Travel · Spain · Type F
Spain: one socket, mainland to islands.
Spain is Type F at 230V / 50Hz — the round-recessed Schuko socket, which also accepts the slim Type C Europlug. The same socket and the same voltage apply on the mainland, in the Balearics and in the Canaries, so a Spanish trip needs exactly one adapter design.
What you need to know, in order of importance
- Buy a Type C or Type F adapter. Both seat in a Spanish socket. Type C is the cheaper, slimmer, ungrounded version and is all a USB charger needs.
- Leave the converter at home unless you are bringing a hair dryer or a curling iron.
- Bring one multi-port charger rather than four single bricks, so one adapter serves the whole group.
| Spec | Value | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Plug type | F (Schuko), Type C fits | Any "Europe" adapter works here |
| Voltage | 230V | Fine for anything marked 100–240V |
| Frequency | 50Hz | No effect on switching chargers |
| Accepts | C, E, F plugs | Also covers a hybrid French/German plug |
| Rejects | US A/B, UK G, Swiss J, Italian L | Spain-only kit will not do Italy or Switzerland |
Which devices are already Spanish-ready
Turn the charger over and read the input line. 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz means the power supply was designed for global mains and will run at full output on Spanish electricity. That covers every USB-C charger sold in the US, every laptop brick from the last decade, camera and drone battery chargers, e-reader adapters and electric toothbrush bases.
The list that genuinely needs a transformer is short and predictable: things that make heat or spin. A 1,875W US hair dryer, a flat iron, a curling wand, a travel kettle, a corded shaver with a fixed 120V motor. Their labels show 120V with no range. Feed one 230V through a plug adapter and it fails immediately, often loudly. The full reasoning is in voltage converters vs adapters.
What to pack
- Type C
Type C Europlug adapter (2-pin)
The minimum viable object. Slim, ungrounded, works in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Italy alike.
- Fits
- C, E, F, L sockets
- Earth
- No
- Weight
- Under an ounce
- 65W
UGREEN Nexode 65W GaN
Three devices from one Spanish socket: laptop on port one, phone and earbuds on the rest.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Input
- 100–240V 50/60Hz
- 4-in-1
EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter
Buy this instead if the itinerary includes the UK or Ireland — the Type G head is built in.
- Plug types
- A, C, G, I
- USB
- 3× A, 1× C
- Fuse
- 8A, spare included
Crossing into Portugal changes nothing — same socket, same voltage. France is Type E and still takes your Type C adapter. Italy and Greece are covered separately; the Europe overview maps the continent and the travel hub lists all 45 countries.
FAQ
Is Spain 220V or 230V?
230V at 50Hz. Spain converted its remaining 125V distribution decades ago and harmonised on 230V with the rest of Europe, so you can treat every socket in the country as 230V.
Do the Canary Islands use a different plug?
No. The Canaries and the Balearics use the same Type F socket at 230V / 50Hz as mainland Spain, so one adapter covers the whole country.
Will my American hair dryer work in Spain?
Only if its label shows a 100-240V or 120/240V range, and most US models do not. A 120V-only dryer needs a heavy voltage converter rated above 1,800W; buying a dual-voltage travel dryer is cheaper and lighter.
Can I charge a laptop with a cheap plug adapter?
Yes. A plug adapter is a passive shape-changer with no wattage limit of its own beyond its contact rating, typically well above what any laptop draws. The laptop's own 100-240V brick does the actual work.