Current Time in France

Central European Time (CET) · UTC+1 in winter · CEST (UTC+2) during Central European Summer Time

Live France Time (CET/CEST · UTC+1)
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Paris · Lyon · Marseille · Bordeaux · Toulouse

France Time vs World Cities

CityZoneCurrent Time
France (CET/CEST)UTC+1--:--
New YorkEST/EDT--:--
Los AngelesPST/PDT--:--
LondonGMT/BST--:--
DubaiGST--:--
Mumbai (IST)IST--:--
SingaporeSGT--:--
TokyoJST--:--
New YorkBRT--:--

Best Time to Call France

France business hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET/CEST. Same schedule as Germany, Italy, Spain.

Calling FromYour TimeFrance Time
EST (New York)3:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET
PST (Los Angeles)12:00 AM – 9:00 AM PST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET
GMT (London)8:00 AM – 5:00 PM GMT9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET
IST (India)1:30 PM – 10:30 PM IST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET
SGT (Singapore)4:00 PM – 1:00 AM SGT9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET
JST (Tokyo)5:00 PM – 2:00 AM JST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET

France City Times

Paris time
CET/CEST
Lyon time
CET/CEST
Marseille time
CET/CEST
Paris → New York
Paris → London
Paris → Dubai

France Time Zone — CET & CEST Explained

Metropolitan France uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October. This is the same schedule as Germany, Italy, Spain, and most continental European nations.

Geographically, Paris sits at roughly 2°E longitude, which corresponds to UTC+0:08 in mean solar time. France's use of CET (UTC+1) rather than GMT is a historical legacy — France aligned itself with German Central European Time in 1940 and has maintained it since, even after liberation. This means French sunrises are somewhat later than geography would suggest.

France also has 12 overseas territories spanning time zones from UTC−10 (French Polynesia) to UTC+12 (Wallis and Futuna). When people ask "what time is it in France," they typically mean metropolitan France (Europe/Paris).

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in France right now?
France uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October. The live clock at the top of this page shows the current time in France. All cities — Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes — are on the same time zone.
What time zone is France in?
France uses CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) in winter and CEST (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2) in summer. The IANA identifier is Europe/Paris. France shares this time zone with Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and most of continental Europe. Note: geographically, France spans UTC+0 (and even UTC−10 including overseas territories), but metropolitan France uses CET/CEST.
What is the time difference between France and the US?
France (CET, UTC+1) is 6 hours ahead of New York (EST, UTC−5) and 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles (PST, UTC−8) in winter. During US Daylight Saving Time, the gap narrows to 5 hours vs New York (EDT) and 8 hours vs Los Angeles (PDT). When France is on CEST (UTC+2), add 1 more hour to each difference.
What is the time difference between France and the UK?
France is always 1 hour ahead of the UK. In winter, France uses CET (UTC+1) and the UK uses GMT (UTC+0). In summer, France uses CEST (UTC+2) and the UK uses BST (UTC+1). Both switch clocks on the same schedule, so the 1-hour gap is constant year-round.
Does France observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. France switches to CEST (UTC+2) on the last Sunday in March and returns to CET (UTC+1) on the last Sunday in October, following the EU's harmonized DST schedule. The EU voted in 2019 to abolish mandatory DST, but the measure has been delayed indefinitely in the European Parliament.
What time zone are France's overseas territories in?
France has overseas territories across multiple time zones. French Guiana (UTC−3), Martinique and Guadeloupe (UTC−4), Réunion (UTC+4), New Caledonia (UTC+11), French Polynesia/Tahiti (UTC−10), and Saint Pierre & Miquelon (UTC−3:30). Metropolitan France (the European part) uses CET/CEST.

France City Times & Converters

Paris timeLyon timeMarseille timeParis → New YorkParis → LondonParis → DubaiParis → MumbaiFrance country infoTime converter tool
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. France: Europe/Paris (CET UTC+1 / CEST UTC+2). DST observed.