France uses plug types C and E at 230 V, 50 Hz. Why French sockets have a pin sticking out, which adapter fits, and when you need a converter.
The short answer
France uses plug types C, E at 230 V, 50 Hz. From the US you need a type C adapter.
France uses types C and E. The type E socket has a round ground pin sticking out of it, which is the main difference from German sockets. A type C plug fits both.
Two round pins, no ground (the Europlug).
Where else type C is usedTwo round pins; the socket has a ground pin that sticks out.
Where else type E is used"Converter" applies only to single-voltage devices. Chargers marked 100-240V need an adapter at most.
| Traveling from | Adapter | Voltage converter |
|---|---|---|
| United States or Canada | Type C | For 120 V-only devices |
| United Kingdom or Ireland | Type C | Not needed |
| Mainland Europe | Not needed | Not needed |
| Australia or New Zealand | Type C | Not needed |
| Japan | Type C | For 100 V-only devices |
A type C adapter that takes US plugs. None of these convert voltage.
Budget Europe adapter with 2 USB ports for Type C outlets
A universal adapter covers types A, C, G and I. It won't fit Switzerland, India or South Africa well.
Works in 150+ countries with 5 USB ports
A type C adapter. It fits French type E sockets and the older type C sockets.
The sockets differ: French type E sockets have a ground pin, German type F sockets have side clips. Type C plugs and combined E/F plugs fit both.
Only for devices that run on 120 V alone. France runs at 230 V.
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Taro spent a decade in the music industry as a tour manager, crisscrossing the globe with artists and crews who demanded gear that actually worked. From overnight buses in the American Midwest to bullet trains in Japan, backstage in London to festival grounds across Europe—he's lived out of bags, cases, and carry-ons for years. That experience taught him what separates travel gear that survives the road from stuff that falls apart after one trip. Now he channels that hard-won knowledge into TravelGiftList, helping travelers find products that meet real-world demands.
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