Plug & socket types around the world
There are a surprisingly large number of different plug and socket types used around the world, with no single standard dominating the globe. This can be a real headache for travellers, who may find that their devices are incompatible with the local outlets.
Type A
- mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico & Japan
- 2 pins
- not grounded
- 15 A
- almost always 100 – 127 V
- socket compatible with plug type A
Type B
- mainly used in the USA, Canada & Mexico
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 15 A
- almost always 100 – 127 V
- socket compatible with plug types A & B
Type C
- commonly used in Europe, South America & Asia
- 2 pins
- not grounded
- 2.5 A, 10 A & 16 A
- almost always 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug type C
Type D
- mainly used in India
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 6 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug type D (partial and unsafe compatibility with C, E & F)
Type E
- primarily used in France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia & Czechia
- 2 pins
- grounded
- 16 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types C, E & F
Type F
- used almost everywhere in Europe & Russia, except for the UK & Ireland
- 2 pins
- grounded
- 16 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types C, E & F
Type G
- mainly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore & the Arabian Peninsula
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 13 A
- 220 – 250 V
- socket compatible with plug type G
Type H
- used exclusively in Israel, the West Bank & the Gaza Strip
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 16 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types C & H (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
Type I
- mainly used in Australia, New Zealand, China & Argentina
- 2 or 3 pins
- 2 pins: not grounded / 3 pins: grounded
- 10 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug type I
Type J
- used almost exclusively in Switzerland & Liechtenstein
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 10 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types C & J
Type K
- used almost exclusively in Denmark & Greenland
3 pins
grounded
16 A
220 – 240 V
socket compatible with plug types C & K (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
Type L
- used almost exclusively in Italy & Chile
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 10 A & 16 A
- 220 – 240 V
- 10 A socket compatible with plug types C & L (10 A version)
- 16 A socket compatible with plug type L (16 A version)
Type M
- mainly used in South Africa
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 16 A
- 220 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug type M
Type N
- used in Brazil and South Africa
- 3 pins
- grounded
- 10 A, 16 A & 20 A
- 100 – 240 V
- socket compatible with plug types C & N
Type O
- used exclusively in Thailand
3 pins
grounded
16 A
220 – 240 V
socket compatible with plug types C & O (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)