Planning a trip to USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Australia, New Zealand or Fiji and not sure which adapter you need? The electric plug types in the Americas and Oceania are a mix of North American flat‑pin plugs, European‑style round pins, and Australian/New Zealand Type I plugs. Voltages also vary between 110–127 V and 220–240 V, so you must check both plug shape and voltage.
This detailed 2026 guide shows:
- The main plug types used in North, Central and South America, plus Oceania
- The standard voltage and frequency
- A country‑by‑country breakdown of plug types
- What kind of travel adapter and voltage support you should plan for
You can bookmark this page and use it as your master reference for any trip in the Americas & Oceania.
1. Plug Types & Voltage in the Americas & Oceania
1.1 Main Plug Types in This Region
You’ll mostly see these plug letters:
- Type A/B – North American / Japanese style
- Type A: two flat parallel pins
- Type B: two flat pins + round ground pin
- Used in USA, Canada, Mexico, much of Central America, many Caribbean islands, Colombia, Ecuador, parts of the northern half of South America, Japan, Taiwan.
- Type C – Europlug (two round pins)
- Appears in parts of South America and occasionally in some Caribbean destinations.
- Type I – Australian / New Zealand style
- Two slanted flat pins in a V shape + vertical earth pin
- Standard in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and some Pacific islands.
- Type N – New Brazilian and South African standard
- Three round pins, similar to a modern compact version of Type M
- Standard in Brazil and newer South African installations.
In practice, many countries use A and B together, or C + N, or a mix of different standards. It’s normal to see more than one type in use in the same country.
1.2 Voltage & Frequency
Voltages in the Americas & Oceania are mixed:
- 100–127 V range (low)
- USA, Canada, Mexico
- Most of Central America and many Caribbean islands
- Some South American countries (like parts of Colombia, Venezuela, northern Brazil)
- 220–240 V range (high)
- Most of South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, etc.)
- Brazil (some regions 127 V, some 220 V)
- Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and many islands in Oceania
Frequency is usually 60 Hz in the Americas, and 50 Hz in Oceania.
To be safe:
- If your charger label says “Input: 100–240 V ~ 50/60 Hz”, it will work across both low and high voltage regions with only a plug adapter.
- If it says “110–120 V only”, plugging it into 220–240 V will damage it without a proper voltage converter.
2. Electric Plug Types in North America & Caribbean
2.1 North America
United States of America (USA)
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Canada
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Mexico
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 127 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Greenland
- Plug types: C, E, F, K
- Voltage: 230 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
2.2 Central America (Selected)
Most Central American countries use A/B plugs and 110–120 V.
Costa Rica
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Panama
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Guatemala
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Honduras
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
El Salvador
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 115 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Nicaragua
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Belize
- Plug types: A, B, G
- Voltage: 110–120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
2.3 Caribbean
Most islands use A/B plugs and 110–120 V / 60 Hz, especially those linked with North America. Some ex‑European territories may have C/E/F or G in places; always check your specific island, but a Type A/B adapter usually works.
3. Electric Plug Types in South America
South America is more mixed: some countries use 110–127 V, most use 220–240 V, and plugs vary between A/B/C/I/L/N.
3.1 Brazil
- Plug types: C, N
- Voltage: 127 V or 220 V, depending on region (some cities even have both)
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Notes:
- Type N is the official newer standard, but Type C is still in use.
- Always check local voltage in the city you are visiting (hotels can confirm).
3.2 Argentina
- Plug types: C, I
- Voltage: 220 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
Notes:
- Type I is similar to the Australian plug but not always identical; many sockets also accept C.
3.3 Chile
- Plug types: C, L
- Voltage: 220 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
3.4 Peru
- Plug types: A, B, C
- Voltage: 220 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Notes:
- Many hotels use multi‑standard sockets that take both A/B and C.
3.5 Colombia
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 110 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
3.6 Ecuador
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
3.7 Bolivia
- Plug types: A, C
- Voltage: 115/230 V (some regions use one, some the other)
- Frequency: 50 Hz
3.8 Paraguay
- Plug types: C
- Voltage: 220 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
3.9 Uruguay
- Plug types: C, F, L
- Voltage: 230 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
3.10 Venezuela
- Plug types: A, B
- Voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
4. Electric Plug Types in Oceania
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands) is more consistent: Type I plugs and 220–240 V / 50 Hz are the norm, with some variations.
4.1 Australia
- Plug type: I
- Voltage: 230 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
Notes:
- Sockets accept the typical three‑pin Type I plug; some also accept two‑pin (no earth) versions.
4.2 New Zealand
- Plug type: I
- Voltage: 230 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
4.3 Fiji
- Plug type: I
- Voltage: 240 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
4.4 Papua New Guinea
- Plug types: I
- Voltage: 240 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
4.5 Samoa / Tonga / Cook Islands / Other Islands
Many Pacific islands use Type I like Australia and New Zealand, sometimes alongside Type C or other types in tourist areas. Always check the specific island before you go, but a Type I adapter typically works for Oceania.
5. What Adapter Should You Pack for the Americas & Oceania?
Your adapter plan depends on:
- Your home country (plug shape + voltage)
- Which countries in the Americas & Oceania you’ll visit
5.1 If You’re From Pakistan / India / Bangladesh / Nepal (C/D/M, 230 V)
Home: 230 V, plugs C/D/M
For:
- USA / Canada / Mexico / most of Central America / many Caribbean islands
- You need Type A/B adapters.
- Voltage there is 110–127 V, so you must confirm your devices support 100–240 V.
- Brazil
- You need Type C/N adapter.
- Voltage varies by city (127 V or 220 V) – check with each hotel.
- Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay
- You need Type C/I/L/F depending on country.
- Voltage is typically 220–230 V, similar to your home, so dual‑voltage devices are fine with just an adapter.
- Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, PNG
- You need Type I adapter.
- Voltage is 230–240 V, similar to home.
Best approach:
- 1 × Type A/B adapter (for North/Central America & some Caribbean)
- 1 × Type I adapter (for Australia/NZ/Oceania)
- 1 × European C/F adapter (which often works in many South American sockets)
- Or 1 good universal adapter that covers A, C, G, I + 1 backup.
5.2 If You’re From Europe (C/E/F, 230 V)
Home: 230 V, plugs C/E/F
For:
- USA / Canada / Mexico / Central America / many Caribbean islands
- Need Type A/B adapters and must ensure devices are dual‑voltage (100–240 V).
- Brazil
- Need Type C/N, but often your C plug works in many sockets.
- Voltage can be 127 V or 220 V → double-check.
- Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia
- Your Type C plugs may work directly, but some sockets require Type I or L; a universal adapter helps.
- Australia/NZ/Fiji/PNG
- Need Type I adapter; voltage is compatible (230–240 V).
5.3 If You’re From USA / Canada / Mexico (A/B, 120 V)
Home: 120 V, plugs A/B
For:
- Central America, Caribbean, parts of South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, some of Brazil)
- Voltage often 110–127 V, so your devices are happy; you may not even need adapters in many places.
- Most of South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay)
- Voltage 220–230 V, plug types C/I/L/F.
- Need plug adapters and must check that your devices support 220–240 V (dual‑voltage).
- Australia/New Zealand/Oceania
- Voltage 230–240 V, plug Type I.
- Need Type I adapters and dual‑voltage devices.
Best overall solution:
- One or two universal adapters
- Possibly one extra Type I adapter if you’ll spend a lot of time in Australia/NZ.
6. Adapter Strategy for Americas & Oceania Trips
To make it simpler, think in terms of trip profiles:
6.1 North America Only (USA, Canada, Mexico)
- If you’re from a C/E/F or C/D/M country (Europe or South Asia), you just need:
- 1–2 Type A/B adapters for 120 V, 60 Hz.
- Voltage is different; check device labels.
6.2 South America Circuit (Brazil + Argentina + Chile + Peru, etc.)
- If you’re from Pakistan/India/Europe (230 V):
- Your voltage is already compatible with most of South America.
- You mainly need C/F/L/I/N adapters depending on which countries you visit.
- A universal adapter is very helpful.
6.3 Round-The-World Trip (USA + South America + Australia/NZ)
- 1–2 high‑quality universal adapters
- 1 extra Type I adapter for Australia/NZ if you want dedicated stability
- A small home‑country power strip so you plug just one adapter into the wall.
7. Safety Tips Specific to the Americas & Oceania
- In countries with both 127 V and 220 V (like Brazil and Bolivia), always check voltage in your hotel before plugging in.
- In remote islands and older buildings, power quality may be less stable; consider a surge-protected power strip.
- Because many areas use 110–127 V, devices designed only for 220–240 V may not perform correctly (slow kettles, underpowered hair dryers).