Americas and parts of Asia
Includes North America, South America, US territories, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and parts of Southeast Asia. This is the normal Blu-ray region for the US.
Buyer guide
DVD and Blu-ray Region Codes Explained
Before buying an imported movie, check the region code. DVD and Blu-ray use different region systems, and a mismatch can stop a disc from playing even when the format looks right.
Quick answer
Will a Region 2 DVD play in the US?
Usually no. Standard US DVD players are Region 1. A Region 2 DVD normally needs a region-free or Region 2-capable player. If the disc is PAL, your player/TV also needs to handle PAL playback or conversion.
Blu-ray answer
What are Blu-ray Regions A, B and C?
The US is Region A. Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand are commonly Region B. Much of Asia outside Japan/Korea/Taiwan/Southeast Asia is Region C.
DVD regions
DVD region codes 0-8
| DVD code | Common area | US buyer note |
|---|---|---|
| 0 / ALL | Region-free or all-region DVD labeling | Usually the safest import DVD label for US buyers, but still check PAL/NTSC. |
| 1 | US, Canada and US territories | Standard US DVD player region. |
| 2 | Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Egypt and Greenland | Will usually not play on a standard US Region 1 DVD player. |
| 3 | Southeast Asia and East Asia, including Hong Kong | Needs a compatible or region-free DVD player. |
| 4 | Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Mexico, Central America, South America and Caribbean | Some Latin America releases may be multi-region, but verify the case/listing. |
| 5 | Eastern Europe, Russia, Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea and Mongolia | Needs a compatible or region-free DVD player. |
| 6 | China | Needs a compatible or region-free DVD player. |
| 7 / 8 | Reserved/special use and international travel venues | Rare for normal retail movie purchases. |
Blu-ray regions
Blu-ray region codes A, B and C
Europe, Africa and Oceania
Includes Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. A Region B Blu-ray normally will not play on a standard US Region A player.
Central and South Asia
Includes much of Asia outside Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Region C discs need compatible playback equipment.
Region-free Blu-ray
Discs marked ABC or region-free are intended for playback across Regions A, B and C. Some region-free discs may not show every letter on the cover, so check the listing notes.
Region codes are not the same as formats
A DVD region number and a Blu-ray region letter are separate systems. A US Blu-ray player may play Region A Blu-rays and Region 1 DVDs, but that does not automatically mean it can play Region B Blu-rays or Region 2 DVDs.
DVD imports can also have PAL/NTSC issues
DVDs can carry PAL or NTSC video. Even with a region-free player, a PAL DVD may need a player and TV that can handle PAL or convert it cleanly. This is mostly a DVD issue; HD Blu-ray formats do not use PAL/NTSC in the same buyer-facing way.
4K UHD is usually region-free
Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are generally region-free, but watch combo packs. A 4K disc may play anywhere while the included standard Blu-ray bonus disc is Region B or another locked region.
Computers may have separate limits
Computer drives and playback software can enforce their own region rules. If you plan to play imported discs on a PC or Mac, check both the drive and the software before buying.
Checklist
Before buying an imported disc
- Find the region mark. DVD uses numbers such as 1, 2, 3 or ALL. Blu-ray uses letters such as A, B, C or ABC.
- Match the format and the region. For the US, look for DVD Region 1/ALL and Blu-ray Region A/ABC unless you own a region-free player.
- Check PAL/NTSC for DVDs. Region-free does not always solve video-standard playback on older equipment.
- Read combo-pack details. The 4K UHD disc may be region-free while the included Blu-ray or DVD is locked.
- Confirm your player, not just your TV. The disc player or computer software is usually what enforces the region code.
Questions
Region code FAQ
Will a Region 2 DVD play in the US?
Usually no. Standard US DVD players are Region 1. A Region 2 DVD will normally need a region-free DVD player or a player specifically able to play Region 2 discs, and PAL/NTSC compatibility can also matter for DVDs.
What Blu-ray region is the US?
The US is Blu-ray Region A. Region A also includes Canada, US territories, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and parts of Southeast Asia.
Will a Region B Blu-ray play in America?
Not on a standard US Region A Blu-ray player. It should play only if the disc is region-free/ABC or if the player is region-free for Blu-ray playback.
Are 4K UHD Blu-ray discs region locked?
Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are generally region-free, but combo packs can include a separate 1080p Blu-ray or DVD bonus disc that is still region locked.
Is Region 0 the same as region-free?
For DVD shopping, Region 0 or ALL usually means the DVD is intended to play across regions. For Blu-ray, look for A/B/C, ABC or region-free labeling instead.