A lot of plugs

WhatPlug.info

Guide for the traveller with plugs

How to use plugs from United States of America in United Kingdom

Plugs, sockets, adapters and other information needed for travelling from United States of America to United Kingdom in this page. If you want a report for other countries, re-start the wizard to find to electric adapters for your trip here.

Quick Chart at-a-glance

  United States of America United Kingdom  
Voltage: 120V. 230V. icons/exclamation2.gif  
Plugs Type: A, B. G, D, M. icons/exclamation2.gif  
Hertz: 60Hz. 50Hz. icons/note.gif  

If you are electrical savvy, perhaps the previous chart is all you need. If this is not the case, you can continue reading and discover what the chart is saying!

Plugs and Sockets at each country

In United States of America the following plugs are used: (includes Washington, New York, Las Vegas, Disneyland, Los Angeles, Chicago.)

United States of America' Plug Type A United States of America' Plug Type B
Plug Type A Plug Type B
United States of America' Outlet Type A United States of America' Outlet Type B
Outlet Type A Outlet Type B

... and in United Kingdom you will use: (includes London, Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton.)

United Kingdom' Plug Type G United Kingdom' Plug Type D United Kingdom' Plug Type M
Plug Type G Plug Type D Plug Type M
United Kingdom' Outlet Type G United Kingdom' Outlet Type D United Kingdom' Outlet Type M
Outlet Type G Outlet Type D Outlet Type M

Considerations for the United Kingdom

It is likely you will only find plugs-type "G" in the UK. Plugs type "D" and "M" are considered "old" and not common. They are are still used nowadays to differentiate low-power lighting circuits. So please don't try to use an adapter on them for high-power equipments like hair-dryer or even battery chargers.
We keep "D" and "M" plugs in our database as we don't know your exact destination and you might find one next to a bed table. As a rule of thumb, you will probably be fine with the type "G" in hotels and big cities.

St Pancras, London

St Pancras, London

Blog

We have a post "Plugs & Travel Adapters for your next trip to Europe", maybe you want to read it.

Voltage

Take care: United Kingdom uses higher voltage than United States of America

Your electric devices from United States of America will be expecting 120 Volts, but United Kingdom grid is of 230 Volts, this is a substantial difference that requires you to take some extra steps in preparation to your trip:

On the positive side, nowadays many devices will switch automatically to the network voltage and they will work just fine, i.e. mobile phone chargers are typically multi-voltage (but please, do actually check your own). It is important that you pay attention to your device's voltage. Connecting electronics to the wrong voltage, in the luckiest of the cases, the device will break or stop working temporarily; but please don't take this lightly, in the worst of the cases electrocution and fire hazards are a real possibility.

An automatic power supply suitable from 100 Volts to 240 Volts. An automatic power supply suitable from 100 Volts to 240 Volts.

High-power devices don't usually handle different voltages due to the high-currents involved i.e. anything that its main purpose involves generating heat (or cold) like hair driers, baby bottle warmers, kettles, etc. On the contrary, modern low-power devices are likely to auto-detect and auto-adapt to different voltages i.e. usb chargers, laptop chargers, etc.

A hair-dryer showing its consumption of 2000 Watts at 220 Volts A hair-dryer can consume up to 2000 Watts, like the one in the picture above, due to the high power they usually work in one voltage system; this one is suitable for 220-240 Volts systems.

You will need a step down voltage converter a device that can be plugged to 230 volts and it provides an outlet with 120 volts for your United States of America' device. You will need to pay attention to the maximum power output of the converter and the maximum power consumption of the device.

Plugs Type

Different plug systems

Different plug systems

Sorry, none of the plugs used in both countries are common. You will definitelly need plug adapters, please continue reading for more information.

Adapters

Lists of adapters you can use in your travel:

Adapter: generic

front view of generic adapter to use plugs type A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N from United States of America in outlets type M from United Kingdom back view of generic adapter to use plugs type A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N from United States of America in outlets type M from United Kingdom
Front Back

This adapter allows you to use plugs type: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N into outlets type: M.

This adapter is extremely generic without loose terminal and finger protection, it does have earth pass-though which is a good thing; but it will not have a good grip because it support so many different plug types in only three generic slots; we don't recommend this adapter unless no better alternative can be found. i.e. a more expensive one.

Adapter: generic

front view of generic adapter to use plugs type A, B, C, D, E, F, I, M from United States of America in outlets type G from United Kingdom back view of generic adapter to use plugs type A, B, C, D, E, F, I, M from United States of America in outlets type G from United Kingdom
Front Back

This adapter allows you to use plugs type: A, B, C, D, E, F, I, M into outlets type: G.

This is a very cheap adapter without loose terminal and finger protection; it does have earth pass-though (good); but no good grip because of so many different supported plugs. We recommend to use a more expensive option if available.

Adapters you can buy

You can buy the following multi-purpose adapters from Amazon. Please also take a look at the recommended gadgets for your trip.

Hertz

No equal Hertz

This is not a big issue. Unless you are using an electric alarm clock or some motors when speed is an issue. Explanation: Some alarm clocks uses the frequency of electricity network to measure time. So, time shifts could be experimented. Almost every home electronic device works perfectly with different Hertz.

Finally, by the way ...

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