Good to know · Housing

Know Spain’s electricity: voltage, sockets and adapters

Spain’s regulation sets 230 V and 50 Hz for the mains. The US uses a different voltage and frequency, so some devices you bring need more than a plug adapter.

Why it matters

The wrong plug or voltage can stop a device from working or damage it, so it is worth checking each device before you pack it.

When

You are bringing electrical devices from another country, or buying one abroad to use in Spain.

Last checked

21 Oct 2026

Steps

1. Know the mains
   Spain’s low-voltage regulation (Reglamento Electrotécnico para Baja Tensión, Real Decreto 842/2002, article 4) lists 230 V as a usual voltage (230 V between a live wire and neutral in four-wire three-phase networks) and says the frequency of the network is 50 Hz.
2. Know the sockets
   The regulation’s list of standards for sockets and plugs uses the Spanish standard UNE 20315 (the Spanish system), covering sockets and plugs for home and similar use. Spain’s round two-pin plugs are the ones usually called type C and type F.
3. Read the label on each device
   Look for the rating on the device or its power brick. If it says "100-240 V, 50/60 Hz" (or "INPUT 100-240V"), it accepts Spain’s 230 V and 50 Hz, and only needs a plug adapter, which changes the shape of the prongs but not the voltage.
4. If the label says 120 V only
   A device marked for 120 V only (or "110-120 V") will be damaged by 230 V, and a plug adapter does not change that. It needs a voltage converter or transformer rated for the device’s wattage, or it is better left behind.
5. Check 60 Hz devices
   Because the frequency here is 50 Hz rather than 60 Hz, devices that count on the mains frequency, such as some clocks and motor-driven appliances, can run slower or differently even with a converter. Check the label or the maker’s manual.

Tips

• Check the label before you pack: a "100-240 V, 50/60 Hz" device needs only a plug adapter.
• Never use a plug adapter alone with a device marked for 120 V only.
• A converter or transformer must be rated for at least the device’s wattage, shown on its label.

Official sources

• Real Decreto 842/2002, Reglamento Electrotécnico para Baja Tensión (art. 4: tensiones y frecuencia; ITC-BT-02: normas UNE, incl. UNE 20315 bases y clavijas)

Do these first

• Set up electricity in your name (cambio de titular, tariff, bono social)