Power plugs by country: which adapter do you need?
From why plug shape and voltage are two different problems, through the full IEC A-to-O world plug table, a quick-lookup table for the destinations Thai travellers visit most, to how to pick a universal adapter without confusing it with the voltage converter some old appliances still need.
Quick answer
- Travel power problems are really two separate things: the physical plug shape not fitting the local socket, and the voltage being different from home. Modern chargers for phones, laptops and cameras are almost always dual-voltage (100-240V), so they only need a shape adapter, not a voltage converter.
- Genuinely old single-voltage appliances — some hairdryers, straighteners and kettles — need a real voltage converter, not just a shape adapter. Plugging a single-voltage appliance into the wrong voltage through a plain adapter can burn it out or damage it.
- There are 15 world plug types, A through O under the IEC standard. Thailand's own type is O, and modern Thai sockets are built to also accept Type A and Type C plugs directly — no adapter needed. Most visitors to Thailand do not need to bring one at all.
Why plug shape and voltage are two different problems
"Foreign power plugs" actually bundles two separate issues together. The first is the physical shape and size of the pins, which every country's sockets are built around differently — if the pins do not match the socket shape, the plug simply will not go in, and all you need is a shape adapter. The second is the voltage the socket actually delivers, which runs around 100-127V in some countries and 220-240V in others.
Fortunately, nearly every modern electronic charger — for phones, laptops, cameras and power banks — is built "dual-voltage," meaning it already accepts roughly 100V to 240V in a single unit (check the fine print on the charger itself, something like INPUT: 100-240V, to be sure). So the only thing that actually needs fixing is the pin shape not matching the socket, and there is no need to spend money on a voltage converter you don't need.
The most common mistake travellers make is assuming this rule applies to every appliance without checking. Genuinely old single-voltage appliances — some hairdryers, straighteners/curling irons, or kettles that are not marked dual-voltage — still need a real voltage converter to run safely. Plugging a single-voltage appliance into a mismatched-voltage socket through a plain shape adapter can burn it out on the spot.
World plug types A–O (IEC reference)
| Type | Pin shape | Typical voltage | Where used |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 flat parallel pins, ungrounded | 100-127V | US, Canada, Mexico, Japan (100V), parts of Central America |
| B | Type A shape plus a round grounding pin | 100-127V | US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, parts of Central America |
| C ("Europlug") | 2 round pins, ungrounded | 220-240V (some Americas 110-127V) | Most of Europe, much of Asia, South America, Africa (compatible base plug that also fits E/F/K/L sockets) |
| D | 3 large round pins in a triangle (old British standard) | 220-240V | India, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
| E | 2 round pins plus a female earth contact | 220-230V | France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Tunisia, Morocco |
| F ("Schuko") | 2 round pins plus 2 side earth clips | 220-230V | Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, most of Central/Eastern Europe, Russia, Nordic countries |
| G | 3 rectangular pins in a triangle, fused | 220-240V | UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE |
| H | 3 round pins in a unique triangle | 230V | Israel |
| I | Flat blades in a V shape plus ground | 220-240V | Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, mainland China (alongside Type A) |
| J | 3 round pins in a line | 230V | Switzerland, Liechtenstein |
| K | Round pins plus an offset round earth pin | 230V | Denmark, Greenland |
| L | 3 round pins in a line (different spacing from J) | 220-230V | Italy, Chile, Uruguay, parts of North Africa |
| M | 3 large round pins (like D, bigger) | 220-240V | South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho |
| N | Hybrid 3-pin round standard | 100-240V (varies by region) | Brazil |
| O | Thailand's own standard (TIS 166-2549) | 220V | Thailand (modern Thai sockets are a hybrid that also directly accepts Type A and Type C plugs, so most visitors don't need an adapter at all) |
The 15 plug types under the IEC World Plugs standard
Quick lookup for popular destinations
| Destination | Plug type(s) | Voltage |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | A/B | 100V |
| USA | A/B | 120V |
| South Korea | C/F | 220V |
| China | A/I/C | 220V |
| Vietnam | A/C (increasingly C) | 220V |
| Taiwan | A/B | 110V |
| UK | G | 230V |
| Most of EU/Schengen, e.g. France, Germany, Italy, Spain | C/E/F/L (per country) | 230V |
| Australia | I | 230V |
| UAE | G | 230V |
| Singapore | G | 230V |
| Hong Kong | G | 230V |
| Thailand | O/A/C (hybrid) | 220V |
Plug types and voltage for popular destinations
How to pick a universal travel adapter
What most travellers actually need is a "universal travel adapter": one shell that mechanically accepts several pin shapes at once. It is not a voltage converter — it only changes the plug shape so it fits the socket, without changing the voltage delivered, which is fine for dual-voltage gear like phone and laptop chargers. If you genuinely have a single-voltage appliance, you need a separate real voltage converter, not the general-purpose adapter sold at airports.
FAQ
Do I need a voltage converter, or just a shape adapter?+
Almost everyone just needs a shape adapter, since modern phone, laptop, camera and power bank chargers are dual-voltage and already handle 100-240V. A real voltage converter is only needed for genuinely old single-voltage appliances, like some hairdryers or kettles.
Can I use a Type A or C plug in Thailand without an adapter?+
Yes. Modern Thai sockets are built as a hybrid that directly accepts Type A and Type C plugs, no adapter required.
What plug does Europe use?+
Mostly C, E or F depending on the country — for example France and Belgium use Type E, Germany and Spain use Type F, and Italy uses Type L.
Is it safe to leave a universal adapter plugged in overnight?+
Yes, for a compliant adapter from a reputable brand. Just remember it is a mechanical shape adapter, not a power strip with surge protection, so avoid overloading it by running multiple high-wattage appliances through it at once, like a hairdryer and a kettle together.
Instagram and TikTok have no web share button, so we open your phone's share sheet or copy the link instead.