Plug types and voltage, country by country

The fifteen socket types

live and neutral earth an earth pin that stands out of the socket

• Type A

  NEMA 1-15 - no earth

  Two flat blades, the neutral one wider, and no earth. The United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and much of Central America.

• Type B

  NEMA 5-15

  Type A with a round earth hole below the blades - the 'shocked face' socket. The United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Taiwan.

• Type C

  CEE 7/16 (Europlug) - no earth

  Two round holes 19 mm apart and no earth. The Europlug fits this and most other European sockets, but earths nothing.

• Type D

  BS 546, 5 A

  Three round pins in a triangle with a fatter earth pin on top. India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

• Type E

  CEE 7/5

  Round well with two holes and an earth pin sticking out of the socket. France, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia and Czechia.

• Type F

  CEE 7/3 (Schuko)

  Round well with two holes and earth clips gripping the rim above and below (Schuko). Germany and most of Europe, Turkey and South Korea.

• Type G

  BS 1363

  Three rectangular slots in a triangle, earth on top, and a fuse in every plug. The UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Gulf.

• Type H

  SI 32

  Three slanted slots in a Y with the earth at the bottom. Israel, the West Bank and Gaza only; it also takes a Europlug.

• Type I

  AS/NZS 3112

  Two flat blades in a V with a vertical earth blade below. Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina and the Pacific islands.

• Type J

  SN 441011 type 13

  Like a Type C until you spot the third hole 5 mm off centre, in a hexagonal well. Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

• Type K

  Danish 107-2-D1

  Two round holes over a D-shaped earth - the socket that looks like a smiling face. Denmark, Greenland and the Faroes.

• Type L

  CEI 23-50

  Three round holes in a straight line with the earth in the middle. Italy, Chile and Uruguay.

• Type M

  BS 546, 15 A

  The heavy version of Type D: same triangle, much thicker pins. South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana.

• Type N

  IEC 60906-1 / NBR 14136

  Three round holes almost in a line, the earth offset by only 3 mm. Brazil, and new South African installations.

• Type O

  TIS 166-2549

  Two round holes crossed by slots, over a round earth hole. Thailand only; the same socket also takes Type A and C plugs.

Sockets, voltage and frequency by country

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