AC Plug Styles

Type A Plug

• The Type A plug is the flat blade attachment plug. It's comprised of two flat parallel pins. One carries current, while the other is electrically neutral. It is common in the United States, China, Japan, Brazil, Canada and Mexico, as well as a number of smaller nations.

Type B Plug

• The Type B plug is identical to the Type A plug, except for the round pin below the two flat ones. The round pin functions as a ground, removing excess or static electricity from the device before power starts moving into it. The neutral pin is wider on Type B plugs to ensure that the plug is oriented correctly when inserted. It is common in the same areas as the Type A plug, and outlets designed for Type B plugs will also accept Type As.

Type C Plug

• The Type C plug is the most common plug style in Europe, Africa, South America and central Asia. It has two round pins and no ground. It is sometimes called the Europlug. The Type C style is compatible with Type E, F, H and some Type L plugs as well.

Type D

• The Type D style plug is also known as the Old British Plug. This style was replaced in Britain by the Type C in the post-war period, but is still used in some countries electrified by the British before that time. The plug has three large round pins arranged in a triangle.

Type E Plug

• Type E plug styles have two round pins three-quarters of an inch apart and a hole in the plug that receives a grounding pin from the electrical socket. Type E sockets can accept Type C plugs as well and Type E plugs can be used with Type F outlets. This style of plug is most common in Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Greece Italy, Ireland and Poland.

Type F Plug

• The Type F style of plug has the same pin configuration as the Type E, except that it is grounded through two clips on the top and bottom of the plug. Its common name "Schuko" comes from the German word for "protective contact plug," "Shukostecker."

Type G Plug

• Type G style plugs have three flat, rectangular plugs, two horizontal and one vertical. They are used in Britain for high-current electronics. Most Type G outlets also have a safety switch installed.

Type I Plug

• The Type I style plug has three flat pins. The upper two form an inverted V and the lower one is oriented vertically. It functions as a ground. This style of plug is found in Australia, China, New Zealand and some South American countries.

Type K Plug

• The Type K plug is standard in Denmark. It is also used in Bangladesh and Greenland. It has two round pins and a half-circle shaped grounding pin below them. It gives the visual impression of a smiling face.

Type L Plug

• The three round pins on the Type L plug are arranged in a straight line. The middle plug is the ground and the outside plugs can function as live or neutral contacts. This type of plug is used in Chile, Ethiopia and several other South American and African countries.

Type M Plug

• The Type M plug is the standard plug style in South Africa. With its three circular pins arranged in a triangle, it is basically a larger version of a Type D plug. Hong Kong, Mozambique and Swaziland are the only places besides South Africa that use this plug style.