Travel power guide
Plug Letter Types by Country (A–O System Guide)
Direct answer
Plug Letter Types by Country (A–O System Guide)
The A–O plug-letter system names socket shapes, not voltage safety. North America and Japan use Type A/B; most of Europe uses Type C/E/F; the UK and much of the former British Empire use Type G.
Updated 2026-09-04
The Europlug (Type C) is the most widely accepted — it physically fits Type E, F, J, K, L and N sockets.
Some shapes are isolated: the UK Type G, Australian Type I, and Swiss Type J fit only their own sockets.
Type O belongs in the guide because Thailand has its own three-round-pin grounded standard, even though many Thai outlets also accept Type A/B/C plugs.
Use the checker to see the exact plug type for your destination and whether your device needs an adapter, a converter, or nothing at all.
Two voltage worlds, fourteen shapes
Behind the letter system sit just two voltage families: the 100-127V world (North and Central America, Japan, and parts of South America) and the 220-240V world (most of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania).
The letters describe socket geometry only. Type A appears in 120V United States and 100V Japan; the Europlug shape fits 230V sockets across two continents. A plug letter never answers the voltage question — the destination page and your device label do.
Compatibility clusters that matter
The Europlug (Type C) is the great traveler among plugs: it physically fits Type E, F, J, K, L and N sockets, which is why one C-plug charger covers most of continental Europe and much of Asia and Africa.
Type A two-pin plugs also fit Type B grounded sockets — the reverse is not true, because Type B plugs carry a third grounding pin. The same one-way logic appears across the system: grounded plugs rarely fit ungrounded sockets.
Type E and Type F sockets look different (grounding pin versus side clips) but modern moulded plugs are usually the CEE 7/7 hybrid, which fits both. At the other extreme, the UK Type G, Australian/NZ/Argentine/Chinese Type I, and Swiss Type J fit only their own socket families.
Regional patterns you can plan around
Europe: Type C/E/F covers nearly the whole continent, with three planned exceptions — Type G in the UK and Ireland, Type J in Switzerland, and Italian Type L sockets alongside F/C in Italy; Denmark adds its own Type K.
Americas: Type A/B in the US, Canada, Mexico and Colombia. South America mixes systems — Type I in Argentina, C/L in Chile, and Brazil's own Type N (with 127V and 220V regions in one country).
Asia-Pacific: Type A/B in Japan, the Philippines and Thailand (alongside Thai C and O), Type G in Singapore and the UAE (the UAE also lists C and D), Type C/D/M in India, Type I in China (with A/C) and in Australia and New Zealand.
These patterns come from the same country dataset that powers the checker — each destination page lists its exact socket set, voltage and frequency with sources.
How to turn a plug letter into a packing decision
Open the destination's outlet page and note two facts: the socket letters and the voltage. Then pick an adapter that covers those letters — a universal adapter is convenient for multi-country trips, a single-country adapter is smaller and cheaper for one destination.
Only then decide the converter question, and decide it from your device label, never from the plug shape. A fitting plug on the wrong voltage is exactly how devices burn out.
What the evidence covers
A source supports only the facts, socket types or models listed below. A model example does not verify every device in its category. Confirm your own label and outlet.
- VDE: Power supply and security when traveling · checked: 2026-09-04
The reference table compares national voltage, frequency and plug letters. Physical fit alone does not establish electrical compatibility. International mains table and disclaimer. Non-binding corroboration. Some entries differ from national sources; use each country’s claim-by-claim evidence, including unresolved types. This is not a complete source for every country mentioned.
- SKROSS: Which adapter is the right one for me? · checked: 2026-09-04
Two-pole and three-pole appliance support differs between adapter families. Choosing by appliance type: MUV versus three-pole adapters. A universal marketing label does not establish earth continuity. Check the exact adapter, appliance plug and socket.
- Kansai Electric: Voltage and frequency in Japan · checked: 2026-09-04
Standard supply is 100V; eastern and western areas use 50Hz and 60Hz respectively. Some appliances use distinct 200V sockets. Voltage and frequency sections and regional map. The utility advises checking the manual or manufacturer. A country average does not establish a specific outlet or appliance rating.
- ANEEL PRODIST Module 8: Nominal voltage systems · checked: 2026-07-17
The existing country evidence record identifies multiple nominal systems, including 220/127V, and a 60Hz reference. Module 8, nominal low-voltage systems; existing country evidence record. This verifies national variation, not individual city or hotel voltages. A fresh automated fetch returned HTTP 403 on 2026-09-04; the original review date is retained.
Plug letters are shape labels only
Plug type helps you choose an adapter, but it does not prove voltage safety.
Adapter markings to check
A good adapter makes socket coverage and limits explicit without pretending to convert voltage.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries use Type C plugs?
Type C is the most widespread shape in the PlugVoltage dataset — 27 of 40 covered countries list it, across continental Europe, much of Asia (India, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea), Africa (Egypt, Morocco) and parts of South America.
Does one adapter cover all of Europe?
A C/E/F adapter covers most of the continent. Add Type G for the UK and Ireland and Type J for Switzerland; in Italy, many sockets accept the Europlug, but grounded Italian Type L differs.
Are US and Japanese plugs the same?
The shapes are — both use Type A/B. The grids differ: the US runs 120V/60Hz while Japan runs 100V, at 50Hz in the east and 60Hz in the west, which matters for single-voltage and label-dependent devices.
What plug type does the UK use?
Type G — the large three-rectangular-pin plug with a built-in fuse — at 230V/50Hz. Type G sockets accept nothing else, so every non-UK plug needs an adapter there.
Can I tell the voltage from the plug type?
No. Plug letters describe shape only. Type A serves both 120V US and 100V Japan; Type C spans 220-240V countries. Always pair the socket letter with the destination's stated voltage.
What is the most common plug type in the world?
By country count in this dataset, Type C — the two-round-pin Europlug shape — is the most widely accepted, largely because it also fits Type E, F, J, K, L and N sockets.
Related guides
Guidance only — not professional electrical advice. Always confirm against your device's label before plugging in. Local wiring (especially in hotels and older buildings) can vary.