Travel Adapter Finder

A plug adapter only changes the shape so your plug fits the socket — it does nothing to the electricity. A voltage converter actually steps the voltage up or down. You often need an adapter; you only need a converter for single-voltage appliances going between the 120 V and 230 V worlds.

Read the fine print on the plug or power brick. If it says “INPUT: 100–240V” it’s dual-voltage and needs only a plug adapter anywhere. If it says only “120V” (common on hair dryers and curling irons) it’s single-voltage and needs a converter in 220–240 V countries.

Usually not. Most US hair dryers are single-voltage 120 V, and Europe runs on 230 V. An adapter alone will feed it double the voltage and likely destroy it. Use a dual-voltage travel dryer, a voltage converter rated above its wattage, or buy one at your destination.

For chargers and electronics, almost never. It can matter for appliances with motors or mechanical clocks, which may run slightly faster or slower. If your device is frequency-sensitive it will usually say so.

Try the country’s common name or a major city. If it’s still missing, look it up on a plug-by-country reference: most of Europe is Type C/F at 230 V, most of the Americas is Type A/B at 120 V, and the UK, Ireland and much of the former Commonwealth use Type G at 230 V.

For plug shape, yes — a good universal adapter covers Types A, C, G and I in one unit. But it still doesn’t convert voltage, so if you’re carrying a single-voltage appliance you also need a converter regardless of how many countries you visit.