European Travel Plug Adaptors
Travelling to Europe?
For most European destinations, a European 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. The UK, 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 EU supply is generally 230 V 50 Hz so you will need to check if you need a transformer / voltage converter as well as a European plug adaptor. North and Central America use 110V and Japan 100V and their appliances will be incompatible unless specifically marked (look for a marking along the lines of 100 - 240V 50/60Hz which may be on the power supply). Many personal electrical devices will accept 100 - 240V, it tends to be high powered appliances (irons, hairdryers etc) that will not work on different supply voltages. Adaptors that have onboard USB ports will accommodate the electrical supply worldwide and do not need a separate voltage converter, so you can charge your USB devices easily.
Our Recommendation
For most international 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). If you're visiting the UK then a type G adaptor will be essential as they do not have any type C, E or F sockets at all.
| Country | Sockets Used | Recommended Adaptor |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | G | Type G |
| Ireland | G | Type G |
| Spain | F | Type C/E/F |
| Greece | F | Type C/E/F |
| France | E | Type C/E/F |
| Portugal | F | Type C/E/F |
| 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 |
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 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 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 the UK 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
The UK uses type G, 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
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No, most countries in Europe use type C plus E or F plugs but the UK, Switzerland, Denmark and Italy have different ones.
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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.
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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.
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Type C adaptors (unearthed) are compatible with type C,E,F,J,K and L sockets so will work in most countries other than the UK (which uses exclusively type G). If you need to use earthed equipment you will need a type CEF adaptor for most countries but a dedicated adaptor for Switzerland, Denmark and Italy as well as the UK.
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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.
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International travellers to Europe may need a voltage converter or transformer if their appliances are not compatible with the local voltage (230 V 50 Hz). North and Central America use 120 V + /- 5% and Japan uses 100V, however many travel appliances are dual voltage, in which case they will be marked "100 - 240V" or similar and will operate safely. Some high powered items (eg hair dryers) are single voltage however and may require a voltage converter or transformer to operate safely. Travellers will need to check their individual appliances in order to know if a voltage converter or transformer is required.
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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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international travellers to Europe will need to select a plug adaptor with onboard USB or USB-C and the appropriate charging cable. USB charging ports usually work with input voltages of 100V - 250V so no voltage converter is required specifically for charging your phone.
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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).
