Trip Data Kit

Plug adapters / Chile

Type C / L · 230 V · 50 Hz

Do I need a plug adapter for Chile?

Yes. Chile uses type C and L sockets, and a US type A or B plug does not fit them. The supply is 230 V at 50 Hz, higher than the US 120 V.

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  1. 1Socket Type C / L
  2. 2Voltage 230 V
  3. 3Frequency 50 Hz
  4. 4US plug needs an adapter
Socket type
C / L
adapter needed
Voltage
230 V
charger must say 100–240 V
Frequency
50 Hz
US is 60 Hz
Type CType L
Socket types used in Chile (schematic, not to scale).

What to pack for Chile

Pack a type C adapter (a type C plug fits the C and L sockets you will find). An adapter only changes the shape of the pins; it does nothing to the voltage. That matters in Chile, because the supply is 230 V. Look for "INPUT: 100–240 V" on your phone, laptop and camera chargers; nearly all made in the last decade say it, and those work with a plain adapter. A hair dryer, curling iron or electric kettle marked 120 V only will not, and a converter heavy enough to run one is bulkier than buying a cheap dual-voltage version or using the hotel's.

Cross-check difference: Wikipedia also lists F and gives 220 V. Values shown are WorldStandards'.

About type C and L sockets

Type L is the Italian three-pin in-line plug, used in Chile alongside the two-pin type C. A slim type C adapter fits the type C sockets; an earthed three-pin device needs a type L adapter.

Voltage and frequency in Chile: 230 V, 50 Hz

Chile230 V · 50 HzUnited States120 V · 60 Hz
Chile's supply is 230 V — check that each charger's label says 100–240 V before plugging in.

Chile runs on 230 V, nearly double the 120 V of a US outlet. Any device with "INPUT: 100–240 V" on its label, which includes nearly every phone, tablet, laptop and camera charger, adjusts automatically and needs only the plug shape sorted out. A device marked 120 V only will draw too much current and can burn out in seconds; that mostly means hair dryers, straighteners, kettles and some older electric shavers. A travel converter can run them, but a converter rated for a 1,500 W hair dryer is heavy, so a dual-voltage model is the usual answer. The 50 Hz frequency matters even less than the voltage: chargers and electronics ignore it, and only old clocks and some motors notice.

Same sockets elsewhere

Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Greece and Netherlands use at least one of the same socket types as Chile, so one adapter covers a trip that includes them.

Data for the same trip

While you are packing: how much mobile data a week in Chile needs, and which eSIM plans cover it.

Frequently asked questions

What plug type does Chile use?

Chile uses type C and L sockets. A US type A or B plug does not fit, so you need an adapter.

What voltage is Chile?

Chile supplies 230 V at 50 Hz. Chargers marked 100–240 V handle it; single-voltage 120 V appliances do not.

Do I need a voltage converter for Chile?

Not for phones, laptops or cameras, whose chargers accept 100–240 V. Only a single-voltage appliance such as a 120 V hair dryer needs a converter, and a dual-voltage model is the easier fix.

Will my phone charger work in Chile?

Yes, provided it is marked 100–240 V, which almost every phone charger is. You still need a type C adapter for the socket.

Socket type, voltage and frequency: WorldStandards.eu country page, cross-checked 2026-10-21 against the Mains electricity by country table. The IEC retired its World Plugs guide in 2026.