Travelling Overseas? A Complete List of Plug Types for Each Country

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Travelling Overseas? A Complete List of Plug Types for Each Country

Lauren Andrews, Travel Writer

If you’ve ever arrived overseas only to realise your charger doesn’t fit the wall, you’re not alone.

There’s no single global power plug. In fact, different countries use different plug shapes, pin layouts and socket standards — which is why travel adapters exist in the first place.

Below is a simple breakdown of the main plug types used around the world, and where you’ll encounter them.

Type A & B

Two flat pins (with or without grounding pin)

Used in:

United States
Canada
Mexico
Japan

Notes: Common in North America and parts of Asia. Devices from these regions usually won’t fit sockets elsewhere without an adapter.

Type C

Two round pins

Used in:

Most of Europe
France
Italy
Spain
Germany

Notes: One of the most common plug types globally. Often interchangeable with Types E and F.

Type D

Three round pins in a triangular pattern

Used in:

India
Nepal
Sri Lanka

Notes: Older-style sockets still widely used. Not compatible with most Western plugs.

Types C, E & F

Two round pins (with grounding variations)

Used in:

France
Germany
Spain
Italy
Netherlands
Austria
Most of mainland Europe

Notes: These three plug types are largely interchangeable in modern European sockets. This is why a single “EU adapter” usually works across most of Europe. However, grounding support can vary by country and building.

Type G

Three rectangular pins

Used in:

United Kingdom
Ireland
Singapore
Hong Kong

Notes: Very secure design, but incompatible with most other plug types.

Type I

Two angled flat pins (with optional grounding pin)

Used in:

Australia
New Zealand
China

Notes: Travellers from these regions almost always need adapters abroad.

Type J

Three round pins

Used in:

Switzerland

Notes: Unique to Switzerland. Even European adapters may not work here.

Type K

Three round pins

Used in:

Denmark

Type L

Three round pins in a line

Used in:

Italy

Notes: Italy uses multiple socket types, which often confuses travellers.

Type M & N

Three large round pins

Used in:

South Africa
Brazil

Why This Becomes a Problem When You Travel

Many travellers assume one adapter will work everywhere. In reality:

some countries use multiple socket types
hotel sockets vary by building age
older adapters don’t support modern devices
some adapters change shape, not voltage

That’s why people often end up borrowing hotel adapters, paying a fortune for them at the airport, or getting to a new country and realising it’s too late.

How Frequent Travellers Avoid the Issue

Rather than carrying multiple adapters or guessing what will work, frequent travellers use a universal travel adapter.

A good universal adapter is designed to:

cover all major plug types

fit securely in different sockets

charge multiple devices at once

support modern charging standards

It removes the guesswork — no matter where you land.

The Universal Adapter I Use

I travel with a universal travel adapter from Simplify Living. This single unit covers EU, UK, US, and AU plug types, ensuring you stay connected in over 150 countries.

That means I don’t need separate adapters for different trips. And it can charge 5 devices at once, so I can charge my phone, laptop and accessories safely from a single outlet.

At the time of writing, it’s available with 40% off, free shipping, a 2-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

When you’re travelling overseas, charging shouldn’t be the thing that slows you down.

Save 40% On Our Recommended Universal Adapter 👉

About The Author

Marco Bianchi is a former police detective who spent more than a decade working in tourist-heavy cities across Europe. During his career, he specialised in theft, pickpocketing, and organised distraction scams targeting travellers. Now retired from active duty, Marco shares insight into how travellers can avoid crime overseas.

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About the Author

Jess Stanford is a former flight attendant with over eight years of experience working long-haul and short-haul routes across Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. Jess now writes about the small habits frequent flyers rely on to travel lighter, faster, and with less stress — especially when it comes to avoiding checked bags and unnecessary fees.

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