South America plug types and voltage: do you need an adapter?
13 countries and territories. The most common sockets are Type C, Type A and Type B. 7 of 13 run on 220–240 V, 4 on 100–127 V and 2 use both. Travellers from Europe can plug a phone charger straight in across 8 of them.
Socket types in South America
By where you are travelling from
| Travelling from | Phone charger fits without an adapter | Single-voltage hair dryer needs a converter |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 7 of 13 | 9 of 13 |
| United Kingdom | 0 of 13 | 6 of 13 |
| Europe | 8 of 13 | 6 of 13 |
| Australia | 1 of 13 | 6 of 13 |
| Canada | 7 of 13 | 9 of 13 |
| Japan | 7 of 13 | 9 of 13 |
| India | 8 of 13 | 6 of 13 |
For your exact route and devices, open the country page or run the checker.
Every country in South America
| Country | Sockets | Voltage | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | I | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Bolivia | A, B, C | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Brazil | C, N | 127 / 220 V | 60 Hz |
| Chile | C, L | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Colombia | A, B | 110 V | 60 Hz |
| Ecuador | A, B | 120 V | 60 Hz |
| French Guiana | C, E | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Guyana | A, B | 110 / 220 V | 50 / 60 Hz |
| Paraguay | A, B, C, N | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Peru | A, B, C | 230 V | 60 Hz |
| Suriname | C, F | 127 V | 60 Hz |
| Uruguay | C, F, L | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Venezuela | A, B | 120 V | 60 Hz |
Frequently asked questions
What plug types are used in South America?
Type C (8 of 13), Type A (7 of 13), Type B (7 of 13), Type F (2 of 13), Type L (2 of 13), Type N (2 of 13) and 2 more. Many countries list more than one type, so check the country before you pack.
What is the voltage in South America?
7 of 13 countries and territories run on 220–240 V, 4 on 100–127 V and 2 use both. 6 use 50 Hz and 6 use 60 Hz; 1 uses both.
Does one adapter work across South America?
No single socket type is used everywhere in South America. Type C is the most common (8 of 13). For a multi-country trip, a universal adapter is the simplest option; check its coverage first.
Do I need a voltage converter for South America?
Only for single-voltage appliances such as many hair dryers, when they cross between the 110 V and 220 V families. Phones, laptops and chargers marked INPUT 100–240 V just need a plug adapter. Which countries use which.
Universal travel adapter coverage · 110V vs 220V countries · All countries
Data verified 8 September 2026 against the IEC World Plugs dataset, WorldStandards and Wikipedia. How this data was verified.