France Plug Adapter Guide: Sockets, Voltage & What Actually Works
I learned this the hard way in Paris. I’d packed the same white EU adapter I’d used for years — the wide, flat kind from every airport shop — and it sat in the French socket looking perfectly plugged in while doing absolutely nothing. The cable dragged it sideways, it half-ejected from the wall, and by morning my phone had charged for about forty minutes.
The fix took thirty seconds once I knew what the problem was. French sockets are recessed 15mm into the wall, and a flat-bodied adapter can’t seat in that recess. The socket can’t grip it. One slim cylindrical adapter, and everything worked for the rest of the trip.
France also uses a different socket type from Spain and Germany — and the wrong adapter genuinely will not fit. Both things are worth knowing before you travel.
Quick answer: France uses Type E sockets at 230V / 50Hz. UK travellers need a plug adapter only — no voltage converter. Buy a slim-barrel CEE 7/7 EU adapter, not the flat kind sold in most airport shops.
France’s plug type and voltage — the basics
France uses Type E sockets (also called CEE 7/5). This is not the same as the Type F (Schuko) sockets used in Spain and Germany — the distinction matters when you are buying an adapter.
Type E has two round pin holes and an earth pin that protrudes from the socket itself. The plug has two round pins plus a hole that accepts that pin. The socket is recessed 15mm into the wall.
Type F (Schuko), used in Spain and Germany, earths via two metal clips on the sides of the socket rather than a central pin. A pure Schuko plug has side earth clips but no hole — which means it cannot engage the earth pin in a French Type E socket. This catches out travellers who buy a “Europe adapter” without checking whether it covers Type E.
The solution is a CEE 7/7 adapter. It has both the central hole for the Type E earth pin and side earth clips for Type F sockets. One CEE 7/7 adapter works in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Poland, and most of Western Europe.
Type C (Europlug) — two thin ungrounded round pins — also fits a Type E socket mechanically, because the recess accepts it. But Type C is only rated to 2.5 amps, a maximum of roughly 575 watts at 230V. Fine for phone chargers and cameras. Not suitable for hair dryers, CPAP machines, or anything high-wattage.
| Feature | UK (Type G) | France (Type E) |
|---|---|---|
| Pin shape | 3 rectangular | 2 round + earth hole |
| Earth method | Earth pin on plug | Earth pin on socket |
| Voltage | 230V | 230V |
| Frequency | 50Hz | 50Hz |
| Adapter needed | — | Yes (shape only) |
| Voltage converter needed | — | No |
Many travel sites still describe France’s voltage as “220V.” It is outdated. France adopted the IEC 60038 harmonised standard in 1997, setting a common EU supply of 230V. The actual supply is 230V.
Do UK travellers need a voltage converter for France?
No.
The UK and France both run at 230V / 50Hz. Your British devices are matched to the voltage in a French socket. All you need is a physical adapter — something that changes the shape of your UK plug so it fits a French socket.
A voltage converter changes the electricity itself, stepping voltage down for devices designed to run at a lower voltage. They are heavy, often brick-sized, and irrelevant for UK travellers visiting France.
The quick device label test: Turn over any charger or appliance and find the small text near the power rating. “Input: 100–240V, 50/60Hz” means dual-voltage — works anywhere with only an adapter. “Input: 120V” or “110–120V” means a US-format device that needs a converter. UK-purchased devices labelled “Input: 220–240V” or “230V” are already matched to France’s supply.
The recessed socket problem — and how to fix it
French Type E sockets are recessed 15mm into the wall. A Type E or CEE 7/7 plug seats fully into the recess because it has a rounded barrel that fits the cavity. A flat, rectangular UK-to-EU adapter does not. It protrudes beyond the recess lip, the socket cannot grip it, and the cable’s weight pulls it sideways. The connection is intermittent at best. Spain’s Type F sockets have the same 15mm recess — it just does not get mentioned in most travel guides.
There are three ways to deal with it.
The simplest: buy a slim-barrel CEE 7/7 adapter. Look for a round or cylindrical profile rather than a wide flat body. The Jsdoin 2-pack (around £4–6 on Amazon UK) is a reliable choice — slim, correctly earthed, sits flush in the recess.
If you are travelling with multiple devices, one adapter and a UK extension lead works better than several individual adapters. The adapter goes into the French wall socket once and stays there; everything else plugs into the extension lead. Far less fiddling, and you are not hunting for enough sockets.
The third option: a GaN charger with swappable plug heads. Several compact GaN bricks include interchangeable heads — UK, EU, US, Australian. Swap to the EU head and it plugs directly into the French socket, no separate adapter needed.
Do not stack two adapters end-to-end. It makes the protrusion worse, the connection even less stable, and creates a heat risk at the join.
Which France plug adapter should you buy?
For most UK travellers
Jsdoin UK to EU Adapter 2-Pack — approximately £4–6 on Amazon UK. Slim barrel, fits French recessed sockets reliably, covers Type C/E/F sockets across Western Europe. About 15 grams each. For a standard holiday, this is enough.
For families
Jsdoin 6-Pack or similar multipack (approximately £6–9). One per bedside table, one in the bathroom, one for the living area. Running them off a UK extension lead is easier than hunting for French sockets at midnight.
For USB-C charging
TESSAN UK to EU Adapter with 3 USB + 1 USB-C — approximately £11–15. Grounded (Type E/F), accepts UK plug input, four USB charging ports. No need for separate USB chargers for phones and tablets.
For digital nomads and long stays
Thinkbee GaN Adapter with Type E/F Output (approximately £18–25). Three AC outlets plus USB-C PD and USB-A in one unit. Charges a MacBook, two phones, and a tablet at the same time. GaN keeps it compact and cool under sustained load.
Premium / universal
SKROSS World Adapter (approximately £20–35). Covers 200+ countries, grounded, built to last. Worth it for frequent travel across different regions.
| Adapter | Price (Amazon UK) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Jsdoin 2-pack | £4–6 | Most UK holiday travellers |
| Jsdoin 6-pack | £6–9 | Families, villas, apartments |
| TESSAN USB + USB-C | £11–15 | Multiple device charging |
| Thinkbee GaN | £18–25 | Digital nomads, MacBook users |
| SKROSS World | £20–35 | Frequent multi-region travellers |
WH Smith and World Duty Free sell basic EU adapters for approximately £8–12 at UK airports. Fine for simple use, but the range of slim-barrel, grounded, or USB-C options is thin. Better to buy before you travel.
Will my devices work in France?
Hair dryers
UK hair dryers (230V) work in France with an adapter — the voltage is identical. Hair dryers draw 1,200–2,000 watts, which is far above the Type C socket’s 575W limit. Use a grounded CEE 7/7 adapter, not a basic 2-pin Type C, for any high-wattage appliance. If you find only a Type C socket in an older French property, do not use it for a hair dryer.
Most mid-range and above French hotels provide a hair dryer in the room. For a short city break, leaving yours at home is the simpler option.
GHD hair straighteners
Most GHD models are dual voltage (100–240V) and work in France with only an adapter. A question that comes up often: the GHD 3.1b is labelled “230V only” — this is not a problem in France. France is 230V. The device works perfectly. Travellers sometimes see “230V only” and assume the device cannot handle foreign voltages; in France’s case, the voltage is exactly right.
Other GHD models — the Duet Style, Duet Blowdry, Air, Helios, Speed — are rated 220–240V, which also works without issue at France’s 230V supply.
Dyson Airwrap
If your Dyson Airwrap was purchased in the UK or EU, it is rated 220–240V and works in France with a plug adapter. If it was purchased in the US and is rated 110–120V, it is not compatible with France’s 230V supply — and Dyson explicitly warns against using the Airwrap with a voltage converter, as it can damage the motor. US-purchased Airwraps should stay at home.
CPAP machines
Nearly all modern CPAP units from ResMed, Philips Respironics, and similar manufacturers are universal voltage (100–240V / 50–60Hz). Check the label on the power supply — “Input: 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz” means compatible with France, adapter only. Use a grounded CEE 7/7 adapter rather than a basic ungrounded Type C, because CPAP machines draw enough current to be affected by an underrated connection.
Do not use a voltage converter with a CPAP machine — it can damage the power supply. If your machine is universal voltage (it almost certainly is), a converter is also unnecessary.
Electric toothbrushes
UK Oral-B and Braun chargers are typically rated 220–240V and work in France with an adapter. US Oral-B chargers rated at 110V will not.
French hotel bathrooms typically have a shaver socket — the small two-pin socket labelled “Rasoirs” or “Shavers Only.” It outputs both 115V and 230V via an isolating transformer and accepts standard 2-pin EU plugs. You can charge an Oral-B toothbrush through it without an adapter, but it is limited to 200mA maximum — small personal care devices only, not phones or laptops.
MacBooks and laptops
MacBook chargers are universal voltage (100–240V / 50–60Hz) and work in France with only an adapter.
Why does my MacBook tingle when charging in France? The sensation is leakage current — a small amount of electrical charge that runs through the MacBook’s aluminium body when the charger is ungrounded. This happens because a basic 2-pin EU adapter breaks the earth connection that Apple’s charger normally routes through the UK plug’s earth pin.
It is not dangerous. The leakage current is capped at 200–300 microamps, well below any safety threshold. Use a grounded CEE 7/7 adapter to restore the earth connection, or Apple’s three-pin grounded extension lead (the replacement “duck head” cable, sold separately). The tingling stops immediately.
Phones, cameras, and USB-C devices
Modern chargers for iPhones, Android phones, cameras, and USB-C tablets are virtually all universal voltage. Check the label — “100–240V, 50/60Hz” means compatible with France. UK-purchased iPhone 15 and later models come with a USB-C charger on a Type G plug; a slim CEE 7/7 adapter is all that is needed.
Does the same adapter work for France, Spain, Germany, and Italy?
Yes — with one caveat.
A CEE 7/7 adapter works in France (Type E), Spain (Type F), Germany (Type F), and Belgium (Type E). It covers the vast majority of Western European travel. Most adapters sold as “EU adapters” in UK shops are CEE 7/7 — but check the packaging, because some cheaper adapters are CEE 7/4 (Schuko only) and will not work in French Type E sockets.
Italy is a partial exception. Italy uses Type L sockets as its primary standard (three pins in a line), but many Italian sockets — particularly in modern hotels and public buildings — also accept Type C and Type F plugs. A CEE 7/7 adapter will work in many Italian sockets but not all. For Italy, a universal adapter or a dedicated Type L adapter is the safer choice.
Switzerland uses Type J sockets, with a different three-pin arrangement. A CEE 7/7 adapter will not work there without an additional Swiss adapter.
For France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal: one slim CEE 7/7 adapter is enough.
Is Paris electricity different from the rest of France?
No — and this question comes up more than you would expect.
All of France uses the same standard: Type E sockets, 230V, 50Hz. Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, the French Riviera, Normandy, Brittany, the Alps, Corsica — all identical. There is no regional variation in socket type or voltage.
One Paris-specific note: many business hotels and newer properties have a mix of standard French Type E sockets and universal sockets at desk positions. Universal sockets accept Type G (UK), Type A (US), and Type C/E plugs without an adapter. Treat them as a bonus — bring your own adapter and do not rely on finding one.
Older French sockets
Type C (the ungrounded Europlug — two thin round pins) is still found in older French properties, particularly pre-1970s apartments, rural gîtes, and older hotel stock. Type C sockets have not been permitted in new French building installations for several decades, but they are common in older accommodation.
A Type C plug fits a Type E socket, so older-style adapters work in both. But Type C sockets do not accept Type E plugs (which have larger pins and an earth hole), so if you find only Type C sockets in an older property, you need a Type C adapter specifically.
A 2-pin Type C adapter (thin ungrounded pins) works in both old Type C sockets and new Type E sockets, but is only rated for low-wattage devices. A CEE 7/7 adapter works in Type E sockets only. For older accommodation, a CEE 7/7 plus a small Type C adapter covers all bases — the Type C adapter costs pennies and barely weighs anything.
The Type C sockets in a rural gîte are fine for phone charging. Just do not plug a hair dryer into them.
Do French hotels provide plug adapters?
Most do not leave them in rooms. Some mid-range and above hotels keep one or two at reception to borrow. Budget hotels, smaller regional properties, and Airbnb apartments rarely have any.
Even where one is available at reception, it is first-come, first-served and may be a basic Type C adapter — unsuitable for a CPAP machine or hair dryer.
A 2-pack of slim EU adapters costs £4–6 on Amazon UK and weighs about 30 grams. Easier to pack than to hope the hotel has one.
Travelling to France with children
French building regulations require child-safety shutters on new socket installations. Newer hotels, apartments, and gîtes built or refurbished in recent decades will generally have them. Older properties may not.
One adapter in the wall with a UK multi-socket extension lead on the bedside table keeps children away from the wall socket entirely. Baby monitors, bottle warmers, and sterilisers bought in the UK in the last decade are typically dual voltage — check the label to confirm.
Long stays and digital nomads
For stays of several weeks or more, carrying a handful of adapters gets old fast. The better approach: buy a French power strip locally. Supermarkets (Carrefour, Leclerc, Casino) and electronics shops (Fnac, Darty, Boulanger) all carry them for around €8–15. It plugs natively into the French wall socket. Bring one slim CEE 7/7 adapter so your UK laptop charger can connect, and the charging setup is clean and stable.
Surge protection is worth considering for older buildings, where power quality can be uneven. A surge-protected French power strip costs €15–25 at Fnac or Darty.
Where to buy a France plug adapter
Before you travel: Amazon UK has the widest range at the best prices. Argos carries basic EU adapters in-store reliably. Boots has a limited range but is convenient if you are already in the airport departure area.
At UK airports, WH Smith and World Duty Free sell basic EU adapters for approximately £8–12. Adequate for simple use, but slim-barrel, grounded, and USB-C options are thin.
In France: Fnac, Darty, and Boulanger have the best selection, from around €3–15. Carrefour, Leclerc, and Monoprix stock basics in the travel accessories aisle. French airport shops charge 2–3 times street price.
Frequently asked questions
What plug adapter do I need for France from the UK?
A UK Type G to EU Type E (CEE 7/7) adapter. Buy a slim-barrel version — chunky flat adapters will not seat properly in France’s recessed sockets.
Do I need a voltage converter for France from the UK?
No. The UK and France both operate at 230V / 50Hz. A plug adapter is all you need.
Does the same adapter work for France and Spain?
Yes. A CEE 7/7 adapter works in both Type E sockets (France, Belgium) and Type F sockets (Spain, Germany). One adapter covers most of Western Europe. See our Spain plug adapter guide for Spain-specific details.
What is the difference between Type E and Type F sockets?
Type E (France) has an earth pin that protrudes from the socket itself. Type F (Germany, Spain) earths via clips on the sides of the socket. A CEE 7/7 plug handles both — it has a hole for the Type E pin and side clips for Type F.
Will my GHD work in France?
Almost certainly yes. Most GHD models are rated 220–240V or 100–240V. The GHD 3.1b is labelled “230V only” — not a problem, because France is 230V. Use a grounded CEE 7/7 adapter.
Will my Dyson Airwrap work in France?
If purchased in the UK or EU, yes — it is rated 220–240V and works in France with an adapter only. If purchased in the US (110–120V), it is not compatible and Dyson advises against using it with a voltage converter.
Why does my adapter keep falling out of the wall in France?
French Type E sockets are recessed 15mm. A chunky flat adapter cannot seat fully and gets pulled free by cable weight. Switch to a slim-barrel CEE 7/7 adapter, or use one slim adapter with a UK multi-socket extension lead.
Is Paris electricity different from the rest of France?
No. All of France uses Type E sockets at 230V / 50Hz. Paris, Lyon, Nice, Normandy, Brittany — identical everywhere.
Why does my MacBook tingle when charging in France?
Leakage current through an ungrounded adapter. Not dangerous. Fix it with a grounded CEE 7/7 adapter or Apple’s three-pin grounded extension lead.
Do French hotels have UK sockets?
Most do not, but some newer business hotels in Paris have universal sockets at desk positions. Do not rely on it — bring your own adapter.
Before you pack
The flat, chunky airport adapter should be replaced with a slim-barrel CEE 7/7 before you travel. Check it says CEE 7/7 on the packaging — not CEE 7/4, which is Schuko-only and will not work in French Type E sockets.
Read the input label on your devices. “100–240V, 50/60Hz” means adapter only. “120V” or “110–120V” is a US device that needs a voltage converter. If you are bringing a CPAP machine, hair dryer, or Dyson Airwrap, check the voltage rating on the label now rather than at the airport.
One slim adapter plus a UK extension lead covers most charging needs without the faff of carrying an adapter for every device. For CPAP users and anyone with sensitive electronics, a grounded CEE 7/7 is worth the minor extra cost over a basic 2-pin adapter.
