 6 Feb Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) All 19
- Calling code
- +86