Farlounge / Travel toolkit
Find the exact plug adapter, voltage, and electrical frequency for your destination – before you leave home.
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Why this matters
You've landed. You're exhausted. You reach for your phone charger – and the plug doesn't fit. It's one of the most preventable travel frustrations there is, and it affects millions of travellers every year. Farlounge's power adapter guide tells you exactly what plug type, voltage, and electrical frequency applies to your destination country – before you leave home.
From the 13-amp UK Type G plug to the two-pin European Type C, to the unique Type I used in Australia and New Zealand – every country has its own electrical standard. Get it right before you pack.
There are 15 official plug types in use globally, labelled Type A through Type N. Here are the most commonly encountered by international travellers:
Two flat parallel pins. Used in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. Standard voltage: 110–120V at 60Hz.
Two round pins. The most widely used plug type in the world, standard across most of Europe (except the UK and Ireland), South America, Asia, and Africa. Voltage: 220–240V at 50Hz.
Three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. The UK's own standard, also used in former British territories. Voltage: 230V at 50Hz. This is what you use at home – everywhere else needs an adapter.
Two or three flat pins in a V-shape. Distinctive and often forgotten by travellers going ‘down under’ for the first time.
Three large round pins in a triangular layout. India uses its own unique standard – a Type C adapter will sometimes fit Indian sockets, but a proper Type D is safer.
Plug shape is the obvious problem – but voltage is the one that can actually destroy your devices. Here's what you need to know:
A voltage converter changes the electrical output. A plug adapter only changes the shape. They are not the same thing.
Check the label on your device charger or power brick. If it says ‘100–240V’, it's dual-voltage and you only need a plug adapter to change the socket shape. If it says ‘110V only’ or ‘240V only’, you need a voltage converter for destinations with a different voltage standard.
Universal travel adapters cover the most common plug types (A, C, G, I, and a few others) and work for the majority of destinations. However, they don't include every type – notably Type D (India) and Type M (South Africa) are sometimes missing from budget universals. Check before you buy.
The USB-C connector is universal – the cable works everywhere. But the plug that connects to the wall varies by country. You still need a plug adapter for the wall socket, even if the cable itself is the same.
India (Type D), South Africa (Type M/N), Brazil (Type N – a unique national standard), and Israel (Type H) are among the most distinctive. South Africa's Type M uses the same pins as the old UK standard from the 1940s.
Many long-haul flights offer USB-A and increasingly USB-C charging at seats. This is fine for phones and small devices. For anything requiring a full 240V socket, you may still need the seat power adapter – which varies by airline and aircraft type.
Cheap unbranded adapters can be a fire risk. Look for adapters with relevant safety certification marks (BSI Kitemark for UK, CE marking for Europe). A quality universal adapter from a reputable brand costs £15–30 and lasts years.
Before any international trip, lay out every device you're taking and run through this checklist:
