Plugs, sockets & voltage
Which plug adapter do I need?
The UK's chunky three-pin plug is one of the safest in the world, and one of the least used. Cross the Channel and it won't fit anything. The good news: for most trips a cheap adapter is all you need, and the chargers for your phone, laptop and camera already handle any voltage.
Search a country to see which sockets it uses, or scroll down for pictures of every plug type you're likely to meet.
The three groups
Our plugs filter puts every country into one of three groups, based on what a UK traveller needs to pack.
Sockets take the same three-pin plug as the UK (Type G) at 230V. Pack your chargers and go.
Different socket shape, but 220 to 240V like home. A simple plug adapter is all you need.
Different sockets and lower voltage (100 to 127V). Phone and laptop chargers are fine if they say 100-240V. Hair dryers and straighteners often aren't.
Plug types, pictured
- Type G UK three-pin230V
UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, the Gulf, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and much of East Africa.
- Type C Europlug220-240V
The two thin round pins that fit almost every socket in Europe, plus much of Asia, Africa and South America.
- Type E French230V
France, Belgium, Poland and Czechia. Round hole with a pin sticking out of the socket. Type C and E/F plugs fit.
- Type F Schuko230V
Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and most of Eastern Europe. Clips on the sides instead of a pin.
- Type A US two-pin100-127V
USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan and much of Central America and the Caribbean.
- Type B US three-pin100-127V
As Type A with a round earth pin. A Type A plug fits a Type B socket.
- Type I Australian230-240V
Australia, New Zealand, China, Fiji and Argentina. Two slanted flat pins.
- Type J Swiss230V
Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Recessed, so chunky European adapters may not fit.
- Type L Italian230V
Italy and San Marino. Three round pins in a row. Most Italian sockets also take a Europlug.
- Type D Old British230V
India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Three big round pins in a triangle.
- Type M Large round230V
South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. Like Type D, only bigger.
- Type N Brazilian127/220V
Brazil and South Africa's new standard. Similar to Swiss, with a different pin spacing.
Plug zones of the world
- Most of Europe
Type C, E and F at 230V. One European adapter covers the lot, apart from Switzerland and Italy, where a slim two-pin Europlug adapter is the safest bet.
Read the guide → - North America and Japan
Type A and B at 100 to 127V. You need an adapter and a charger that says 100-240V. Hair dryers and straighteners from home often won't work properly.
Read the guide → - Countries with UK sockets
Type G at 230V, so your UK plugs fit straight in. Mostly places with British history, from Malta to Malaysia.
Read the guide → - Australia, NZ and China
Type I at 230 to 240V, with two slanted pins. An adapter is all you need.
Read the guide →
Voltage: what to check
Fine with just an adapter
- Phone and tablet chargers. Almost all are 100-240V.
- Laptop power bricks. Look for 'Input: 100-240V' on the label.
- Camera and drone battery chargers.
- Electric toothbrushes and shavers sold as travel or dual voltage.
- USB power banks, charged from any of the above.
Check before you plug in
- Hair dryers, straighteners and curling tongs. Many are 230V only and run weak or burn out on 110V.
- Travel kettles and steamers.
- Anything with a heating element and no '100-240V' on the plug.
- Old or cheap chargers that only say 230V.
- Medical devices such as CPAP machines. Check the manual before you fly.
Choosing an adapter
- A universal adapter with USB ports covers almost everywhere and means one plug charges several devices.
- Adapters don't change voltage. They only change the shape of the plug. For 230V-only appliances in a 110V country you need a converter, or a dual-voltage version.
- Pack a UK extension lead. One adapter plus a short multi-socket lead charges everything from a single foreign socket.
- Buy before you go. Airport adapters cost two or three times as much as the same thing online.
Plug guides by destination
Where sockets get interesting: mixed types, low voltage, or plugs you won't see anywhere else.
Two round pins almost everywhere. Switzerland and Italy have their own, and Ireland, Malta and Cyprus use UK plugs.
Read the guide →Flat two-pin sockets at 120V. Chargers are fine with an adapter. 230V hair tools aren't.
Read the guide →US-style two-pin sockets at 100V. Many have no earth hole, so a two-pin adapter is safest.
Read the guide →Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Dubai, Singapore and more. Pack your chargers and go.
Read the guide →Recessed Type J sockets. Chunky European adapters often don't fit, so take a slim two-pin one.
Read the guide →Its own Type L socket, plus European Type F. A slim two-pin adapter fits most.
Read the guide →Big round Type M sockets that most universal adapters don't include. Buy one locally or online.
Read the guide →Old British round-pin Type D and M, plus two-pin C. A universal adapter usually works.
Read the guide →Slanted-pin Type I sockets at 230-240V. One adapter covers both countries, and China too.
Read the guide →Type N sockets, but voltage is 127V in some cities and 220V in others.
Read the guide →Before you pack
- Search your destination above to see its sockets.
- Read the small print on every charger: '100-240V' means it works anywhere.
- Pack one adapter per person, or one plus an extension lead.
- Leave 230V-only hair tools at home if you're heading to the USA, Canada or Japan.
- Bring a USB-C or USB-A cable for hotel and plane USB sockets.