Voltage · plug · converter checker
Will my devices work abroad?
Pick your origin and destination, list your devices, and get a per-device verdict on plug adapters, voltage compatibility, and the converter wattage you need.
NEEDS CONVERTER
US 120 V → IT 230 V
Step-up or step-down? The direction most checkers get backwards
The single mistake that fries a device is buying the wrong direction of converter. The rule is fixed by where you bought the device versus where you are going:
- Travelling from a 110–120 V country (US, Canada, Japan 100 V) to a 220–240 V country (most of Europe, the UK, Australia)? You need a step-down converter — it takes the higher 220/240 V mains and steps it down to 110/120 V for your device.
- Travelling the other way, from a 220–240 V country to a 110–120 V country (US 120 V, etc.)? You need a step-up converter — it steps the lower 110/120 V mains up to 220/240 V.
- Anything with “100–240 V” printed on its power brick (most laptops, phone chargers, camera chargers) is dual-voltage and needs no converter at all — only a plug adapter if the socket shape differs.
Brazil exception: Brazil runs two mains voltages depending on the state. This tool shows 127 V (the most common nominal), but Brasília, Recife, Fortaleza and parts of the north-east are 220 V. A 100–127 V device labelled “OK” here can be destroyed in a 220 V outlet — verify the actual outlet voltage locally before plugging in.
Direction rule and country voltages verified 2026-06-12 against: 220-Electronics — step-up vs step-down converters · Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country · WorldStandards — plug, socket & voltage by country.
How it works
- Select your origin country (the country your devices were bought in) and your destination country.
- Add each device with its input voltage range and wattage. The range is printed on the power brick — e.g. 100-240V for most laptops.
- Read the per-device verdict: OK, plug adapter only, converter required, or leave at home.
Dataset
Country voltage / frequency / plug type data version 2026.06.12, last verified 2026-06-12. Source: Wikipedia 'Mains electricity by country' (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Results are orientative and may not reflect regional variations. Always check the label on your device and consult a licensed electrician for high-wattage equipment.
Last updated 2026-06-12 · Data verified 2026-06-12 against Wikipedia “Mains electricity by country” + WorldStandards (dataset version 2026.06.12).
Voltage, plug and converter questions travellers actually ask
Do I need a voltage converter or just a plug adapter?
They solve different problems. A plug adapter only changes the shape so your plug fits the foreign socket — it does not change the voltage. A voltage converter (or transformer) changes the actual electricity from, say, 230 V down to 120 V. If your device says “100–240 V” on its power brick it is dual-voltage and needs only an adapter. If it says a single voltage like “120 V” you also need a converter when the destination voltage is different. This tool tells you exactly which one per device.
What is the difference between a step-up and a step-down converter?
Direction is everything. A step-down converter takes 220/240 V mains and outputs 110/120 V — it is what a US, Canadian or Japanese traveller buys for Europe, the UK or Australia. A step-up converter does the opposite: it takes 110/120 V and outputs 220/240 V, which a European or UK traveller needs in the US. Buying the wrong direction will either do nothing or destroy the device, so the rule is fixed by where the device was bought versus where you are going.
Will my laptop, phone or camera charger work abroad without a converter?
Almost always yes. Modern laptop chargers, phone chargers and camera chargers are switched-mode supplies rated “100–240 V, 50/60 Hz”, which means they self-adjust to any mains voltage in the world. Check the small print on the brick — if you see that range, you only need a plug adapter for the socket shape, never a converter. The exception is anything with a heating element or a motor: hair dryers, straighteners, kettles, travel irons and some medical devices are usually single-voltage.
Can I use a hair dryer or straightener overseas?
Carefully. Most hair dryers and straighteners are single-voltage and high-wattage, which is the worst combination for converters. A 1875 W travel dryer can exceed what any safe consumer converter handles, so the honest answer is often “leave it at home and buy or borrow one locally”. Dual-voltage travel hair tools with a 120/240 V switch exist and are the simplest fix — just remember to set the switch before you plug in.
Does Japan really run two different frequencies?
Yes. Japan uses a uniform 100 V everywhere, but the mains frequency is split: 50 Hz in eastern Japan (Tokyo, Sendai) and 60 Hz in western Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya). Voltage-only devices do not care, but anything whose speed is locked to the mains — clocks with synchronous motors, some older turntables, certain medical motors — can run at the wrong speed across the divide. This tool surfaces a frequency warning when your device is frequency-sensitive.
Why does Brazil show 127 V — is that safe for my device?
Brazil has no single national voltage. Many states use 127 V, but Brasília, Recife, Fortaleza and large parts of the north-east are 220 V, and some hotels mix both. The tool shows 127 V as the most common nominal, but a device rated only 100–127 V can be destroyed in a 220 V outlet even though the verdict looks safe. Always check the label near the socket or ask staff before plugging in a single-voltage device in Brazil.
What wattage converter do I need?
Size the converter above your device’s continuous draw, with headroom. For simple resistive loads this tool recommends roughly 1.25× the rated wattage rounded up; for electronics, medical and motor-driven gear it recommends about 3× because the start-up surge is much higher than the running figure. If the result exceeds the consumer converter range you should treat it as a “buy locally or consult an electrician” case rather than chaining converters.
Related travel-readiness tools
Sorting out power for your trip? These companion checkers cover the gear and connectivity questions that come up next:
- Not sure which plug adapter your destination needs — match your plug type and wattage to any country
- Flying with a power bank or spare batteries — check airline power-bank watt-hour limits before you pack
- Deciding how to stay online abroad — compare eSIM data plans against carrier roaming costs
All of our free travel-readiness checkers in one place: BorderTrip Tools