Worldwide Travel Adaptors
A Complete Guide
Worldwide travel adaptors combine several international plug types in one compact unit, allowing you to connect your electrical devices to sockets in countries around the world. Often called universal adaptors, they're particularly useful for frequent travellers and multi-country trips.
How Worldwide Travel Adaptors Work
Most use sliders to select the appropriate pins for the country you're visiting, allowing a single adaptor to switch between the major international plug types. They offer a compact and flexible alternative to world travel adaptor kits, which use separate interchangeable plug fittings instead of an all-in-one design.
The four plug types found on most worldwide adaptors provide much broader coverage than might first be apparent. This is because several plug and socket types are cross-compatible; for example, a Type C plug can also be used in Type E, F, H, J, K, L, N and O sockets.
The table below shows which sockets unearthed and earthed universal adaptors can be used with, and where physical compatibility doesn't provide an earth connection.
Worldwide Adaptor Plug & Socket
Compatibility Table
| Sockets → ↓ Plugs |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
adaptor (unearthed) |
Compatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible | Compatible but pins smaller resulting in a loose fit which is dangerous | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Incompatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made |
adaptor (earthed) |
Incompatible | Compatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible but pins smaller resulting in a loose fit which is dangerous | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Incompatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made |
Compatibility Key
- Compatible
- Compatible
- Incompatible
- Incompatible
- No earth connection warning
- The plug fits, but the intended earth connection is not made. It is unsafe for appliances that require earthing.
- Incorrect fit warning
- Plug can be inserted but the pins are of incorrect size resulting in poor fit, which can be dangerous.
If you want to see how they work, you can watch a Tessan world adaptor being demonstrated.
Choosing a Worldwide Travel Adaptor
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a universal adaptor. Most worldwide adaptors cover broadly the same range of sockets, so the choice is influenced more by what you need to power or charge than by where you're travelling.
Earthed vs Unearthed Adaptors
Before choosing an adaptor, check the plug and specifications of the devices you intend to take. Don't assume that a three-pin input on a universal adaptor means its output plug is earthed — many standard worldwide adaptors accept earthed plugs without carrying the earth connection through to the wall socket.
How do you tell if an appliance needs earthing? Unfortunately it's not so simple because these days many appliances are fitted with a three-pin plug as standard (irrespective of whether they need it or not).
Look at the manufacturer's label (which may be on the power supply) or manual. Appliances that are double insulated will have a symbol that looks like a box inside a box and these do not need earthing.
If you have critical equipment, such as medical devices it may be worth contacting the manufacturer if there is any uncertainty.
Most phones, tablets, laptops and other travel electronics don't require an earth connection, which is why the majority of worldwide travel adaptors are unearthed. Earthed universal adaptors are available for devices that require one, but they're less common and your choice of compatible sockets is more limited.
If you need an earthed world adaptor for Type J (Switzerland), Type L (Italy) or Type N (Brazil) outlets, your options are particularly limited. The Skross World Pro is the only model we have found that can maintain the earth connection with these sockets, using a movable earth contact. Availability can be limited, however.
USB Connectivity
USB charging has become increasingly important when choosing a travel adaptor. Modern worldwide adaptors often have several charging ports, typically a combination of USB-A and USB-C, while USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) and other fast-charging technologies are becoming more common.
Consider both the number and type of ports you need, as well as their power output. USB-C is increasingly important, particularly for higher-powered devices such as laptops. In the EU, common-charger rules now require USB-C charging for many categories of portable electronic devices, including laptops.
Laptops
Laptops require special consideration because they can need considerably more power than most travel devices. If you're using your laptop's own power supply and plugging that into the AC outlet on a worldwide adaptor, most adaptors have more than enough capacity — although you should still check the adaptor's maximum current rating.
If you want to charge your laptop directly from the adaptor's USB-C port, check that it supports USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) and can provide enough power for your particular laptop. The wattage of the individual USB-C port is important: an adaptor may advertise a high total USB output while providing considerably less through any one port.
USB-PD itself supports power delivery up to 240 W, although the high-power worldwide adaptors we've found currently provide up to 140 W from a single USB-C port. Check your laptop's charging requirements before making your final choice.
International Charger Adaptors
A dedicated international charger adaptor can be a good alternative to a universal adaptor if most of your devices charge by USB. They can also be useful as an additional charger when travelling with several battery-powered devices. Instead of sliders, they typically use interchangeable plug fittings for different countries.
They tend to fall into two broad categories:
- Compact chargers - Small and lightweight, primarily intended for travellers carrying a few lower-powered devices such as phones and tablets.
- Charging hubs - Designed for more devices or higher power requirements, with multiple USB-A and USB-C ports. Higher-powered models may provide USB-PD suitable for charging laptops.
Size & Weight
One downside of integrating high-power USB charging is increased size and weight. This becomes particularly noticeable with worldwide adaptors offering USB-PD outputs of 60 W or more, especially models designed to charge higher-powered laptops such as the MacBook Pro.
The additional weight can create another problem: a large power-brick-style adaptor may not be held securely by the wall socket and can gradually pull itself out. This is particularly noticeable with two-pin Type A sockets, which provide less physical support than a three-pin earthed connection. The heaviest world adaptors we've seen weigh around 420 g.
Power Rating
The maximum current rating of the adaptor — separate from the rating of its USB ports — determines which mains-powered appliances you can safely use with it. Budget worldwide adaptors may be rated as low as 6 A, while 10 A is common and some models are rated at up to 16 A.
For most travel electronics this isn't likely to be a limitation, but it becomes important with high-powered appliances such as hair dryers, kettles and irons. Voltage matters too: a 1,000 W dual-voltage appliance draws about 4.3 A at 230 V but around 8.3 A at 120 V.
Check the current and power ratings of both the appliance and the adaptor, and never exceed the adaptor manufacturer's stated maximum. Leaving some headroom is sensible, particularly with appliances that can draw additional current when starting.
If you have a flat iron or hair dryer that you can't live without, our hair tools guide explains the additional voltage and adapter considerations.
Travel Power Strips & Extension Adaptors
Multi-plug extension adaptors solve a common problem in hotels where the wall socket is positioned in an inconvenient or difficult-to-reach location.
Instead of plugging your devices directly into the wall adaptor, an integral extension lead leads to multiple sockets and USB ports that can be positioned somewhere more convenient.
The more common versions come with a kit of the most commonly found plug modules, others have an integral universal adaptor.
They can be a particularly good option for families or anyone who travels with several devices that need to be powered or charged at the same time.
Build Quality & Safety
Universal adaptors are relatively complex devices. They contain moving parts, may have to carry substantial mains current, and increasingly incorporate high-power USB charging electronics. Build quality therefore matters more than it might with a simple single-country plug adaptor.
We've tested a number of cheap, unbranded universal adaptors and found that their mechanisms often don't stand up well to repeated use. For mains-powered travel equipment, poor construction can also become a safety concern.
Some world adaptors allow more than one plug to be extended simultaneously. Under certain circumstances, this can leave live pins exposed and create a risk of electric shock.
Choose a well-made adaptor from a reputable manufacturer with clearly stated electrical ratings and appropriate safety certification for the market in which it is sold. Replace an adaptor if the pins or sliders become loose, the casing is damaged, or it becomes unusually hot in normal use. A replaceable or resettable overload fuse is also a useful feature, particularly on higher-current models.
World Plug Adaptor Kits
An alternative to an all-in-one universal adaptor is a world plug adaptor kit. Some are simply collections of individual adaptors, while more sophisticated kits use a central socket / charging hub with interchangeable plug modules to suit different countries.
A kit can provide broader socket compatibility than a typical universal adaptor and may be particularly useful for travellers visiting destinations with less commonly supported plug types. Earthed kits are also available, but check that the appropriate plug modules actually maintain the ground connection if it's required.
The trade-off is convenience: a kit has multiple pieces to carry and potentially misplace, and can take up more luggage space than a compact all-in-one adaptor.
↑ Back to contentsDo Worldwide Adaptors Convert Voltage?
No, a standard worldwide travel adaptor changes the shape of your plug to fit a different socket; it does not change the local supply voltage or frequency. Combined universal adaptor and voltage converter units are available, but they're much less common.
Our preference is to keep the two functions separate. A worldwide adaptor can be useful almost anywhere you travel, while a voltage converter is only needed when your appliance isn't compatible with the local supply voltage. Adding voltage conversion also makes an adaptor larger, heavier and more complex.
If you're travelling to a country with a 220–240 V supply and have a single-voltage appliance designed only for 110–120 V, you may need a voltage converter or transformer. The reverse also applies when taking a 220–240 V-only appliance to a country with a 110–120 V supply.
Voltage converters and transformers only change the voltage, not the frequency, of the supply. Changing the frequency requires specialist frequency-conversion equipment, which is not normally practical for travellers. Most modern travel electronics are designed to work at either frequency. However, some appliances containing motors, clocks and other frequency-sensitive equipment may not operate correctly on a frequency that it was not designed for. Check the frequency rating on your device before use; if it is marked 50/60 Hz, it is suitable for either frequency. If you are unsure, particularly with specialist or medical equipment, check with the manufacturer.
Most modern travel electronics, chargers and laptops accept a wide range of supply voltages and don't need a converter. Check the appliance or its power supply for an input rating such as 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz. If you see this, you normally only need the appropriate plug adaptor.
Which Worldwide Travel Adaptor Do You Need?
| What You Want to Do | What Actually Matters | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Charge phones, tablets or cameras | USB ports and charging speed. Most chargers accept 100–240 V. | A compact worldwide adaptor with USB-C, or an international USB charger if you don't need an AC socket. |
| Charge a laptop by USB-C | The output of the individual USB-C PD port — not the claimed total USB wattage | USB-PD that meets your laptop's requirement. Alternatively, plug its 100–240 V power supply into the adaptor's AC socket. |
| Use a hair dryer, iron or other high-power appliance | The adaptor's current rating. Appliances draw more current at lower supply voltages. | Check the appliance and adaptor ratings and leave some headroom. A 1,000 W appliance draws about 8.3 A at 120 V. |
| Use equipment that requires earthing | Whether the adaptor actually carries the earth connection through to the socket. | An earthed adaptor compatible with your destination. Most universal models don't provide grounding with Type H (Israel), J (Switzerland), K (Denmark), L (Italy), N (Brazil) or O (Thailand) sockets. A kit may provide better coverage. |
| Travel to India, South Africa or other poorly covered destination | Actual socket compatibility — not the advertised number of countries. | Check the destination first. Type D sockets are a poor fit for Type C plugs. Type M usually isn't supported: use an appropriate individual adaptor or a kit. |
Worldwide vs Individual Adaptors
What works best depends on how often you travel, the countries you visit and the devices you take with you.
- Worldwide adaptors - A convenient choice for frequent travellers and multi-country trips. They combine several plug types in one compact unit, but don't provide complete compatibility with every socket.
- International adaptor kits - Offer many of the same advantages but use interchangeable plug modules instead of an all-in-one mechanism. They can provide broader socket compatibility and are worth considering if your travels include countries that aren't well covered by standard universal adaptors.
- Individual adaptors - A simple and inexpensive option if you only visit one or two destinations. They can also be a better choice when you need a reliable earth connection.
- International charger adaptors - Useful if you travel with several USB-powered devices. If everything you carry charges by USB, a suitable international charger may even remove the need for a conventional travel adaptor.
Worldwide Travel Adaptor FAQs
-
Worldwide travel adaptors have a universal socket that accepts many international plug types, coupled with a user-selectable output plug. Most use sliders to select the appropriate pins for the country you're visiting, allowing a single adaptor to switch between the major international plug types: Type A (US), Type C (European), Type G (UK) and Type I (Australian).
-
No. There is no single universal travel adaptor that works safely with all the electrical sockets in every country. Most use Type A, C, G and I output plugs, which are cross-compatible with other socket types allowing them to work in 180+ countries. However, most don't make a ground connection, Type D sockets can provide a loose, unsafe connection with Type C plugs, and none of the universal adaptors we've seen fit the Type M sockets commonly used in South Africa. If you need broader compatibility, particularly with earthed sockets, an international adaptor kit may be a better option.
-
Yes, many now come with multiple USB-A and USB-C ports that are suitable for charging a range of devices such as phones, cameras and tablets. Some also come with higher-power USB-C Power Delivery (USB-PD) ports for charging compatible laptops. It's important to check both the total USB power output and the maximum output of each individual port to make sure they meet your requirements.
-
No, a standard worldwide travel adaptor changes the shape of your plug to fit a different socket; it does not change the local supply voltage. Combined universal adaptor and voltage converter units are available, but they're much less common. Most phones, laptops and chargers accept 100–240 V, but check the input rating on the device or power supply.
-
Yes. The Type C plug found on most worldwide travel adaptors is cross-compatible with the Type E, F, J, K and L sockets used across much of continental Europe, while the Type G plug covers the UK, Ireland and some other European destinations. However, standard worldwide adaptors are usually unearthed. Their Type C plug does not provide an earth connection when used with earthed European sockets, and their Type G plug normally uses a non-conductive dummy earth pin.
If you have appliances that require earthing, you will need a suitable earthed adaptor. Most earthed universal adaptors do not cover Type J (Switzerland), Type K (Denmark) or Type L (Italy), so country-specific adaptors may be required for earthed appliances in those locations. Check your destination before travelling because some European countries use more than one socket type. -
You will only need an earthed universal travel adaptor if you intend to use equipment that requires earthing. Before choosing an adaptor, check the plug and specifications of the devices you intend to take, along with the manufacturer's label (which may be on the power supply) or manual. Double-insulated appliances are marked with a symbol that looks like a box inside a box and do not require earthing.
-
Yes. You can either plug your laptop's normal power supply into the universal adaptor or, with a suitable model, charge the laptop directly from a USB-C Power Delivery port. When using USB-PD, check that the port's power output meets your laptop's requirements and use a suitable charging cable. Manufacturers frequently quote total USB power output so it's important to check that the individual port is capable of supplying the required power for your laptop. Some modern laptops can require up to 140 W for charging and not many world adaptors are capable of supporting an output that high. If you're using the laptop's own power supply, check that its input rating covers the local supply voltage; most modern laptop power supplies are rated for 100–240 V.
-
The most common problems are incomplete socket compatibility, lack of earthing, bulky high-power models pulling out of loose sockets, and USB ports that don't provide enough power for larger devices. Universal adaptors also don't normally convert voltage.