The best travel adapters for the next big trip
That's why I spoke with electronics experts: to better understand how adapters, voltages and electricity work. With their advice in mind, we selected the best travel adapters for your next big trip.
What is a travel adapter?
Travel adapters typically come in two shapes: plug adapters and universal adapters.
In America, plug adapters have electrical prongs on one side and two or three pronged U.S. slots on the other. If you are traveling to the U.K., for example, your adapter will plug into rectangular-shaped U.K. outlets, and have slots where you can plug your two or three pronged U.S. devices into the adapter.
Universal adapters contain multiple plug adapters in one base. Typically, different electrical prongs slide in and out of the base via levers or buttons.
Travel adapters are typically intended to charge electronics like smartphones, laptops, headphones and portable batteries, says Sandra Miller, product manager at Ceptics, a travel adapter manufacturer.
How we picked the best travel adapters
We spoke with electronics experts and asked NBC Select staffers about their experience using travel adapters. We selected products that met the following criteria:
The best travel adapters in 2025
Most of our top picks come from established travel adapter brands like Epicka and Ceptics, including one option we've taken all around the world.
Editors' pick: Epicka Pulse 45W Universal Travel Adapter
I've used Epicka travel adapters on my international trips for years. They've been in France, Italy and the U.K. and have always charged my small electronics perfectly. NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider recently took this one to Paris — it charged all her family's gadgets without issue.
It has a main 3-prong plug plus two USB-C and two USB-A ports along the bottom, meaning you can easily charge multiple devices at the same time. This model has faster power delivery and better USB port options than our previous top pick from the brand.
This is a low-priced universal travel adapter that still has all the necessities: sliding adapter plugs, multiple USB-ports and fuse protection. The USB-C port can fast charge at up to 20W, not quite as fast as our editors' pick, but still enough to fast charge your smartphone and earbuds.
Individual plug adapters can be useful if you are traveling ultralight. This top-rated set includes five different plugs for countries like the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. Each plug is labeled with the countries and continents you can use it in. Most of the plugs have a ground port which helps to protect your devices against power surges, according to the brand.
Consider this converter If you are bringing larger devices that will need their voltage adjusted while abroad — think electric shavers and curling irons. This voltage converter adjusts incoming electricity to fit the 110 to 120-volt requirement for U.S. electronics to work properly. It can power devices with up to 230 watts of energy — check your device to make sure it uses less than 230 watts.
The converter has fans built in that prevent overheating and short-circuiting, according to the brand. It has multiple USB ports and two power outlets, making it a good option if you need to charge multiple devices at the same time. It comes with four different plug types and a detachable power cable.
How to shop for a travel adapter
To make sure you buy the right adapter for your trip, it's important to check what kind of electrical plug is used in your destination. It's also a good idea to contact the place you'll be staying to ask what kind of outlets they use, says Carl Prouty, the technologist at Abt, a national electronics and appliances retailer based in Glenview, Illinois.
What kind of travel adapter do I need?
There are over a dozen types of common plugs used across the world, according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a global not-for-profit organization that works to improve international electrical trade and innovations. Each plug type is given a letter depending on which regions they're compatible in.
Many countries share the same plug type — type C plugs, for example, are used across most of Europe. Some countries use different plug types depending on where you are in the country and when the electrical outlets were last updated— Italy uses three types (C, L and F).
Travel adapters, including our recommendations, list the regions they support by name or by plug type letter. Below is a world plugs list from the IEC:
Type A (two prong): North America, Central America, Japan
Type B (three prong): North America, Central America, Japan
Type C: Europe (except UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta)
Type D: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Namibia
Type E: France, Belgium, Slovakia and Tunisia among others
Type F: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Spain among others
Type G: UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong
Type H: Israel
Type I: China, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Argentina
Type J: Switzerland and Lichtenstein
Type K: Denmark and Greenland
Type L: Italy
Type M: South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho
Type N: Brazil
Type O: Thailand
Frequently asked questions
What is voltage?
'Voltage is essentially the pressure required to push the electrons coming out of the wall socket through the power cord that goes into your device, allowing that device to operate,' says Prouty.
Countries around the world have different voltage ratings for their electricity. North American power outlets use 110 to 120-volts — most electronics made in North America are designed to operate in that voltage range. Countries outside of North America typically have 220 to 240-volt outlets, and design their electronics to function in that range.
Products like smartphones, laptops and tablets are exceptions: they operate on a worldwide voltage range — as long as you have the right adapter, you can charge them in most places, according to our experts.
When traveling abroad with other types of devices, you need to match your destination's plug type as well as its voltage rating in order to safely use your electronics. If you connect a device to an outlet with mismatched voltage ratings, you risk damaging the device, burning it out or causing an electrical fire, says Miller.
All electronics have a voltage rating printed on either the charger or the device itself, says Miller. Larger electronic devices like curling irons, hair straighteners and hair trimmers typically operate at a specific, limited voltage range. If you plan to travel with one of those devices, you will need a travel voltage converter to safely use them.
What is a travel voltage converter?
Voltage converters change the voltage of the outlet at your destination. This is crucial if you want to use single-voltage electronics like hair and curling irons abroad.
Hair and curling irons need a lot more power than small devices like smartphones and earbuds. That's why travel voltage converters will typically have a power rating, measured in watts (W), that tells you how much power they can deliver to a plugged-in device, says Miller. 'For example, a 200W voltage converter is limited to devices that require 200W or less, so you can't use a 1,500W hair dryer with it,' says Miller. Connecting a device outside the supported wattage range can damage both the device and the voltage converter.
Do I need a voltage converter?
Miller recommends checking the voltage rating of all the electronics you plan to travel with to see if any require conversion. Essential electronics like cell phones, tablets and laptops are typically rated for worldwide (100 to 240) voltage use and do not require conversion.
The most common travel electronics that require voltage conversion are hair straighteners and curling irons, says Miller. If you plan on using one, pack one with a worldwide voltage rating to eliminate the need for a voltage converter.
If you are traveling with an item that requires voltage conversion, look up the power rating (in watts) of the device, and make sure your voltage converter supports at least that much power output (in watts). For example, an expert-recommended curling iron like the Babyliss Pro Nano is rated for 120 volts and needs 140 watts to operate.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Carl Prouty is a product specialist with over 20 years of experience in consumer electronics sales at Abt. (Since Abt sells travel adapters, we only spoke with Prouty about technical shopping guidance, and did not ask for specific product recommendations.)
Sandra Miller is a product manager at Ceptics, a travel adapter manufacturer. (Since Ceptics sells travel adapters, we only spoke with Miller about technical shopping guidance, and did not ask her for specific product recommendations.)
Why trust NBC Select?
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes, over-ear headphones and more. To better understand travel adapters, I spoke with electronics experts about the intricacies of travel adapters and voltage. I also spoke with NBC Select staff about their experience using travel adapters.
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