Plug Adapter for the Philippines: Plug Type & Voltage
Quick answer: The Philippines’ sockets are types A, B and C, at 220 V and 60 Hz. A US plug fits the type A and B sockets; the type C ones need an adapter. 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 the Philippines: add up to two more countries of your trip, and your devices, for the adapter and the converter you need.
The Philippines’ plugs and voltage
The Philippines’ sockets are types A, B and C, at 220 V and 60 Hz. A US plug fits the type A and B sockets; the type C ones need an adapter. 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.
| The Philippines | The US | |
|---|---|---|
| Plug types | A, B, C | A, B |
| Voltage | 220 V | 120 V |
| Frequency | 60 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. 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. 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.
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FAQ
What plug type does the Philippines use?
Types A, B and C, at 220 V and 60 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 the Philippines?
Not for its type A and B sockets; its type C sockets need one, so a universal adapter is the safe choice.
Do I need a voltage converter for the Philippines?
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. The Philippines runs at 220 V.
Will my phone charger work in the Philippines?
Almost certainly: phone chargers are usually marked 100–240V. Its label decides; the plug fits as it is.
What do electrical outlets look like in the Philippines?
The Philippines’ outlets take types A, B and C plugs: type A has two flat parallel pins; type B has two flat parallel pins and a round earth pin; type C has two round pins. The finder above draws each outlet. A US plug fits the type A and B ones; the type C ones need an adapter.
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.