Travel · Chile · 220V / 50Hz
Chile: Type L sockets that a Type C plug fits.
Chile runs 220V at 50Hz on Type C and Type L sockets. Type L is the three-in-a-row round-pin Italian shape — but because Chilean sockets also take the two-pin Europlug, the cheapest adapter on the shelf is the correct one for every charger in your bag.
Plugs, voltage, and what fits
| Spec | Chile | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Plug types | C (two round pins) and L (three round pins in a line, centre pin earth) | No US plug fits — an adapter is mandatory |
| Voltage | 220V nominal | Single-voltage 120V US appliances burn out |
| Frequency | 50Hz | No effect on any switch-mode charger |
| What fits | Type C Europlugs and Type L plugs; an Italy or Spain adapter works | The cheapest two-pin adapter covers all your chargers |
| What does not fit | US Type A and Type B plugs, UK Type G, Australian Type I | Bring the adapter with you rather than hunting for one |
| Converter needed | Only for single-voltage heating elements and motors | Electronics pass without one |
Type L, and the shortcut around it
Type L exists in two sizes: the 10A version uses 4mm pins on a 19mm pitch, the 16A version fatter 5mm pins on a 26mm pitch. Chile's sockets are the 10A geometry, which is why the shortcut works — a Type C Europlug's two 4mm pins land exactly on Type L's outer two holes, so a plain European two-pin adapter seats in a Chilean socket and carries power normally.
What it does not carry is earth. Fine for what most people travel with — every USB-C charger, phone cube and laptop supply with a folding two-blade duckhead is Class II double-insulated and has no earth pin. Not fine for a grounded three-pin device such as an older powered monitor or a corded appliance, which needs a genuine Type L adapter. Shape reference: plug types by country.
What to pack
- Type C
Type C Europlug travel adapter
Two round pins, thumbnail-sized, seats in both Chilean socket types. The correct minimum for a bag full of USB chargers.
- Output shape
- Type C
- Earth
- None — Class II only
- Voltage
- Pass-through only
- 4-in-1
EPICKA universal travel adapter
Its Type C output seats in Chile's Type L sockets, and it carries the UK, US and Australian shapes for the rest of the trip.
- Plug types
- A, C, G, I
- USB
- 3× A, 1× C
- Fuse
- 8A, spare included
- 65W
Anker 735 Nano II 65W
One 100–240V brick behind the adapter, charging a laptop and a phone together from a single Chilean socket.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× USB-C, 1× USB-A
- Input
- 100–240V
What works as-is at 220V
Anything printed 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz works with nothing but a shape change: Apple's 20W, 30W, 70W, 96W and 140W adapters, Samsung's 25W and 45W PPS chargers, every GaN charger, USB-C laptop bricks, camera and drone battery chargers, electric toothbrush bases and shavers. What fails is the single-voltage list: US hair dryers, curling irons, travel steamers and clothes irons, where the heating element is sized for 120V and sees roughly quadruple the power at 220V. A converter can run a small one, but the honest answer is a dual-voltage replacement — the trade-offs are worked through in voltage converters vs adapters.
Neighbours worth reading before a multi-stop trip: Argentina is the same 220V/50Hz on Type C and I, Peru is 220V but with US-shaped sockets, Brazil is split between 127V and 220V, and Colombia is a straight 110V. The travel adapter hub indexes the rest.
FAQ
What plug adapter do I need for Chile?
A Type C two-pin adapter covers every double-insulated charger, because Chilean Type L sockets accept Europlug pins. Buy a Type L adapter only if you are carrying a grounded three-pin device.
Does an adapter bought for Italy work in Chile?
Yes. Both use the 10A version of Type L, with 4mm pins on a 19mm pitch. Italy's 16A variant with wider spacing is not the Chilean standard, so buy the standard 10A adapter.
Is Chile 110V or 220V?
220V at 50Hz. Any single-voltage 120V US appliance such as a hair dryer will fail there, while anything labelled 100-240V works with only a plug adapter.
Can I charge a MacBook in Chile with just an adapter?
Yes. Every Apple USB-C adapter from 30W to 140W is rated 100-240V at 50/60Hz, so a plug adapter is all that is required. The same is true of USB-C laptop bricks from Dell, HP and Lenovo.