The synthesis and crystal structure of the title compound, C12H16FNO3S, which is related to the herbicide flufenacet, are presented. The dihedral angle between the amide group and the fluorinated benzene ring is 87.30 (5)° and the N—C—C—S torsion angle defining the orientation of the methylsulfonyl substituent relative to the amide group is 106.91 (11)°. In the crystal, inversion-related molecules form dimers as a result of pairwise C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which appear to be reinforced by short O...π contacts [O...Cg = 3.0643 (11) Å]. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to quantify the various types of intermolecular contacts, which are dominated by H atoms.