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In most places, easy access to electricity seems like a given. You don’t have to think about it. You can plug in to charge your cellphone or turn on your hairdryer, and the electricity magically works. However, that’s not always the case when traveling abroad. Electrical outlets around the world vary. In fact, there are 15 types of electrical plugs and corresponding sockets worldwide.
International travel hasn’t been so easy over the past couple of years. As borders reopen, many of us are itching to get out of town, city, or even the country. That said, when traveling abroad, outlet sockets are probably low on your list of priorities. But you don’t want to get caught in paradise without the right plug. We’ll show you which electrical outlet plugs you need around the world and why there is so much socket separation.
What electrical plug do I need?
| Type of plug
| Where it’s used*
|
|---|
| Type A
| US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Central America, Philippines
|
| Type B | US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Central America, Philippines
|
| Type C
| Europe (except UK and Ireland), the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Russia, South Korea
|
| Type D
| India, Nepal, Sudan
|
| Type E
| Europe (except UK and Ireland), the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Russia, South Korea
|
| Type F
| Europe (except UK and Ireland), the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, Russia, South Korea
|
| Type G
| UK, Ireland, Middle East, most of Eastern Africa
|
| Type H
| Israel, Palestine
|
| Type I
| Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, China, Papua New Guinea
|
| Type J
| Switzerland
|
| Type K
| Denmark, Greenland
|
| Type L
| Italy, Chile, Uruguay, Libya
|
| Type M
| South Africa
|
| Type N
| Brazil, South Africa
|
| Type O
| Thailand
|
*data sourced from WorldStandards.eu. See the complete list of countries and corresponding plug type and voltage here.