Outlet Type A: need a travel adapter or not?

When you’re traveling to North and Central America or certain Asian countries, you’ll notice they mostly use Type A outlets.

This kind of outlet is specially made for a two-pronged, ungrounded plug with two flat, parallel pins.

Features for Type A outlet

A notable feature of Type A plugs is that the pins often have small holes at the end. These holes ensure the plug clicks securely into the outlet, so it doesn’t easily come loose.

Number of pins	2
Grounded	No
Voltage	100 – 127 volts
Ampere	15 amps
Other types of plugs that fit	None
Other outlets compatible with Type A	Type B outlets
Need a travel adapter for American devices?	No

Type A outlets and plugs are designed for up to 15 amps. They operate within a voltage range of 100 to 127 volts. This type of outlet is known as NEMA 1-15 and was invented by Harvey Hubbel II in 1904.

Click here if you need a travel adapter for Type A.

Travel adapter for type A

Dimensions

The pin dimensions are standardized, with a width of 1.5 millimeters and a length ranging from 15.9 to 18.2 millimeters. The pins are spaced 12.7 millimeters apart.

Use of Type A plug

The Type A outlet is exclusively designed for Type A plugs. However, you can also use these plugs for Type B outlets.

Conversely, they won’t work the other way around; Type B plugs won’t fit into Type A outlets.

You’ll find Type A outlets in countries like Aruba, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Japan, Mexico, and Thailand. If you’re unsure whether your vacation destination uses Type A, just use the search function (top right) on this website.