UK to US Plug Adapter Guide: What UK Travellers Actually Need (And the 110V Trap)

The first time I packed for the US I made the mistake almost every UK traveller makes on a first trip. I bought a slim white “international travel adapter” from a Heathrow shop, plugged my UK hair dryer into it in a Boston hotel room, and watched a thin curl of smoke rise out of the back within about three seconds. The hair dryer was dead. The adapter was fine. The lesson — the one no one ever explains until it’s too late — is that an adapter and a voltage converter are not the same thing, and the United States is the one country UK travellers visit where this difference actually matters.

This guide covers exactly what you need to take from the UK to the US and what should stay at home. America runs on 120V at 60Hz, not the UK’s 230V at 50Hz, and that single fact decides whether each of your devices needs just an adapter, an adapter plus a converter, or shouldn’t be packed at all. Most modern chargers — phones, laptops, cameras — are dual-voltage and work fine with an adapter only. Hair dryers, straighteners, kettles and CPAP machines are where things go wrong.

Quick answer: The US uses Type A (two flat parallel pins) and Type B (the same with a round earth pin) sockets at 120V / 60Hz. UK travellers need a UK-to-US plug adapter for the sockets, AND a voltage converter for any UK appliance that is not dual voltage (most hair dryers, kettles and shavers). Devices labelled “Input: 100–240V” are dual voltage and need only the adapter. The £4 adapter you can buy at Heathrow is correct for phones and laptops — it is not enough for high-wattage UK appliances.

How US Plug Sockets Work — The Basics

The United States uses two related socket types — Type A and Type B — and a UK Type G plug will fit neither without an adapter.

Type A has two flat parallel pins. It is the original American socket, ungrounded, rated to 15 amps. You will see it in older buildings, hotel rooms, and almost every restaurant or coffee shop wall outlet. It dates back to 1904.

Type B is the same two flat pins plus a round earth pin underneath, forming a triangle. It is the modern grounded version. Almost all newer construction uses Type B, but the upper two pins are identical to Type A — so a two-pin device fits a Type B socket without any adapter, and you’ll routinely see them mixed in the same building.

Both run at 120V at 60Hz — half the voltage of the UK and a different frequency. This is the part that matters.

Feature	UK (Type G)	US (Type A / B)
Pin shape	3 rectangular	2 flat (A) or 2 flat + earth (B)
Voltage	230V	120V
Frequency	50Hz	60Hz
Adapter needed	—	Yes
Voltage converter needed	—	Yes — for any non-dual-voltage device

Canada uses the same Type A / B sockets at the same 120V / 60Hz, so a UK-to-US adapter and any voltage advice in this guide applies equally to Canada, Mexico, most of the Caribbean and Central America.

The Critical Difference: 120V vs 230V

This is the bit retailers selling £4 adapters never explain clearly. A plug adapter only changes the shape of the plug so it fits the socket. It does nothing to the electricity flowing through it. If you plug a 230V UK hair dryer into a 120V US socket using only an adapter, you are sending the dryer half the voltage it was designed for. It will either run weakly, overheat, or burn out within seconds.

A voltage converter (also called a step-up transformer) takes the 120V the US socket delivers and steps it up to 230V for your UK device. It is a separate, often heavy, brick-sized unit and is what you actually need for any UK appliance that is not dual voltage.

The label test: turn over any charger or appliance and find the small text near the power rating.

• “Input: 100–240V, 50/60Hz” — dual voltage. Plug adapter only. Works anywhere in the world. This covers almost all modern chargers for phones, tablets, laptops, cameras and electric toothbrushes.
• “Input: 230V” or “220–240V” — UK/EU single voltage. Needs a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter. This covers most UK hair dryers, hair straighteners, kettles, irons and some older shavers and electric toothbrush chargers.
• “Input: 120V” or “110–120V” — US-format single voltage. Works in the US natively. If brought back to the UK without a converter, the device will be destroyed in the other direction.

A voltage converter rated to at least 1,600W is needed for a UK hair dryer; one rated to at least 2,000W for a UK kettle. These are heavy (1–2kg), expensive (£40–80) and frankly not worth packing for a one-week trip. The practical answer for almost every UK holidaymaker is simpler: leave the hair dryer at home and use the hotel’s, or buy a cheap 120V US hair dryer on arrival at Target or CVS for $15.

Which UK to US Plug Adapter Should You Buy?

There is no point spending much on a UK-to-US plug adapter alone — the part is mechanically trivial and £4 covers it. Where to spend more is on USB charging built in (so you don’t need to bring your individual UK chargers) and on a unit certified to BS 8546 (the UK travel-adapter safety standard).

For Most UK Travellers

Jsdoin UK to US Plug Adapter 2-Pack — approximately £4–6. Two slim Type B-compatible adapters, grounded, fits both Type A and Type B sockets across the US and Canada. One for the bedside, one for the bathroom. Adequate for phones, laptops and any dual-voltage device.

For Charging Multiple Devices

TESSAN UK to US Adapter with 3 USB + 1 USB-C — approximately £11–15. Grounded Type B output plus four USB ports. Plug it into a US socket and charge phones, tablets, e-readers and toothbrushes from a single wall outlet — no need to pack individual UK chargers.

For Hair Tools and High-Wattage Devices

A plug adapter alone is not enough for UK hair dryers, kettles or straighteners. You need a step-up voltage converter rated to at least 1,600W — approximately £40–80. Heavy, bulky, and only worth buying for long stays or if you absolutely need a specific UK appliance. For a normal holiday, leave the device at home or buy a US equivalent on arrival.

Universal / Frequent Travellers

SKROSS World Adapter — approximately £20–35. Covers the US, EU, Asia and Australia with a single grounded unit. BS 8546 certified — meets the UK travel-adapter safety standard most cheap unbranded adapters do not. The right pick if you travel internationally more than once a year.

Pick	Price (Amazon UK)	Best for
Jsdoin UK→US 2-pack	£4–6	Phone, laptop, anything dual-voltage
TESSAN USB + USB-C	£11–15	Charging multiple small devices from one wall socket
Step-up voltage converter	£40–80	UK hair dryers, kettles, irons (long stays)
SKROSS World	£20–35	Frequent multi-region travellers

Airport note: WH Smith and Boots at UK airports sell basic UK-to-US adapters for £8–12. Sufficient for a phone-only traveller. They do not sell voltage converters — if you need one for a UK hair dryer, buy it from Amazon UK before you travel.

Will My Devices Work in the US?

Phones, Tablets and Laptops

Almost all modern phone, tablet and laptop chargers are dual voltage. The UK-issued iPhone 15 and later models ship with a USB-C charger labelled “100–240V, 50/60Hz” — works in the US with a plug adapter only. The same is true for MacBook Pro chargers, Surface laptops, Android phones, Kindles and most cameras. Check the small print on each charger before you travel.

Hair Dryers

This is the one that catches everyone out. UK hair dryers are almost always 230V single-voltage. Plugged into a 120V US socket through a simple adapter, they either run at half power and overheat or burn out completely.

The practical fix: leave the UK dryer at home. Mid-range and above US hotels (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt) provide one in the room. Budget hotels and some Airbnbs do not, but a US-format dryer costs $15 at CVS, Target or Walmart and works perfectly with no adapter or converter.

Hair Straighteners (GHD)

Most current GHD models are dual voltage (100–240V) and work in the US with only a plug adapter. The notable exception: the GHD 3.1b is labelled “230V only” — this device will not work safely in the US even with a converter, because GHD’s older designs are sensitive to frequency as well as voltage. Use a dual-voltage model or buy a US equivalent.

Other GHD models — Platinum+, Gold, Helios, Air — are typically marked 100–240V and work in the US with a plug adapter alone.

Dyson Airwrap

The Airwrap is region-specific. The UK/EU model is 220–240V; the US model is 110–120V. Cross-using them does not work, even with a voltage converter, because Dyson designs each region’s Airwrap for its native voltage and the motor electronics object to converted current. Dyson advises against using a voltage converter with the Airwrap.

If you are travelling to the US for a long stay and need an Airwrap, the only safe option is to buy the US version on arrival. For a short holiday, leave the UK Airwrap at home.

CPAP Machines

Almost all modern CPAP units (ResMed, Philips Respironics, Löwenstein) are universal voltage — typically “Input: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz” on the power supply label. They work in the US with a UK-to-US plug adapter alone — no voltage converter required.

Do not use a voltage converter with a CPAP machine — the converter’s transformed waveform can damage the sensitive power supply, and the CPAP doesn’t need one anyway.

Electric Toothbrushes

Most UK-purchased Oral-B and Braun chargers from the last decade are dual voltage (100–240V). Older models (pre-2014) may be 230V only — check the base of the charger. A dual-voltage charger works in the US with a plug adapter alone.

Kettles

UK kettles are 230V, single voltage, and draw 2,000–3,000 watts. They do not work in the US even with most consumer voltage converters. The practical answer: buy a $15 US kettle at Target on arrival, or use the hotel coffee machine. Long-stay UK travellers in serviced apartments often buy a US kettle for the duration and donate or sell it on departure.

Apple Watch, AirPods, Fitbits, Kindles

All universal-voltage with USB charging — a UK-to-US adapter plus their normal USB cables charges them without issue.

Razors and Trimmers

Most modern Braun, Philips and Wahl rechargeable shavers are dual voltage. Older corded UK razors marked 230V will not work in the US.

Hotel Sockets, USB Ports and What to Expect

US hotels in the last decade have widely adopted bedside USB ports built into lamps and alarm clocks. In a Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt or Hampton Inn you can typically charge a phone overnight with just the cable — no plug, no adapter, no converter. Bring your USB cables and you may not need the adapter for phone charging at all.

The same is increasingly true for NEMA 5-15R USB sockets — US wall outlets with USB-A ports built into the socket plate. Newer hotels and Airbnbs have these throughout.

For laptop charging, hair tools and CPAP machines, the wall sockets are still your best bet. Look for the round earth pin (Type B) for grounded devices, especially CPAP and laptops.

North America Beyond the US — Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean

Canada, Mexico and most of the Caribbean (Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands) use the same Type A / B sockets at 120V / 60Hz as the US. The same UK-to-US plug adapter works without modification, and the same voltage rules apply — UK hair dryers don’t work, dual-voltage chargers do.

Exceptions worth noting:

• Bermuda — also Type A/B at 120V/60Hz despite being a British Overseas Territory
• Cuba — mixed 110V and 220V depending on the hotel; check before plugging anything high-wattage in
• Belize — mostly Type A/B at 120V but some Type G (UK) in luxury resorts as a legacy of British colonial wiring

For South America, plug types and voltage vary considerably — a UK-to-US adapter will not cover Argentina (Type I), Brazil (Type N), or Chile (Type L). Check each country individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

What plug adapter do I need for the US from the UK?

A UK Type G to US Type A/B plug adapter. The cheap Jsdoin 2-pack on Amazon UK is fine for most devices. The critical extra: any UK appliance that isn’t dual voltage also needs a step-up voltage converter, because the US runs at 120V not 230V.

Do I need a voltage converter for the US?

Yes for hair dryers, kettles, straighteners and some older shavers — anything labelled “230V” or “220–240V” only. No for phones, tablets, laptops, MacBooks, CPAP machines and most modern chargers labelled “100–240V.”

Will my UK hair dryer work in the US with just an adapter?

No. A plug adapter only changes the plug shape; it doesn’t change the voltage. A 230V UK dryer plugged into a 120V US socket will run weakly, overheat or burn out. The practical answer: use the hotel’s dryer or buy a $15 US one at Target.

Will my UK phone charger work in the US?

Yes, almost certainly. Modern UK iPhone and Android chargers are dual voltage (100–240V) and work in the US with a plug adapter alone. Check the small print on the charger if in doubt — “100–240V” means dual voltage.

Will my MacBook charger work in the US?

Yes. All MacBook chargers from the last 15+ years are dual voltage. A UK-to-US plug adapter is all you need.

Will my GHD straighteners work in the US?

Most current GHD models (Platinum+, Gold, Helios, Air) are dual voltage and work with a UK-to-US adapter alone. The exception is the older GHD 3.1b which is 230V only and is not safe for US use even with a converter.

Will my UK kettle work in the US?

No, and most consumer voltage converters don’t have enough capacity to run one. Buy a US kettle on arrival or use the hotel coffee machine.

Can I charge my UK iPhone in the US?

Yes. Your UK charger is dual voltage. A UK-to-US plug adapter or any USB-A port (including the ones built into US hotel bedside lamps) will charge it.

Are UK and US plugs the same in the Caribbean?

Most Caribbean islands use US-style Type A/B at 120V — same adapter, same rules. Exceptions: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Cayman Islands use US Type A/B; Antigua, Belize and Dominica are mixed; most former British colonies still use UK Type G with no adapter needed.

Are cheap Amazon adapters safe for the US?

They work, but most don’t carry the BS 8546 UK safety stamp. For phones and laptops they’re fine. For anything plugged in unattended overnight or in a hotel where you can’t see it (a CPAP machine, a charging station), the SKROSS or higher-end TESSAN models that meet BS 8546 are the safer choice.

Before You Pack for the US

• Turn over every device you plan to bring. If the label reads “Input: 100–240V, 50/60Hz” you only need a plug adapter. Anything else needs investigating.
• Leave UK hair dryers, kettles and irons at home. Use the hotel’s, or buy US equivalents on arrival.
• If your hotel has bedside USB ports (most US hotels built in the last 5 years do), pack just the cables — you may not need the adapter for phone charging.
• For a CPAP machine, hair tool or any sensitive electronics, buy a BS 8546-certified adapter such as SKROSS, not a £4 unbranded one.
• If you are taking your laptop, pack one grounded UK-to-US adapter (not an ungrounded two-pin one) to avoid the MacBook leakage-current “tingle.”

For the wider regional picture, see our European plug adapter guide. For other directional guides see our UK to Australia plug adapter guide and UK to Switzerland plug adapter guide.