Presently, there are fifteen electrical outlets/sockets and power plug types in use all over the world.
The International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. Department of Commerce, has assigned a letter to each of these domestic sockets and power plugs, starting from A and through to O.
However, these letters are somewhat arbitrary as they don’t mandate anything.
The following highlights the various sockets and power plugs including some of the countries where they are mainly used, and other specific features.
Interestingly, some of these electrical outlets are also compatible with some of the other plug types.
The Complete Sockets and Power Plug Types
Type A
- Used in: Canada, Japan, Mexico & USA
- Pins: 2
- Grounding: No
- Capacity: 15A
- Voltage: 100–127V
- Socket compatible with: Plug type A
Type B
- Used in: Canada, Mexico, USA
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 15A
- Voltage: 100–127V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types B, A
Type C
- Used in: Asia, Europe, South America
- Pins: 2
- Grounding: No
- Capacity: 2.5A, 10A, 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types C, E, F
Type D
- Used in: India
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 5A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug type D
Type E
- Used in: Belgium, Czechia, France, Poland, Slovakia
- Pins: 2
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types E, C, F (F requires extra pinhole)
Type F
- Used in: Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and others
- Pins: 2
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types F, C, E
Type G
- Used in: Cyprus, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, UK
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 13A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug type G
Type H
- Used in: Israel
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types H, C (partial)
Type I
- Used in: Argentina, Australia, Guinea, Papua New, New Zealand
- Pins: 2 or 3
- Grounding: No (2 pins), Yes (3 pins)
- Capacity: 10A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug type I
Type J
- Used in: Lichtenstein and Switzerland
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 10A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types C, J
Type K
- Used in: Denmark and Greenland
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types K, C, (partial with E and F)
Type L
- Used in: Chile, Italy
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 10A and 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types L, C
Type M
- Used in: Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 15A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug type M
Type N
- Used in: Brazil, South Africa
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 10A, 16A, 20A
- Voltage: 100–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug types N, C
Type O
- Used in: Thailand (exclusively)
- Pins: 3
- Grounding: Yes
- Capacity: 16A
- Voltage: 220–240V
- Socket compatible with: Plug type O, C, (partial with E and F)
