Travel · Brazil · 127V and 220V / 60Hz
Brazil: one plug shape, two different voltages.
Brazil is the one country in the Americas where you have to check the label at the wall. Sockets are Type N — two round pins with a centre earth, the IEC 60906-1 shape almost nobody else adopted — and the grid runs 127V in São Paulo and Rio but 220V in Brasília and much of the northeast, at 60Hz throughout.
Plugs, voltage, and what fits
| Spec | Brazil | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Plug type | N (two round pins plus a centre earth pin), standard NBR 14136 / IEC 60906-1 | Used almost nowhere else — check any "universal" adapter covers it |
| Voltage | 127V in much of the country, 220V in Brasília and much of the northeast | The one thing on this page you must verify locally |
| Frequency | 60Hz nationwide | Same as the US; no frequency issues at all |
| What fits | Type N plugs; Type C Europlugs seat in the same socket | A plain Type C adapter powers any two-pin charger |
| What does not fit | US Type A flat blades and Type B three-prong plugs | You need a physical adapter — this is not a US-shaped socket |
Two voltages, one country
Brazil never standardised on one distribution voltage: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and much of the south and southeast are 127V; Brasília and large parts of the northeast are 220V. Outlets and appliances are widely marked, because Brazilians have to check too. Frequency is 60Hz everywhere.
For anything printed 100–240V — every USB-C charger, laptop supply and camera battery charger — the split is irrelevant. It only bites single-voltage 120V equipment: a US hair dryer, a curling iron, a travel steamer, a cheap cube marked "AC 120V". Through an adapter into a 220V Brazilian socket, one of those draws roughly four times its designed power and fails in seconds. Why a converter is rarely the answer: voltage converters vs adapters.
Why most universal adapters fail here
The standard all-in-one travel adapter covers four shapes: US Type A, UK Type G, European Type C and Australian Type I — not Type N. Plenty of listings claim "over 150 countries" while omitting Brazil. Two ways through:
- Buy a dedicated Type N adapter — the only option with a real earth pin
- Use the Type C output of a universal adapter you already own — unearthed, so double-insulated chargers only
Whichever you pick, the adapter changes shape, never voltage. Shapes: plug types by country. The adapter-versus-converter decision: travel adapter vs converter.
What to pack
- Type N
Type N Brazil plug adapter
The only adapter that carries Brazil's centre earth pin as well as line and neutral.
- Output shape
- Type N
- Earth
- Yes, centre pin
- Voltage
- Pass-through only
- 65W
Zendure Passport III universal adapter
Universal body with built-in 65W USB-C PD: one item for socket and charging.
- Output
- 65W USB-C PD
- Ports
- Multiple USB
- Input
- 100–240V
- 65W
Anker 735 Nano II 65W
100–240V input, so equally happy on Rio's 127V and Recife's 220V.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
- Input
- 100–240V
What works as-is
Dual-voltage gear needs only the plug shape: Apple's 20W through 140W bricks, Samsung's 25W and 45W chargers, every GaN charger, USB-C laptop supplies, drone and camera battery chargers. Single-voltage US heating and motor appliances are the exception; in a 220V region, leave them home. Neighbouring legs: Argentina at 220V, Chile at 220V, Peru at 220V, Colombia at 110V, and the travel adapter hub.
FAQ
What plug does Brazil use?
Type N — two round 4mm pins with a centre earth pin, defined by NBR 14136 and based on IEC 60906-1. Almost no other country uses it, so check any universal adapter actually lists Brazil.
Is Brazil 110V or 220V?
Both. Much of the country including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro runs at 127V, while Brasilia and much of the northeast run at 220V, 60Hz everywhere.
Will a European Type C adapter work in Brazil?
Physically, yes for two-pin plugs. A Type C Europlug's pins share Type N's 4mm diameter and 19mm spacing, so it seats in the socket. It gives no earth connection, so use it only with double-insulated chargers.
Do I need a voltage converter for Brazil?
Not for anything marked 100-240V, which covers every phone, tablet and laptop charger. Only single-voltage 120V heating elements and motors need one, and in a 220V region it is easier to leave those home.