US to European Travel Plug Adapters
Travelling from the US to Europe?
For most European destinations, a US-to-Europe Type C/E/F travel adapter is the best choice. It fits the outlets 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 adapters if they are on your itinerary.
The majority of countries in Europe use a type C ungrounded plug (Europlug) and either a type E or F grounded plug. Type E outlets have a male pin which fits into a corresponding hole in the plug whilst type F, commonly known as Schuko, have two grounding clips on the sides of the plug. Plugs that will fit both E and F outlets are common.
Do I need a Voltage Converter for Europe?
A travel adapter will only change the shape of your plug so that it can fit a different outlet, it does not change the voltage of the local supply.
The EU supply is generally 230 V 50 Hz so Americans may need a transformer / voltage converter as well as a US to Europe plug adapter unless your devices are specifically marked as being compatible (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 230V, it tends to be high powered appliances that will not (irons, hairdryers etc). Adapters that have onboard USB ports will accommodate the European supply and do not need a separate voltage converter, so you can charge your USB devices easily.
Our Recommendation
For most American travelers the best travel adapter 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 adapters as they have their own, distinct, outlets (see the exceptions). If you're visiting the UK then a type G adapter will be essential as they do not have any type C, E or F outlets at all.
| Country | Outlets Used | Recommended Adapter |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Adapters (USB)
Many of the Euro plug adapters 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 adapter - Lets you plug your existing US charger into a European socket.
- USB travel adapter — 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 adapter — 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 Adapters
A European multi-plug travel adapter can be useful when a hotel room has only one convenient outlet. Models with multiple US outlets plus USB-A and USB-C ports can allow you to plug in / charge several devices from a single European outlet.
Take care to check the adapter's maximum current/power rating and don't use it for appliances exceeding that rating.
Worldwide (Universal) Adapters
Travelling beyond Europe? Consider a universal travel adapter. If Europe is only one part of a wider trip, a universal adapter may be more convenient than carrying several dedicated adapters. The most common (ungrounded) versions will all connect to the Euro type C outlets as well as the type E/F outlets (although they won't make a ground connection).
A universal adapter can also be useful on a European itinerary that includes countries with different outlets such as the UK or Italy, but check compatibility carefully because not every universal adapter supports every outlet or provides a ground connection.
See our full compatibility table for detailed information on which outlets they can connect to.
European Countries That May Need a Different Adapter
The UK uses type G, Switzerland has type J, Denmark type K, and Italy type L outlets so you may need specific adapters if you are visiting any of those countries.
European Plug & Outlet
Compatibility Table
| Sockets → ↓ Plugs |
Outlet |
Outlet |
Outlet |
Outlet |
Outlet |
Outlet |
Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plug |
Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Incompatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
Plug |
Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Incompatible | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible, but no ground connection is made |
Plug |
Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Incompatible | Same plug and socket type; fully compatible | Incompatible | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible, but no ground connection is made |
Plug |
Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible | Compatible | Incompatible | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible, but no ground connection is made | Compatible, but no ground 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 Adapters
-
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 outlets. Exceptions are: the UK - type G, Switzerland - type J, Denmark - type K and Italy - type L.
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Type C adapters (ungrounded) are compatible with type C,E,F,J,K and L outlets so will work in most countries other than the UK (which uses exclusively type G). If you need to use grounded equipment you will need a type CEF adapter for most countries but a dedicated adapter 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 outlet 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 outlets.
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American travelers to Europe may need a voltage converter or transformer as the local voltage (230 V 50 Hz) is outside the normal US range (120 V + /- 5%). Many US appliances however 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 would require a voltage converter or transformer to operate safely. Travelers 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 adapter only changes the shape of your plug so that it can fit into a European outlet. A voltage converter is a separate device that can reduce the 230V supply down to 120V for travelers from Central and North America.
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American travelers to Europe will need to select a plug adapter 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 adapter.
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Here's a picture of a 2 prong European plug (Europlug).
