Israel Power Plug Guide: Type H Socket & Which Adapter to Pack

Israel uses Type H — a plug and socket design used almost exclusively in Israel and the Palestinian Territories and found nowhere else in the world. If your home plug does not match, you need an adapter before you can charge your devices. This guide tells you exactly what you need based on where you are travelling from.

The Israeli Type H plug

The Type H socket has three round flat pins arranged in a V-shape (sometimes described as a Y-shape or an upside-down Y). The three pins form an equilateral triangle with one pin at the top and two at the bottom. Unlike the European Type C socket, the H socket has no grounding sleeve, and unlike the UK Type G socket, it uses round rather than rectangular pins.

Israel’s electrical system:

What adapter do you need? (by origin country)

United States and Canada

US and Canadian plugs are Type A (two flat parallel blades) or Type B (two flat blades plus a round grounding pin). Neither fits a Type H socket.

You need: a Type A/B → Type H adapter.

Voltage note: Israel runs on 230V; North America on 120V. This is a significant difference. Modern electronics — phone chargers, laptop chargers, camera chargers, USB-C power bricks — are almost always rated “100–240V” and handle the voltage difference with just a plug adapter. Check the small-print label on each device. Appliances marked “120V only” (some older hair dryers, electric shavers, certain kitchen appliances) need a separate voltage converter or should be left at home.

Practical tip for US travellers: buy a Type H-compatible universal travel adapter before you leave. A compact universal adapter with USB-A and USB-C ports covers Israel and most of the rest of the world, replacing multiple country-specific adapters.

United Kingdom and Ireland

UK and Irish plugs are Type G (three rectangular pins in a triangular layout). Type G does not fit a Type H socket.

You need: a UK Type G → Israeli Type H adapter (or a UK → EU Type C adapter plus a Type C plug, which fits into H sockets — see below).

Voltage is not an issue: the UK, Ireland and Israel all operate on 230V/50Hz.

Continental Europe (Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, etc.)

Most continental European countries use Type C (two round pins) or Type E/F (two round pins with grounding contact). Type C is compatible with Israeli Type H sockets in most cases.

Type C in Type H sockets: The two lower pin holes of an Israeli Type H socket accept a standard Type C plug. This works in the vast majority of modern Israeli sockets, including hotel rooms and new builds. The fit may be slightly loose in older Israeli installations.

Recommendation: For a casual trip where you mostly charge phones and laptops, your existing Type C European plug will likely work fine in Israel. For certainty — particularly with higher-wattage devices — a dedicated Type C → Type H adapter is a small investment.

Australia and New Zealand

Australian and New Zealand plugs are Type I (two or three flat angled pins in a V-shape, resembling Type H but different in pin angle and size). They do not fit Israeli Type H sockets.

You need: a Type I → Type H adapter (or a universal adapter).

Voltage: 230V in both Australia/New Zealand and Israel — no converter needed.

USB-C: the adapter-free shortcut

Most modern travellers carry USB-C chargers for phones, laptops and cameras. A USB-C charger plus a cable does not require matching the local wall socket type — you just need a socket to plug the charger into, not a native socket shape. If your charger has a standard USB-C cable and a universal port hub (or a GaN multi-port charger), the only thing you need is one plug adapter to connect the hub to the wall.

In practice, many travellers find that:

1. One universal adapter (with USB-A and USB-C ports) runs all their devices with no country-specific fuss.
2. Or one plug adapter (Type H) for whichever socket type their charger uses.

Where to buy a plug adapter for Israel

Practical packing checklist

• Phone and laptop chargers — check the label; virtually all modern ones are 100–240V and need only a plug adapter.
• Hair dryer — check the label; “120V only” models will not work. Use the hotel hairdryer or buy a dual-voltage travel model.
• Electric shaver / straighteners — check the label; dual-voltage models work with a plug adapter only.
• CPAP / medical device — most travel CPAPs are dual-voltage; confirm before travel and check that your adapter handles the amperage.
• Camera battery charger — virtually always 100–240V; needs plug adapter only.

At your hotel

Israeli hotels include Type H sockets throughout — in the bedroom, bathroom (shaver socket, typically Type C as well) and at the desk. Newer hotels typically also have USB-A and USB-C charging ports integrated into the desk lamp or bedside unit, which means you can charge your phone without a plug adapter at all.

If you are staying in a more historic property or a smaller guesthouse, assume Type H sockets only and bring your adapter.

Related practical guides

• Israel eSIM — data before you land, no SIM swap or kiosk needed.
• Ben Gurion Airport guide — arrivals, terminal layout, duty-free and transport.
• Israel cost and budget guide — full trip price guide.
• First-time visitor guide — everything else you need for a first trip.