GoKawiilTravel Adapter Comparison Table
Travel Adapters: Your Questions, Answered
What Type of Adapter Do You Need? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron There are 15 plug types in use across the world. Universal adapters tend to cover all of these types. Type A and Type B are used in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
and are used in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. Type C is common across Europe, South America, and Asia.
is common across Europe, South America, and Asia. Type E and Type F are found across Europe in places like Germany, Russia, and France.
are found across Europe in places like Germany, Russia, and France. Type G is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and a handful of other places.
is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and a handful of other places. Type I is used in Australia, New Zealand, China, and Argentina. Some countries are not usually covered by universal adapters, such as India (Type D), Israel (Type H), and South Africa (Type M or N). You'll need to buy specific plug adapters for those places. To avoid any surprises when you land, double-check what type you need before you travel. If you're visiting just one destination, a basic plug adapter that caters to one plug type is all you need. For trips to multiple destinations or for frequent flyers, a universal travel adapter can prove more versatile. The universal adapters I recommend here have the bonus of including multiple USB ports for charging several mobile devices from a single outlet. Do You Really Need a Voltage Converter? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Photograph: Simon Hill Voltage converters are big, heavy, and expensive, and they don’t always work, so it’s probably best to avoid them. The reason you might think you need one is that the AC sockets on all of our recommended travel adapters do not convert the voltage coming from the socket. This means plugging into a UK socket will deliver 220 volts at 50 hertz, which is very different from the 120 volts at 60 hertz you can expect in the US. Don't worry! Your gear won't get fried. You just need to make sure anything you plug into one of these universal travel adapters has something like this printed on it: Input: 100–220V 50/60Hz That should include most modern gadgets. If your device or charger can’t handle a variable voltage, it’s probably best to leave it at home. Most places provide hair dryers, irons, and kettles, so there’s no need to take them with you. It's also often cheaper to buy a set with the correct plug at your destination and save the luggage space and hassle. If you are determined to try a voltage converter (again, I don’t recommend doing so), the Ceptics 2,000-watt Travel Voltage Converter ($70) seems to work well. It has a special 2,000-watt outlet for hair dryers, but only ones that work via a mechanical switch (anything with an electronic circuit board for automatic switch-off or temperature control won’t work and is at risk of being fried if plugged in). It also has two outlets that go up to 200 watts, one USB-C port, and three USB-A ports, though the ports do not support fast charging. What About Wattage? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Travel adapters and chargers usually state the wattage they can deliver for USB-C and USB-A ports, retractable cables, and wireless charging. If you're interested in getting the fastest rates possible, you'll want a charger and cable that can deliver the maximum wattage to your device. A laptop might want 100 watts, while a phone only needs 30 watts. There's no need to worry if the charger can deliver more wattage than is required because the device will dictate how much power to draw. If the wattage is lower than required, most devices will simply charge slowly. You can find out more about charging standards like Power Delivery (PD), Quick Charge (QC), and others in my guide on how to fast charge your phone. Can Travel Adapters Go in a Suitcase? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Yes, you can pack travel adapters in your suitcase. It may be wise to bring one in your hand luggage for easy access should you need to charge up a device when you arrive at your destination. In fact, devices like power banks with lithium batteries (must be capped at 27,000 mAh) must go in hand luggage, not checked bags. Can I Buy Travel Adapters at the Airport or Hotel? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron You certainly can buy travel adapters at the airport, but like all other goods you buy at kiosks between connecting flights, they will be far more expensive than necessary, and your choice will be limited. Some hotels have travel adapters, and some even have wall outlets for other countries (or USB-A and USB-C ports), but most do not, so don’t bank on it. You can always check with your hotel or accommodation before you depart, but it’s safer to bring a travel adapter with you. Should You Test Your Travel Adapter Before You Go? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Seriously, nothing is worse than thinking you’re being very clever by packing light only to get to your hotel and discover that your gadgets refuse to charge. Between the adapter, cable, and your device, plenty can go wrong, so do a quick test on your wall outlet at home with everything you are taking before you set off on an international trip. How I Test Travel Adapters AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Anytime I fly for work or vacation, I take a few travel adapters and chargers with me to test. I also test them for longer periods at home in the UK. I have power stations and power strips with US and EU outlets to test those plugs. I test each charger with a variety of devices (iPhone, Pixel, iPad, MacBook, AirPods). I try charging with every port and outlet simultaneously to see if the charger gets warm. I assess the charging rates, durability, size, weight, and usability of each device. If there are any special features, I test them too.
More Travel Adapters I Like
Photograph: Simon Hill
There are many travel adapters out there. These are a few others I tested and liked, but they missed out on a place above for one reason or another.
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