Current Time in France

Metropolitan France uses Central European Time. Including overseas territories, France spans 12 time zones - more than any other country. Paris is a global center for art, fashion, and culture.

France observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), known as Summer Time in Europe. Clocks spring forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and fall back on the last Sunday of October. During summer months, France uses CEST (UTC+2).

To call France from the United States, the best time is between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM EST, which corresponds to 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM in France. For UK callers, France is typically 1 hour ahead (or the same time during summer months). Early morning or late afternoon calls work best for most European schedules.

Standard business hours in France are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.

Traveling to France from North America typically involves a 5-9 hour time difference. The jet lag is usually manageable within 1-2 days. European business culture values punctuality, so arrive on time for meetings. France follows the 24-hour clock format in official contexts, though 12-hour format is also common in casual settings.