🇩🇪
Germany Plugs, outlets & travel adapters
Germany uses Type C and F sockets. The mains supply is 230 V at 50 Hz.
Plugbert's take Europlug and Schuko: two pins for suitable ungrounded chargers, earth contacts for grounded equipment.
Do you need a travel adapter for Germany?
It depends on where your plugs come from.
🇺🇸 From the United States
You need a plug adapter. Plugs from the United States (Type A and B) don't fit the Type C and F sockets in Germany. A Type C (Europlug) adapter fits the listed socket families there. For grounded devices, get a Type F (Schuko) adapter for a compatible grounded outlet instead; it does not fit every listed outlet. Socket variants can differ; check the actual outlet and adapter rating.
Germany uses 230 V, much higher than the 120 V in the United States. An input rating of "100–240V" covers the listed supply voltage; you still need a suitable plug or adapter. For single-voltage devices, follow the manufacturer's guidance on conversion; using a suitable local device may be simpler.
United States to Germany in full🇬🇧 From the United Kingdom
You need a plug adapter. Plugs from the United Kingdom (Type G) don't fit the Type C and F sockets in Germany. A Type C (Europlug) adapter fits the listed socket families there. For grounded devices, get a Type F (Schuko) adapter for a compatible grounded outlet instead; it does not fit every listed outlet. Socket variants can differ; check the actual outlet and adapter rating.
No voltage converter needed. Both countries use 230 V.
United Kingdom to Germany in fullFrom other countries
Somewhere else?
Sockets you'll find in Germany
What to expect in Germany
Schuko for earth, Europlug for suitable two-pin chargers
Electrical Safety First identifies Type C and F in Germany, with 230 V, 50 Hz electricity. Type F is the Schuko design, with grounding contacts at the sides. A slim Type C Europlug has no earth connection.
US and UK visitors need an adapter accepting their own plugs. A suitable Type C adapter can serve a small ungrounded charger; choose grounded Type F for equipment requiring earth. Check the actual outlet and product rating. A two-pin adapter is not a grounding solution for a three-prong device.
One adapter for Germany and France?
Look for explicit E/F compatibility. France's Type E design uses a projecting earth pin, so the adapter must support that connection too. SKROSS documents E and F outputs on one Europe adapter; that illustrates a specification to check, rather than a tested recommendation.
A universal adapter needs those same output and grounding checks. A long destination list does not tell you which input plugs it accepts or how much power it can handle.
Check the input, not the charger output
The German National Tourist Board's 2022/23 guide also lists 230 V. A device marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz covers the listed supply; a 120 V-only US appliance does not. Use the label decoder to distinguish mains input from a charger's low-voltage output. An adapter changes the plug connection without lowering the supply voltage.
Will your devices work in Germany?
Sockets in Germany supply 230 V. Find the "input" line on each device or its charger. An input rating of "100–240V" covers the listed supply voltage; you still need a suitable plug or adapter. Check that the input frequency also covers 50 Hz. An adapter changes the plug shape, not the voltage or frequency. For switchable devices, follow the manufacturer's instructions before plugging in.
Often rated 100–240 V; confirm on the charger: phone charger, laptop charger, camera battery charger.
Check the label first: electric toothbrush, electric shaver, CPAP machine, hair straightener / curler.
Usually single voltage: hair dryer, kettle / coffee maker, anything with a heating element.
Plug twins
These countries list the same plug types and a similar voltage range. Check each guide for socket variants and local exceptions.