Hardware & Design World Plug & Outlet Guide: Type A–N Explained with Country ↔ Voltage Quick Reference (2026)
Traveling abroad, ordering gadgets online, or shipping electronics to overseas clients? Knowing plug types, outlet standards, and voltages is essential. This article covers all 14 global plug standards (Type A–N) in detail and provides a two-way quick reference:
- From plug type → countries: Use the Type A–N sections below to find which countries use each plug.
- From country/region → plug type: Use the Country/Region Quick Reference at the bottom — sorted alphabetically — to see at a glance what plugs and voltage you’ll need.
💡 Tip: Bookmark this page or use Ctrl+F to jump straight to a country (e.g. “Japan”, “UK”) or plug type (e.g. “Type G”).
Quick Navigation
- Plug Type Summary Table
- Type details: A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N
- Country/Region → Plug Type Quick Reference
Overview
The image below shows all 14 common plug types at a glance:
Plug Type Summary Table
| Type | Also known as | Key features | Typical V/Hz | Main regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | NEMA 1-15 | 2 flat pins (no ground) | 100–127V / 50–60Hz | North America, Japan, Central America |
| B | NEMA 5-15 | 2 flat pins + round ground | 100–127V / 50–60Hz | North America, Japan |
| C | Europlug | 2 round pins (no ground) | 220–240V / 50Hz | Europe, Middle East, South America |
| D | Old British (BS 546) | 3 large round pins (triangle) | 220–240V / 50Hz | India, old British colonies |
| E | French (NF C 61-314) | 2 round pins + ground hole | 220–240V / 50Hz | France, Belgium, Eastern Europe |
| F | Schuko (CEE 7/4) | 2 round pins + side ground clips | 220–240V / 50Hz | Germany, Spain, Nordics |
| G | British (BS 1363) | 3 rectangular pins + fuse | 220–240V / 50Hz | UK, Hong Kong, Singapore |
| H | SI 32 | 3 flat pins in V-shape | 230V / 50Hz | Israel |
| I | AS/NZS 3112 | 2 angled pins + ground (inverted V) | 220–240V / 50Hz | Australia, New Zealand, China |
| J | SEV 1011 | 3 round pins (offset ground) | 230V / 50Hz | Switzerland |
| K | DS 60-1 | 2 round pins + 1 flat ground | 230V / 50Hz | Denmark |
| L | CEI 23-50 | 3 round pins in a row | 220–240V / 50Hz | Italy, Chile |
| M | BS 546 (15A) | 3 large round pins (bigger D) | 220–240V / 50Hz | South Africa, some Indian equipment |
| N | NBR 14136 | 2 round pins + 1 flat/round ground | 127V or 220V / 60Hz | Brazil, South Africa |
⚠️ Many countries use multiple plug types (e.g. China uses both A and I; Singapore is mostly G but older buildings may have C/E). Always check your specific destination.
Type A {#type-a}
Type A (flat blade) uses two flat parallel pins, no ground. Common for small devices; the standard in North America and Japan.
Countries/regions: United States, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea (partial), Mexico, Panama, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil (partial), Paraguay, Uruguay, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, St. Vincent, Aruba, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, China (no-hole blade version), Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Liberia, Niger.
Type B {#type-b}
Type B adds a round ground pin to Type A. The neutral blade is wider than the live blade to prevent reverse insertion. The modern standard in North America and Japan.
Countries/regions: All Type A countries (above); plus Dominican Republic, South Korea, Belize, Azores, Trinidad & Tobago, Netherlands Antilles.
Type C {#type-c}
Type C, the Europlug, has two round pins with no ground — the most common two-pin plug. Compatible with Type E and Type F sockets.
Countries/regions: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Channel Islands, Chile, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, DR Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Faroe Islands, Finland, French Guiana, Gabon, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira, Mali, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia, Bangladesh, South Korea.
Type D {#type-d}
Type D is the old British plug (BS 546) — three large round pins in a triangle. Still widely used in former British colonies.
Countries/regions: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Maldives, Martinique, Monaco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, St. Kitts & Nevis, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, UAE, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Type E {#type-e}
Type E is the French standard — two round pins plus a hole for the socket’s male ground pin. Partially compatible with Type C and Type F sockets.
Countries/regions: Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Ireland (older buildings), Indonesia, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Martinique, Monaco, Morocco, Poland, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Syria, Tahiti (French Polynesia), Tunisia, Denmark (compatible).
Type F {#type-f}
Type F, the German Schuko, is similar to Type E but uses two side ground clips instead of a socket ground pin. “Schuko” comes from the German word “Schutzkontakt” (protective contact).
Countries/regions: Algeria, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Luxembourg, Madeira, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Uruguay, Afghanistan, Azores, Balearic Islands, Cape Verde, American Samoa, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles.
Type G {#type-g}
Type G is the British three-rectangular-pin plug (BS 1363) with a built-in fuse. Sockets often have a switch. Widespread in former British colonies and the Middle East.
Countries/regions: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Channel Islands, China (some newer buildings), Cyprus, Dominica, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda, UAE, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cambodia (partial).
Type H {#type-h}
Type H is exclusive to Israel (SI 32 standard) — three flat pins arranged in a V-shape.
Countries/regions: Israel, Gaza (Palestine).
Type I {#type-i}
Type I has two angled flat blades (inverted V-shape) plus a ground pin. Standard in Australia, New Zealand, and China.
Countries/regions: Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Panama (partial), American Samoa, Tajikistan, Vietnam (partial), El Salvador (partial), Uruguay (partial), Okinawa (Japan).
Type J {#type-j}
Type J is the Swiss three-pin (SEV 1011) — similar to Type C but with an offset ground pin on one side.
Countries/regions: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Maldives, El Salvador (partial).
Type K {#type-k}
Type K is the Danish standard (DS 60-1) — two round pins plus a flat ground pin. Similar to Type E but with a ground pin on the plug instead of a ground hole.
Countries/regions: Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Bangladesh, Guinea, Madagascar, Maldives, St. Vincent, Senegal, Tunisia.
Type L {#type-l}
Type L is the Italian three-pin (CEI 23-50) — three round pins in a straight line. The live and neutral pins can be inserted either way up.
Countries/regions: Italy, Chile, Ethiopia, Cuba (partial), Libya, Maldives, Syria, Tunisia, Uruguay (partial), El Salvador (partial).
Type M {#type-m}
Type M is the South African standard (BS 546 15A version) — looks like Type D but with thicker pins, used for high-power appliances.
Countries/regions: South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, Hong Kong (some older buildings).
Type N {#type-n}
Type N is the Brazilian standard NBR 14136 (IEC 60906-1) — two round pins plus an offset ground pin. Similar to Schuko but with a different ground pin position. Comes in 10A (thin pins) and 20A (thick pins) variants.
Countries/regions: Brazil (national standard, fully adopted since 2010), South Africa (alongside Type M).
Country/Region → Plug Type Quick Reference
Sorted alphabetically. Use Ctrl+F to search for a country.
Note: Countries using multiple plug types have them all listed. Voltage/frequency reflects each country’s mainstream standard.
| Country / Region | Plug Type | Voltage | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | C, D, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| Albania | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Algeria | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| American Samoa | A, B, F, I | 120V | 60Hz |
| Angola | C | 220V | 50Hz |
| Anguilla | A, B | 230V | 60Hz |
| Antigua & Barbuda | A, B | 230V | 60Hz |
| Argentina | C, I | 220V | 50Hz |
| Armenia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Aruba | A, B, F | 127V | 60Hz |
| Australia | I | 230V | 50Hz |
| Austria | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Azerbaijan | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Bahamas | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Bahrain | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Bangladesh | A, B, C, D, G, K | 220V | 50Hz |
| Barbados | A, B | 115V | 50Hz |
| Belarus | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| Belgium | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Belize | A, B, G | 220V | 60Hz |
| Benin | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Bermuda | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Bolivia | A, C | 230V | 50Hz |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Botswana | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Brazil | A, B, C, N | 127V/220V | 60Hz |
| Brunei | G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Bulgaria | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Burkina Faso | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Burundi | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Cambodia | A, B, C, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Cameroon | C, D, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Canada | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Cape Verde | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Cayman Islands | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Central African Republic | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Chad | C, D, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Chile | C, L | 220V | 50Hz |
| China | A, I | 220V | 50Hz |
| Colombia | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Comoros | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Congo (Brazzaville) | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Congo (Kinshasa) | C, D, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Costa Rica | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Côte d'Ivoire | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Croatia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Cuba | A, B, C, L | 220V | 60Hz |
| Cyprus | G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Czech Republic | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Denmark | C, E, K | 230V | 50Hz |
| Djibouti | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Dominica | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Dominican Republic | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Ecuador | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Egypt | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| El Salvador | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, L | 115V | 60Hz |
| Equatorial Guinea | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Eritrea | C | 230V | 50Hz |
| Estonia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Eswatini | M | 230V | 50Hz |
| Ethiopia | C, D, E, F, J, L | 220V | 50Hz |
| Faroe Islands | C, K | 230V | 50Hz |
| Fiji | I | 240V | 50Hz |
| Finland | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| France | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| French Guiana | C, D, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| French Polynesia (Tahiti) | B, E | 220V | 60Hz |
| Gabon | C | 220V | 50Hz |
| Gambia | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Gaza (Palestine) | H | 230V | 50Hz |
| Germany | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Ghana | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Gibraltar | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Greece | C, D, E, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Greenland | C, E, K | 230V | 50Hz |
| Grenada | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Guadeloupe | C, D, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Guam | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Guatemala | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Guinea | C, F, K | 220V | 50Hz |
| Guinea-Bissau | C | 220V | 50Hz |
| Guyana | A, B, D, G | 240V | 60Hz |
| Haiti | A, B | 110V | 60Hz |
| Honduras | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Hong Kong | D, G, M | 220V | 50Hz |
| Hungary | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Iceland | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| India | C, D | 230V | 50Hz |
| Indonesia | C, E, F, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Iran | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Iraq | C, D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Ireland | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Isle of Man | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Israel | C, H | 230V | 50Hz |
| Italy | C, F, L | 230V | 50Hz |
| Jamaica | A, B | 110V | 50Hz |
| Japan | A, B | 100V | 50/60Hz |
| Jordan | C, D, F, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Kazakhstan | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| Kenya | D, G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Kiribati | I | 240V | 50Hz |
| Kuwait | C, F, G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Laos | A, B, C, E, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Latvia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Lebanon | A, B, C, D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Liberia | A, B, C, F | 120V | 60Hz |
| Libya | C, D, L | 127V | 50Hz |
| Liechtenstein | C, J | 230V | 50Hz |
| Lithuania | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Luxembourg | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Macau | D, G, M | 220V | 50Hz |
| Madagascar | C, D, E, J, K | 220V | 50Hz |
| Malawi | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Malaysia | G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Maldives | A, B, C, D, G, J, K, L | 230V | 50Hz |
| Mali | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Malta | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Martinique | C, D, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Mauritania | C | 220V | 50Hz |
| Mauritius | C, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Mexico | A, B | 127V | 60Hz |
| Micronesia | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Monaco | C, D, E, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Mongolia | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Montenegro | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Montserrat | A, B | 230V | 60Hz |
| Morocco | C, E | 220V | 50Hz |
| Mozambique | C, F, M | 220V | 50Hz |
| Myanmar | A, C, D, F, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Namibia | D, M | 220V | 50Hz |
| Nauru | I | 240V | 50Hz |
| Nepal | C, D | 230V | 50Hz |
| Netherlands | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Netherlands Antilles | A, B, F | 127V | 50Hz |
| New Zealand | I | 230V | 50Hz |
| Nicaragua | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Niger | A, B, C, D, E, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| Nigeria | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| North Macedonia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Norway | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Oman | C, D, G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Pakistan | C, D | 230V | 50Hz |
| Palau | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Panama | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Papua New Guinea | I | 240V | 50Hz |
| Paraguay | A, B, C | 220V | 50Hz |
| Peru | A, B, C | 220V | 60Hz |
| Philippines | A, B, C | 220V | 60Hz |
| Poland | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Portugal | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Puerto Rico | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Qatar | D, G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Romania | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Russia | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| Rwanda | C, J | 230V | 50Hz |
| Saudi Arabia | A, B, G | 230V | 60Hz |
| Senegal | C, D, E, K | 230V | 50Hz |
| Serbia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Seychelles | G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Sierra Leone | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Singapore | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Slovakia | C, E | 230V | 50Hz |
| Slovenia | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Somalia | C | 220V | 50Hz |
| South Africa | D, M, N | 230V | 50Hz |
| South Korea | C, F | 220V | 60Hz |
| Spain | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Sri Lanka | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | D, G | 230V | 60Hz |
| St. Lucia | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| St. Vincent & Grenadines | A, B, C, D, E, G, I, K | 230V | 50Hz |
| Sudan | C, D | 230V | 50Hz |
| Suriname | C, F | 127V | 60Hz |
| Sweden | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Switzerland | C, J | 230V | 50Hz |
| Syria | C, E, L | 220V | 50Hz |
| Taiwan | A, B | 110V | 60Hz |
| Tajikistan | C, F, I | 220V | 50Hz |
| Tanzania | D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Thailand | A, B, C | 230V | 50Hz |
| Togo | C | 220V | 50Hz |
| Tonga | I | 240V | 50Hz |
| Trinidad & Tobago | A, B | 115V | 60Hz |
| Tunisia | C, E, K, L | 230V | 50Hz |
| Turkey | C, F | 230V | 50Hz |
| Turkmenistan | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| UAE | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Uganda | G | 240V | 50Hz |
| Ukraine | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| United Kingdom | G | 230V | 50Hz |
| United States | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Uruguay | C, F, I, L | 220V | 50Hz |
| Uzbekistan | C, F | 220V | 50Hz |
| Venezuela | A, B | 120V | 60Hz |
| Vietnam | A, B, C, D, F, G | 220V | 50Hz |
| Virgin Islands (US/UK) | A, B | 110V | 60Hz |
| Yemen | A, B, D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Zambia | C, D, G | 230V | 50Hz |
| Zimbabwe | D, G | 220V | 50Hz |
FAQ
Q1: How many plug types are there worldwide? There are 14 standard plug types, labeled A through N. Common combinations: A/B (North America/Japan), C (European two-pin Europlug), G (UK three-pin BS 1363), I (Australia/China two angled pins).
Q2: What plug type does China use? China uses both Type A (two flat pins, no ground) and Type I (two angled pins plus ground — the mainstream standard). Standard voltage is 220V / 50Hz. Type A is compatible with Japan and the USA; Type I is compatible with Australia and New Zealand.
Q3: Do I need a plug adapter for Europe? Continental Europe mainly uses Type C (no ground) or Type E/F (German/French Schuko, with ground). A single “C/E/F European adapter” covers most European countries. The UK (G), Switzerland (J), Denmark (K), and Italy (L) each have their own standard and need separate adapters.
Q4: Is voltage the same everywhere? No — there are two main standards:
- 100–127V / 60Hz: North America (US/Canada), Japan, Taiwan, most of Central America.
- 220–240V / 50Hz: China, Europe, Australia, Africa, Middle East, most of Asia.
💡 Most modern electronics (phones, laptops) support 100–240V wide voltage, so you only need a plug adapter. But high-power appliances like hair dryers, kettles, and curling irons must match the voltage — otherwise they’ll be damaged or underpowered.
Q5: How do I prepare adapters quickly?
- Traveling to one region (e.g. only Europe): Buy a regional adapter for that region.
- Multi-country business trips or world travel: Get a universal travel adapter (covers A–M), which works almost everywhere.
- High-power appliances (kettles, electric blankets): You need both a plug adapter AND a voltage check — possibly a step-down transformer.
Reference: https://electricaloutlet.org/
