What are the main plug types used worldwide?

The IEC 60083 standard defines 14 types (A through N). Type A (2 flat blades, North America) and Type C (2 round pins, Europlug) together cover the majority of the world. Type G (3 rectangular blades) dominates the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong and much of East Africa. Type I (angled flat blades) is standard in Australia, New Zealand and China. Types E and F are the European grounded variants used across continental Europe.

Do I need a voltage converter or just an adapter?

An adapter changes the plug shape — it does not convert voltage. If your device label says "100-240 V 50/60 Hz" (check the fine print on the charger or appliance), it is dual-voltage and an adapter alone is enough. If it says "120 V only" or "230 V only", you also need a voltage converter. Most modern laptops, phone chargers and camera chargers are dual-voltage; older hair dryers and electric shavers often are not.

Can I use a Type C Europlug in a Type E or F socket?

Yes. The 4.8 mm round-pin Europlug (Type C) physically fits in both Type E (France/Belgium) and Type F (Schuko/Germany) sockets, and electrically it is safe because all three run at 230 V / 50 Hz. The reverse is not always true: a grounded Type E or F plug needs a socket that accepts the earth pin.

Why does Japan use 100 V when most of Asia uses 220-240 V?

Japan electrified in the late 1800s using American and German equipment simultaneously — Tokyo adopted 50 Hz from AEG, Osaka adopted 60 Hz from GE, and both settled on a lower voltage close to the original US 110 V. The grid was never harmonised, so Japan remains the only country in the world supplying 100 V. Most modern dual-voltage devices work fine, but some older US 120 V appliances may be slightly under-driven.

Which countries use Type G (British) plugs?

The UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are among the countries using Type G. It originated from a British Standard published in 1947 and spread to former British colonies and territories. The plug contains a mandatory fuse (usually 3 A or 13 A) which is a safety feature unique to this type.

Is it safe to use a universal travel adapter everywhere?

A universal mechanical adapter lets you physically insert your plug into a foreign socket, but it only works safely if your device is dual-voltage (100-240 V). Universal adapters do not convert voltage. They also carry no fuse in most cases, so using them in a Type G country bypasses the safety fuse that UK sockets expect. For long trips, buy country-specific adapters or a quality multi-type adapter with surge protection.

Country Plug Type Finder

Travelling abroad and not sure what socket your hotel room will have? Packing equipment for a shoot in Germany and need to know if your US gear will run on the local grid? The Country Plug Type Finder solves both problems in seconds: type a country name and instantly see the IEC 60083 plug type, mains voltage and grid frequency — plus a symbolic diagram of the pin layout and any important compatibility notes.

All data is compiled from the IEC 60083 international standard and the national electrical codes of each country. Everything runs in your browser — no server calls, no tracking, no account required.

How it works

The tool holds a lookup table of 140+ countries mapped to their official socket standards. Each entry records:

Plug type(s) — the IEC letter code (A through N) used in that country. Many countries accept more than one type, particularly older buildings that predate a national standard change.
Voltage — the nominal supply voltage in volts (V). Most of the world uses 220-240 V; North and Central America, Japan and parts of South America use 100-127 V.
Frequency — the AC grid frequency in hertz (Hz). Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia run at 50 Hz; the Americas and Japan run at 60 Hz (or both, in Japan’s case).

Typing in the search box filters the list in real time. Clicking a row in the multi-result table focuses that country and shows the full detail panel, including an SVG pin diagram for each applicable type.

Plug type overview

There are 14 standardised IEC 60083 types:

A — 2 flat parallel blades; North America, Japan, Mexico
B — 2 flat blades + round ground pin; same regions as A but grounded
C — 2 round pins (Europlug); fits in E, F, J, K and most European sockets
D — 3 large round pins in a triangle; India (legacy), Nepal
E — 2 round pins + socket earth pin; France, Belgium, Poland
F — 2 round pins + side earth clips (Schuko); Germany, most of Europe
G — 3 rectangular blades; UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, East Africa
H — 3 pins in a V; Israel only
I — 2 or 3 angled flat blades; Australia, New Zealand, China (similar)
J — 3 round pins; Switzerland, Liechtenstein
K — 2 round pins + horseshoe earth; Denmark, Greenland
L — 3 round pins in a line; Italy, Chile
M — 3 large round pins; South Africa, India (large appliances)
N — 2 round + 1 round earth (recessed); Brazil national standard

Worked example — planning a trip from the UK to Japan

You are flying from London to Tokyo. Your phone charger says 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz on the label. The UK uses Type G at 230 V / 50 Hz; Japan uses Type A at 100 V / 50 or 60 Hz.

Look up “Japan” in this tool — result: Type A / B, 100 V, 50/60 Hz.
Your charger is dual-voltage, so no converter needed.
You need a Type G to Type A adapter (a flat two-pin adapter, widely available at UK airports and travel shops).
Plugging in is safe — the charger self-adjusts to 100 V automatically.

If you were bringing a 230 V-only appliance (for example, an older British hair dryer rated “230 V only”), you would also need a step-up voltage converter to bring the 100 V Japanese supply up to 230 V — or simply buy or rent a dual-voltage version locally.

Formula note

Unlike calculators that derive a number, this tool is a reference lookup, not a formula-based computation. Voltage and frequency are properties of national electrical infrastructure determined by each country’s grid operator and national standard body (for example, BS 1363 in the UK, DIN VDE 0620 in Germany, GB 2099 in China). The IEC 60083 standard catalogues the pin geometries; it does not specify voltage or frequency, which are covered by IEC 60038 (“IEC Standard Voltages”).