One type C adapter covers mainland Europe. The exceptions are the UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus (type G) and Switzerland, whose recessed sockets reject most round adapters.
The short answer
Europe uses plug types C, E, F at 230 V, 50 Hz. From the US you need a type C adapter.
Mainland Europe runs on 230 V at 50 Hz and uses round-pin sockets (types C, E and F). A single type C adapter, the flat two-pin Europlug shape, fits sockets from Portugal to Poland, including Denmark's type K and most Italian sockets.
Two round pins, no ground (the Europlug).
Where else type C is usedTwo round pins; the socket has a ground pin that sticks out.
Where else type E is usedTwo round pins with ground clips on the sides (Schuko).
Where else type F is used"Converter" applies only to single-voltage devices. Chargers marked 100-240V need an adapter at most.
| Traveling from | Adapter | Voltage converter |
|---|---|---|
| United States or Canada | Type C | For 120 V-only devices |
| United Kingdom or Ireland | Type C | Not needed |
| Mainland Europe | Not needed | Not needed |
| Australia or New Zealand | Type C | Not needed |
| Japan | Type C | For 100 V-only devices |
A type C adapter that takes US plugs. None of these convert voltage.
Budget Europe adapter with 2 USB ports for Type C outlets
UK, Ireland and other type G countries, with USB-C
A universal adapter covers types A, C, G and I. It won't fit Switzerland, India or South Africa well.
Works in 150+ countries with 5 USB ports
| Country | Plug types | Type C adapter fits? |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | C, F | Yes |
| Andorra | C, F | Yes |
| Austria | C, F | Yes |
| Belarus | C, F | Yes |
| Belgium | C, E | Yes |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | C, F | Yes |
| Bulgaria | C, F | Yes |
| Croatia | C, F | Yes |
| Cyprus | G | No |
| Czech Republic | C, E | Yes |
| Denmark | C, E, F, K | Yes |
| Estonia | C, F | Yes |
| Finland | C, F | Yes |
| France | C, E | Yes |
| Germany | C, F | Yes |
| Gibraltar | C, G | Yes |
| Greece | C, F | Yes |
| Hungary | C, F | Yes |
| Iceland | C, F | Yes |
| Ireland | G | No |
| Italy | C, F, L | Yes |
| Kosovo | C, F | Yes |
| Latvia | C, F | Yes |
| Liechtenstein | C, J | Flat plugs only |
| Lithuania | C, F | Yes |
| Luxembourg | C, F | Yes |
| Malta | G | No |
| Moldova | C, F | Yes |
| Monaco | C, E | Yes |
| Montenegro | C, F | Yes |
| Netherlands | C, F | Yes |
| North Macedonia | C, F | Yes |
| Norway | C, F | Yes |
| Poland | C, E | Yes |
| Portugal | C, E, F | Yes |
| Romania | C, F | Yes |
| San Marino | C, F, L | Yes |
| Serbia | C, F | Yes |
| Slovakia | C, E, F | Yes |
| Slovenia | C, F | Yes |
| Spain | C, F | Yes |
| Sweden | C, F | Yes |
| Switzerland | C, J | Flat plugs only |
| Ukraine | C, F | Yes |
| United Kingdom | G | No |
A type C adapter covers mainland Europe. Add a type G adapter for the UK, Ireland, Malta or Cyprus, and a type J adapter for Switzerland.
No. Most of mainland Europe uses types C, E and F, which all accept a type C plug. The UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus and Gibraltar use type G, Switzerland uses type J, Italy uses type L alongside C and F, and Denmark uses type K alongside C, E and F.
Only for single-voltage devices. Europe runs at 230 V against 120 V in the US. Check the label: "100-240V" means an adapter is enough; "120V" alone means the device needs a converter or should stay home.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Taro spent a decade in the music industry as a tour manager, crisscrossing the globe with artists and crews who demanded gear that actually worked. From overnight buses in the American Midwest to bullet trains in Japan, backstage in London to festival grounds across Europe—he's lived out of bags, cases, and carry-ons for years. That experience taught him what separates travel gear that survives the road from stuff that falls apart after one trip. Now he channels that hard-won knowledge into TravelGiftList, helping travelers find products that meet real-world demands.
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