Travel Adapter Comparison Table
Travel Adapters: Your Questions, Answered
What Type of Adapter Do You Need?
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.
- Type C is common across Europe, South America, and Asia.
- Type E and Type F 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.
- 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?
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.
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?
Can I Buy Travel Adapters at the Airport or Hotel?
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?
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
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
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.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Epicka Pulse for $27: The beveled edges of this travel adapter from Epicka shave make it more comfortable to hold. The sliders work well and lock in place securely to cover you in around 200 countries. A pair of USB-C and two USB-A ports provide a good mix of port options. This adapter can deliver up to 45 watts from either USB-C port, while the USB-A ports top out at 18 watts. I also tested the newer Epicka Pulse Duo ($130), which can deliver up to 140 watts across three USB-C and one USB-A ports, has an extra US or Japanese socket in the side, and boasts a smart display that shows you the current charging status, wattage, and temperature. Cool as it is, it’s overkill for most folks and kinda pricey.
Tessan Travel Adapter 009 for $17: This is a similar design to the Epicka Air I recommend above, but the prongs don’t stay in place as securely when unfolded, and you can only draw a maximum of 20 watts from the one USB-A and two USB-C ports. But it is affordable and compact. Tessan also makes good, traditional, slider universal adapters: there’s a 140-watt model ($70), and the most powerful travel adapter I’ve tested, the Voyager 205 ($128), which has six USB-C ports and one USB-A to deliver up to 205 watts. If you don’t care about charging speed, Tessan’s 20W model ($29) is very reasonably priced and offers two USB-A and two USB-C ports in a small package.
Photograph: Simon Hill
UGreen Travel Plug Adapter for £17: This travel adapter is for UK folks visiting Europe, and it’s a solid option with a fixed plug (no mechanism). It has only two USB-A and one USB-C port for smaller devices, and it’s very bulky. I prefer the OneBeat above for this type of design.
Statik SmartCharge Pro for $80: This is a nice combo device that includes a 15,000 mAh power bank and a 60-watt wall charger. There are fold-out US prongs and slide-on adapters for the UK, EU, and AU. You also get one USB-A port, one USB-C port, a fold-out USB-C cable, and a wireless charging pad on top that works with your iPhone or Apple Watch.
D-Link 65W Multi-Port GaN Charger (DCP-651) for $40: If two USB-C ports and a USB-A port are enough for your travel needs, this affordable D-Link charger could be for you. It comes with interchangeable plugs for different countries. The 65-watt limit is enough for overnight charging a laptop and a couple of smartphones.
Arsmel VisaPro All-in-One Travel Adapter for $80: This chunky power adapter can charge laptops or multiple small devices with a whopping 170-watt maximum output. It works with any outlet in the US, UK, or EU, thanks to sliding plugs that slot in securely, and you can spin the prongs on the US plug to support the total number of countries (more than 200). I love the mecha-inspired paint job, too. There are four ports along the bottom: two USB-C ports rated at 140 watts, with the third USB-C and USB-A ports rated at 18 watts. It supports PD 3.1, QC 3.0, PPS, FCP, and SCP, and has a 10-amp fuse.
Satechi GaN Travel Charger for $120: If you only take small gadgets with you when you travel, a compact, multi-port wall charger is all you need and a great way to pack light. It plugs directly into the wall and comes with four interchangeable travel adapters for the EU, UK, and Australia, plus a mesh bag to store them. There are four USB-C ports that you can plug your gadgets into, including laptops like the MacBook Pro, tablets, phones, and wearables. With support for Power Delivery 3.1, the first two ports can supply up to 140 watts, and the bottom two ports up to 45 watts. However, the maximum output when all four ports are in use is 145 watts.
Baseus 70W Universal Travel Adapter With Retractable Cable for $40: This excellent travel adapter is almost identical to our top pick from Ceptics, offering up to 70 watts, sliding prongs to cover more than 200 countries, and a built-in retractable USB-C cable, not to mention a USB-C port and two USB-A ports. It also has a snazzy black-and-yellow finish. It only misses out because it’s slightly more expensive, but if you can snag one on sale or prefer the colors, it’s a solid option.
Epicka Universal Travel Adapter for $20: This travel adapter from Epicka is still a solid option. The sliding plugs cover 150 countries, and there are four USB-A ports on the bottom and a 15-watt USB-C port on the side. There’s also an 8-amp fuse with a spare, and this adapter is RoHS-, CE-, and FCC-certified.
Masterplug Visitor to UK Travel Adapter (3 Pack) for £12: For visitors to the UK, this simple trio of adapters accepts European, American, Australian, and Asian plugs. They are single-outlet adapters with 13-amp fuses inside, and they work perfectly. These are the adapters I use for long-term testing of devices from the US and elsewhere that lack UK plugs. If you forgot to buy an adapter before arriving in the UK, you can find this affordable three-pack at any Argos store.
Anker European Travel Plug Adapter for $16: One of our favorite portable charger brands, Anker, also makes travel adapters. This one plugs into most European outlets to provide a single grounded US outlet, a USB-A port, and two USB-C ports. Unfortunately, the three USB ports max out at 15 watts total, so it’s best for overnight gadget charging, but I appreciate the temperature and overload protection. There is also a UK version ($16).
Epicka Hybrid European Travel Plug Adapter for $20: This handy adapter turns one outlet into four and includes four USB ports (two A and two C). It has fold-out Type A prongs, but you can also slide on a fold-out Type C plug for use in Europe. While the USB ports support QC 3.0 or PD 3.0, they max out at 20 watts in total. I prefer the OneBeat adapters recommended above.
Travel Adapters to Avoid
You can do better than these travel adapters.
EZQuest WorldTravel GaN 5 Port With PD Wall Charger: This travel adapter has a generous four USB-C ports and one USB-A port with a familiar slide-out prong design that covers more than 150 countries. There’s also a built-in 10-amp fuse and a spare. It has RoHS, CE, and FCC certification. It works fine, but it’s kinda boxy, and the sliders don’t lock in place as securely as some of our other picks. There’s also a 65W version ($60).
Rolling Square Pocket Travel Adapter: I admire any attempt to shrink down travel adapters in size, but the three-pronged UK plugs are usually the obstacle. Rolling Square’s solution is to have a flip-out third prong, but you’ll need a good fingernail to unhitch it. This charger has a single USB-C port capable of delivering up to 30 watts and is a compact option that covers the US, UK, and Europe.
Ceptics 65W World Travel Adapter: This versatile adapter comes with Type A, B, C, E/F, G, and I slide-on plugs. They fit onto the rectangular brick and plug directly into the outlet, or you can attach them to the optional five-foot cable. The brick has one grounded US outlet and a second non-grounded outlet, with one USB-A (30-watt) and two USB-C (65- and 33-watt) ports at the other end. It works fine, and it’s affordable, but it’s bulky and ugly.
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