China to United States: Do You Need a Plug Adapter? Adapter Needed for Some Plugs

It depends on your plug. Type A plugs from China fit the sockets in United States, but Type C and Type I plugs need an adapter.

• Type A (two flat parallel pins): fits Type A and Type B sockets in United States.
• Type C (two round pins (the "Europlug")): doesn't fit sockets in United States. You need an adapter.
• Type I (two flat pins in a V shape, plus a grounding pin): doesn't fit sockets in United States. You need an adapter.

Voltage

United States uses 120V, roughly half the 220V in China. Chargers rated "100-240V" work fine, but single-voltage 220V appliances will run weakly or not at all without a step-up converter.

The grid frequency is 60Hz in United States versus 50Hz in China. This doesn't matter for chargers and most electronics, but appliances with motors or mains-timed clocks can run at a different speed.

What to pack

Look for an adapter that accepts Type C and Type I plugs and fits Type A and Type B sockets. An adapter only changes the plug shape, not the voltage.

Good to know about United States

Older buildings often have two-pin outlets that only take Type A plugs, not three-pin Type B.

See all plug types and sockets in United States