Plug Adapter for the UK: Plug Type & Voltage
Quick answer: The UK’s sockets are type G, at 230 V and 50 Hz. Neither US plug type, A or B, fits them: bring an adapter for type G. 230 V is about twice the US’s 120 V: a charger marked 100–240V needs only the adapter, but a device made for 120 V only must not be plugged in without a voltage converter.
Which plug adapter you need and whether you need a voltage converter: where you live, up to three places you are going, and what you are bringing.
United States → Italy
Bring a plug adapter: type C, F or LVoltage: Italy 230 V, against 120 V at home. Check each device’s label below.
- Italy
- Type C, F, Ladapter needed · 230 V · 50 Hz
- Phone charger and laptop charger: read the label. If it says “100–240V” (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a voltage converter.
- Hair dryer: read the label. If it says “100–240V” (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a converter rated above the watts on the label, or bring a dual-voltage travel model instead.
- Italy uses type C, F and L sockets; your type A and B plugs are not among them.
- More than one socket type is used there: an adapter for any of them works where that socket is on the wall. Many travel adapters take several; check which it lists.
- The frequency differs from home: chargers marked 50/60 Hz do not mind; clocks and some motors made for one frequency can run fast or slow on the other.
- Drawings are simplified. An adapter changes the shape of the plug, never the voltage: that is a converter’s job.
Plug types and voltage from Wikidata, frequency from the US International Trade Administration; checked 2026-09-25. Simplified drawings. Hotels and old buildings can differ: look at the socket.
The finder above opens on the UK: add up to two more countries of your trip, and your devices, for the adapter and the converter you need.
The UK’s plugs and voltage
The UK’s sockets are type G, at 230 V and 50 Hz. Neither US plug type, A or B, fits them: bring an adapter for type G. 230 V is about twice the US’s 120 V: a charger marked 100–240V needs only the adapter, but a device made for 120 V only must not be plugged in without a voltage converter.
| The UK | The US | |
|---|---|---|
| Plug types | G | A, B |
| Voltage | 230 V | 120 V |
| Frequency | 50 Hz | 60 Hz |
What your devices need
- Phones and laptops: read the label. If it says "100–240V" (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a voltage converter.
- Hair dryers and straighteners: read the label. If it says "100–240V" (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a converter rated above the watts on the label, or bring a dual-voltage travel model instead.
The frequency differs from home: chargers marked 50/60 Hz do not mind; clocks and some motors made for one frequency can run fast or slow on the other.
Adding Ireland and France?
For a trip to the UK, Ireland and France: bring a universal adapter. No single type fits all of them: they use types C, E and G.
Plan it
FAQ
What plug type does the UK use?
Type G, at 230 V and 50 Hz.
Do I need a plug adapter for the UK?
Yes: a US plug fits none of the UK’s sockets (type G).
Do I need a voltage converter for the UK?
Only for a device made for 120 V alone, such as many hair dryers and straighteners: look for “100–240V” on the label, which needs no converter. The UK runs at 230 V.
Will my phone charger work in the UK?
Almost certainly: phone chargers are usually marked 100–240V. Its label decides; it needs only the adapter.
What does a UK plug look like?
It is type G, the same as Ireland’s and Singapore’s: three rectangular pins in a triangle. The finder above draws its socket. A US plug does not fit it: bring a type G adapter.
Do I need a UK converter plug?
What shops call a converter plug is usually a plug adapter, and that is what you need: one that takes a US plug and has type G pins. It changes the plug’s shape, not the voltage. The UK runs at 230 V, about twice the US’s 120 V: a charger marked 100–240V needs only the adapter, and only a device made for 120 V alone (many hair dryers) needs a voltage converter.
What US to UK plug adapter do I need?
One with a US socket (type A and B) on one side and type G pins on the other. A three-pin US plug needs an adapter with a hole for its round earth pin. The UK runs at 230 V, about twice the US’s 120 V: a charger marked 100–240V needs only the adapter, and only a device made for 120 V alone (many hair dryers) needs a voltage converter.
Where this comes from
The plug types and voltages are Wikidata’s (CC0), the same data as the Travel Adapter Finder; the frequency is the US International Trade Administration’s table. A plug is said to fit only where its own type is used: some sockets take other plugs too, but that depends on the socket, so this page does not promise it. An adapter changes the shape of the plug, never the voltage: that is a converter’s job.