Power Plugs & Adapters in Egypt (2026): What You Actually Need

Egypt uses the European-style round two-pin sockets, plug types C and F, running on 220-240V at 50Hz. If you're coming from Europe you can plug straight in. If you're from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or anywhere with different plugs, you need a simple travel adapter, a universal one is easiest. Most modern electronics like phones, laptops and camera chargers already handle 220V automatically, so you usually only need the adapter, not a bulky voltage converter. The main exception is single-voltage heat appliances like some hairdryers and straighteners, which can be damaged without a converter.

That's the whole answer. Here's the detail so you pack exactly the right thing.

The essentials at a glance

Spec	Egypt	What it means for you
Plug types	C and F (round two-pin)	Standard European plug; US/UK/AU plugs won't fit
Voltage	220-240V	Higher than the US/Canada/Japan (~110-120V)
Frequency	50Hz	Same as Europe; differs from US 60Hz
Socket accepts	European two-pin	A universal adapter covers you

Adapter: which one to bring

A plug adapter only changes the shape of the pins so your plug physically fits the Egyptian socket. It does not change the voltage.

• From the US, Canada, Japan (Type A/B): you need an adapter to Type C/F. Your flat pins won't fit round holes.
• From the UK, Ireland (Type G): you need an adapter; the UK's three rectangular pins don't fit.
• From Australia, New Zealand (Type I): you need an adapter for the angled pins.
• From most of continental Europe (Type C/E/F): your plugs already fit. No adapter needed.

The easiest choice for almost everyone is a universal travel adapter, one unit that works in Egypt and back home and pretty much anywhere else. Buy a decent one before you fly rather than hunting for it at the airport. Many good universal adapters also include USB and USB-C ports, which is genuinely useful (see below).

Do you need a voltage converter?

Probably not, but check. This is where people get caught out.

Check the label on your device or its charger. Look for the input rating:

• If it says "100-240V" (or "110-240V"), it's dual-voltage and handles Egypt's 220V automatically. Just use a plug adapter. This covers nearly all phones, tablets, laptops, camera and drone chargers, and electric toothbrushes.
• If it says only "110-120V", it's single-voltage and Egypt's 220V will damage or destroy it. You'd need a voltage converter (a transformer), not just an adapter.

The usual culprits are hairdryers, hair straighteners, curling irons and some electric shavers bought in North America or Japan. High-wattage heat appliances also strain small travel converters, so honestly the simplest move is to leave them at home. Most Egyptian hotels provide a hairdryer, and a cheap dual-voltage travel one is easy to buy. Don't lug a heavy converter across the world for a straightener.

Quick decision:

1. Read the device's input voltage.
2. Says 100-240V? Just pack a plug adapter.
3. Says 110-120V only? Leave it home, or bring a converter that handles the wattage.

Charging tips for real Egypt days

A few practical things that make the trip smoother:

• Bring a power bank. This is the single most useful item. Days at the Pyramids, in the Valley of the Kings, or on a felucca can run long with phone camera, maps and translation apps draining the battery, and outlets are scarce out at the sites. A 10,000-20,000 mAh power bank keeps you going. Carry it in your hand luggage, not checked, as airline rules require.
• Pack a small power strip or a multi-USB charger. Older hotel rooms and many Nile cruise cabins have surprisingly few accessible sockets, sometimes just one or two. One adapter feeding a power strip lets you charge phone, camera, watch and power bank overnight from a single wall socket.
• Get a USB/USB-C adapter or multiport charger. Many universal adapters include USB ports; failing that a small USB wall charger plus your adapter lets you charge several devices without hunting for outlets.

Power on cruises, in the desert and at the sites

Where you're staying changes how you should plan your charging:

• Nile cruise power is generally reliable but sockets are limited and there may be brief interruptions between destinations; the power-strip trick pays off here.
• Desert camps and remote lodges may run on generators with limited hours or solar with modest capacity. Arrive fully charged, bring that power bank, and don't count on charging overnight in the deep desert.
• Out at the sites (the Pyramids plateau, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings), assume no accessible outlets at all. Everything you shoot and navigate that day runs off what you left the hotel with, so top up overnight and carry the power bank.

Quick packing checklist

• One universal travel adapter (ideally with built-in USB/USB-C)
• A power bank (10,000 mAh or more), in your carry-on
• A small power strip or multiport USB charger for socket-starved rooms
• Your normal device chargers (check they say 100-240V)
• A voltage converter only if you're bringing a single-voltage heat appliance, and honestly, reconsider bringing it at all

Sort the adapter and a power bank and you'll never think about electricity again for the rest of the trip. For the full kit, see our Egypt packing list, and for everything else worth knowing before you go, our Egypt travel tips and the main Egypt travel guide have you covered. Then get to the good part and browse Egypt experiences.