The UK uses the type G plug (three rectangular pins) at 230 V, 50 Hz. What adapter you need, why sockets have switches, and what the bathroom socket is for.
The short answer
The UK uses plug type G at 230 V, 50 Hz. From the US you need a type G adapter.
The United Kingdom uses one plug: type G, with three rectangular pins in a triangle and a fuse inside the plug. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all use it, and nothing from the US or mainland Europe fits without an adapter.
Three rectangular pins in a triangle, with a fuse in the plug.
Where else type G 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 G | For 120 V-only devices |
| United Kingdom or Ireland | Not needed | Not needed |
| Mainland Europe | Type G | Not needed |
| Australia or New Zealand | Type G | Not needed |
| Japan | Type G | For 100 V-only devices |
A type G adapter that takes US plugs. None of these convert voltage.
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
A type G adapter. Chargers for phones, laptops and cameras then work as they are, because they accept 100-240 V.
Only for single-voltage US devices. The UK runs at 230 V; hair dryers, straighteners and some electric razors made for 120 V need a converter or a dual-voltage replacement.
Yes. The UK and Ireland both use type G at 230 V, 50 Hz, so one adapter covers both.
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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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