Power Plug Guide
Plug type, voltage and frequency for 60 countries and regions, grouped by continent. Plug types follow the IEC letters (A to O). A country that lists several types has them all in use, so how well your device fits depends on the building — if you are bringing anything without a universal adapter, check the hotel.
Asia
Europe
Americas
Oceania
Africa
No country matched that.
Do I need a converter or an adapter?
These are two different things and people mix them up constantly. An adapter changes the shape of the plug and nothing else — a Chinese charger with an adapter works fine in the UK. A converter changes the voltage, and you only need one when your device is not dual voltage. Check the label on the charger: if it says 100–240V, you need an adapter only. If it says 220V and you are going to a 110V country, charging will be slow or the device will not run; if it says 110V and you plug into 220V, it can be destroyed.
Also worth knowing: frequency (50Hz vs 60Hz) almost never matters for modern chargers and laptop supplies. It does matter for anything with a motor or a clock that counts mains cycles — hair dryers, clocks, some fans will run at the wrong speed or drift.
About Power Plug Guide
Plug type (IEC letters A to O), voltage and frequency for 60 countries and regions, grouped by continent — enough to answer the adapter question before you pack.
An adapter and a converter are different things, and this is where most people go wrong. An adapter changes the shape of the plug and nothing else — a Chinese charger plus an adapter works fine in the UK. Only a converter changes voltage, and you need one solely when your device is not dual voltage.
To tell which you need, look at the input rating on the charger. 100–240V means dual voltage: an adapter is all you need anywhere. 220V only means that in a 110V country it will not charge properly, or will not run at all.
A voltage mismatch can destroy a device; a frequency mismatch usually will not. Japan runs at 100V, well below China's 220V, so a hair dryer brought from home will be noticeably weak; the reverse — a 110V device into 220V — burns it out. Frequency (50Hz versus 60Hz) barely matters for phones and laptops, but changes the speed of anything with a motor.
Frequently asked questions
Adapter versus converter — what is the difference?
An adapter only changes the plug shape; a converter changes the voltage. Dual-voltage devices (100–240V) need an adapter only.
Why is Japan 100V?
Japan standardised on 100V, and the frequency differs by region: 50Hz around Tokyo, 60Hz around Osaka.
How do I know if I need a converter?
Read the input rating on the charger. 100–240V means no; 220V only means yes.
Does one universal adapter cover everywhere?
Mostly, but South Africa's type M and India's type D are unusual — check that your adapter lists them.
