Plug types by country: adapters, voltage and when you need a converter

Travelling with electronics raises two separate questions. First, does your plug fit the sockets? If not, you need a plug adapter, which only changes the shape. Second, does your device accept the local voltage? Most phone chargers and laptop bricks do, so they need nothing more; single-voltage appliances such as many hair dryers need a voltage converter as well. The plug type finder answers both for a trip between two countries, and this guide explains the system.

The plug types

Plugs and sockets are set by national standards, but travellers use a set of letters maintained by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which lists types A to N; the US International Trade Administration adds type O for Thailand. The main families:

• A and B — flat parallel pins, B with a round earth pin: the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan and much of Central America.
• C — the two-pin Europlug, which fits most sockets across continental Europe and many in South America, the Middle East and Asia.
• E and F — round pins with an earth clip or pin: France and Belgium (E), Germany and much of Europe (F).
• G — three rectangular pins: the UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
• I — angled flat pins: Australia, New Zealand, China and Argentina.
• D and M — large round pins: India, South Africa and neighbours.
• H, J, K, L, N and O — Israel, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Brazil and Thailand respectively.

Many countries use more than one type, and older buildings may have different sockets, so treat any list as the common case.

Voltage and frequency

Most of the world supplies 220 to 240 V at 50 Hz. North America is the big exception at 120 V and 60 Hz, joined by parts of Central and South America and Taiwan at around 110 to 127 V. Japan runs at 100 V, with 50 Hz in the east and 60 Hz in the west, and Brazil uses 127 V or 220 V depending on the region. The frequency rarely matters for electronics, but some clocks and motor-driven appliances run at the wrong speed on the other frequency.

Adapter or converter?

Look at the small print on the charger or appliance. If it says something like INPUT 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz, it is dual voltage and works anywhere with just a plug adapter. Most phone, tablet, laptop and camera chargers are like this. If it gives a single voltage such as 120 V or 230 V, it is single voltage. Plugging a 120 V-only device into 230 V can destroy it within seconds; a 230 V device on 120 V usually runs weakly or not at all. Heating appliances are the usual problem: hair dryers, straighteners and travel kettles draw a lot of power, and a converter must be rated above the device's wattage. A 2,000 W hair dryer draws about 8.7 A at 230 V but about 16.7 A at 120 V, which the watts to amps calculator confirms. A dual-voltage travel model is often simpler than a heavy converter.

Common trips

• UK to the US: you need a G-to-A/B adapter; chargers are fine, but a UK-only hair dryer would need a converter from 230 V to 120 V.
• US to Europe: an adapter for C/F sockets; dual-voltage chargers are fine, single-voltage 120 V devices are not.
• UK to Europe, or Europe to the UK: an adapter only, since both sides are around 230 V.
• US to Japan: two-pin plugs usually fit and 100 V is close to 120 V, so most devices work, some a little more slowly; many Japanese sockets are two-pin only, so a three-pin plug may need an adapter.

Packing tips

A universal adapter covers most trips, but check it accepts an earthed plug if you need one, and remember that it does not change the voltage. A single adapter plus a multi-port USB charger runs several devices from one socket. Hotels sometimes have universal or shaver sockets, but shaver sockets are low-power and not for hair dryers. Add the adapter to your packing list so it is not forgotten, check the bag allowance with the luggage size checker, and if you are crossing time zones, the jet lag calculator and How to beat jet lag: light, sleep and timing help with the other kind of adjustment. How to budget for a trip: categories, a worked example and a buffer covers the costs.