Travel adapter
or converter?

Travel Essentials

The short answer: an adapter changes the shape of the plug, a converter changes the voltage. Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100–240 V, so for them an adapter is all you need.

One question,
two different tools

Sockets differ from one country to the next in two ways: the shape of the plug, and the voltage of the electricity. A travel adapter solves the first problem only. A voltage converter solves the second.

The good news is that modern electronics have made the second problem rare. Phone, tablet, laptop and camera chargers are almost all built to work anywhere from 100 to 240 volts. The devices that still cause trouble are the ones that heat up: hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons and some shavers.

Changes the plug shapeAdapter

Changes the voltageConverter

Phone and laptop chargersAdapter only

Single-voltage hair toolsConverter or dual-voltage

The basics

What is a travel adapter?

A travel adapter is a small plug-in piece with your home socket on one side and the destination’s pins on the other. It lets a British, American or European plug fit a foreign socket. It has no electronics inside to change the current: what reaches your device is the local voltage.

That is why an adapter is safe for chargers marked 100–240 V, and why it is not enough for an appliance built for a single voltage.

A British type G plug pushed into a European type F travel adapter — A British plug in a European adapter: the adapter only changes the shape, the voltage stays the same. Photo: Unsplash

A British type G plug next to a European type F plug adapter — A British type G plug and a European type F adapter: same 230 V, different shapes, so an adapter is all you need between the two. Photo: Unsplash

Read the label

When you need a converter

Every charger and appliance has a small printed label. Look for the word INPUT:

INPUT 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz: dual-voltage. It works everywhere with a simple adapter.
INPUT 120V (or 230V) only: single-voltage. Abroad, it needs a converter, or it can be damaged.

A corded hair dryer, a comb and a hairbrush on a white rug — Hair dryers and straighteners are the classic single-voltage appliances: check the label before you pack them. Photo: Unsplash

The usual suspects are hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons and some electric shavers and toothbrush chargers. Many travel models of these are dual-voltage, sometimes with a small switch you have to set by hand. High-power heating appliances also need a converter rated for their wattage, and those converters are heavy, so buying a dual-voltage travel version is often the simpler option.

Travelling from the US or Canada (120 V) to Europe (230 V) is the classic case where this matters. Travelling between the UK and continental Europe, the voltage is the same: an adapter is enough.

Plug types by country

Plug type and voltage by destination

The table covers the destinations in our city guides. Some countries accept more than one plug type; where a socket takes several, the first one listed is the most common. Values checked in October 2026 against the mains electricity by country reference table; a few countries use more than one voltage in different regions.

Destination	Plug types	Voltage
Most of continental Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Greece…)	C, E/F	230 V
Italy	C, F, L	230 V
Switzerland	C, J	230 V
United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta	G	230 V
Cyprus	G	240 V
Turkey	C, F	230 V
United States, Canada	A, B	120 V
Mexico	A, B	127 V
Japan	A, B	100 V
South Korea	C, F	220 V
Thailand	A, B, C, O	230 V
Singapore, Hong Kong	G	230 V / 220 V
Indonesia (Bali)	C, F	230 V
United Arab Emirates	G	230 V
Qatar	G, D	240 V
Morocco	C, E	220 V
Egypt	C, F	220 V
South Africa	C, M, N	230 V
Australia, New Zealand	I	230 V
Brazil	N, C	127 V or 220 V depending on the city
Argentina	I, C	220 V
Peru	A, B, C	220 V

A North American type B wall socket on a blue wall — A North American type B socket (120 V). European, British and Australian plugs all need an adapter here. Photo: Unsplash

Buying one

Choosing a universal adapter

If you travel to several regions, one universal adapter is easier than a bag of single ones. What to look for:

The plug types you need: most universal adapters cover A, C, G and I. Check that the countries on your list are included.
USB-C and USB-A ports, so you can charge a phone and a watch without their own plugs.
A built-in fuse and recognised safety markings.
The maximum power printed on it: fine for chargers, not for kettles or heaters.

Remember that a universal adapter is still only an adapter: it does not convert voltage, whatever its size.

A phone charging station in an airport departure lounge — Airport charging stations often have USB ports and several socket types, handy if your adapter is in your checked bag. Photo: Unsplash

Questions

Travel adapters — questions answered

What is a travel adapter?

A travel adapter changes the shape of your plug so it fits the sockets of the country you are visiting. It does not change the voltage: what reaches your device is the local voltage.

Do I need a converter or just an adapter?

Look at the label on your charger. If it says “INPUT 100–240V”, it works on any voltage and you only need an adapter. That is the case for almost all phone, tablet, laptop and camera chargers. You need a converter only for single-voltage devices, typically hair dryers, straighteners and some electric shavers.

Do I need an adapter for Europe from the UK?

Yes. The UK uses type G plugs and most of continental Europe uses types C and E/F. The voltage is the same, 230 V, so a simple UK-to-Europe adapter is enough for your devices.

Can I use a US hair dryer in Europe?

Only if it is dual-voltage (check for “110–240V” on the label, sometimes with a switch). A 120 V-only hair dryer plugged into 230 V through a simple adapter can be damaged or overheat. Use a dual-voltage model or a converter rated for its wattage.

Are universal travel adapters safe?

A good one is. Look for a built-in fuse, recognised safety markings and a solid build, and do not plug high-power appliances such as kettles or heaters into a small adapter. Check the maximum power printed on it.

Before you go

The rest of your packing list

Staying connected abroad: compare travel eSIMs before you fly. Covering the unexpected: our guide to travel insurance. And for the trip itself, browse our 52 city guides or plan it day by day with the AI planner.