Will your appliances and electronics work in Spain?

Terms used

• Potencia contratada — The potencia contratada is the maximum power in kW your home may draw at once, set in your electricity contract.
• Instalador autorizado — An instalador autorizado is a licensed gas installer who connects gas appliances and issues the certificate.
• Comercializadora — The comercializadora is the retailer you sign your electricity contract with and who handles changes to it.
• CIE — The CIE is an electrical certificate for your installation, which may be needed after a large increase in contracted power.

Key rules

• Voltage: Dual-voltage items marked 110–240 V need only a plug adapter.
• Gas appliances: Only an authorised gas installer can connect and certify a gas appliance.
• Kitchen size: Standard Spanish niches are 60 cm wide, so wide US cookers and fridges often will not fit.
• Power limit: Running too many big appliances at once trips the switch, and raising your contracted power costs more each month.

Will it work? The short answer

Spain uses 230 V at 50 Hz, with Type C and Type F sockets. Most electronics will work with a plug adapter. Large, high-power and gas appliances from 110V countries are usually better replaced.

Electronics: bring them

Check the label on each item. If it says 110–240 V, it needs only a plug adapter. Laptops, phone chargers and many cameras are usually dual-voltage. Type C has two round pins. Type F is the same plug shape with earthing clips at the sides, and a Type C plug fits a Type F socket.

110V-only appliances: leave most behind

A 110V-only appliance needs a step-down transformer of the right wattage. Transformers are bulky and impractical for heaters, hair dryers and kitchen appliances, so replace those.

Anything with a motor or clock tied to 60 Hz can run at the wrong speed or overheat on 50 Hz, even with a transformer. Some turntables and clocks are examples. Leave these behind too.

Gas appliances: buy locally

Homes in Spain use mains natural gas (gas natural) or butane in orange bottles of about 12.5 kg. Some rural areas use propane. Each appliance is set for one gas and needs the right regulator and connectors.

Appliances from abroad often need conversion or are not certified for Spain. An authorised gas installer (instalador autorizado) must make and certify the connection and give you a certificate. Boilers and water heaters are best bought in Spain, so they meet local rules and have a warranty and servicing. Find out which gas your home uses before you decide to bring anything gas-powered. Look for CE marking on every appliance.

Will it fit the kitchen?

Spanish kitchens are built around 60 cm. Fridge and dishwasher niches are 60 cm wide, 55 cm deep and about 82–90 cm high. Hobs are about 60 or 75 cm. US and Australian cookers (76–91 cm) and large American fridges often do not fit. Measure your space before you ship anything.

Will your home's power cope?

Your supply contract sets your potencia contratada, the most power in kW you can use at once. Typical homes have about 3.45 to 5.75 kW. Larger homes have 6.9 to 10 kW or more. If you go over, the power-control switch or main breaker trips and you reset it.

Typical loads:

• Oven: 2–3 kW
• Induction hob: 3–7 kW
• Washing machine: 2 kW
• Dishwasher: 1.5–2 kW
• Electric heater: 1–2 kW
• Air conditioner: 1–3 kW
• Electric water heater: 1.5–2.5 kW

Several of these together can pass 3.45–5.75 kW.

To raise your power, ask your electricity retailer (comercializadora). It passes the request to the distributor, and the change is usually possible within a few days. A higher power means a higher fixed monthly charge. A large increase can bring a distributor fee and possibly a new electrical certificate (CIE) or an upgrade to the installation. Since 2021 tariffs have separate peak and off-peak power periods, so you can contract lower power in peak hours.

The documents, checklist and questions below cover the rest.

Documents you need

• Certificate from an authorised gas installer (instalador autorizado) confirming your gas appliance connection was made and certified correctly.

• Electricity supply contract showing your contracted power (potencia contratada), which sets how many large appliances you can run at once.

• New electrical certificate (CIE) if you ask for a large increase in contracted power and the installation needs upgrading.

Checklist

• Check the label of each electronic item for 110–240 V, and bring a plug adapter for those that have it.

• Leave behind 110V-only appliances, especially heaters, hair dryers and kitchen appliances, rather than relying on a bulky step-down transformer.

• Skip devices with motors or clocks that depend on 60 Hz, such as some turntables, as they may run at the wrong speed or overheat.

• Find out whether your home uses natural gas or butane bottles before deciding to bring any gas appliance.

• Look for CE marking on every appliance you plan to bring.

• Measure your cooker, fridge and dishwasher against the kitchen space, remembering Spanish niches are 60 cm wide.

• Book an authorised gas installer to connect any gas appliance and issue the certificate.

• Add up the kW of the large appliances you will run together and compare it with your contracted power.

• Ask your electricity retailer to raise your contracted power if your total load is too high.

Frequently asked questions

Can I plug in my gas cooker or boiler from abroad in Spain?

Usually no, because appliances are set for one specific gas and a cooker or boiler from abroad often needs conversion or is not certified for Spanish gas. Homes use either mains natural gas or orange butane bottles of about 12.5 kg, so check which one your home has.

Will my American fridge or cooker fit a Spanish kitchen?

Often not, because Spanish kitchens are built around 60 cm niches. Fridge and dishwasher niches are 60 cm wide, 55 cm deep and about 82–90 cm high, while US and Australian cookers are often 76–91 cm wide. Measure your appliance and the space before you ship it.

Why does the power keep tripping when I run several appliances at once?

Your contracted power (potencia contratada) is the most your home can draw at once, and the switch trips when you go over it. Typical homes have about 3.45 to 5.75 kW, and an oven, washing machine and heater together can exceed that. You can ask your electricity retailer (comercializadora) to raise it, which usually takes a few days but raises your fixed monthly charge.