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Italy Plugs, outlets & travel adapters
Italy uses Type C, F and L sockets. The mains supply is 230 V at 50 Hz.
Plugbert's take Italian sockets come in 10 A and 16 A sizes. Check which design your adapter supports.
Do you need a travel adapter for Italy?
It depends on where your plugs come from.
🇺🇸 From the United States
Pack an adapter that accepts your home plug. For small ungrounded chargers, a Type C (Europlug) adapter fits 10 A and bipasso sockets. For grounded devices, choose a grounded Type L (Italian) 10 A adapter. Neither fits a 16 A-only Italian socket; Schuko-only sockets need a different adapter. Check the outlet and the adapter rating.
Italy 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 Italy in full🇬🇧 From the United Kingdom
Pack an adapter that accepts your home plug. For small ungrounded chargers, a Type C (Europlug) adapter fits 10 A and bipasso sockets. For grounded devices, choose a grounded Type L (Italian) 10 A adapter. Neither fits a 16 A-only Italian socket; Schuko-only sockets need a different adapter. Check the outlet and the adapter rating.
No voltage converter needed. Both countries use 230 V.
United Kingdom to Italy in fullFrom other countries
Somewhere else?
Sockets you'll find in Italy
What to expect in Italy
What to pack for Italy
For a small charger that does not require an earth connection, a Type C Europlug adapter is an option for compatible Italian outlets. For a device that requires grounding, pack a grounded Type L adapter with the Italian 10 A plug that accepts your home plug. A two-pin adapter cannot provide an earth connection.
Check the actual outlet: neither choice fits every Italian socket. A Schuko-only outlet needs a Schuko-compatible plug, while a dedicated Italian 16 A outlet needs the larger Italian plug. The combination outlets below accept several designs.
Italian sockets: 10 A, 16 A and bipasso
Type L has three pins in a straight line. Its 10 A and 16 A versions have different spacing. A plain socket for one size does not accept the other.
A bipasso outlet combines both sizes. BTicino's P17/11 specifications show the two spacings, 19 mm and 26 mm, and support for Italian 10 A and 16 A plugs. Vimar's compatibility table also distinguishes Europlug compatibility from grounded connections.
A slim Type C Europlug fits compatible 10 A and bipasso outlets. It does not fit a dedicated 16 A-only outlet. Do not assume that every adapter sold as “European” has the same pin design.
Will a Schuko adapter work?
A Type F Schuko plug needs an outlet with Schuko contacts; it does not fit a plain Type L outlet.
BTicino documents two combination designs: P30 accepts Schuko and Italian 10 A plugs; P40 also accepts Italian 16 A plugs. This is why an adapter can work in one room and fail to fit another outlet.
Will a universal adapter work?
Check its wall-side plug, supported inputs and earth connection. “Universal” alone does not establish compatibility with Type L. As a specification example, SKROSS lists Type L output, grounded plug inputs and a 10 A limit for its Italy-compatible adapter. It does not convert voltage. This example illustrates what to check; it is not a tested product recommendation.
Phones, laptops and hair dryers
Read the input rating on your charger. A rating of 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz includes Italy's nominal supply. ARERA's household glossary specifies 230 V for domestic supplies; Italia.it confirms 50 Hz, although its voltage wording still says 220 V. We use the regulator's nominal voltage. Apple documents that range for its USB adapters; confirm it on your own model rather than assuming all chargers are identical.
A US hair dryer labelled only 120 V cannot run directly on that supply through a plug adapter. Follow its manufacturer's instructions, or use a suitable local device. For any device, check the adapter's current or wattage limit as well as voltage compatibility. The rating printed on a socket or adapter describes that component's limits, not voltage conversion.
Will your devices work in Italy?
Sockets in Italy 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.