Plug adapters / France
Do I need a plug adapter for France?
Yes. France uses type C and E sockets, and a US type A or B plug does not fit them. The supply is 230 V at 50 Hz, higher than the US 120 V.
What to pack for France
Pack a type C adapter (a type C plug fits the C and E sockets you will find). An adapter only changes the shape of the pins; it does nothing to the voltage. That matters in France, because the supply is 230 V. Look for "INPUT: 100–240 V" on your phone, laptop and camera chargers; nearly all made in the last decade say it, and those work with a plain adapter. A hair dryer, curling iron or electric kettle marked 120 V only will not, and a converter heavy enough to run one is bulkier than buying a cheap dual-voltage version or using the hotel's.
E is the primary socket type. IEC World Plugs page could not be fetched (2 attempts failed); values from WorldStandards.eu country page fetched 2026-10-19.
About type C and E sockets
Type E is the French standard: two round pins and a round earth pin that sticks out of the socket. A type C two-pin europlug fits type E sockets, so a slim type C adapter covers phone and laptop chargers; a full type E adapter is only needed for earthed three-pin devices.
Voltage and frequency in France: 230 V, 50 Hz
France runs on 230 V, nearly double the 120 V of a US outlet. Any device with "INPUT: 100–240 V" on its label, which includes nearly every phone, tablet, laptop and camera charger, adjusts automatically and needs only the plug shape sorted out. A device marked 120 V only will draw too much current and can burn out in seconds; that mostly means hair dryers, straighteners, kettles and some older electric shavers. A travel converter can run them, but a converter rated for a 1,500 W hair dryer is heavy, so a dual-voltage model is the usual answer. The 50 Hz frequency matters even less than the voltage: chargers and electronics ignore it, and only old clocks and some motors notice.
Same sockets elsewhere
Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Netherlands and Portugal use at least one of the same socket types as France, so one adapter covers a trip that includes them.
- Italy: type C/F/L, 230 V
- Spain: type C/F, 230 V
- Germany: type C/F, 230 V
- Greece: type C/F, 230 V
- Netherlands: type C/F, 230 V
- Portugal: type C/F, 230 V
Data for the same trip
While you are packing: how much mobile data a week in France needs, and which eSIM plans cover it.
Frequently asked questions
What plug type does France use?
France uses type C and E sockets. A US type A or B plug does not fit, so you need an adapter.
What voltage is France?
France supplies 230 V at 50 Hz. Chargers marked 100–240 V handle it; single-voltage 120 V appliances do not.
Do I need a voltage converter for France?
Not for phones, laptops or cameras, whose chargers accept 100–240 V. Only a single-voltage appliance such as a 120 V hair dryer needs a converter, and a dual-voltage model is the easier fix.
Will my phone charger work in France?
Yes, provided it is marked 100–240 V, which almost every phone charger is. You still need a type C adapter for the socket.
Socket type, voltage and frequency: WorldStandards.eu country page, cross-checked 2026-10-19 against the Mains electricity by country table. The IEC retired its World Plugs guide in 2026.