Using UK appliances in the USA: Voltage, plugs and adapters

You cannot use most UK appliances in the USA without a voltage transformer because the two countries run on different electrical systems. The UK uses 230 volts at 50 hertz with three-pin Type G plugs. The USA uses 120 volts at 60 hertz with two-pin Type A or three-pin Type B plugs. Plugging a UK appliance directly into a US socket through a simple plug adapter will damage or destroy most appliances within seconds, and creates a genuine fire risk. Some modern dual-voltage devices like laptops, phone chargers, and electric toothbrushes work safely with just a plug adapter. Most other UK appliances need a step-up voltage transformer to work in the USA, and for many appliances it is cheaper and simpler to sell them before you move and buy US equivalents on arrival.

This guide explains the differences, walks through which UK appliances are worth shipping, and covers the practical realities of running British electronics in an American home.

The voltage and frequency difference

The core technical difference is straightforward.

• UK electrical system: 230 volts, 50 hertz (cycles per second), Type G three-pin plug with a built-in fuse.
• US electrical system: 120 volts, 60 hertz, Type A two-pin or Type B three-pin plug, no built-in fuse.

The voltage difference is the bigger issue. A UK appliance designed for 230 volts will not run properly on 120 volts, and a US appliance designed for 120 volts will burn out almost instantly on 230 volts. The frequency difference (50 vs 60 hertz) matters less for most modern electronics but does affect motorised appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, and clocks, which may run at the wrong speed even with a transformer.

US homes also have higher-amperage 240-volt circuits for large appliances like electric ovens and tumble dryers, but these use different sockets and connectors than UK 230-volt outlets, so direct compatibility is not possible.

What works with just a plug adapter

A small number of modern devices are dual-voltage, meaning they handle both 120 and 230 volts automatically. For these, you only need a plug adapter to fit the UK plug into a US socket.

Check the small print on the device or its power supply for a label reading “INPUT: 100-240V, 50-60Hz” or similar. If you see this range, the device works in both countries.

Typically dual-voltage:

• Laptops and tablets
• Phone chargers
• Camera battery chargers
• Electric toothbrush chargers
• Most modern shavers

A simple Type G to Type A or Type B plug adapter costs £3 to £8 and is widely available at airports, Amazon, and US retailers.

What needs a voltage transformer

Most other UK appliances need a step-up voltage transformer to convert 120-volt US power to 230 volts.

Need a transformer:

• Hairdryers, hair straighteners, curling tongs
• Kettles
• Toasters
• Vacuum cleaners
• Lamps and lighting
• Older TVs, stereos, and audio equipment
• Most kitchen small appliances

A 1,000-watt step-up transformer costs $50 to $150. A 2,000-watt transformer for higher-power devices like kettles or hairdryers runs $150 to $300. You need a transformer rated at least 25 per cent above the wattage of your device, so a 1,800-watt UK kettle needs a transformer rated 2,500 watts or higher.

The practical reality is that running multiple UK appliances through transformers in a US home is awkward. Transformers are heavy (a 2,000-watt unit weighs 8 to 12 kg), they generate heat, and they take up significant space. Most movers transform two or three appliances they cannot easily replace and buy US equivalents for everything else.

Major appliances: ship or replace?

For large appliances, the answer is almost always replace.

Washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, microwaves: Do not ship from the UK. The voltage and frequency mismatch means even with a transformer they will run at the wrong speed and wear out quickly. Connection to US plumbing and venting standards adds further complications. US appliances designed for the US electrical system cost roughly the same as UK equivalents and integrate properly into US kitchens.

TVs: Older UK TVs use the PAL broadcast standard; US TVs use NTSC. Most modern TVs are region-free for streaming services but the broadcast tuner will not work for over-the-air channels. If you mainly stream (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video), a UK TV with an HDMI input works fine in the USA when run through a transformer, but the size and weight makes shipping rarely worthwhile.

Gaming consoles: PlayStation and Xbox consoles bought in the UK will work in the USA with a transformer for the power supply, but online services and game discs may have region restrictions. Check before shipping.

What to keep, what to sell

A practical rule for most movers: ship items where the value is in the item itself rather than the electrical components. Furniture, books, photographs, kitchenware, clothing, decorative items, and tools all ship across without electrical concerns.

Sell or donate before you move:

• All major kitchen appliances
• All major laundry and cleaning appliances
• Lamps and lighting (US lamps come with the right plugs and bulbs)
• Anything with a UK gas connection
• Most hair styling tools (cheap to replace in the USA)

Ship and use with a transformer:

• Sentimental electronics where the item itself matters
• Specialised audio or studio equipment that has no good US equivalent
• High-value devices you have already paid duty on

For a fuller breakdown of the ship-or-replace decision across all major appliances and across multiple destination countries, see Should You Ship or Replace Your Appliances When Moving to the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand?.

Practical setup in your US home

Once you arrive, you will typically run two or three transformers in your US home: one in the kitchen for a UK kettle if you cannot live without it, one in a bedroom or bathroom for hair styling tools, and one in a study or living room for any audio or specialist equipment.

Buy the transformers before you arrive or in the first week, from Amazon US or a hardware store. Position each transformer near a wall socket and run UK appliances directly off the transformer rather than through extension leads, which can compound voltage problems.

Keep a few Type G to Type A or Type B plug adapters in a kitchen drawer for visiting British relatives, who will inevitably forget to bring their own.

Planning your UK to USA move

Anglo Pacific has been moving British families to the USA since 1978. Our UK survey team will walk through your home with you and advise on which items make sense to ship and which are better replaced on arrival. Our origin packing teams handle electronics with the protective materials needed for international transit.

Get a free, no-obligation quote at our USA international shipping page.