ExploPlugs and voltage
Plug and voltage finder
Choose where you live and where you are going. We show which plug types fit, whether you need an adapter and whether your devices will cope with the voltage.
Plug types and where they are used
| Type | Shape | Countries | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type A | two flat pins | 33 | Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, China and 26 more |
| Type B | two flat pins and a round earth pin | 29 | Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba and 22 more |
| Type C | two round pins | 95 | Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria and 88 more |
| Type D | three large round pins | 24 | Bangladesh, Botswana, Ghana, Guyana, India, Iraq, Jordan and 17 more |
| Type E | two round pins and an earth hole | 17 | Belgium, Cameroon, Czechia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Ivory Coast and 10 more |
| Type F | two round pins and earth clips | 55 | Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus and 48 more |
| Type G | three flat pins in a triangle | 36 | Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, Cyprus and 29 more |
| Type H | three pins in a Y | 1 | Israel |
| Type I | two angled flat pins and an earth pin | 13 | Argentina, Australia, China, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and 6 more |
| Type J | three round pins, earth off centre | 6 | Jordan, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Maldives, Rwanda, Switzerland |
| Type K | two round pins and a round earth pin | 5 | Bangladesh, Denmark, Madagascar, Maldives, Senegal |
| Type L | three round pins in a row | 9 | Chile, Cuba, Ethiopia, Italy, Maldives, San Marino, Syria and 2 more |
| Type M | three very large round pins | 6 | Botswana, India, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, South Africa |
| Type N | three round pins in a hexagon | 2 | Brazil, South Africa |
| Type O | three round pins in a rounded square | 1 | Thailand |
Plug data covers 150 of 199 places and is curated by hand, so it is a good first answer rather than a guarantee. More in travel plug types explained.
Questions
Do I need a plug adapter or a voltage converter?
An adapter only changes the shape of the plug so it fits the socket. A converter (or transformer) changes the voltage. Most travellers only need an adapter, because phone, laptop and camera chargers accept 100 to 240 V.
Will my phone charger work abroad?
Almost certainly, with the right adapter. Check the small print on the charger: if it says "100–240 V" it works on any voltage in the world. The same goes for most laptop chargers and camera chargers.
Which devices can break on a different voltage?
Single-voltage appliances, such as many hair dryers, kettles, shavers and curling tongs. Plugged into a higher voltage without a converter they can burn out. Check the label, or buy a dual-voltage travel version.
Is one universal adapter enough?
A good universal adapter covers the plug shapes of most countries, but check it lists the socket types for your destination. It does not change the voltage, and it may not take high-wattage appliances.
Does frequency (50 or 60 Hz) matter?
Rarely for chargers. It can matter for clocks, turntables and some motors, which may run fast or slow on the other frequency.
Check plugs, visas and weather before you fly
Explo is a free app with a guide for every country: entry rules, best months, weather, holidays and the plugs you need.
Get ExploPlug types, voltages and frequencies are hand-curated in the Explo app and can be out of date. A plug fitting a socket says nothing about wattage or earthing: check the device label, and the hotel or host if in doubt.