What type of plug do you need to travel to each country in the world?

In today’s world, our mobile phones are essential travel companions, helping us navigate routes, book top-notch restaurants, and find local guides with ease.  

But amidst all this convenience, one crucial detail is often overlooked: the type of plug needed to charge our devices abroad. Don’t let a simple oversight disrupt your travels! In this article, we’ll guide you through the various plug types used globally and ensure you’re fully prepared for your next adventure. 

Types of plugs around the world 

Depending on the continent or country you are in, the plug types of the outlets we use will change. There are types of plugs; today we'll look at the most common ones, ranging from type A to type N. 

Plug types A, B, C, and D 

Plug Type A: It has two flat pins. It has a maximum capacity of 15 amperes. The voltage ranges from 100 to 127 volts. It's important to know that the Japanese plug can be used in American sockets, but the American plug, being wider, is not compatible with Japanese sockets. 

Plug Type B: This model is similar to the previous one but with three pins arranged in a triangular shape, with the ground pin being the longest, making it safer than the previous type. The voltage ranges from 100 to 127 volts. The maximum capacity is 15 amperes. As with the previous type, the Japanese plug is compatible with American sockets, but not vice versa. 

Plug Type C: Known as the "Europlug," this plug has two round, parallel pins. The pins are cylindrical and are usually spaced a standard distance apart. It is compatible with types E, F, J, and N. The voltage ranges from 220 to 240 volts. It has different limits of 2.5, 10, and 16 amperes. 

Plug Type D: The Type D plug has three round pins arranged in a triangular shape. Two pins are positioned at the top of the triangle and one at the bottom. It is similar to the Type M plug but they are not compatible due to dimensional differences. The voltage ranges from 220 to 240 volts. It has a capacity of 5 amperes. 

Plug types E, F, G, and H   

Type E Plug: This plug has two round pins with a grounding connection. The pins are arranged in a "V" shape, with two round pins at the top and a longer third contact for grounding at the bottom. The voltage is from 220 to 240 volts. It has a capacity of 16 amperes. 

Type F Plug: Commonly known as "Schuko." It has two round pins with a grounding connection. The pins are arranged in a "V" shape, with two round pins at the top and a longer third contact for grounding at the bottom. The voltage is from 220 to 240 volts. It has a maximum current rating of 16 amperes. 

Type G Plug: Sometimes called the British plug. It has three rectangular pins. Two pins are arranged at the top of the plug, forming a triangle, with a longer third pin at the bottom for grounding. The voltage is from 220 to 240 volts. The plug can have different amperages: 3 for smaller devices and 13 for larger ones. 

Type H Plug: It has three round pins arranged in a triangular shape. Two pins are at the top of the triangle, and a longer third pin at the bottom is for grounding, forming a Y shape. The voltage is from 220 to 240 volts. The maximum capacity is 16 amperes. 

Plug types I, J, and K 

Type I Plug: This model has two flat pins arranged in a "V" shape. Additionally, it has a third cylindrical pin positioned vertically, designed for grounding. There is also a version without the ground pin. The voltage provided is from 220 to 240 volts. The standard supports 10 amperes but can go up to 15 amperes. 

Type J Plug: The type J plug has three round pins arranged in a triangular formation. Two pins are positioned at the top of the triangle, and a longer third pin is located at the bottom for grounding. They are compatible with type C plugs. The voltage provided is from 220 to 240 volts, with a maximum capacity of 10 amperes. 

Type K Plug: This plug type has three pins arranged in a triangular shape. Two pins are positioned at the top of the triangle, and a longer third pin is located at the bottom for grounding. It is similar to the type F plug. The voltage provided is from 220 to 240 volts, with a current rating of 16 amperes. 

Plugs types L, M, and N 

Type L Plug: The Type L plug has three round pins arranged in a line. Two pins are positioned at the top, and a third, longer pin is located at the bottom for grounding. There are variations of the plug depending on the amperage: one for 10 amps and one for 16 amps, where the pins are more widely spaced and thicker. 

Type M Plug: This type of plug has three round pins arranged in a line. Two pins are at the top, and a third, longer pin is at the bottom for grounding. The voltage is from 220 to 240 volts, and the maximum capacity is 15 amps. 

Type N Plug: This plug has three round pins arranged in a line. Two pins are at the top, and a third, longer pin is at the bottom for grounding. The Type N plug handles a voltage range of 100 to 240 volts. There are variations of the plug depending on amperage, available in 10, 16, and 20 amps. 

Plugs Used in North, Central, and South America: 

The most commonly used plugs in the Americas are Type A and Type B. They are used throughout North, South, and Central America, including some Caribbean islands. Countries using these plugs include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Type C is used in countries such as Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. Type I is used in Argentina. Type K is used in Greenland. Type L is used in Chile, Cuba, and Uruguay, while Type N is used in Brazil. 

Plugs used in Europe 

Type C plug, considered the "Europlug," is used in all European countries except the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta. The type E plug is used in France, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The type F plug is used in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Spain. The type G plug, also known as the British plug, is used in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and Ireland. Meanwhile, the type J plug is used in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the type K plug in Denmark, and the type L plug in Italy. 

Plugs used in Africa 

The Type D plug is used in Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. The Type E plug is used in Congo, Madagascar, Tunisia, Benin, and Senegal. The Type G plug is used in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. The Type J plug is used in Rwanda. The Type L plug is used in Eritrea and Libya. The Type M plug is used in South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Namibia. The Type N plug is used in South Africa.   

Plugs used in Asia   

Type A plug is used in Japan, Myanmar, Laos, Bangladesh, Yemen, China, and Taiwan. Type B plug is used in the Philippines and Japan. Type D plug is used in Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal. Type G plug is used in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Type H plug is used only in Israel. Type I plug is used in China. Type J plug is used in Jordan. Type K plug is used in the Maldives and Bangladesh. Type L plug is used in the Maldives. Type M plug is used in Nepal and India. 

Plugs used in Oceania 

The Type I plug is used in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. 

In summary, here we have the plugs for the main international destinations: 

Types of plugs for each country 

Ready to travel without communication hiccups? Discover everything you need to know about roaming vs. international calls in our latest article.  

Plus, with the right plug type for any destination and exclusive international mobile rates for calls from Spain, visiting our website is your next step to seamless connectivity. Don’t miss out!