Plug Adapter for Argentina: Plug Type & Voltage
Quick answer: Argentina’s sockets are types C and I, at 220 V and 50 Hz. Neither US plug type, A or B, fits them: bring an adapter for type C or I. 220 V is about twice the US’s 120 V: a charger marked 100–240V needs only the adapter, but a device made for 120 V only must not be plugged in without a voltage converter.
Which plug adapter you need and whether you need a voltage converter: where you live, up to three places you are going, and what you are bringing.
United States → Italy
Bring a plug adapter: type C, F or LVoltage: Italy 230 V, against 120 V at home. Check each device’s label below.
- Italy
- Type C, F, Ladapter needed · 230 V · 50 Hz
- Phone charger and laptop charger: read the label. If it says “100–240V” (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a voltage converter.
- Hair dryer: read the label. If it says “100–240V” (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a converter rated above the watts on the label, or bring a dual-voltage travel model instead.
- Italy uses type C, F and L sockets; your type A and B plugs are not among them.
- More than one socket type is used there: an adapter for any of them works where that socket is on the wall. Many travel adapters take several; check which it lists.
- The frequency differs from home: chargers marked 50/60 Hz do not mind; clocks and some motors made for one frequency can run fast or slow on the other.
- Drawings are simplified. An adapter changes the shape of the plug, never the voltage: that is a converter’s job.
Plug types and voltage from Wikidata, frequency from the US International Trade Administration; checked 2026-09-25. Simplified drawings. Hotels and old buildings can differ: look at the socket.
The finder above opens on Argentina: add up to two more countries of your trip, and your devices, for the adapter and the converter you need.
Argentina’s plugs and voltage
Argentina’s sockets are types C and I, at 220 V and 50 Hz. Neither US plug type, A or B, fits them: bring an adapter for type C or I. 220 V is about twice the US’s 120 V: a charger marked 100–240V needs only the adapter, but a device made for 120 V only must not be plugged in without a voltage converter.
| Argentina | The US | |
|---|---|---|
| Plug types | C, I | A, B |
| Voltage | 220 V | 120 V |
| Frequency | 50 Hz | 60 Hz |
What your devices need
- Phones and laptops: read the label. If it says "100–240V" (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a voltage converter.
- Hair dryers and straighteners: read the label. If it says "100–240V" (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a converter rated above the watts on the label, or bring a dual-voltage travel model instead.
The frequency differs from home: chargers marked 50/60 Hz do not mind; clocks and some motors made for one frequency can run fast or slow on the other.
Adding Chile and Uruguay?
For a trip to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay: bring a type C adapter, which fits in all of them.
Plan it
- What are 7 things Argentina is famous for?
- What is there to do in Buenos Aires in 3 days?
- 25 Stunning Things To Do In Mendoza
- Do you need a visa for Argentina?
FAQ
What plug type does Argentina use?
Types C and I, at 220 V and 50 Hz. A place may have only one of them, so an adapter that takes all of them, or a universal one, is the safe choice.
Do I need a plug adapter for Argentina?
Yes: a US plug fits none of Argentina’s sockets (types C and I).
Do I need a voltage converter for Argentina?
Only for a device made for 120 V alone, such as many hair dryers and straighteners: look for “100–240V” on the label, which needs no converter. Argentina runs at 220 V.
Will my phone charger work in Argentina?
Almost certainly: phone chargers are usually marked 100–240V. Its label decides; it needs only the adapter.
What does a plug in Argentina look like?
Argentina uses types C and I: type C has two round pins; type I has three flat pins: two angled toward each other at the top, and an earth pin below them. The finder above draws each socket. A US plug fits none of them: bring an adapter for type C or I.
Where this comes from
The plug types and voltages are Wikidata’s (CC0), the same data as the Travel Adapter Finder; the frequency is the US International Trade Administration’s table. A plug is said to fit only where its own type is used: some sockets take other plugs too, but that depends on the socket, so this page does not promise it. An adapter changes the shape of the plug, never the voltage: that is a converter’s job.