Travel Adapters

2025-03-05

Reference: Interactive guide for what sockets are used in which country:  International Electrotechnical Commission

Universal Type     Accepts plugs from most countries, used in modern hotels and long haul airplanes.
They tend to have a looser fit so vibrations on airplanes can cause the power plugs to come loose.

 

Cruise ships and high end hotels are equipped with receptacles from different continents.
Many are equipped with USB-A ports, and USB-C ports (on newer ships).

 

Type G     Used in UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Belize, Kenya, etc.

      

Type I     Used in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina and China.
New Zealand sockets need a 3 prong adapter: the ground pin is needed to push the safety shutter open.
Warning: a 2-pin type-I adapter will not work in some receptacles because a third (ground) pin is needed to push open an internal shutter to let the 2 "hot" pins to be inserted. Don't use force because either the wall socket or your adapter will break. Use a proper 3-pin adapter in these situations.

      


China  See below.
The left receptacle accepts type A (US), type I (AU), type C (Europlug) and CEE 7/7 Schuko plug (green plug in picture below).
The right receptacle accepts type A (US), type I (AU).
Warning: a 2-pin type-I adapter will not work in some receptacles because a third (ground) pin is needed to push open an internal shutter to let the 2 "hot" pins to be inserted. Don't use force because either the wall socket or your adapter will break. Use a proper 3-pin adapter in these situations.

   
     

Type A   Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America.

  

Europe: (3 types. Fortunately, type C Europolug can connect to over 135 countries)
Type E, F (accept Schuko plug)
Type C (Europlug) is designed to fit most countries including type E and type F


For this group of plugs and receptacles, pins are round and spaced 19 mm apart.
There are two variants:
4.8 mm diameter pins: Germany, Korea, Spain, Russia, Indonesia, France, Poland, Bangladesh, Denmark, Thailand, etc.
4.0 mm diameter pins: Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, etc.
Type C plug (4.0 mm diameter pins), known as Europlug (CEE 7/16 Standard) is designed to work with sockets in over 135 countries.
Europlug has a current rating of 2.5 Amperes (small appliances), this is adequate for travel use such as mobile phones.

Europlug design specs:
Europlug has a 10 mm insulated section and the pins are slightly bend towards each other at the free end.


Europlug adapter (fits almost all countries in Europe except UK and Ireland)

 

Schuko plug adapter
May not fit in all countries in Europe
Current rating up to 16 Amperes

 

Also see worldstandard.eu (unfortunately with massive overwhelming ads).

India (Type D) and South Africa (Type M) are different from all of the above.
Use Amazon to find the correct adapter.

Here is an overview of all the different plug/socket types:

 

This website has more precise plug dimensions: Plug dimensions