Power Plug Guide

Travel adapter from United States to India

Compare the plug shapes, voltage and frequency in United States and India, and find out which adapter you need before you travel.

Adapter required

Yes — coming from United States, you will need a travel adapter for India. United States uses Type A/Type B plugs, and India uses Type C/Type D/Type M, so the pin shapes will not fit any wall socket. Voltages differ (120 V at home vs 230 V abroad), so check the label on each device. Most modern dual-voltage chargers handle the swing without a converter, but heating appliances usually do not. The mains frequency is also different (60 Hz vs 50 Hz). This rarely matters for electronics but can affect motor-driven devices like clocks and shavers.

Voltage converter may be needed. Check your device label — most modern electronics (phones, laptops) support 100–240 V and only need a plug adapter. Hair dryers, kettles, and older appliances may need a step-up or step-down converter.
Frequency differs (60 Hz vs 50 Hz). Rarely an issue for most electronics, but can affect motor-driven devices like clocks and shavers.

United States (home)

Type A Two flat parallel pins 100–127V Type B Two flat pins + round ground 100–127V

India (destination)

Type C Two round pins (Europlug) 220–240V Type D Three large round pins 220–240V Type M Three large round pins 220–240V

Electrical specifications in India

Voltage
United States 120 V
India 230 V
Differs
Frequency
United States 60 Hz
India 50 Hz
Differs

More about plugs in India

In India, the standard power plug is Type C and Type D and Type M. The country runs on 230 volts at 50 Hz. That means wall sockets in India can be one of 3 different shapes — Type C, Type D, Type M, and your plug needs to physically match the socket to fit.

Full India plug guide