First Day Abroad

Power sockets and voltage in Thailand

Part of the Thailand arrival guide.

This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Sockets and voltage in Thailand

  • Type ANEMA 1-15No earth
  • Type BNEMA 5-15Earthed
  • Type CCEE 7/16 (Europlug)No earth
  • Type OTIS 166-2549Earthed
Voltage
230 V
Frequency
50 Hz
Earthed sockets
Type B, Type O

Most sockets are hybrids that take Type A, B, C and the Thai Type O. Schuko and French plugs fit too, but earth nothing.

What you need, by where you are coming from

  • Arriving from the United States or CanadaThe plug fits, and the voltage does not: anything not marked 100-240 V needs a converter, not an adapter.
  • Arriving from the UK or IrelandA plug adapter is enough - the voltage is the same as at home.
  • Arriving from most of continental EuropePlugs go straight in and the voltage matches. Nothing to pack.
  • Arriving from Australia or New ZealandA plug adapter is enough - the voltage is the same as at home.

Socket types, voltage and frequency are the nominal domestic supply as published in IEC/TR 60083 and the national standards it lists.

Thai sockets are usually hybrids taking Type , , and the local Type at 230 V - and European plugs fit them without earthing anything.

Sockets in Thailand are hybrids taking Type , , and the Thai Type at 230 V, 50 Hz, so almost any plug goes in - which is the problem.

  • The common socket is a round hole crossed by a slot. It accepts American flat pins, Europlugs and the Thai three-pin plug from the same opening.
  • Schuko and French plugs fit but earth nothing. Thailand banned the sale of appliances with those plugs for exactly this reason. If you are carrying a European laptop brick with an earthed plug, the earth is not connected.
  • American 120 V appliances are the real hazard here. The socket takes a US plug perfectly and then delivers 230 V to it. Check every label for 100-240 V before it goes in the wall.
  • Type is the national standard introduced in 2006 - three round pins, earthed - and new buildings are being wired for it.
  • Adapters are cheap and everywhere, from 7-Eleven upwards, so there is no need to buy one at the airport.
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Sources (1)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.