Amount of time to get through customs at CDG airport

Customs is a walk through. Passport control can take up to 1 hour.

You're actually asking about the lines at Immigration as the customs process is just walking thru a green door into the Arrivals area.

I'd also say it depends. I've been 1.5 hours from the time I actually stepped off the plane into the terminal to the time I was standing at the taxi rank to getting thru the whole process in an hour to spending more than 2 hours for the process.

I guess it matters as to why you are asking. Are you trying to plan something like an onward train ticket? If you are working on transportation into the City Center, I'd advise just going to the real taxi rank (ignore people asking if you want a taxi) and getting in line there.

I will say that in May passport control took us almost 2 1/2 hours

It also depends on your arrival time. We've stood in line at passport control for over two hours. On the other hand, in late May we got to CDG about 6:15 a.m. and were through the line in about 15 minutes. I'd plan on the high side if you're trying to catch a train. After an overnight flight the last thing you need is stress about making your connections.

Bruce

Not sure, but I think it may also depend on which terminal of CDG and whether you are a 1st class passenger. Anyone know??

@ bnelson210,
There are what are called No 1 Access lines to passport control at CDG. These lines are reserved for business class (and first class too, I guess, but having never flown first class to Paris I do not know for sure). You can also use these lines if you have received a card from your airline that allows you access. I think you can get those cards if you are an elite frequent flyer. That being said, I have flown business class to Paris many times and landed in Terminal 1 (United) and Terminal 2 (Air France) and except for once never spent more than 15 minutes from the time I could leave the plane to the time when I could retrieve my luggage. The one exception was when someone collapsed in the line and they closed everything down to take care of the sick passenger and shuttled us over to other lines. I have also flown economy to Terminal 1 many times and waited as much as ~90 minutes to get through passport control. One of my nieces has had such bad luck with passport control at CDG that she has now taken to flying Iceland Air to Paris instead of taking a non-stop just to avoid incoming passport control at CDG.
And there is still another way to get through passport control quickly: earlier this year, I stayed at a hotel that offered a pick up at CDG and transportation back to Paris for 195€ and for an additional 130€, I could get what they called "VIP Fast Track Services" that would include being met immediately at the exit of the plane, escorted through a priority immigration desk and helped with my luggage.

Monday,June 19th it was about 5 minutes from when I arrived at Immigration to when I left. No special perks or priviledges. It was 7:30 am and I was sitting near the front of coach so I was off the plane faster than a lot of the people. I think I was asked one question, "why are you visiting France?", my passport stamped and I was done.

The reality is that you can expect a range of time depending on when you arrive, how many planes arrive at the same time, and how many stations are staffed at the immigration center. Now add in how far back on the plane you sat and any number of small things that can impact the time.

I think you should plan on 90 minutes and be delightfully surprised and happy if it goes quicker.

Sorry I kind of hijacked the OP's thread a little, but thank you so much for the additional insights. We land on a first trip to France in early September (Terminal 1, Norwegian) and the info is helpful.