Bring from home or buy in Spain: household items decision guide

Key rules

• Mains power: Spain runs on 230 V at 50 Hz, so check each device's label before you pack it.
• Gas appliances: Only an authorised gas installer may connect or modify a gas cooker or boiler, so buy these locally.
• 110 V heaters: Leave 110 V heating appliances behind; transformers for them are large and heavy.
• Furniture and mattresses: Buy them in Spain, where they are cheap compared with shipping and sized to local beds.

The short rule

Bring compact, compatible, sentimental items. Buy bulky, voltage-sensitive or size-specific items in Spain. Shipping large goods is costly, and many of them would not work properly here anyway.

What to bring

• Personal items, documents and sentimental things.
• Quality bed linen. Check the bed sizes below first, so it fits.
• Books and specialist tools.
• Phone and laptop chargers marked dual voltage. They need only a plug adaptor.
• UK appliances rated 230 V. They need a UK-to-EU plug adaptor and no converter.

What to buy in Spain

• Furniture. Large stores and local shops sell it cheaply compared with the cost of shipping.
• Lamps and kitchen items. They are easy to replace and awkward to pack.
• Mattresses. Sizes differ from what you may be used to (see below).
• Large appliances. Voltage and gas fittings are the problem (see below).

The comparison below sets new, second-hand and brought-from-home furnishing side by side.

Electricity: check every label

Spain uses 230 V at 50 Hz. Sockets take two round pins (Type C and Type F). Read the rating label on each device for its voltage and frequency.

• UK devices at 230 V work with a plug adaptor.
• US or Canadian devices at 110-120 V need a step-up transformer, unless the label says dual voltage (100-240 V). Never plug a 110 V device straight into 230 V.
• Heating appliances at 110 V (hair dryers, kettles, toasters, heaters, irons) would need very large, heavy transformers. Leave them and buy new ones.
• Motor-driven items at 60 Hz (some clocks, turntables, US washers and dryers) may run wrongly at 50 Hz, even with a converter. Leave them unless the maker confirms they can run at 50 Hz.

Gas cookers and boilers: buy locally

Do not ship a gas cooker or boiler. Spain uses piped natural gas and butane in orange bottles, with propane in some areas. Each runs at a different pressure, and appliances are set for one gas type. Cookers and boilers from the US or UK generally do not meet Spanish connector, CE certification or flue standards.

Only an authorised gas installer may connect or modify a gas cooker or boiler. Ask the installer which gas your building uses before you buy any gas appliance. Boilers also need periodic inspections.

Beds and mattresses: measure first

Spanish mattresses are usually 80, 90 or 105 cm wide for singles. Doubles come in 135, 150, 160, 180 and 200 cm. Length is usually 190 or 200 cm. A 90x190 or 90x200 is the typical single. 135x190 is an older double size, and 150x190/200 and 160x200 are common now. Sizes vary by brand, so measure your bed frame before you buy. If your frame is not a Spanish size, buy the bed locally too.

The checklist and questions below cover the same points in short form.

Furnishing options compared: new, second-hand or bring from home

A side-by-side comparison of buying new in Spain, buying second-hand and shipping furniture from home, judged on cost, speed and risk. For anyone furnishing a flat after moving to Spain.

The short answer

For most people, buying in Spain is the best mix of cost and speed. Buy new for beds and big items, buy second-hand to save money, and ship only what you cannot replace.

The three options side by side

Buying new

Home-furnishing chains, DIY stores and local shops cover almost everything. Online mattress brands and sofa-bed specialists sell similar ranges. Sales in January and July (the rebajas) and Black Friday lower prices a lot, so wait for them if you are not in a hurry.

Buy mattresses here, not from home, because sizes differ in Spain. Buy large appliances here too, because voltage and gas fittings differ.

A professional seller must give you a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods. If something does not match the contract, you can ask for a repair or replacement first, then a price cut or refund.

Buying second-hand

This is the cheapest way to furnish a flat. Look in:

• classified-ads apps, where you chat with the seller and usually collect the item yourself;
• flea markets, held on set days, where bargaining is normal;
• charity shops and local second-hand shops;
• listings from departing residents, who often give things away or sell very cheap.

Larger cities with many moves tend to have cheaper stock. Check the current new price and compare several listings before you offer.

Protect yourself:

• Pay through the platform's own payment protection where it exists. Never agree to pay outside it.
• Never click payment or shipping links sent in a chat. Fake links that imitate real platforms are used to steal card details.
• Never share card codes or bank logins.
• Meet in a public place, inspect the item and test appliances before you pay.
• Be wary of prices that look too good, advance deposits, fake payment requests, overpayment cheques and fake couriers.
• Check the seller's ratings and keep the chat records.

If you are scammed, report it to the platform and to the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil. Contact your bank quickly to dispute card charges.

Warranty depends on the seller. A professional seller must give at least one year on second-hand goods. A shorter period than two years must be clearly agreed in writing. Sales between private individuals have no consumer guarantee. The item must still match its description, and rules on hidden defects can apply. A professional posing as a private seller can still be bound by consumer rules. Keep receipts and screenshots of the ad.

Shipping from home

Shipping makes sense for things that are personal or hard to replace:

• personal and sentimental items, books and documents;
• good bed linen;
• specialist tools;
• electronics that work on both voltages.

It rarely makes sense for furniture, mattresses, lamps, kitchen items or large appliances. Appliances built for 110 V are usually not worth bringing.

A sensible mix

1. Ship only the personal and irreplaceable items.
2. Buy mattresses and essential big items new, so they arrive with a guarantee.
3. Fill the rest with second-hand pieces over the first weeks, and use the sales for anything you still need.

Prices, platform fees and scam methods change often, so check current listings, shop prices and each platform's terms before you buy.

Checklist

• Read the rating label on each electrical item for its voltage and frequency, and keep only those marked 230 V or dual voltage (100-240 V).

• Pack UK-to-EU plug adaptors for UK 230 V appliances, which need no converter.

• Leave behind 110 V heating appliances such as hair dryers, kettles, toasters, heaters and irons, and buy replacements in Spain.

• Check whether 60 Hz motor-driven items like clocks, turntables, washers and dryers can run at 50 Hz, and plan to replace those that cannot.

• Bring dual-voltage phone and laptop chargers with a plug adaptor only.

• Plan to buy a gas cooker or boiler in Spain instead of shipping one.

• Pack personal items, quality bed linen, books, specialist tools, documents and sentimental items.

• Plan to buy furniture, mattresses, large appliances, lamps and kitchen items locally, as shipping bulky goods is costly.

• Measure your bed frame before buying a mattress in Spain, since sizes such as 90x190, 150x200 and 160x200 vary by brand.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my own bed linen to Spain?

Yes, quality bed linen is worth bringing, but only if it fits Spanish mattress sizes. Sheets made for a US or UK size may not fit a 150 or 160 cm mattress. Measure the Spanish mattress first, or buy new linen locally.

Can I bring my gas cooker or boiler to Spain?

No, it is usually better to buy a cooker or boiler in Spain. Imported ones generally do not meet Spanish connector, CE certification or flue standards, and the gas pressure differs between piped natural gas and butane bottles. Ask the installer about the gas type in your building.

Can I use a converter for my US motor-driven appliances?

Not reliably, because motor-driven appliances built for 60 Hz may run wrongly at Spain's 50 Hz even with a converter. This affects some clocks, turntables, washers and dryers. Check the rating label for voltage and frequency, and replace the item if it is 60 Hz only.