If you’re visiting or moving to Thailand, you should familiarize yourself with the electricity in Thailand.
After all, you may be coming from a country that runs off a different voltage or that uses different plugs and adapters.
By the end of this guide, you’re going to find out everything you need to know about electricity in Thailand, from the voltage that the country operates on to what kind of plugs and outlets you’ll find and where to buy converters.
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Key Takeaways
- Thailand runs on 220 volts and 50 hertz.
- Wall outlets accept flat-prong and round-prong plugs.
- Some electrical connections in Thailand may not be safe, so always exercise caution.
- Thailand’s electrical grid is stable in city areas but may not be stable in rural areas.
- You can buy 220 volt to 120 volt converters at HomePro and Saphan Lek.
Volts and Hertz
You don’t have to be an electrician to understand how electricity in Thailand works, but you do have to know some of the basics.
Volts
Thailand runs on 220 volts. This means that you can charge almost all your smaller electronics in Thailand because the chargers are rated for both 110 volts and 220 volts.
But hair dryers, irons, and other appliances from the West may not be rated for 220 volt systems — something to think about if you ship your belongings to Thailand.
So, check the rating plate of any electronic or appliance that you bring into Thailand before plugging it into an outlet.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use your 110 volt vacuum or food blender that you shipped to Thailand. You’ll just need a 220 volt to 110 volt step-down transformer (converter) to do so. More about transformers and converters later in this guide.
Hertz
Electricity in Thailand runs at a frequency of 50 hertz, so all the appliances you buy here will also be rated for 50 hertz. Most appliances from the West, however, run off 60 hertz.
What does this mean for you? If you run a 60 hertz appliance on a 50 hertz system the appliance will run at a slower capacity, which could burn out the motor.
That said, we did run our 120 volt, 60 hertz vacuum from America connected to a converter for five years and never had an issue. But I wouldn’t recommend doing this because of what I mentioned about the possibility of burning out your motor.
Volts and Hertz Ratings by Country
If you’re not sure what the voltage and hertz ratings are for your country, you might be able to find them listed in the table below.
| Country | Voltage (V) | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 220 V | 50 Hz |
| Australia | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Canada | 120 V | 60 Hz |
| France | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Germany | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| India | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| Japan | 100 V | 50 Hz / 60 Hz |
| Singapore | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 230 V | 50 Hz |
| United States (USA) | 120 V | 60 Hz |
Wall Outlets
In Thailand, you will come across many types of wall outlets. Some of them have openings for three-prong plugs and others have openings for two-prong plugs.
Most outlets nowadays will be your standard three-prong version. Three-pronged outlets in Thailand are made for both flat and round plug prongs. Newer outlets have a child proof design built into them. You have to push harder to get the plug into the outlet.
Although somewhat outdated, you will find two-prong outlets built into walls in older houses, condos, and office buildings in Thailand.
I used to teach English at a car parts manufacturing company in Chon Buri, and all of their outlets were two-prong. So, I had to buy an adapter to plug my laptop into the outlets while teaching. Buying an adapter might be something to consider if you plan on working in Thailand.
Electrical Plugs
Like wall outlets, electrical plugs come in many designs.
Small appliances like PM 2.5 filters that are used during Thailand’s pollution season usually have two prongs, while larger appliances like washing machines have three.
And as opposed to the flat prongs you’re used to seeing back home, most plug prongs in Thailand are round.
There are also special plugs used throughout Thailand for things like charging your electric vehicle.
Two-Pronged Power Plugs
Two-pronged plugs are one of the two standard plugs you’ll find in Thailand. These plugs have two flat or round prongs and will fit into any standard two- or three-pronged outlet.
But remember, you can’t plug rounded two-prong plugs into outlets made for flat prongs. So, you’ll need to buy an adapter.
On the other hand, you should be able to plug a two-prong plug with flat prongs into an outlet made for round prongs. This is because these types of outlets can accommodate both flat and round prongs.
Three-Pronged Power Plugs
Three-pronged plugs are another standard plug you’ll find in Thailand.
They have two flat or round prongs and one prong for grounding. They will fit into any standard three-prong outlet.
Like two-prong plugs, you can’t plug a round three-prong plug into outlets made for flat prongs. In this case you need an adapter.
You can plug a three-prong plug with flat prongs into an outlet made for round prongs though.
Power Adapters
For basic electronics like phones, tablets, and even laptops, you can get a standard Thailand power adapter to convert a three-prong plug into a two-prong plug to fit into a two-pronged outlet.
HomePro, Big C, Power Buy, or any mom and pop electric shop carries these adapters.
If you have to step down the voltage from 220 volts to 110 volts, then you need a converter or transformer — but buying the right one is going to take some math.
Power Converters (Transformers)
If you brought or are planning to bring an appliance from home to use in Thailand, make sure it’s rated for 220 volts. If it isn’t, you’ll need a converter.
You can buy small converters from HomePro. But for bigger ones, head to Saphan Lek in Bangkok’s Chinatown.
But you can’t just buy any 220 volt to 110 volt converter. You have to make sure the converter can handle the amount of power that the appliance draws. You can do this in two ways.
Method 1. Find the amps by calculating the volts x watts.
My Wahl shaver is 110 volts and 45 watts. I add those numbers to this amp calculator and it tells me I need a converter rated for at least 0.375 amps.
Now that I know the volts (110), watts (45), and amps (0.375), I can shop around for the best 220 volt to 110 volt step-down transformer rated for these specs.
For small gadgets like shavers, HomePro has just the right size transformers. Although HomePro doesn’t list them on its website, you can find them in the store’s electrical section.
Method 2. Find the watts by multiplying volts x amps.
If you need to find out how many watts your appliance is rated for, multiply the volts by the amps. You can find this info on your appliance’s rating plate.
We had a vacuum cleaner we shipped to Thailand when we moved here. But to use it in Thailand, we had to buy a large enough converter. The 200 watt converter from HomePro just wouldn’t do it. What we needed was a 1,900 watt converter.
We paid THB2,000 for the converter and it has worked every day for the last 10 years. We use it for a Vitamix we had shipped from America and also my wife’s KitchenAid stand mixer.
Power Outages
Thailand’s electricity is relatively stable but power outages do happen.
If you live in Bangkok, you might never experience a power outage as they are quite rare in the city. And if they do happen, they only last up to an hour at most.
Outside of Bangkok, power outages happen more frequently, especially during the rainy season or when the electric usage is high during the hot season. Where we live in Samut Prakan, for instance, we experience power outages at least once a month. These happen mostly during the day and only last for about 45 minutes.
For those who live in rural Thailand, power outages may be an everyday occurrence.
Repairing and Converting Electric Motors
If you bring your 120 volt appliance to Thailand and accidentally run it on a 220 volt circuit you’ll burn the newness right out of it — wink, wink.
If this happens, don’t trash the appliance.
You can take it to Amorn Electronic. Amorn sells and repairs a variety of electrical tools and equipment. It has many shops around Bangkok, but the one at Old Siam Mall is the most reputable place for replacing your damaged motor or switching it to the 220 volt type.
Solar Electric Systems
More and more people are installing solar electric systems in their homes in Thailand to save money on energy costs over the long run. Because it’s such an in-depth subject, though, we’ve dedicated an entire guide to the topic.
Read more: Solar Electric Systems in Thailand: Equipment, Companies, Costs, and More
Grounding
Whenever you install a larger appliance in Thailand, always make sure that it’s grounded. The green wire on the back of your appliance could save your life if connected the right way. Most newer electronics come with built-in ground protection though.
Electrical Dangers in Thailand
When it comes to electricity in Thailand, it’s worth mentioning the dangers of electrical shock. Unfortunately, electric standards aren’t on par with those of the West.
Over the years I’ve read a few stories of people—sometimes children—dying from electrical shock after touching an ungrounded pole or swimming in an electrified pool.
One time we were eating at an upscale outdoor restaurant near Suvarnabhumi Airport and it began raining outside. The waiters shuffled us inside, and on the way in I noticed a live electric wire dancing and sparking on the wet grass near the bathroom.
I told the staff and thought they’d immediately fix it. When I went to the bathroom at the end of our dinner, the wire was still there, crackling on the grass.
Call me crazy, but I constantly tell my daughters never to touch metal poles that might have electrical wires inside of them. If a loose wire comes in contact with the inside of the pole, it could create an electrical short. And whoever touches it could get electrocuted.
Now, on to You
The most important thing to know is that Thailand runs on 220 volts and 50 hertz. You can charge almost any small electronic device with the charger that comes with it. If you bring larger 120 volt appliances with you to Thailand, you’ll need a converter. You can buy a converter at Saphan Lek or HomePro.
