🔌 Free travel tool

Which plug adapter do I need?

Pick where you are from and where you are going to see whether you need a travel adapter, which plug type to buy, and whether your devices need a voltage converter. 86 countries covered.

Your country

🇺🇸

Destination

🇫🇷

🇺🇸 to 🇫🇷 France

You need an adapter

Get an adapter for these sockets

Type CType E

A universal travel adapter covers all of these.

Voltage: 120V to 230V

Different band. Phones, laptops and most chargers are dual-voltage (100-240V) and are fine; single-voltage devices need a converter. Check the label.

France uses Type C, Type E

230V, 50 Hz (your country is 60 Hz).

A guide for travellers, not an electrical safety certification. Always check your device label for its voltage range.

How it works

Find the right adapter in three steps

1
Pick your country
Choose where your devices and plugs come from, so we know the plug shape you already own.
2
Pick your destination
Choose where you are travelling to. We compare its sockets, voltage and frequency against yours.
3
Read the result
See instantly whether you need an adapter, which plug type to buy, and whether you need a voltage converter.

The 15 plug types, explained

Every socket in the world is one of fifteen standard types, labelled A to O. Here is what each one looks like and where it is used.

Type A (ungrounded)

Two flat parallel pins. Used across North America, Central America and Japan.

Type B

Two flat pins plus a round earth pin. Common in North America and Japan.

Type C (ungrounded)

Two round pins, the European “Europlug”. Fits most round-pin sockets across Europe, South America and Asia.

Type D

Three large round pins in a triangle. Mainly India, Nepal and parts of Africa.

Type E

Two round pins with a socket earth pin. France, Belgium, Poland and Slovakia.

Type F

Two round pins with side earth clips, the German “Schuko”. Most of Europe.

Type G

Three rectangular pins. The UK, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore and the Gulf.

Type H

Three pins in a Y shape. Used only in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Type I

Two or three flat pins in a V. Australia, New Zealand, China and Argentina.

Type J

Three round pins. Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Type K

Two round pins with an earth pin. Denmark and Greenland.

Type L

Three round pins in a row. Italy and Chile.

Type M

Three large round pins. South Africa, India and neighbours.

Type N

Two round pins plus an earth pin. Brazil and South Africa.

Type O

Three round pins. Used only in Thailand.

Plugs and sockets by country

Tap a country for its plug types, voltage and frequency, and exactly who needs an adapter to visit.

Europe30

Asia24

North America10

🇧🇸BahamasType A, B · 120V 🇨🇦CanadaType A, B · 120V 🇨🇷Costa RicaType A, B · 120V 🇨🇺CubaType A, B, C · 110V 🇩🇴Dominican RepublicType A, B · 120V 🇬🇹GuatemalaType A, B · 120V 🇯🇲JamaicaType A, B · 110V 🇲🇽MexicoType A, B · 127V 🇵🇦PanamaType A, B · 120V 🇺🇸United StatesType A, B · 120V

South America8

🇦🇷ArgentinaType C, I · 220V 🇧🇴BoliviaType A, C · 230V 🇧🇷BrazilType C, N · 127V 🇨🇱ChileType C, L · 220V 🇨🇴ColombiaType A, B · 110V 🇪🇨EcuadorType A, B · 120V 🇵🇪PeruType A, B, C · 220V 🇺🇾UruguayType C, F, I, L · 230V

Africa11

🇪🇬EgyptType C, F · 220V 🇪🇹EthiopiaType C, F · 230V 🇬🇭GhanaType D, G · 230V 🇰🇪KenyaType G · 240V 🇲🇺MauritiusType C, G · 230V 🇲🇦MoroccoType C, E · 220V 🇳🇦NamibiaType D, M · 230V 🇳🇬NigeriaType D, G · 230V 🇿🇦South AfricaType C, D, M, N · 230V 🇹🇿TanzaniaType D, G · 230V 🇹🇳TunisiaType C, E · 230V

Oceania3

🇦🇺AustraliaType I · 230V 🇫🇯FijiType I · 240V 🇳🇿New ZealandType I · 230V

Travel adapters, explained

A travel plug adapter is a small device that changes the shape of your plug so it fits a foreign wall socket. It does not change the electricity itself, only the physical connection. The checker above answers the practical question for you, but it helps to understand what is actually going on so you buy the right thing once and never get caught out.

Adapter, converter, or both?

These two are constantly confused. A plug adapter only reshapes the pins so they fit the socket. A voltage converter (or transformer) actually steps the mains voltage up or down, for example from 230V in Europe to 120V in North America. The good news is that almost nothing you carry needs a converter. Phones, tablets, laptops, cameras and most modern chargers are dual-voltage, marked INPUT: 100-240V on the plug or brick, so they run safely anywhere with nothing more than an adapter. Single-voltage devices such as some hair dryers, straighteners, travel kettles and shavers can be damaged by the wrong voltage, so those are the only items where you check the label and may need a converter.

What a universal travel adapter covers

A universal travel adapter folds several plug shapes (typically Type A, C, G and I) into one body, so a single unit works across most of the world. It is the simplest choice if you travel widely or visit more than one country on a trip. Remember the same rule still applies: a universal adapter changes the plug shape only, never the voltage. If a device is single-voltage, a universal adapter will not protect it.

Plug types by region

Every socket on earth is one of fifteen standard types, labelled A to O. A few regional families cover most journeys:

Continental Europe mostly uses the round-pin Type C, E and F sockets, so one adapter covers France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
The UK and Ireland use the three rectangular-pin Type G plug, shared with Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Gulf. See the United Kingdom guide.
North America runs on the flat-pin Type A and B sockets at 120V, covering the United States and Canada.
Australia and New Zealand use the angled-pin Type I plug, also seen in China and Argentina. See Australia.
Asia is mixed. Japan uses Type A and B like North America, while Thailand and India each use their own combinations, so always check the exact country.

Can you pack a travel adapter in hand luggage?

Yes. Plug adapters and voltage converters are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags with no restriction. The one thing to watch is a power bank or any spare lithium battery, which airlines require you to carry in the cabin, never in the hold. Packing your adapter in your hand luggage is the safer habit anyway, so you can charge up the moment you land.

Sorting out your trip beyond the plug socket? Work out gratuities with the tipping calculator, check whether it is safe to drink the tap water at your destination, and budget the whole trip with the trip cost calculator.

Travel adapters, answered

Do I need a travel adapter?

You need a travel adapter whenever the plug on your devices does not fit the wall sockets at your destination. Pick your home country and your destination in the checker above and it will tell you instantly: if the plug shapes differ, you need an adapter, and it shows exactly which plug type (A to O) to buy.

How does this travel adapter checker work?

Choose the country your devices and plugs come from, then the country you are travelling to. The checker compares the plug types and tells you whether your plug physically fits the sockets there. It also compares the mains voltage, so you know whether you also need a voltage converter, and flags any frequency difference.

What is the difference between a travel adapter and a voltage converter?

A travel adapter only changes the shape of the plug so it fits the socket; it does not change the electricity. A voltage converter (or transformer) actually changes the voltage, for example from 230V down to 120V. Most travellers only need an adapter, because modern electronics are dual-voltage.

Will my phone and laptop charger work abroad?

Almost always, yes. Phone, tablet and laptop chargers are nearly all dual-voltage, marked "INPUT: 100-240V" on the brick, so they work anywhere with just a plug adapter. Single-voltage devices like some hairdryers, straighteners and kettles can be damaged by the wrong voltage and need a converter, so always check the label.

What is a universal travel adapter?

A universal adapter combines several plug shapes (typically Type A, C, G and I) in one unit, so it works in most countries. It is the easiest option if you travel widely, but note that a universal adapter only changes the plug shape, not the voltage.

Which countries use the same plug as the UK?

The UK uses the three rectangular-pin Type G plug, shared with Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE, Qatar and several Gulf and African countries, so no adapter is needed between them. Most of the rest of the world uses different plugs, so a UK traveller usually needs an adapter.

Does the 50 Hz vs 60 Hz frequency matter?

For nearly all travellers, no. The mains frequency (50 Hz in most of the world, 60 Hz in the Americas and a few other places) only affects devices with motors or mains-driven clocks. Your chargers, laptops and phones do not care about it.

What plug adapter do I need for Europe?

Most of continental Europe uses the round-pin Type C, E and F sockets at 230V, so a single Type C or Schuko adapter covers France, Germany, Spain, Italy and almost all of the EU. The exceptions are the UK and Ireland, which use the rectangular Type G plug, plus Switzerland (Type J) and Italy (which also uses Type L). A universal adapter handles all of them. Pick your exact destination in the checker above to be sure.

What plug adapter do I need for the USA?

The United States, Canada and most of Central America use Type A and Type B sockets at 120V. If you are coming from Europe, the UK, Australia or most of Asia, you need a Type A or B adapter. Your phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage and work fine; only single-voltage items like some hair tools may need a converter for the lower 120V supply.

Can I take a travel adapter in hand luggage?

Yes. Plug adapters and voltage converters can go in both carry-on and checked baggage with no restriction. Power banks and spare lithium batteries are the exception: airlines require those in the cabin, never in the hold. Keeping your adapter in your hand luggage is the easiest option so you can charge as soon as you land.

Who made this plug adapter checker?

This free travel adapter checker was built by TripMemo, a travel journal app for iPhone that turns your real trips into a photo map and travel diary. It is one of our free travel tools, alongside our tipping calculator and tap water safety checker.

Last reviewed 2026-06-03. Plug, voltage and frequency data is a traveller guide, not an electrical safety certification; always check your device label. Sources: IEC World Plugs and worldstandards.eu plug & socket guide.