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Last updated: 22 January 2024

Plug & socket types around the world

There are currently 15 types of domestic electrical outlet plugs in use worldwide, each of which has been assigned a letter by the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA), starting with A and moving through the alphabet. These letters are completely arbitrary: they don’t actually mandate anything.

Click here for a global map showing the spread of the different plug types used around the world.

Click here for a detailed list of the countries of the world with their respective plug and outlet types, voltage and frequency.

Type A

  • mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico & Japan
  • 2 pins
  • not grounded
  • 15 A
  • almost always 100 – 127 V
  • socket compatible with plug type A
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Type B

  • mainly used in the USA, Canada & Mexico
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 15 A
  • almost always 100 – 127 V
  • socket compatible with plug types A & B
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Type C

  • commonly used in Europe, South America & Asia
  • 2 pins
  • not grounded
  • 2.5 A, 10 A & 16 A
  • almost always 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type C
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Type D

  • mainly used in India
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 6 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type D (partial and unsafe compatibility with C, E & F)
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Type E

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Type F

  • used almost everywhere in Europe & Russia, except for the UK & Ireland
  • 2 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C, E & F
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Type G

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Type H

  • used exclusively in Israel, the West Bank & the Gaza Strip
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & H (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
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Type I

  • mainly used in Australia, New Zealand, China & Argentina
  • 2 or 3 pins
  • 2 pins: not grounded / 3 pins: grounded
  • 10 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type I
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Type J

  • used almost exclusively in Switzerland & Liechtenstein
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 10 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & J
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Type K

  • used almost exclusively in Denmark & Greenland
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & K (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
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Type L

  • used almost exclusively in Italy & Chile
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 10 A & 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • 10 A socket compatible with plug types C & L (10 A version)
  • 16 A socket compatible with plug type L (16 A version)
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Type M

  • mainly used in South Africa
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug type M
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Type N

  • used in Brazil and South Africa
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 10 A, 16 A & 20 A
  • 100 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & N
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Type O

  • used exclusively in Thailand
  • 3 pins
  • grounded
  • 16 A
  • 220 – 240 V
  • socket compatible with plug types C & O (partial and unsafe compatibility with E & F)
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