What does a US plug look like?

Sometimes you write articles for your own benefit. Because here I am, in Las Vegas for the world’s biggest technology show, with a bag full of European plug adapters, having packed entirely the wrong set. So – for future me’s benefit as well as yours – what does a US plug look like and how does it differ from a European plug?

The US plug

Here’s a picture of a US plug adapter.

What does a US Plug look like

It has prongs, unlike the circular prongs that are used by European plugs.

By the way, don’t panic if you see sparks when you put a US plug into the socket. It’s unnerving at first, as you rarely see it on UK sockets, but it’s entirely common when using a US plug socket.

The European plug

For reference, here’s what a European plug looks like:

European Plug

As you can see, the prongs are more rounded than the US plug.

Hopefully, that will stop you from making the same mistake I did on your foreign trips!

More explainers

Avatar photo
Barry Collins

Barry has 20 years of experience working on national newspapers, websites and magazines. He was editor of PC Pro and is co-editor and co-owner of BigTechQuestion.com. He has published a number of articles on TechFinitive covering data, innovation and cybersecurity.

NEXT UP

what is thunderbolt share shown by a PC connected to a laptop

What is Thunderbolt Share?

Intel has just announced Thunderbolt Share, which can link two PCs together in a way that we’ve never seen before. To discover how it works, and what you need, read our explainer.