This is a guide to some important issues when deciding to use your electrical appliances in another country. It includes a table describing electrical systems worldwide, illustrations of electrical plugs you may run across, advice on using your computer and other general advice that you may find helpful. Finally, there is a list of sources for electrical travel accessories.
ELECTRIC PLUGS IN USE
The main types of electrical plugs that are used around the world are listed below. You can click on the illustration to view a larger picture and a listing of countries where that type of plug is used. Note: the illustrations below are not to scale. Also, the labels (type A, B, etc.) used by my principal source listed below are not any type of standard nomenclature; labels and descriptions used by various vendors may differ. Supposedly the IEEE has standard terminology for these things, but it’s not used by anyone in the travel industry.
Quick Jump
| Country | Voltage | Frequency | Plug Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Albania | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Algeria | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F, A |
| American Samoa | 120V | 60 Hz | A, B, F & I |
| Andorra | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Angola | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| Anguilla | 110V | 60 Hz | A (maybe B) |
| Antigua | 230V* | 60 Hz | A & B *Airport area – 110V |
| Argentina | 220V | 50 Hz | C & I |
| Armenia | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Aruba | 127V* | 60 Hz | A, B & F *Lago Colony 115V |
| Australia | 230V | 50 Hz | I |
| Austria | 230V | 50 Hz | C, F |
| Azerbaijan | 220V | 50 Hz | C, F |
| Azores | 220V | 50 Hz | B, C, & F |
| Bahamas | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Bahrain | 230V* | 50 Hz* | G *Awali 110V, 60 H |
| Balearic Islands | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Bangladesh | 220V | 50 Hz | A, C, D, G & K |
| Barbados | 115V | 50 Hz | A, B |
| Belarus | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Belgium | 230V | 50 Hz | E |
| Belize | 110/220V | 60 Hz | B & G |
| Benin | 220V | 50 Hz | E |
| Bermuda | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Bhutan | 230V | 50 Hz | D, F, & G Type M plugs also identified by some sources. |
| Bolivia | 220/230V* | 50 Hz | A & C *La Paz & Viacha 115V |
| Bosnia | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Botswana | 231V | 50 Hz | G & M |
| Brazil | 110/220V* | 60 Hz | A & B, C |
| Brunei | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Bulgaria | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Burkina Faso | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Burundi | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Cambodia | 230V | 50 Hz | A & C |
| Cameroon | 220V | 50 Hz | C, E |
| Canada | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Canary Islands | 220V | 50 Hz | C, E, & L |
| Cape Verde | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Cayman Islands | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Central African Republic | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Chad | 220V | 50 Hz | D, E & F |
| Channel Islands | 230V | 50 Hz | G |
| Chile | 220V | 50 Hz | C & L |
| China, People’s Republic of | 220V | 50 Hz | A, I, G |
| Colombia | 110V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Comoros | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. of (Zaire) | 220V | 50 Hz | C & D |
| Congo, People’s Rep. Of | 230V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Cook Islands | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Costa Rica | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Croatia | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Cuba | 110/220V | 60 Hz | A & B, C, F & L Most older hotels 110V. Some newer hotels 220V. |
| Cyprus | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Czech Republic | 230V | 50 Hz | E |
| Denmark | 230V | 50 Hz | C & K |
| Djibouti | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Dominica | 230V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Dominican Republic | 110V | 60 Hz | A Type J may exist in some hotels. |
| East Timor | 220V | 50 Hz | C, E, F, I, A |
| Ecuador | 120-127V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Egypt | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| El Salvador | 115V | 60 Hz | A & B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, & L |
| England (See United Kingdom) | |||
| Equatorial Guinea | 220V* | 50 Hz | C & E *Voltage varies between 150 & 175V with frequent outages |
| Eritrea | 230V | 50 Hz | C |
| Estonia | 230V | 50 Hz | F Type C may be found in older buildings. Type E plugs may work in either C or F type outlets. |
| Ethiopia | 220V | 50 Hz | D, J, & L |
| Faeroe Islands | 220V | 50 Hz | C & K |
| Falkland Islands | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Fiji | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Finland | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| France | 230V | 50 Hz | E Type C plugs may be found on some appliances, and will fit the Type E outlet. Type C outlets may be found in older buildings. Type A may be found in older buildings but is illegal. |
| French Guiana | 220V | 50 Hz | C, & E |
| Gabon | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| Gambia | 230V | 50 Hz | G |
| Gaza | 230V | 50 Hz | H |
| Germany | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Ghana | 230V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Gibraltar | 240V | 50 Hz | C & G |
| Great Britain (See United Kingdom) | |||
| Greece | 220V | 50 Hz | C, D, E & F |
| Greenland | 220V | 50 Hz | C & K |
| Grenada (Windward Is.) | 230V | 50 Hz | G |
| Guadeloupe | 230V | 50 Hz | C, D, & E |
| Guam | 110V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Guatemala | 120V | 60 Hz | A, B, G, & I |
| Guinea | 220V | 50 Hz | C, F & K |
| Guinea-Bissau | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| Guyana | 240V* | 60 Hz* | A, B, D & G *Inside the capital city of Georgetown, both 120V and 240V at either 50 or 60Hz are found, depending on the part of the city (50Hz most common). |
| Haiti | 110V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Honduras | 110V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Hong Kong | 220V | 50 Hz | G, M |
| Hungary | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Iceland | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| India | 230V | 50 Hz | C & D |
| Indonesia | 127/230V | 50 Hz | C, F & G |
| Iran | 230V | 50 Hz | C |
| Iraq | 230V | 50 Hz | C, D, & G |
| Ireland (Eire) | 230V | 50 Hz | G Type F once common and may be occasionally found. |
| Isle of Man | 240V | 50 Hz | C & G |
| Israel | 230V | 50 Hz | H & C |
| Italy | 230V | 50 Hz | C, F & L |
| Ivory Coast (See Côte d’Ivoire) | |||
| Jamaica | 110V | 50 Hz | A & B |
| Japan | 100V | 50/60 Hz* | A, B *Eastern Japan 50 Hz (Tokyo, Kawasaki, Sapporo, Yokohoma, and Sendai); Western Japan 60 Hz (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima) |
| Jordan | 230V | 50 Hz | D, F, G & J* *Type C may be found in some hotels. |
| Kazakhstan | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| Kenya | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Kiribati | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Korea, South | 220V | 60 Hz | C & F* *Type F likely to be found in offices and hotels. . |
| Kuwait | 240V | 50 Hz | C & G |
| Laos | 230V | 50 Hz | A, B, C, E & F |
| Latvia | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Lebanon | 110/220V | 50 Hz | A, B, C, D & G |
| Lesotho | 220V | 50 Hz | M |
| Liberia | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Libya | 127V* | 50 Hz | D *Barce, Benghazi, Derna, Sebha & Tobruk 230V |
| Liechtenstein | 230V | 50 Hz | J |
| Lithuania | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Luxembourg | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Macau | 220V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Macedonia | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Madagascar | 127/220V | 50 Hz | C, D, E, J & K |
| Madeira | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Malawi | 230V | 50 Hz | G |
| Malaysia | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Maldives | 230V | 50 Hz | A, D, G, J, K & L |
| Mali | 220V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Malta | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Martinique | 220V | 50 Hz | C, D, & E |
| Mauritania | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| Mauritius | 230V | 50 Hz | C & G |
| Mexico | 127V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Micronesia (Federal States of) | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Monaco | 127/220V | 50 Hz | C, D, E F |
| Mongolia | 230V | C & E | |
| Montserrat (Leeward Is.) | 230V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Morocco | 127/220V* | 50 Hz | C & E *Conversion to 220V only underway |
| Mozambique | 220V | 50 Hz | C, F & M* *Type M found especially near the border with South Africa, including the capitol, Maputo. |
| Myanmar (formerly Burma) | 230V | 50 Hz | C, D, F & G* Type G* found primarily in better hotels. |
| Namibia | 220V | 50 Hz | D |
| Nauru | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Nepal | 230V | 50 Hz | C & D |
| Netherlands | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Netherlands Antilles | 127/220V* | 50 Hz | A, B, & F *St. Martin 120V 60 Hz; Saba & St. Eustatius 110V 60 Hz A, maybe B |
| New Caledonia | 220V | 50 Hz | F |
| New Zealand | 230V | 50 Hz | I |
| Nicaragua | 120V | 60 Hz | A |
| Niger | 220V | 50 Hz | A, B, C, D, E & F |
| Nigeria | 240V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Northern Ireland (see United Kingdom) | |||
| Norway | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Okinawa | 100V* | 60 Hz | A, B & I *Military facilities 120V |
| Oman | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Pakistan | 230V | 50 Hz | C & D |
| Palmyra Atoll | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Panama | 110V* | 60 Hz | A, B *Panama City 120V |
| Papua New Guinea | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Paraguay | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| Peru | 220V* | 60 Hz* | * A, B & C *Talara 110/220V; Arequipa 50 H |
| Philippines | 220V | 60 Hz | A, B, C |
| Poland | 230V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Portugal | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Puerto Rico | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Qatar | 240V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Réunion Island | 220V | 50 Hz | E |
| Romania | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Russian Federation | 220V | 50 Hz | C, A (E,F) |
| Rwanda | 230V | 50 Hz | C & J |
| Saudi Arabia | 127/220V | 60 Hz | A, B, F & G |
| Scotland (See United Kingdom) | |||
| Senegal | 230V | 50 Hz | C, D, E & K |
| Serbia-Montenegro | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Seychelles | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Sierra Leone | 230V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Singapore | 230V | 50 Hz | G Type A adaptors are widely available from shops as an extension set of 2 to 5 sets of sockets; most commonly used for audio and video equipment. |
| Slovak Republic | 230V | 50 Hz | E |
| Slovenia | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Somalia | 220V* | 50 Hz | C *Berbera 230V; Merca 110/220V |
| South Africa | 220/230V* | 50 Hz | M** *Grahamstad & Port Elizabeth 250V; also found in King Williams ** Types C & G can also be found. |
| Spain | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Sri Lanka | 230V | 50 Hz | D |
| St. Lucia (Windward Is.) | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| St. Vincent (Windward Is.) | 230V | 50 Hz | A, C, E, G, I & K |
| St.Kitts and Nevis (Leeward Is.) | 230V | 60 Hz | D & G |
| Sudan | 230V | 50 Hz | C & D |
| Suriname | 127V | 60 Hz | C & F |
| Swaziland | 230V | 50 Hz | M |
| Sweden | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Switzerland | 230V | 50 Hz | J Type C plugs are common on appliances, and will fit the Type J outlet. |
| Syria | 220V | 50 Hz | C, E, & L |
| Tahiti | 110/220V | 60 Hz | A, B, E |
| Taiwan | 110V | 60 Hz | A, B |
| Tajikistan | 220V | 50 Hz | C & I |
| Tanzania | 230V | 50 Hz | D & G |
| Thailand | 220V | 50 Hz | A & C |
| Togo | 220V* | 50 Hz | C *Lome 127V |
| Tonga | 240V | 50 Hz | I |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 115V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Tunisia | 230V | 50 Hz | C & E |
| Turkey | 230V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Turkmenistan | 220V | 50 Hz | B & F |
| Uganda | 240V | 50 Hz | G |
| Ukraine | 220V | 50 Hz | C |
| United Arab Emirates | 220V* | 50 Hz | C, D & G |
| United Kingdom | 230V* | 50 Hz | G *Outlets typically controlled by adjacent switch. |
| United States of America | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Uruguay | 220V | 50 Hz | C, F, I & L |
| Uzbekistan | 220V | 50 Hz | C & I |
| Vanuatu | 230V | 50 Hz | I rarely Type G |
| Venezuela | 120V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Vietnam | 127/220V* | 50 Hz | A, C & G |
| Virgin Islands (British and U.S.) | 115V | 60 Hz | A & B |
| Wales (See United Kingdom) | |||
| Western Samoa | 230V | 50 Hz | I |
| Yemen, Rep. Of | 220/230V | 50 Hz | A, D & G |
| Yugoslavia (Former) | 220V | 50 Hz | C & F |
| Zambia | 230V | 50 Hz | C, D & G |
| Zimbabwe | 220V | 50 Hz | D & G |