Traveller's international guide to power adapters and plugs

Electronics are a must-have for modern travel.

There's almost nothing worse than having a low battery warning come up when posting holiday photos to Facebook, or trying to figure out directions.

No matter if it's a Kindle or hair dryer that you can't be without, before departing from Changi airport, you'll want to be sure you've packed the right travel adaptors to ensure your electronics will get the power they need.

In the case that the voltage and plug type differs from what's commonly used in Singapore, you will need an adaptor, converter, or potentially both.

To make it easier to figure out what's needed, Skyscanner's compiled a list of the most common travel adapters used per country and region, along with handy illustrations.

A little more information

It's a confusing mess when it comes to choosing travel adapters. There are a whole range of products to go through: USB adapters, wireless adapters, adapter/converter combos voltage converters, differing plug types, and universal travel adapters, to name a few.

The right one, ultimately, depends on your individual travel needs.

A word of caution; unless you want to end up with an unworkable smartphone or laptop on your trip, you may need both a transformer to safely convert voltages as well as an adaptor if the plug types are different from those in Singapore.

Combination units do exist that can handle voltage between 100v-240v, but be sure to check what is listed on the adapter.

You'll realise that certain plug types are more common across some regions.

For example, Europe frequently sports a type C plug, while you'll find the type As more common in America and Canada.

Asia, however, tends to vary from country to country. These are merely guidelines, and it's always best practice to check beforehand the type of plug and voltage you can expect at your destination. Check out our handy list: