Brazil plugs and voltage: 127V or 220V by city

Brazil uses the Type N plug: three round pins in a row, set by the Brazilian standard NBR 14136. Voltage depends on the city. São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Salvador supply 127 V at standard outlets, while Brasília, Fortaleza, Recife and Florianópolis supply 220 V, all at 60 Hz.

Bring a Type N adapter and check every charger label before you plug in. A label reading 100–240 V works in any Brazilian city.

The plug: Type N, NBR 14136

Brazil’s plug and socket standard is ABNT NBR 14136 of 2002. Conmetro, the national metrology council, made it the national standard in 2006. Since 2011, shops sell plugs, sockets and appliance cords only to this standard.

The standard has two sizes, both with three round pins:

A 10 A plug fits a 20 A socket, but a 20 A plug does not fit a 10 A socket. Most travel adapters use the 4 mm pins, which fit both.

Two-pin Europlugs (Type C) are also allowed in Brazil and fit Type N sockets. That means many European and South American chargers work without an adapter. US flat-pin and UK three-pin plugs do not fit, so pack an adapter.

Older buildings, rural pousadas and some hotels still have older sockets that take US flat pins or other shapes. A universal adapter covers those cases.

Voltage by city

Brazil has no single household voltage. Each power distributor sets the voltage in its area, and two towns in the same state can differ.

A “220/127 V” network gives 127 V between phase and neutral, which is what a standard outlet gets. A “380/220 V” network gives 220 V at the outlet.

Bahia shows how much voltage varies within one state. Salvador runs 127 V, while Lençóis, Mucugê and Palmeiras in the Chapada Diamantina run 220 V, as do Porto Seguro and Morro de São Paulo. Coelba publishes a list that gives the voltage of every municipality in Bahia.

Check before you go: on Fernando de Noronha, ask your pousada about the outlet voltage before you plug in anything that is not rated 100–240 V.

Other popular destinations

These cities and states commonly use the voltages below. Individual buildings can differ, especially where 220 V circuits are installed for air conditioning or showers.

Check before you go: in these places, confirm the voltage with your host or look for a label on the outlet. The local distributor’s website also lists the voltage by municipality.

Both voltages in one building

A 127 V city can still have 220 V outlets. The networks in São Paulo, Rio and Belo Horizonte carry 220 V between two phases as well as 127 V from phase to neutral. Some buildings have 220 V circuits for that reason, often for air conditioners, ovens or electric showers.

The reverse does not apply. In a 220 V city, you will not find 127 V at a normal outlet.

Ask your host which voltage the room has, or look for a label on the outlet. Many hotels mark outlets “110” or “220”. Brazilians often say “110” when they mean 127 V. If you are unsure, plug in only devices rated 100–240 V.

What counts as a normal reading

Brazilian rules give each voltage a band. These ranges count as adequate:

The frequency is 60 Hz everywhere, the same as the US. UK appliances are built for 50 Hz, which matters only for some motors and clocks. Phone and laptop chargers do not care.

Power cuts and voltage spikes happen during storms, especially in rural areas. Unplug laptops during heavy thunderstorms if the building has no surge protection.

Electric showers

Many Brazilian bathrooms heat water with an electric showerhead, often called a chuveiro elétrico. Wires run into the showerhead itself. Do not touch the head or change its setting while the water runs, and tell your host if you see bare wires or feel a tingle.

The temperature switch on the showerhead usually has two or three positions, such as summer (verão) and winter (inverno). Switch it with the water off.

What to pack

1. One or two Type N adapters. Pick one that takes your home plug.
2. Chargers and laptops rated 100–240 V. Read the label on each one before you pack it.
3. A step-down converter only if you must use a 120 V-only device in a 220 V city.
4. A small power strip, so one adapter feeds several devices.

Check the label on hair dryers, straighteners and electric shavers too. A 127 V appliance can be damaged on a 220 V supply. Dual-voltage travel versions avoid the problem, or you can buy a cheap local one in Brazil for the voltage where you stay.

Adapters are sold in Brazilian pharmacies, supermarkets and electronics shops, so a forgotten adapter is easy to replace in any city.

For staying connected, read the Brazil eSIM and SIM card guide. If something breaks, travel insurance for Brazil explains what a policy should cover.