Power Outlets by Country: Which Plug Do You Need?

Overview of the different plug and outlet types worldwide

There are 15 different plug types worldwide — and it’s easy to lose track.

We’ll break it down in simple terms: what the different plugs look like, which outlets they fit, and which countries use which type.

The plug types are labeled A through O. Here’s what they look like:

You might already recognize a couple of familiar ones. The standard European plug types are Type C and Type F — Type C is the slim two-pin plug, and Type F is the larger, round one with grounding clips.

Here’s where it gets slightly more interesting: some plugs also fit other outlet types, which is actually a good thing. In Europe, for example, you’ll rarely run into problems because Type C and F plugs fit in almost every outlet on the continent.

Plug types C, E, and F are fully compatible with each other. These three also fit into Type K and Type O outlets — though not the other way around. The slim Type C plug fits into Type H, J, L, and N outlets as well, but Type E and F do not.

A few other compatibility notes worth knowing: plug type A fits into outlet type B, but not vice versa. And while Types D and M look nearly identical, their pins have different thicknesses — so they’re not interchangeable.

Universal adapters: The solution for (almost) everything

With 15 different international power plugs out there and only a handful of types that standard European plugs fit into, you’d need a whole collection of travel adapters if you travel outside Europe regularly.

The solution: a universal adapter.

Universal adapters fit almost any outlet worldwide, so you don’t need to buy a new travel adapter before every trip. They cost more than individual adapters, but the investment is absolutely worth it.

Good to know: There’s no adapter that works with every single outlet type on the planet. The one we recommend doesn’t fit outlet types D, H, or M — but those three are pretty uncommon, so you’re covered for the vast majority of destinations.

Buy a universal adapter online

Power outlets by country — sorted by destination

So you can quickly look up electrical outlets worldwide for your destination, we’ve put together a full overview. The table also shows whether your plugs will work or which travel adapter you’ll need.

The table is sorted alphabetically. If you don’t want to scroll through the whole thing, press “Ctrl” and “F” (or “Cmd” and “F” on a Mac) to search directly for your destination country.