Italy is one of the few European countries that designed its own plug standard rather than adopting the German Schuko or the French Type E. The Italian Type L has three round pins in a straight line, comes in two sizes, and despite being unique to Italy and a few neighboring countries, is gradually being replaced by hybrid Schuko sockets in new construction.
This guide covers the design, the history, and what Type L means for travelers in 2025.
What Type L is
The Italian Type L plug has three round pins arranged in a straight line:
- Left pin: live
- Centre pin: earth (longer than the others)
- Right pin: neutral
The standard is defined by CEI 23-50, the Italian Electrotechnical Committee. The design comes in two variants:
Type L 10 A
- Pin diameter: 4 mm
- Pin spacing: 19 mm centre-to-centre
- Used for household electronics, lamps, small appliances
- Compatible with most Type L 10 A and modern hybrid sockets
Type L 16 A
- Pin diameter: 5 mm
- Pin spacing: 26 mm centre-to-centre
- Used for higher-current appliances: washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, induction cookers
- Compatible with Type L 16 A and some hybrid sockets, but not 10 A sockets
The 10 A and 16 A versions are not interchangeable. A 10 A plug won't fit a 16 A socket (pins too small and too close together) and vice versa. Many older Italian homes have separate 10 A and 16 A sockets side by side; modern homes often have hybrid sockets that accept both sizes.
The 1960s origin
Italy's first national plug standard, CEI 23-16, was published in 1964. Earlier Italian buildings had used a chaotic mix of regional standards (Vimar in Milan, Bticino in northern Italy, various smaller manufacturers in the south).
The choice of an in-line three-pin design was driven by:
- Compactness in Italian homes, which tend to be smaller than German or Dutch homes
- Symmetry that made the plug unambiguous about which pin was earth (centre)
- Mechanical strength of the three-in-a-line layout vs Schuko's triangular arrangement
- Italian industry preference for a homegrown standard
By the 1970s Type L was the de facto standard across the country, with the 10 A and 16 A variants formalized to handle different current ranges.
What makes Type L distinctive
In-line pin layout
Most three-pin plugs (Type G, Type B, Type I) arrange the pins in a triangle or other 2D pattern. Type L's straight line is unusual and gives the plug a slim profile, which fits the Italian preference for unobtrusive electrical fixtures.
Two size variants
The 10 A and 16 A split is unique among major plug types. Most other countries use one plug size for all consumer current ranges (Type G has a fuse to handle current variation; Schuko uses circuit breakers; Type B uses different outlet shapes). Italy's two-size approach is more mechanically obvious but requires more sockets per home.
Europlug compatibility (partial)
The Europlug (Type C) was designed to fit Type C, E, F, K, and small Type L 10 A sockets. So a Europlug-equipped device works directly in Italian Type L 10 A sockets. The Europlug doesn't fit Type L 16 A sockets because the pin spacing is wrong.
Where Type L is used
Type L is the consumer mains standard in:
- Italy (mainland, Sicily, Sardinia)
- San Marino
- Vatican City
- Chile (uses a Type L-derived standard with slight variations)
- Ethiopia (uses Type L-like sockets in some regions)
- Some North African countries (with Italian historical influence)
- Uruguay (uses Type L-derived sockets)
For travel purposes, Type L is essentially an Italian standard. The other countries that use Type L-derived designs typically have hybrid sockets that accept multiple plug types.
The slow shift to hybrid sockets
Since the 2000s, Italian new construction has increasingly used "bipasso" (bi-standard) sockets that accept both Type L and Type F Schuko plugs. The bipasso design has:
- A Schuko-style recessed circular cavity with side earth clips
- Three vertically-aligned slot positions that match Type L 10 A pin spacing
- A separate set of slots for Type L 16 A
- Combined wiring that supports any of the three plug types
This means a modern Italian apartment from 2010 onwards typically has hybrid sockets that work with:
- Italian Type L 10 A plugs (most household electronics)
- Italian Type L 16 A plugs (high-current appliances)
- Schuko plugs (any European appliance)
- Europlugs (any low-draw international device)
Older buildings (especially pre-1980s construction, common in historic city centers) still have pure Type L sockets, often with a mix of 10 A and 16 A outlets that aren't interchangeable.
Type L vs other plug types
| Feature | Type L | Type F (Schuko) | Type E (French) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pin count | 3 in a line | 2 + 2 earth clips | 2 + 1 hole for wall pin |
| Earth | Centre pin (longer) | Side clips | Female hole, male wall pin |
| Pin shape | Round | Round | Round |
| Polarized | Yes (clear left/right) | No | No |
| Current variants | 10 A and 16 A | Single 16 A | Single 16 A |
| Fits Europlug | Yes (10 A only) | Yes | Yes |
Type L's polarization is clearer than Schuko's (you can't insert it backwards because the in-line layout enforces direction), but the size variant requirement is unique to Italy and adds complexity.
Practical implications for travelers
If you're visiting Italy:
- Pack a Type L-capable adapter or a universal that includes Type L coverage explicitly
- Many "Europe" adapters cover Schuko but miss Type L; verify before flying
- Older B&Bs and rural Italian accommodations are more likely to have pure Type L; newer hotels often have hybrid sockets
- The Vatican uses Italian Type L (it's geographically inside Italy)
- For high-draw appliances (hair dryers, irons), pack a Type L 16 A-capable adapter if you'll use them in older accommodations
If you're visiting Chile, Uruguay, or other Type L-derived destinations, the pin spacing is similar but sometimes slightly different from Italian Type L. A Type L-explicit universal adapter usually works in these countries; a Type L-specific Italian adapter may not seat reliably.
The bottom line
Type L is Italy's plug standard, distinctive for its in-line three-pin layout and two-size 10 A/16 A variants. The design is competent but uncommon, used only in Italy and a few Italian-influenced countries.
For travelers: ensure your adapter explicitly includes Type L coverage. The Schuko/Europlug compatibility is increasing as Italy transitions to hybrid sockets in new construction, but older buildings still require Type L-specific adapters. For most modern Italian hotels, a Schuko adapter works fine in the hybrid sockets.