France uses the Europe/Paris time zone, abbreviated CET/CEST, which is UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer). It observes daylight saving time: clocks move forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Counting its overseas territories, France has more time zones than any other country. Use this page to check the exact current local time in France, with the date, UTC offset and time zone, updated in real time.

Official time zone: Europe/Paris (Europe)

Estimated population: 66,438,822 people.

Local fact: Counting its overseas territories, France has more time zones than any other country.

Offset from UTC—

Daylight saving time—

Compared to New York—

Frequently Asked Questions About the Time in France

What time is it in France right now?

The exact time in France, Europe, appears on the main clock at the top of this page and updates every second using the Europe/Paris time zone, with no need to reload.

What time zone does France use?

France (Europe) uses the Europe/Paris time zone from the IANA database, which corresponds to UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer). This is the reference that devices and servers use to calculate local time.

What is the time difference between France and New York?

The difference is calculated by comparing the Europe/Paris zone with New York (Eastern Time), so it updates automatically if either zone changes its clocks. The +HR and -HR tags on the cards show how many hours each place is ahead of or behind France.

Does France observe daylight saving time?

Observes daylight saving time: clocks move forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. This page calculates the time with the Europe/Paris zone, so it always shows the current local time in France, including any seasonal clock change.

How do I compare the time in France with other cities?

In the Time Across the U.S. and World Times sections you can see the time in other places and how many hours they are ahead (+) or behind (-) France. If the calendar day is different, the date is shown, for example Sun Oct 18. Every card links to that place’s page.

Can I see the time in France in 12-hour or 24-hour format?

Yes. Use the 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour selector below the main clock; the change applies to every card and your preference is saved in your browser.