UK to European Travel Plug Adaptors
Travelling from the UK to Europe?
For most European destinations, a UK-to-Europe Type C/E/F travel adaptor is the best choice. It fits the sockets used in popular destinations including France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Greece. Italy, Switzerland and Denmark use different socket types, so you may need additional adaptors if they are on your itinerary.
The majority of countries in Europe use a type C unearthed plug (Europlug) and either a type E or F earthed plug. Type E sockets have a male pin which fits into a corresponding hole in the plug whilst type F, commonly known as Schuko, have two earthing clips on the sides of the plug. Plugs that will fit both E and F sockets are common.
Do I need a Voltage Converter for Europe?
A travel adaptor will only change the shape of your plug so that it can fit a different socket, it does not change the voltage of the local supply.
The European supply is generally 230 V 50 Hz. UK appliances are designed for 220-240 V, 50 Hz so should all work without a voltage converter. Check the voltage rating on your appliance if you're unsure.
Our Recommendation
For most British travellers the best travel adaptor for Europe will be a type C/E/F. If you're visiting Denmark, Italy or Switzerland however it may be worth considering dedicated plug adaptors as they have their own, distinct, sockets (see the exceptions).
| Country | Sockets Used | Recommended Adaptor |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | F | Type C/E/F |
| Greece | F | Type C/E/F |
| France | E | Type C/E/F |
| Portugal | F | Type C/E/F |
| Cyprus | G | None |
| Italy | L | Type L |
| Croatia | F | Type C/E/F |
| Poland | E | Type C/E/F |
| Netherlands | F | Type C/E/F |
| Germany | F | Type C/E/F |
| Denmark | E/K | Type K |
| Switzerland | J | Type J |
| Malta | G | None |
European Charger Adaptors (USB)
Many of the Euro plug adaptors now come with onboard USB and increasingly USB-C / PD but connectivity can still be limited. For those with multiple or high power devices a dedicated European USB charger can be a practical solution.
- Standard travel adaptor - Lets you plug your existing UK charger into a European socket.
- USB travel adaptor — Lets you charge phones/tablets directly with USB-A/USB-C, some have a PD port but they're often limited to 20-35 W total.
- USB charger adaptor — Lets you charge multiple devices directly with USB-A/USB-C, PD & QC 3.0 fast charging. Total power output of 65 W+ is common with GaN models achieving 100 W+ for PD to support more powerful laptops like the MacBook Pro.
European Multi-plug Adaptors
A European multi-plug travel adaptor can be useful when a hotel room has only one convenient socket. Models with multiple UK sockets plus USB-A and USB-C ports can allow you to plug in / charge several devices from a single European socket.
Take care to check the adaptor's maximum current/power rating and don't use it for appliances exceeding that rating.
Worldwide (Universal) Adaptors
Travelling beyond Europe? Consider a universal travel adaptor. If Europe is only one part of a wider trip, a universal adaptor may be more convenient than carrying several dedicated adaptors. The most common (unearthed) versions will all connect to the Euro type C sockets as well as the type E/F sockets (although they won't make an earth connection).
A universal adaptor can also be useful on a European itinerary that includes countries with different sockets such as Switzerland or Italy, but check compatibility carefully because not every universal adaptor supports every socket or provides an earth connection.
See our full compatibility table for detailed information on which sockets they can connect to.
European Countries That May Need a Different Adaptor
Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Cyprus and Malta all use type G sockets so Brits will not require an adaptor there.
Switzerland has type J,
Denmark type K,
and Italy type L sockets
so you may need specific adaptors if you are visiting any of those countries.
European Plug & Socket
Compatibility Table
| Sockets → ↓ Plugs |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plug |
Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Incompatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
Plug |
Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Incompatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made |
Plug |
Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Incompatible | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Incompatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made |
Plug |
Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible | Compatible | Incompatible | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made | Compatible, but no earth connection is made |
Plug |
Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible |
Plug |
Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Incompatible | Incompatible |
Plug |
Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Incompatible |
Plug |
Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Incompatible | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible |
Compatibility Key
- Compatible
- Compatible
- Incompatible
- Incompatible
- Incorrect fit warning
- Plug can be inserted but the pins are of incorrect size resulting in poor fit, which can be dangerous.
- Older plugs information
- Dedicated type E and type F plugs have been mostly phased out in favour of the hybrid type E/F, which is now common.
Frequently Asked Questions
European Travel Adaptors
-
No, most countries in Europe use type C plus E or F plugs but the UK, Switzerland, Denmark and Italy have different ones.
-
Most countries in Europe use type C, E or F plugs. Exceptions are: UK - type G, Switzerland - type J, Denmark - type K and Italy - type L.
-
Most countries in Europe use type E or F sockets. Exceptions are: the UK - type G, Switzerland - type J, Denmark - type K and Italy - type L.
-
Type C adaptors (unearthed) are compatible with type C,E,F,J,K and L sockets so will work in most countries. If you need to use earthed equipment you will need a type CEF adaptor for most countries but a dedicated adaptor is needed for Switzerland, Denmark and Italy.
-
Usually, but not everywhere. A Type C/E/F adaptor will work in most popular European destinations, including France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Greece. However, some countries use additional socket types, including Italy (Type L), Switzerland (Type J), Denmark (Type K), the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Cyprus (Type G). The UK, Ireland and Malta have exclusively Type G sockets.
-
No, the EU supply is generally 230 V 50 Hz which is compatible with UK appliances. Check the specifications of your appliances if unsure.
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No, a plug adaptor only changes the shape of your plug so that it can fit into a European socket. A voltage converter is a separate device that can reduce the 230V supply down to 120V for travellers from Central and North America.
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British travellers to Europe will need to select a plug adaptor with onboard USB or USB-C and the appropriate charging cable.
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Here's a picture of a European plug adaptor.
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Here's a picture of a 2 pin European plug (Europlug).
