A laboratory simulation experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of biochar application on hydraulic properties of arable topsoils from ten regions in China. Biochar was incorporated into the soils at the volume rate of 0% (C0), 5% (C5), 10% (C10) and 15% (C15), respectively. The results indicated that the effect of biochar on soil permeability were determined by soil texture, the saturated hydraulic conductivity declined in aeolian sandy soil and yellow loamy soil with high sand content due to the application of biochar, which were decreased by 89.2% and 85.0% respectively when the application rate of biochar was 15% (C15). However, the addition of biochar commonly increased the permeability of soils with high clay content, especially for lateritic red soil, whose saturated hydraulic conductivity increased by 158.9%. Furthermore, the soil water-holding capacity varied with the application of biochar, and C15 showed the most obvious difference. Applying biochar improved the saturated soil water content by 0.7%-17.6% and water-holding capacity under low soil water suction. There were differences among the effects of biochar addition on water-holding capacities of various soils at medium and high suction levels. The application of biochar increased the water-holding capacity and residual water content but decreased α values of sandy soils, while decreased the water-holding capacity, residual water content and wilting coefficient of loam and clay soils. The results can provide basic hydraulics parameters for water balance simulation considering biochar application, and provide a scientific basis for the reasonable application of biochar into cropland soil.