Sockets, Voltage, and the Adapter You Need for France

Sockets, Voltage, and the Adapter You Need for France

You land at Charles de Gaulle, find your hotel, and reach for your phone charger. The prongs do not fit. The socket on the wall has two round holes and a protruding male earth pin. That is a Type E socket. It is the only standard in France. Here is exactly what to pack so your devices charge on arrival.

France Plug Type: Type E Sockets at 230V, 50Hz

What a Type E Socket Accepts

France uses the Type E plug: two round pins 4.8 mm in diameter, spaced 19 mm apart, with a male earth pin protruding from the socket. Mains supply is 230 V at 50 Hz. The socket accepts three plug types without any travel accessory: Type E itself, Type C (the two round pin Europlug), and Type F (Schuko, with side earth clips). Every other plug type requires a physical adaptor.

If your device has a Type G plug (United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore), Type A or B (North America, Japan, Taiwan), or Type I (Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina), you need a travel adaptor that converts to Type E. Universal adaptors that cover Type E, F, and C work fine. Buy one before you leave: airport electronics shops in Paris charge two to three times the online price for a basic unit. Check a French retailer like Darty or Fnac for the going rate, and order ahead.

Check the Voltage Label Before You Plug In

Look on the power brick or the device label for a line that reads "Input: 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz." That means the device handles French voltage natively. Laptop chargers, phone chargers, camera battery chargers, and most USB chargers are dual voltage. If the label says "Input: 110-120 V" only, you need a step down transformer or the device will burn out. Hair dryers, curling irons, and electric shavers are the appliances most likely to be single voltage. A transformer heavy enough for a hair dryer (1600 W or more) weighs about 2 kg and costs more than a decent meal in Paris. Renting a hair dryer at your hotel costs nothing. Do not pack the transformer.

What Your Adapter Needs to Do

The One Job Your Adaptor Performs

The adaptor you need does one job: it changes the shape of your plug so it fits into a Type E socket. It does not change voltage. If your device needs a voltage converter, the adaptor does not help. If your device is dual voltage, the adaptor is all you need.

For North American travellers: bring a Type E adaptor. Your flat parallel pins fit nothing in France. For UK travellers: bring a Type E adaptor. Your rectangular three pin plug does not fit a round hole. For Australian and New Zealand travellers: bring a Type E adaptor. Your angled flat pins are the wrong shape. For European travellers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Scandinavia: your Type C or Type F plug works without any extra piece. You can skip this section entirely.

Orientation and Earth Pin Fit

Type E sockets are almost always unpolarised. You can insert a Type C plug in either orientation. Type F plugs fit Type E sockets because the side earth clips align with the recessed contacts in the socket. The male earth pin in the socket does not block the Schuko plug.

USB Charging in French Hotels, Trains, and Cafés

Hotel USB Ports: Do Not Count on Them

Hotels in France renovated since roughly 2015 often include USB A ports beside the bed or near the desk. This is common in chain hotels (Ibis, Novotel, Mercure) and in premium boutiques. It is uncommon in rural gîtes, older chambres d'hôtes, and budget hostels. USB C ports are increasingly installed in new build and premium hotels, but not standard in mid range or older properties. The French hotel trade association publishes annual surveys; do not rely on finding a port. Pack your own charger and adaptor.

Trains, the Metro, and Long Distance Buses

On long distance trains, the situation varies. TGV inOui sets have USB A ports at most seats, but the exact proportion depends on the rolling stock generation. The SNCF publishes a fleet inventory on the SNCF Connect app. Regional TER trains rarely have any passenger power outlets. The Paris Metro and RER have none. Domestic flights vary by airline and aircraft type; Air France publishes seat specifications per route on its website. Long distance coaches operated by FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus include USB A ports at most seats, with USB C appearing on newer fleet additions. BlaBlaCar Bus publishes the fleet breakdown on its corporate site. If you have a long journey on a TER train or a short haul flight, charge your devices before you board.