World Plug Atlas - 14 Country Plugs at a Glance

Q: Why so many country plugs - is there no global standard?

IEC 60906-1 was attempted in 1986 but only Brazil and South Africa adopted it. Each country protects its installed base.

Q: Will my Schuko plug fit a French (Type E) socket?

No - French sockets have a male earth pin. Use a CEE 7/7 hybrid plug or travel adapter.

Q: What plug do I need for Australia?

Type I per AS/NZS 3112. 230 V at 50 Hz, often 240 V. Same plug in Argentina.

From Type A (USA) to Type N (Brazil): all 14 standardised country mains plugs with voltage, frequency, current rating and country list. Essential reference for export, travel adapters and B2B procurement.

All 14 Plug Types

Type	Standard	Voltage / Hz	Rated current	Main countries	Details
A	NEMA 1-15	120 V / 60 Hz	15 A	USA, Canada, Japan	→
B	NEMA 5-15	120 V / 60 Hz	15 A	USA, Canada (with PE)	→
C	CEE 7/16 (Europlug)	230 V / 50 Hz	2.5 A	All of continental Europe	→
D	BS 546	230 V / 50 Hz	5 A	India, Sri Lanka, Nepal	→
E	NF C 61-314	230 V / 50 Hz	16 A	France, Belgium, Poland	→
F (Schuko)	CEE 7/4	230 V / 50 Hz	16 A	DE, AT, NL, ES, PT, SE, NO	→
G	BS 1363	230 V / 50 Hz	13 A	UK, Ireland, Singapore, HK	→
H	SI 32	230 V / 50 Hz	16 A	Israel	→
I	AS/NZS 3112	230 / 240 V / 50 Hz	10 A	Australia, NZ, Argentina	→
J	SEV 1011	230 V / 50 Hz	10 A	Switzerland, Liechtenstein	→
K	Afsnit 107-2-D1	230 V / 50 Hz	13 A	Denmark, Greenland	→
L	CEI 23-50	230 V / 50 Hz	10 / 16 A	Italy, Chile, Uruguay	→
M	SANS 164-1	230 V / 50 Hz	15 A	South Africa, Botswana	→
N	NBR 14136	127 / 220 V / 60 Hz	10 / 20 A	Brazil	→

Special Variants

Beyond the IEC TR 60083 country letters there are two important hybrid / special plugs in active B2B use:

Type E/F (CEE 7/7) - The hybrid plug that fits both German Schuko and French Type E sockets. Standard on most EU export power cords.
Type CA Contour Plug (CEE 7/17) - The 16 A class II Europlug-compatible heavy plug for switchgear cabinets and industrial distributors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why so many country plugs - is there no global standard?

An attempt at IEC 60906-1 (Type N) was made in 1986, but only Brazil and South Africa adopted it. Each country protects its installed base of millions of sockets and the local industry around them. A worldwide replacement is economically and politically unrealistic.

Will my Schuko plug fit a French (Type E) socket?

Pure Schuko (CEE 7/4): no. The French socket has a male earth pin where Schuko has none. Use a CEE 7/7 hybrid plug or a travel adapter.

What plug do I need for Australia?

Type I per AS/NZS 3112 - two angled flat pins and one earth pin. 230 V at 50 Hz officially (often 240 V). Same plug used in Argentina and parts of China.

Export procurement: Phone +49 7666 88499-0 · sales@industry-electronics.com · country plugs and full power cords for any export market.