Region 1
Canada, United States and US territories. Region 0 or All DVDs are usually intended to play broadly.
Playback guide
DVD and Blu-ray region codes explained for TV collectors.
Buying an imported TV box set can be a great way to find rare seasons, better packaging or a release that never came out locally. The catch is region coding: the disc and player usually need to match.
US buyer shortcut
DVD: Region 1, 0 or All
Blu-ray: Region A or ABC
4K UHD: usually region-free
Always check the case
Quick answer
If you are in the US, buy DVD Region 1 and Blu-ray Region A unless the disc is region-free.
A standard US DVD player is normally Region 1. A standard US Blu-ray player is normally Region A for Blu-ray discs. Imported Region 2 DVDs from the UK or Europe and Region B Blu-rays usually need a compatible, multi-region or region-free player.
Region 2 DVD
UK, Europe, Japan, Middle East, South Africa and more. Usually not playable on a standard US Region 1 player.
Region A
North America, South America, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and parts of Southeast Asia.
All / ABC
DVD All or Blu-ray ABC means the release is intended to play across the main regions.
DVD regions
DVD uses numbered regions.
| DVD region | Main areas | US buyer note |
|---|---|---|
| Region 0 / All | Not locked to one DVD region. | Usually the safest import marking, but still check PAL/NTSC for DVD video compatibility. |
| Region 1 | Canada, United States and US territories. | Standard US DVD region. |
| Region 2 | Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East including Egypt, and Greenland. | A common UK/EU import region. Usually needs a multi-region player in the US. |
| Region 3 | Southeast Asia and East Asia including Hong Kong. | Usually needs a compatible or region-free player in the US. |
| Region 4 | Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. | Some Latin American releases may be multi-region, but do not assume. |
| Region 5 | Eastern Europe, Russia, Indian Subcontinent, Africa, North Korea and Mongolia. | Usually needs a compatible or region-free player in the US. |
| Region 6 | China. | Usually needs a compatible or region-free player in the US. |
Blu-ray regions
Blu-ray uses A, B and C.
| Blu-ray region | Main areas | US buyer note |
|---|---|---|
| Region A | North America, South America, US territories, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other parts of Southeast Asia. | Standard US Blu-ray region. |
| Region B | Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. | Common UK/EU import region. Usually needs a Region B or region-free Blu-ray player in the US. |
| Region C | Asia except Japan, Korea, Taiwan and parts of Southeast Asia. | Usually needs a compatible or region-free player in the US. |
| Region ABC / Free | Playable across A, B and C regions. | Best Blu-ray marking for import buyers. |
| 4K UHD Blu-ray | Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are generally region-free. | The included standard Blu-ray bonus disc may still be region coded. |
DVD gotcha
Region-free does not always mean US-compatible.
DVDs can also involve video standards such as NTSC, PAL and SECAM. The United States historically uses NTSC, while many European releases are PAL. A Region 0 or All PAL DVD may still fail, show unstable video or need a player and TV that can handle PAL output.
- For US buyers, the safest DVD combination is Region 1 or All plus NTSC.
- For UK and Europe imports, check whether the DVD is PAL.
- Blu-ray and 4K playback is less tied to old PAL/NTSC DVD video standards.
Where to look
Check the back cover, disc label and product details.
DVD region marks often use a small globe icon with a number. Blu-ray region marks usually show A, B, C or ABC. Amazon listings may include this in product details, but imported TV editions can be inconsistent, so the case image and seller notes matter too.
- Look for Region 1, Region 0, All, Region A or Region ABC.
- Watch for phrases like "UK import", "Region B", "PAL" or "requires region-free player".
- When a TV box set includes multiple discs, check DVD, Blu-ray and bonus discs separately.
Before buying
Five checks for imported TV releases
Match the disc region
US DVD buyers want Region 1, 0 or All. US Blu-ray buyers want Region A or ABC.
Check PAL or NTSC
This matters most for DVD imports, especially UK and European TV sets.
Confirm the player
Some players are region-free for DVD only, not Blu-ray. Check the player manual.
Inspect every disc
Combo packs may have a region-free 4K disc and a locked Blu-ray bonus disc.
Read seller notes
Import listings often hide compatibility warnings in bullets, photos or marketplace notes.
Related guide
Region codes are only one part of choosing a format.
After you know whether a disc will play, compare DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD and Prime Video for picture quality, ownership, extras and convenience.
FAQ
Common region-code questions
Will a Region 2 DVD play in the United States?
Usually not on a standard US DVD or Blu-ray player. Most US players are DVD Region 1. A Region 2 DVD needs a compatible Region 2, multi-region or region-free player, and some imported DVDs also need PAL/NTSC support.
Will a Region B Blu-ray play on a US Blu-ray player?
Usually not. Standard US Blu-ray players are Region A. A Region B disc needs a Region B or region-free Blu-ray player unless the disc is marked Region ABC or region free.
What does Region 0 or All mean on DVD?
Region 0 or All generally means the DVD is not locked to one DVD region and is intended to play across regions. You should still check the video standard, because some imported DVDs may be PAL.
Are 4K UHD Blu-ray discs region locked?
Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are generally region-free. The regular Blu-ray disc that sometimes comes in the same package can still have a Blu-ray region code, so check each disc in the set.
Research sources
This guide is based on manufacturer support references for DVD regions, Blu-ray regions and PAL/NTSC compatibility.