How to Call Canada 🇨🇦
Canada's country code is +1. The full recipe and the local quirks that make calls fail, below.
Quick dialing format
[exit code] + 1 + [number]
| From US & Canada | 011 1 ... |
| From UK & most of Europe | 00 1 ... |
| From Japan | 010 1 ... |
| From any mobile or browser | +1 ... |
The leading zero rule
Canada shares +1 with the US: dial +1 plus the 10-digit number. Nothing in the format tells you it's Canada except knowing the area code.
Area codes in Canada
| Place | Area code |
|---|---|
| Toronto | 416 / 647 |
| Vancouver | 604 / 778 |
| Montreal | 514 |
| Calgary | 403 |
Calling mobile numbers
Like the US, Canadian mobiles and landlines are indistinguishable by format. Watch out: some +1 area codes are Caribbean countries with much higher calling rates, not US or Canada at all.
Time zones and when to call
Canada spans six time zones. Toronto is Eastern, Vancouver is Pacific, 3 hours apart.
The mistake people actually make
Assuming every +1 number is cheap North America. +1 869 is Saint Kitts, +1 876 is Jamaica, and calls there cost many times a Toronto call. Scammers exploit exactly this confusion.
The cheapest ways to call Canada
Carrier international rates are the most expensive way to make this call. If the person you're calling uses WhatsApp or Telegram, an app-to-app call is free over any internet connection. To reach a regular Canada phone number, use a VoIP service or call straight from a web dialer: our guides to calling from your computer and calling from your browser cover the options, and free online calls explains what the free routes really cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for Canada?
The country code is +1. From a mobile or browser dialer, dial +1 followed by the local number. From a landline, dial your country's exit code first (011 from the US and Canada, 00 from most of Europe).
Do I drop the leading zero when calling Canada?
Canada shares +1 with the US: dial +1 plus the 10-digit number. Nothing in the format tells you it's Canada except knowing the area code.
How do I call a mobile number in Canada?
Like the US, Canadian mobiles and landlines are indistinguishable by format. Watch out: some +1 area codes are Caribbean countries with much higher calling rates, not US or Canada at all.
What is the cheapest way to call Canada?
Internet calling beats carrier international rates by a wide margin. If both sides use the same app (WhatsApp, Telegram), the call is free. To reach a regular phone number, a VoIP service or browser-based dialer charges a small per-minute rate instead of carrier international pricing.