Can I use a US charger in Canada, and a Canadian charger in the US?

Main answer · Wecent Editorial Team

Short answer: No adapter or converter is needed for ordinary chargers. Both countries use about 120 volts at 60 hertz and the same type A and B plugs, so a charger bought in one country plugs straight into a socket in the other. Check the charger’s label for its voltage range and look for a recognised safety mark.

Same supply, same sockets

Canada and the United States both use a nominal 120 volt, 60 hertz supply and the same two-pin and three-pin socket shapes. A charger sold in either country plugs into the other without an adapter or voltage converter.

Check the label

Look at the small print on the charger. Most modern phone and laptop chargers are marked with a wide range such as 100 to 240 volts, 50 or 60 hertz. These work in nearly any country. A charger marked for only 120 volts is fine for this trip, but would need a converter elsewhere.

Safety marks

Look for a mark from a recognised testing body, such as UL, cUL, CSA or ETL, on the charger. These marks show that a laboratory has tested the product to the safety standard for the relevant market. A US-bought charger with a US mark normally works safely in Canada, but if you buy in Canada, look for a mark that is accepted there.

Cases that differ

• Old or unusual equipment. Some specialist devices are rated for a different voltage and need checking.
• Ungrounded plugs. Two-pin chargers fit into three-pin sockets, but three-pin chargers do not fit into old two-pin sockets. Avoid cheater adapters.
• Cheap, unmarked chargers. A charger without a clear label or safety mark is a risk anywhere.

Practical tips

1. Take the chargers you already use, rather than buying new ones at the airport.
2. Carry a spare cable.
3. Pack a short extension if sockets are far away.
4. Use a power bank for flights.

If you plan to sell chargers across the border

Selling is a different matter from using. A retailer may need documents, marks and bilingual labelling that a traveller does not.

Quick summary

Same voltage, same frequency and same plugs mean a normal trip needs no special equipment. Check the label for the voltage range, look for a recognised safety mark and replace any damaged charger before you travel.

Sources checked on 24 Oct 2026: Health Canada: Electrical product safety (chargers and certification marks); IEC: World plugs.

Where this answer says to confirm with Wecent, the detail is not published on the product page and has to come from the datasheet or the factory. General facts come from the regulators, standards bodies or device makers named in the text.