WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE. YOU ARE PACKING FOR AN UPCOMING TRIP AND END UP STARING BLANKLY AT YOUR HAIR DRYER OR CURLING IRON, WONDERING IF EITHER ONE WILL WORK WITH THE ELECTRICITY ABROAD.

Whether it’s your camera, laptop, cellphone, hair dryer, straightener, curling iron, or any other appliance you might wish to travel with, it’s understandably challenging keeping track of the different rules for electricity overseas. The last thing you want is to get abroad, and BAM! straight out of the gate, your electronics fry immediately upon plugging them into the electric outlet.

Below, I’ll walk you through how to navigate the issues of electricity (and using electronics) abroad.

Please note, some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase, Postcards from a Planner may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend partners that I use and love! If in doubt or if you have questions, please contact me! Thank you for your support.

How is Electricity Measured?

The first step in determining whether your electronics will work abroad is understanding how electricity works. For that, we have to go back to the late 1880s, when Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison were embroiled in what has become known as the War of the Currents. The battle was over which type of electricity would power America - Edison’s direct current (known as DC) or Tesla’s alternating current (known as AC). What’s the difference? According to Energy.gov, direct current “runs continually in a single direction, like in a battery or a fuel cell…” and “…is not easily converted to higher or lower voltages,” while alternating current “reveres direction a certain number of times per second…and can be converted to different voltages relatively easily using a transformer.”

The number of times per second that alternating current reverses direction is the “frequency,” and Tesla found that the best frequency for producing electricity using AC was 60, or 60hz. Why, then, if 60hz could sustain the typical voltage of 220v used in Europe, would the general frequency used in Europe be 50hz? Well, when electricity first started appearing in Europe, the German company AEG, which built the first generator in Europe, converted the frequency to 50hz, as 60hz did not fit nicely with the metric system unit standards. It’s as simple as that.

When it comes to voltage, things get a bit tricker. Tesla felt the most sustainable energy produced was at 240v, which put him at odds with Edison, who favored 110v (rumored to be because he couldn’t make a lightbulb that wouldn’t overheat at voltage higher than that). Ultimately, Tesla won the day, but not before most houses in America were wired using Edison’s calculations. With all the electronics wired into a typical American home (like dishwasher, oven, electric stoves), making a change wasn’t feasible. Europeans were originally also on 120v; however, since there were fewer electronics within their homes, in the mid-1900s, they adopted 220v.

As a result, the entire world runs on two ranges of voltage: 110-127v or 220-240v.

Didn’t think you were going to get a science and a history lesson when we started down this path, did you?

What Electricity Do Countries Abroad Use?

The next step in determining whether your electronics will work with the electricity abroad is understanding what the voltage and frequency is in the country you are planning to visit. There are many places that have this information, but my favorite is Power Plugs and Sockets of the World. It’s a very simple site, and very easy to find the country you are looking for down the right side. Simply click the country, and you’ll be taken to that country’s page, which will tell you (1) the voltage, (2) the standard frequency, and (3) the plug type (most on that below). I keep that link bookmarked!

Now What?

Next, you need to find the mechanical and operational information about the device. Once again, what you are looking for on each of the electronics you are planning to use abroad is (1) voltage and (2) standard frequency.

For hair and shaving appliances: The voltage and wattage are usually embossed on the side of the device. It may be on the tag.
For traditional electronics: The voltage and wattage are usually printed directly on the plug and / or the power box. Otherwise, it should be in the owner’s manual.

Once you have located this information, it should be relatively easy to tell if a device can support the electricity abroad.

Voltage: If the device only shows that it works with 120V, that means that it will only work in the United States. However, if it shows voltage in a range (like 100 - 240V), it would work both in the US and aboad because it encompasses the voltage used abroad and the 120v used in the United States.
Wattage: Standard frequency shown as 50-60hz will work with electricity overseas as it supports both the US and foreign eletrical frequencies. If just 60hz is printed, the device won’t work to its full potential abroad.

The Electricity Abroad Won’t Fry My Electronic, But Will I Even Be Able to Plug it In?

Great question! Your electronic appliance also has to have the appropriate plug type to fit into the electrical outlet. The typical plug style of an American appliance is either an A or B. To determine the plug or plugs you may need for the destinations on your itinerary, a great resource to check is the IEC World Plugs List (pictured), which breaks down each style of plug for every country in the world.If still in doubt, your travel agent can provide suggestions, or you can get a universal adapter.

Source: https://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/map.htm.

What’s the Difference Between a Converter and an Adapter?

Often in conversation, “converter” and “adapter” are used interchangeably. However, they assist with different things.

Converter: A converter will work to change the voltage and frequency of the electricity. Be careful! Not all converters will work with temperature control items (including curlers and straighteners).
Adapter: An adapter is used to change the style of plug on your appliance to plug into the electrical outlet.

What Can I Do If My Electric Appliance Isn’t Going to Work Abroad?

If you travel often, it may make sense to invest in dual-voltage appliances that you can use with electricity both at home and abroad. For example, here are some examples of dual voltage appliances that are great for travel:

You can also stop by a pharmacy when you arrive at your destination and pick up an inexpensive version. It’ll only work in that destination, but it won’t fry, and you could leave it behind if you didn’t want to bring it home (more room for souvenirs!).