Country power plug types and voltage
Check this table before you travel or ship electronics. Confirm adapters and dual-voltage gear against local rules.
| Country / region | Plug | V | Hz |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | A / B | 120 | 60 |
| Canada | A / B | 120 | 60 |
| Japan | A / B | 100 | 50 / 60 |
| China (mainland) | A / C / I | 220 | 50 |
| Hong Kong | G | 220 | 50 |
| Taiwan | A / B | 110 | 60 |
| United Kingdom | G | 230 | 50 |
| Ireland | G | 230 | 50 |
| France | C / E | 230 | 50 |
| Germany | C / F | 230 | 50 |
| Spain | C / F | 230 | 50 |
| Italy | C / F / L | 230 | 50 |
| Australia | I | 230 | 50 |
| New Zealand | I | 230 | 50 |
| India | C / D / M | 230 | 50 |
| Brazil | C / N | 127 / 220 | 60 |
| Mexico | A / B | 127 | 60 |
| South Korea | C / F | 220 | 60 |
| Singapore | G | 230 | 50 |
| UAE | G | 230 | 50 |
Notes
- Letters A–N follow common travel plug labels, not a single legal name everywhere.
- Voltage can vary by region; hotel outlets may still differ from the national norm.
Three checks before you plug anything in
Travel electronics need three separate answers: does the plug physically fit, does the wall voltage match your device, and is the frequency compatible? A plug adapter solves only the first. Most phones, laptops and camera chargers are dual- or multi-voltage — look for 100-240 V and 50/60 Hz on the label — and need nothing more than a shape adapter. Anything with a motor, heater or compressor, such as hair dryers, kettles, irons and some CPAP machines, is usually single-voltage and will be damaged or underpowered by a bare adapter.
Voltage: the value that burns devices
Plugging a 120 V device into a 230 V socket can destroy it instantly; plugging a 230 V device into 120 V usually just makes it run badly or not at all. The table shows most of Europe, Asia and Africa running 220-240 V while North America, Japan and Taiwan run 100-120 V. If your device is single-voltage you need a step-down (230 to 120) or step-up (120 to 230) transformer rated comfortably above the device's wattage. Transformers are heavy, so a compatible dual-voltage device is often the cheaper option.
Frequency: the quiet incompatibility
Mains frequency is 50 Hz almost everywhere except the Americas and parts of Japan, which use 60 Hz. Simple electronics ignore frequency, but mains clocks, some motors and speed-sensitive appliances run at the wrong speed. Japan is the unusual case: eastern Japan around Tokyo is 50 Hz while western Japan around Osaka is 60 Hz, so the same Type A outlet behaves differently across the country, and an appliance designed for one region may run fast or slow in the other.
Gear that travels everywhere
The most reliable kit is a universal adapter plus devices that genuinely accept 100-240 V at 50/60 Hz, so no transformer is needed. For anything high-power — hair dryers, straighteners, travel kettles — buying a dual-voltage travel version at your destination is usually safer than converting. Always check the device label rather than the plug: a USB-C laptop charger rated 100-240 V works in every country in this table with only a pin adapter.
Reading a device label correctly
The label on the charger or appliance tells you everything you need. Look at the input line: 100-240 V at 50/60 Hz means the device is universal and needs only a pin adapter anywhere in the table. A wattage figure tells you whether a converter can cope — pick one rated at least 25-50% above the device's watts for a safety margin. Be wary of a single voltage such as 120 V or 230 V, and of anything marked AC only. If the label is worn or unreadable, treat the device as single-voltage and do not guess.
Frequently asked questions
- What plug type is used in the UK?
- The UK uses Type G plugs — three rectangular pins — at 230 V / 50 Hz.
- What plug and voltage does Japan use?
- Japan uses Type A/B plugs at 100 V; the frequency is 50 Hz in eastern Japan and 60 Hz in the west.
- Do I need a voltage converter for Europe from the US?
- Most of Europe runs on 230 V / 50 Hz. US 120 V devices need a converter unless they are dual-voltage.