USA voltage UK devices compatibility is important to understand before travelling to America. The USA uses 120V electricity, while the UK uses 230V. This USA voltage UK devices difference matters for some appliances but not others. Your phone and laptop will work perfectly with just a plug adapter. Your UK hair dryer will barely blow warm air.
I have made this mistake with USA voltage UK devices before — arriving in New York with a travel kettle that took 15 minutes to reach lukewarm. Once you understand which devices are affected, packing for America is straightforward.
USA Voltage UK Devices: The Difference
| Specification | USA | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 120V | 230V |
| Frequency | 60Hz | 50Hz |
| Plug type | Type A/B (flat pins) | Type G (rectangular pins) |
The USA uses half the voltage of the UK. This significantly affects heating appliances but has no impact on modern electronics designed for international travel. The IEC World Plugs reference confirms USA uses 120V at Type A/B plugs.
What Works Without a Converter
Modern electronics are designed for worldwide use. Look for “100-240V” or “110-240V” on the charger label — this means it works everywhere including the USA.
Works fine with a plug adapter:
- Phone chargers (iPhone, Samsung, all brands)
- Laptop chargers (MacBook, Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.)
- Tablet chargers (iPad, Android tablets)
- Camera battery chargers
- Electric toothbrush chargers (Oral-B, Philips Sonicare)
- Kindle and e-reader chargers
- USB power banks
- Smartwatch chargers
- Most electric shavers
- Most camera equipment
- Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck (check label)
How to verify: Look at the small print on your charger. If it says “Input: 100-240V 50/60Hz” or similar, it works in the USA.
What Does NOT Work
Single-voltage appliances rated for “220-240V only” will not work properly in the USA:
Probably will not work:
- UK hair dryers (unless dual-voltage)
- UK hair straighteners/curling irons (unless dual-voltage)
- UK travel kettles (unless dual-voltage)
- UK steam irons
- Some older or specialist electronics
What Happens If You Plug Them In?
A 240V appliance plugged into 120V receives half the intended power:
- Hair dryers: Run at roughly 25% power. Produces barely warm air.
- Hair straighteners: Heat very slowly and cannot reach full temperature.
- Kettles: Take 4-5 times longer to boil, if they boil at all.
- Irons: Never get hot enough to work properly.
This will not damage the appliance in the short term — it simply will not work effectively.
Do You Need a Voltage Converter?
For most travellers: No.
Your important electronics (phone, laptop, camera) are already dual-voltage. You only need a £5 plug adapter.
You might want a converter if:
- You absolutely must use your UK hair dryer
- You need your UK travel kettle
- You have specialist equipment that is single-voltage
Why Converters Are Usually Not Worth It
Voltage converters for heating appliances have problems:
| Issue | Reality |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1-3 kg for high-wattage models |
| Size | Bulky, takes up luggage space |
| Cost | £40-80 for quality converters |
| Wattage limits | Many cannot handle hair dryers (1000W+) |
| Reliability | Cheap ones can overheat |
For the same price as a good converter, you can buy a dual-voltage travel hair dryer that you will use for years.
Practical Solutions
Hair Dryers
Option 1: Use the hotel dryer. Most US hotels provide hair dryers in the room.
Option 2: Buy a dual-voltage travel dryer. BaByliss, Remington, and others make compact travel dryers rated for 110-240V. Cost: £15-30.
Option 3: Buy a cheap dryer in the USA. Target, Walmart, or CVS sell basic dryers for $10-20. Leave it behind when you leave.
Hair Straighteners
Option 1: Check if yours is dual-voltage. GHD straighteners are usually 100-240V (check the label). Many Babyliss and Cloud Nine products are dual-voltage too.
Option 2: Buy dual-voltage straighteners. Many travel-focused brands make them.
Option 3: Visit a salon. If you only need straight hair for a special event.
Travel Kettles
Option 1: Dual-voltage kettle. The Lakeland travel kettle and some collapsible silicone kettles are 110-240V.
Option 2: Use hotel facilities. Many US hotels have coffee makers in the room. Not ideal for tea, but provides hot water.
Option 3: Buy locally. Target and Walmart sell cheap electric kettles for $15-25.
Option 4: Starbucks/coffee shops. Most will give you hot water if you ask.
Plug Adapter for USA
The USA uses Type A and Type B plugs:
- Type A: Two flat parallel pins
- Type B: Two flat pins plus a round grounding pin
UK plugs (Type G) do not fit. You need a UK-to-US adapter, which costs £3-10.
Most UK-to-US adapters accept the UK’s grounded three-pin plugs and output to US Type A sockets. Amazon has UK to USA adapters at reasonable prices.
Does the Frequency Difference Matter?
The USA uses 60Hz; the UK uses 50Hz. For tourists, this difference is irrelevant:
- Dual-voltage electronics: Designed for 50/60Hz, no problem
- Motor-driven devices: May run slightly faster on 60Hz (negligible for short trips)
- Clocks: Mains-powered clocks may run fast (rare issue)
You do not need to worry about frequency unless you are importing large appliances permanently.
State-by-State: Does It Vary?
No. All 50 US states use 120V at 60Hz. Hawaii, Alaska, and US territories use the same standard.
The same plug adapter and voltage considerations apply whether you are in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, or Honolulu.
What About Canada?
Canada uses the same electrical standard as the USA:
- 120V
- 60Hz
- Type A/B plugs
Everything in this guide applies equally to Canada.
USB Devices
USB operates at 5V regardless of wall voltage. If your USB charger is dual-voltage (most are), all your USB devices work fine:
- Phones
- Tablets
- Earbuds
- Power banks
- Smartwatches
- Cameras charged via USB
The wall voltage only affects the charger, not the USB output.
Voltage FAQs
Will my iPhone charger work in the USA?
Yes. Apple chargers are 100-240V. Use a plug adapter.
Will my MacBook charger work in the USA?
Yes. All MacBook chargers are dual-voltage. Use a plug adapter.
Will my UK hair straighteners work in the USA?
Check the label. If it says 100-240V, yes. If it says 220-240V only, no.
Will my GHD straighteners work in the USA?
Most GHD products are dual-voltage (100-240V). Check your specific model.
Can I charge my camera batteries in the USA?
Yes. Camera chargers are virtually always dual-voltage.
Will my electric shaver work in the USA?
Most modern shavers (Braun, Philips) are dual-voltage. Check the label.
Can I use a voltage converter for my UK kettle?
You can, but converters rated for 1000W+ are heavy and expensive. Easier to buy a dual-voltage kettle or use hotel coffee makers.
Summary
| Device | Works in USA? | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Phone charger | Yes | Plug adapter |
| Laptop charger | Yes | Plug adapter |
| Camera charger | Yes | Plug adapter |
| Electric toothbrush | Yes | Plug adapter |
| Electric shaver | Usually yes | Plug adapter (check label) |
| Hair dryer | Usually no | Dual-voltage dryer or hotel’s |
| Hair straightener | Check label | Dual-voltage or buy locally |
| Travel kettle | Usually no | Dual-voltage kettle or buy locally |
Bottom line: Bring a plug adapter for your electronics. For hair tools and kettles, check labels for dual-voltage or plan to use alternatives.
