Electrical Plugs in Norway: All About Buying the Correct Travel Adapter

You might have to use a travel adapter if you are visiting Norway from another country, but we also share the type of electrical plugs with many other countries. So which types of electrical plugs can you expect in Norway, and will you need a travel adapter to charge your electronics?

Norway mainly uses the electric plug type called Type F (Schuko) with 230 V voltage and 50 Hz frequency. These are compatible with electronics that use Type F, Type C and Type E. All other types need an adapter or even converter.

Who can use electronics in Norway without a travel adapter?

Most European countries with a few exceptions uses the same electrical plugs as we do in Norway. The only exception in Europe is the UK and Ireland, which have their own type of electric plug that is shared with some African and Middle-Eastern countries.

Some African countries also have the same types as the one we have in Norway. Refer to the map below to see a big list of all the countries that uses the same electrical plug types. Any country that is light blue or dark blue can use the electronic in Norway without a travel adapter.

Some countries that can visit Norway without worrying about adapters are Germany, Spain, Sweden, Italy, France, Russia and more. All European countries also have the same voltage and frequency as Norwegian electronic plugs.

Countries that will need a converter to use the electrical plugs in Norway

All countries in both North American and South America, most countries in Africa, Australia and most Asian countries need an electric travel adapter to be able to charge their electric devices in a Norwegian electrical socket.

Using a charger without an adapter is considered very dangerous, even if the type does seem to fit into the socket. The reason is because of the different voltage and frequency, which in worst-case scenarios can cause the charger to overheat and catch fire.

Should you use an adapter or transformer?

To prevent disaster when charging your phone or camera when visiting Norway, make sure to pick up an adapter or transformer. An adapter is fine if you are using the charger for a short while, but more heavy electronic that is connected to the electrical outlet for more than a few hours should use a transformer instead.

I would advise against using an adapter when you are sleeping or not in the same building as the charger. This is because adapters are pretty safe, but do have some increased risk of malfunction and fire. So if you are close by, you will notice any potential problems early on.

That said, it’s very rare for adapters to have malfunctions, catch fire or anything like that, but you want to be on the safe side since fire hazards are serious business.

The transformers on the other hand are generally a bit bigger, but also safer. The also cost a little bit more, but it’s money well spent if you plan on using more heavy electronics or just want to feel more safe when charging your devices.

The adapter people from the US need when traveling to Norway

People from the US should buy a type A / Type B to Type F travel adapter.

The electric plugs from the United States and the rest of the Americas won’t fit the Norwegian electric sockets at all. They are also on the wrong frequency and voltage, so it’s super important to use an adapter or transformer.

Not using an adapter can result in a serious fire hazard!

The adapter people from the UK need when traveling to Norway

People from the UK and Ireland should buy Type G to Type F travel adapter.

It’s also possible to buy an adapter that changes to type C, but these are more rare. Type C chargers will work at any Type F socket.

Where to buy travel adapters and transformers

You can usually pick up travel adapters at tourism shops or at the airport when you arrive, but these will be overly expensive. It will be much cheaper if you buy one from Amazon, Walmart or any other store that sell electronic before you leave your home country.

When buying a travel adapter, make sure that you buy one that also changes the voltage output, since this is different between Europe and the US. As mentioned earlier, you need 230 V voltage and 50 Hz frequency in Norway.