Tool · Travel tools
Do I need an adapter for China?
插头 chātóu · plugs, sockets and voltage
Pick where your plugs come from to see whether they fit Chinese sockets, which adapter to pack, and whether your devices can take China’s 220 volts.
Check your plugs
The answer
China uses 220 V at 50 Hz. Wall sockets take Type I (two angled flat pins plus an earth pin, like Australia’s) and Type A (two flat pins, like the US), and the common five-hole outlet also takes a two-pin Europlug (Type C). British, Schuko and most other plugs need an adapter, and 110–120 V-only devices need a voltage converter.
Adapter for China, by country
| Your country | Your plugs | Your voltage | Adapter for China | Converter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | A, B | 120 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | Only for 110–120 V-only devices |
| Canada | A, B | 120 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | Only for 110–120 V-only devices |
| Mexico | A, B | 127 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | Only for 110–120 V-only devices |
| Brazil | C, N | 127 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | Only for 110–120 V-only devices |
| Argentina | C, I | 220 V · 50 Hz | Usually no | No |
| United Kingdom | G | 230 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| Ireland | G | 230 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| France | C, E | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Germany | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Spain | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Italy | C, F, L | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Netherlands | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Switzerland | C, J | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Sweden | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Poland | C, E | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Russia | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Turkey | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Israel | C, H | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| United Arab Emirates | G | 230 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| Saudi Arabia | G | 230 V · 60 Hz | Yes | No |
| South Africa | C, M, N | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| India | C, D, M | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Singapore | G | 230 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| Malaysia | G | 230 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| Thailand | A, B, C, O | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Vietnam | A, B, C, F | 220 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Philippines | A, B, C | 230 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Indonesia | C, F | 230 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Japan | A, B | 100 V · 50 Hz | For some plugs | Only for 110–120 V-only devices |
| South Korea | C, F | 220 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | No |
| Taiwan | A, B | 110 V · 60 Hz | For some plugs | Only for 110–120 V-only devices |
| Hong Kong | G | 220 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| Macau | G | 230 V · 50 Hz | Yes | No |
| Australia | I | 230 V · 50 Hz | Usually no | No |
| New Zealand | I | 230 V · 50 Hz | Usually no | No |
Sockets in China, explained
The standard Chinese wall outlet has five holes: two flat slots on top for Type A plugs and three slots below (two angled, one for the earth pin) for Type I plugs, the same family as Australia’s. The two top slots in most outlets are shaped to take round Europlug pins too, which is why thin two-pin European chargers usually fit.
Mains power is 220 volts at 50 hertz. Most chargers for phones, laptops and cameras accept 100–240 V and only need the right plug shape. Read the label on the charger or device: if it says 110 V or 120 V only, it needs a voltage converter, not just an adapter.
Hotels often add USB sockets and sometimes universal sockets, but a small adapter with Type A and Type I prongs is the safe choice. You can also buy adapters cheaply at convenience stores and electronics markets in China.
Questions readers ask
What plug do I need for China?
Chinese sockets take Type A (two flat pins), Type I (two angled flat pins plus earth) and, in most five-hole outlets, the round two-pin Europlug (Type C). Visitors from the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, most of Europe with grounded plugs, India and South Africa need an adapter.
Do I need an adapter for China from the US?
Not for most two-pin US plugs: Type A fits Chinese sockets. Three-pin US plugs (Type B) do not fit, because Chinese sockets have no round earth hole, so bring an adapter or a Type A extension. Check the voltage too: China is 220 V.
Do I need a voltage converter in China?
Only for devices that run on 110–120 V alone. Phone, laptop and camera chargers are usually marked 100–240 V and work in China with just a plug adapter. Single-voltage hair dryers, straighteners and kettles from the US, Canada or Japan need a converter, or buy one locally.
Do UK plugs work in China?
Not in standard Chinese sockets. Some hotels fit universal sockets that take UK plugs, but you cannot count on it, so pack a UK-to-China (Type I or A) adapter. The voltage, 220 V, is close enough for UK devices.
Do Australian plugs work in China?
Usually yes. Chinese three-pin sockets are Type I, the same family as Australian and New Zealand plugs, and the voltage (220 V) is close to Australia’s 230 V.
Does 50 Hz matter?
For chargers and most electronics, no. Some devices with motors or mains-timed clocks made for 60 Hz countries can run slightly slower at China’s 50 Hz.
Related
Sources
- Wikipedia, Mains electricity by country (plug types, voltage, frequency) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
- Power Plugs & Sockets, China (sockets A, C and I; 220 V, 50 Hz) · accessed 28 Oct 2026
Update log. 28 October 2026 — published. Next review due 26 January 2027. Suggest a correction
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