France uses Type C (two round pins, ungrounded) and Type E (two round pins with a grounding pin protruding from the socket) outlets with 230V at 50Hz. Travelers from the US, UK, Australia, and Japan all need a travel adapter. Other European travelers with standard Type C devices can plug in directly. All modern phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage and only need a plug shape adapter.
What plugs into the wall in France.
The exact plug types you'll find at the outlet, and what each origin country needs to bring.
Type C is the standard ungrounded Europlug with two 4.0mm round pins. Type E is the French grounded outlet, which looks similar to Type C but has a round grounding pin that protrudes from the socket itself (rather than from the plug, as in Type F/Schuko). In practice, any Type C device works in Type E sockets. The only difference from German outlets is the grounding method. Most universal adapters handle both French Type E and German Type F sockets.
US flat-pin plugs do not fit French round-pin outlets. You need a US to Europe adapter.
UK Type G plugs do not fit. You need a UK to European adapter. The UK and France are connected by the Eurostar, so many UK travelers carry these.
Australian angled pins do not fit. A Type I to Type C/E adapter is needed.
Standard European Type C plugs work directly in French outlets. Type F (Schuko) grounded plugs also fit French Type E sockets in most cases due to hybrid socket designs.
Swiss Type J plugs do not fit French outlets. The pin configuration is different. You need a Swiss to European adapter.
230V, 50Hz and what it means.
Voltage decides whether your gear survives. Frequency mostly doesn't matter — except for a handful of motorized devices.
France uses 230V at 50Hz, the European standard. This is identical to Germany, Spain, the UK, and most of the world outside the Americas and Japan.
Check your charger for INPUT: 100-240V. If it says this, no voltage converter is needed. Just use a plug adapter. This covers virtually all phone, laptop, tablet, and camera chargers made anywhere in the world.
American hair dryers rated for 120V onlyUS curling irons without auto-voltage switching120V-only heated styling toolsAmerican small kitchen appliancesOlder US-made electric shavers without worldwide voltage
France uses 50Hz, the same as the rest of Europe. If you are coming from the Americas (60Hz), there is zero practical impact for any modern electronic device.
Monoprix and Carrefour supermarkets across France sell travel hair dryers and personal care appliances starting around 12-25 EUR. Much easier than lugging a voltage converter through Charles de Gaulle.
What to actually pack for France.
A universal adapter handles the whole trip. Plus the buying-decision filters worth knowing before you click checkout.
France uses the standard European outlet style, so any good European adapter works here:
- →A European adapter works across France, Germany, Spain, Italy (for Type C), Netherlands, and most of the EU.
- →If you are visiting both France and the UK on the same trip (common with Eurostar), you need two different adapters or a universal one.
- →French outlets are recessed but not as deep as German Schuko sockets. Most standard European adapters fit without issue.
- →Hotel rooms in Paris can have surprisingly few outlets. A multi-port USB adapter is highly recommended.
Universal & Type C adapters
Universal adapters that handle France plus 150+ other countries — and country-specific plugs if you want a smaller form factor.
Browse on Amazon ↗Tech EssentialsUSB chargers & power banks
Multi-port USB-C chargers and travel-rated power banks. The other half of the kit you'll actually use daily on the trip.
Browse on Amazon ↗Where to plug in once you check in.
Outlet availability varies hugely by accommodation type. Knowing what to expect helps you plan — especially if you're carrying multiple devices.
French hotels and accommodations range from world-class luxury to charming but outlet-limited countryside stays:
Luxury Hotels (Paris Palace Hotels)
Top-tier hotels like Le Meurice, The Ritz Paris, and Four Seasons George V provide universal outlet panels, USB ports, and sometimes wireless charging pads at the bedside and desk. Adapters are always available at reception.
Chain Hotels (Ibis, Novotel, Mercure)
French hotel chains from Accor Group typically have 2-4 Type C/E outlets per room. Newer renovations include USB ports. ibis Styles tends to have the most modern outlet configurations. Front desk adapters are hit-or-miss.
Boutique Hotels and Chambres d'Hotes
Charming properties in Provence, Burgundy, and the Loire Valley often have older wiring with limited outlets. Some historic buildings have only 1-2 outlets per room. Bring a compact power strip.
Vacation Rentals (Gites)
French gites (vacation homes) have standard Type C/E outlets throughout. Kitchen outlets provide extra charging spots. These are popular for family trips to the countryside.
Hostels (Generator Paris, St Christopher's)
Shared dorms typically have 1 outlet per bed area. Some hostels in Paris have locker-style charging stations. A multi-port USB charger saves you from outlet competition.
If you forget yours, buy on arrival.
The places we'd actually walk into in a pinch — from airport kiosks to chain electronics stores.
Adapters are widely available across France. Here is where to find them:
Airport Shops (CDG, Orly, Nice)
Relay stores and electronics kiosks at Charles de Gaulle and Orly sell adapters for 8-15 EUR. CDG Terminal 2E has the best selection.
Fnac
France's premier electronics and bookstore chain. Travel adapters 5-20 EUR. Flagship stores on the Champs-Elysees and in Forum des Halles. Also found in many city centers.
Darty
French electronics retailer. Universal adapters 8-20 EUR. Locations across France including in major shopping centers.
Monoprix and Carrefour
Major French supermarkets stock adapters in the electronics aisle. Budget options from 5-10 EUR. Monoprix has locations in central Paris near most tourist areas.
Train Station Shops
SNCF stations like Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, and Gare Montparnasse have Relay stores and small electronics shops with basic adapters. Convenient for Eurostar arrivals.
What works, what doesn't.
The ten devices most travelers ask about — clear-eyed verdicts for France specifically.
Here is a device-by-device breakdown of what works in France with just a plug adapter:
Outlets in the wild, across France.
Where to find power between hotel rooms — trains, cafés, public buildings, the practical stuff.
France offers good options for keeping devices charged while you explore:
TGV high-speed trains have power outlets at every seat in both first and second class. All outlets are Type C/E. This includes the Eurostar between Paris and London (which switches between French and UK sockets at the Channel Tunnel).
Paris Metro trains do not have outlets. Charge before long journeys across the city.
Parisian cafes are generally outlet-friendly, especially in the Marais, Saint-Germain, and around Bastille. Look for spots with counter seating near walls.
The Bibliotheque Nationale de France and major public libraries have free charging and WiFi.
Charles de Gaulle Airport has free charging stations scattered throughout terminals, but they are always busy. Bring your own cable.
Many SNCF train stations have cafe-style tables with built-in outlets in the waiting areas.
The four partners we travel with.
eSIM for landing-day data, VPN for hotel WiFi, insurance for the gear, and a clean airport pickup in France.
Saily eSIM
Activate before you fly so you have data the moment you land in France. No SIM-card hunt at the airport, no roaming charges.
NordVPN
Hotel and café WiFi is open and shared. NordVPN encrypts everything — banking, streaming, work — so no one on the same network can snoop.
Heymondo Travel Insurance
Your laptop and camera are worth more than the trip itself. Heymondo covers medical, baggage, and trip cancellation for France. Single-trip and annual plans.
Welcome Pickups
Skip the taxi-line negotiation. English-speaking driver waits at arrivals in France with your name on a sign — fixed price, no surprises.
What travelers ask about France.
The same handful of questions, every week. Schema below feeds them straight to Google.
Same depth, other countries.
The other nine country adapter guides — each written from the ground.
100V · Type A/B
230V · Type G
230V · Type I
230V · Type C/F
220V · Type A/C/I
127V/220V · Type C/N
230V · Type C/F/L
230V · Type C/F
230V · Type A/B/C
230V · Type C/F
230V · Type C/F
230V · Type D/M/N