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Comprehensive Reference Database

Global Power Plug Types
Database

The definitive reference for all 15 power plug types used worldwide. Technical specifications, pin dimensions, compatibility charts, and usage across 190+ countries.

15
Plug Types
190
Countries
13
Grounded Types
2
Ungrounded

Overview & Statistics

The world uses 15 distinct power plug types, labeled Type A through Type O. This diversity stems from the independent development of electrical systems across different countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before international standardization efforts.

Plug Type Usage by Country Count

Type C
121
64%
Type F
61
32%
Type G
46
24%
Type A
37
19%
Type B
31
16%
Type D
30
16%
Type E
27
14%
Type I
11
6%

Quick Reference Table

All plug types at a glance with key specifications

TypeCommon NamePinsGroundedVoltageFrequencyAmperageCountries
Type ANEMA 1-152100-127V60Hz15A37
Type BNEMA 5-153100-127V60Hz15A31
Type CEuroplug2220-240V50Hz2.5A121
Type DOld British plug3220-240V50Hz5A30
Type EFrench plug2220-240V50Hz16A27
Type FSchuko2220-240V50Hz16A61
Type GBritish plug3220-240V50Hz13A46
Type IAustralian plug3220-240V50Hz10A11
Type JSwiss plug3220-240V50Hz10A4
Type LItalian plug3220-240V50Hz10A/16A9
Type MLarge South African plug3220-240V50Hz15A9
Type NBrazilian plug3127V/220V60Hz10A/20A2
Type HIsraeli plug3220-230V50Hz16A2
Type KDanish plug3220-240V50Hz16A4
Type OThai plug3220V50Hz16A0

Plug Compatibility Matrix

Which plugs fit into which sockets? This matrix shows physical compatibility (whether a plug will fit), not electrical compatibility (voltage/frequency must still be checked).

Plug →
Socket ↓
ABCEFGIJKL
Type A
Type B
Type C
Type E
Type F
Type G
Type I
Type J
Type K
Type L

⚠️ Important: Physical compatibility doesn't mean safe compatibility. Always verify voltage (110V vs 220V) and frequency (50Hz vs 60Hz) before connecting devices.

Type A power plug illustration
✗ Ungrounded
NEMA 1-15Two-prongAmerican plug

Type A is a two-pin ungrounded plug with flat parallel blades. It's one of the most common plug types in North America, Central America, and parts of Asia. The plug was originally developed in the United States in 1904 by Harvey Hubbell II.

Technical Specifications

GroundedNo ✗
Number of Pins2
Pin ShapeFlat parallel blades
Voltage100-127V
Frequency60Hz
Max Amperage15A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length15.9mm
pin Width6.3mm
pin Thickness1.5mm
pin Spacing12.7mm
Type B power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
NEMA 5-15Three-prongAmerican grounded plug

Type B is a three-pin grounded plug with two flat parallel blades and a round grounding pin. It's the standard grounded plug in North America and has largely replaced the ungrounded Type A for safety reasons.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeFlat parallel blades with round grounding pin
Voltage100-127V
Frequency60Hz
Max Amperage15A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length18.3mm
pin Width6.3mm
pin Thickness1.5mm
pin Spacing12.7mm
grounding Pin Length4.8mm
grounding Pin Diameter4.8mm
Type C power plug illustration
✗ Ungrounded
EuroplugCEE 7/16European plug

Type C is the most widely used plug type in the world, known as the Europlug. It features two round pins and is used throughout Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. It's designed for low-power devices up to 2.5 amps.

Technical Specifications

GroundedNo ✗
Number of Pins2
Pin ShapeRound pins
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage2.5A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4mm
pin Spacing18.6mm
Type D power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Old British plugBS 546Indian plug

Type D is an old British standard plug with three large round pins arranged in a triangular pattern. While phased out in the UK, it remains the dominant plug type in India, Nepal, and some African countries.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeLarge round pins in triangle
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage5A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length20.6mm
pin Diameter7.1mm
pin Spacing19.1mm
grounding Pin Diameter7.1mm
Type E power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
French plugCEE 7/5Type E socket

Type E is the French standard plug featuring two round pins and a hole that accepts the grounding pin protruding from the socket. It's used in France, Belgium, Poland, and several other countries.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins2
Pin ShapeRound pins with grounding hole
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage16A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4.8mm
pin Spacing19mm
grounding Hole Diameter4.8mm
Type F power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
SchukoCEE 7/4German plug

Type F, also known as Schuko (from German 'Schutzkontakt' meaning 'protective contact'), is a grounded plug with two round pins and grounding clips on the sides. It's the standard in Germany and used across much of Europe.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins2
Pin ShapeRound pins with grounding clips
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage16A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4.8mm
pin Spacing19mm
socket Diameter35mm
Type G power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
British plugBS 1363UK plug

Type G is the British standard plug with three rectangular pins arranged in a triangular pattern. It's known for being one of the safest plug designs in the world, featuring built-in fuses and safety shutters.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRectangular blades in triangle
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage13A
Pin Dimensions
live Pin Length17.7mm
neutral Pin Length17.7mm
earth Pin Length22.7mm
pin Width6.35mm
pin Thickness4mm
Type I power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Australian plugAS/NZS 3112Chinese plug

Type I features two angled flat blades in a V-shape with an optional vertical grounding pin. It's used in Australia, New Zealand, China, and Argentina. The angled design is unique and instantly recognizable.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeAngled flat blades with vertical ground
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage10A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length17.3mm
pin Width6.3mm
pin Thickness1.6mm
pin Angle30°

Used in 11 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Australian and Chinese Type I plugs are slightly different - some adapters may not fit perfectly
  • Argentina uses Type I at 220V but also has some Type C outlets
Type J power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Swiss plugSEV 1011Switzerland plug

Type J is the Swiss standard plug with three round pins arranged in a line, with the grounding pin offset. It's unique to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, though Type C plugs also fit Swiss outlets.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRound pins in line with offset ground
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage10A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4mm
pin Spacing19mm
grounding Pin Offset10mm

Used in 4 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Type C plugs work in Swiss outlets for phones and laptops
  • For grounded devices, you'll need a specific Type J adapter
Type L power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Italian plugCEI 23-50Italy plug

Type L is the Italian standard plug with three round pins arranged in a line. It comes in two versions: 10A (smaller pins) and 16A (larger pins). Type C plugs fit into both versions.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRound pins in line
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage10A/16A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter10 A4mm
pin Diameter16 A5mm
pin Spacing10 A5.5mm
pin Spacing16 A8mm

Used in 9 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Bring a Type C plug for most devices - it fits both Italian outlet versions
  • For high-power devices, check if you need a 10A or 16A adapter
Type M power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Large South African plugBS 546 15AOld British 15A

Type M is a larger version of Type D, with the same triangular pin arrangement but bigger pins. It's primarily used in South Africa for high-power appliances and is also found in some other African and Asian countries.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeLarge round pins in triangle
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage15A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length28.6mm
pin Diameter7.1mm
pin Spacing25.4mm
grounding Pin Diameter7.1mm

Used in 9 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Type M adapters are essential for South Africa travel
  • Many South African accommodations have a mix of Type M, D, and sometimes C outlets
Type N power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Brazilian plugNBR 14136IEC 60906-1

Type N is the Brazilian standard plug, designed to be compatible with both Type C (Europlug) and have a unique grounding system. It was created based on the IEC 60906-1 international standard that was intended to become a world standard.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRound pins in triangle
Voltage127V/220V
Frequency60Hz
Max Amperage10A/20A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter10 A4mm
pin Diameter20 A4.8mm
pin Spacing19mm

Used in 2 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Type C plugs work for most low-power devices in Brazil
  • Brazil has two voltage standards: 127V (São Paulo, Rio) and 220V (Brasília, others) - always check!
Type H power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Israeli plugSI 32Israeli standard

Type H is unique to Israel and Palestine. It originally had flat pins but was changed to round pins in 1989. The plug features three pins arranged in a V-shape pattern. Modern Type H outlets also accept Type C plugs.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRound pins in V-shape
Voltage220-230V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage16A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4mm
pin Spacing19mm
pin AngleV-shaped at approximately 120 degrees

Used in 2 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Type C plugs work in most modern Israeli outlets for low-power devices
  • Universal travel adapters usually include Type H compatibility
Type K power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Danish plugDS 60884-2-D1Denmark standard

Type K is the Danish standard plug featuring three round pins. It's similar to Type C but includes a grounding pin. The design is used primarily in Denmark, Greenland, and some African countries that were formerly Danish colonies.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRound pins with grounding pin
Voltage220-240V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage16A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4.8mm
pin Spacing19mm
grounding Pin OffsetCenter, 3mm longer

Used in 4 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Type C plugs work for most devices in Denmark
  • If you need a grounded connection, get a specific Type K adapter
Type O power plug illustration
✓ Grounded
Thai plugTIS 166-2549Thailand standard

Type O is the official standard plug for Thailand. It's a hybrid system that can accept plugs from many different countries including Type A, B, C, and O itself. The Thai outlet is designed to be highly versatile for tourists.

Technical Specifications

GroundedYes ✓
Number of Pins3
Pin ShapeRound pins with grounding pin
Voltage220V
Frequency50Hz
Max Amperage16A
Pin Dimensions
pin Length19mm
pin Diameter4.8mm
pin Spacing19mm

Used in 0 Countries

Travel Tips

  • Thailand is very adapter-friendly - most plugs work without adapters
  • Type A, B, and C plugs all work in Thai outlets

Regional Distribution

🌎 Americas

Predominantly Type A & B (110-120V, 60Hz). Brazil uses Type N with mixed voltages.

🌍 Europe

Type C (Europlug) is universal. Type F (Schuko) in Germany/Spain, Type E in France, Type G in UK.

🌏 Asia-Pacific

Highly varied. Type I in Australia/China, Type G in Singapore/Hong Kong, Type A/B in Japan, Type D in India.

🌍 Africa

Colonial legacy: Type G (British), Type C/E/F (French), Type D/M (South Africa, India).

🏝️ Middle East

Type G dominant (British influence). Type H unique to Israel. Some Type C compatibility.

💡 Pro Tip

A universal adapter with Type A, C, G, and I coverage handles ~95% of destinations worldwide.

History & Evolution

The proliferation of different plug types began in the late 1800s when electricity started entering homes. Without international coordination, each country developed its own standards based on local engineering preferences and safety philosophies.

Timeline of Major Developments

  • 1904: Harvey Hubbell II patents the first detachable plug (Type A) in the United States
  • 1926: Albert Büttner invents the Schuko (Type F) plug in Germany
  • 1947: Britain introduces Type G after WWII, featuring built-in fuses
  • 1963: The Europlug (Type C) is standardized by CEE for European compatibility
  • 2007: Brazil adopts Type N as the first country to use the IEC 60906-1 standard

Why So Many Types?

Several factors contributed to this diversity:

  • Early development: Electrical systems developed independently before global trade made standardization important
  • Colonial influence: European powers exported their standards to colonies
  • Safety priorities: Different approaches to grounding, fusing, and shock prevention
  • Economic factors: Replacing existing infrastructure is extremely expensive

The Future

While a single global standard seems unlikely due to the massive infrastructure investment required to change, USB-C is emerging as a universal standard for low-power device charging, reducing the need for plug adapters for phones, tablets, and laptops.

📚 Related Guides

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