How to Call United States 🇺🇸
United States'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
US numbers have no trunk prefix to drop. Dial +1 followed by the 10-digit number (3-digit area code plus 7 digits).
Area codes in United States
| Place | Area code |
|---|---|
| New York City | 212 / 646 / 917 |
| Los Angeles | 213 / 310 |
| Chicago | 312 / 773 |
| San Francisco | 415 |
Calling mobile numbers
US mobiles and landlines look identical: same area codes, same format, no way to tell from the number. Calls to either usually cost the same from abroad, which is unusual globally.
Time zones and when to call
The continental US spans four time zones (Eastern to Pacific), a 3-hour spread. Check the area code's region before calling: 212 is New York, 415 is San Francisco.
The mistake people actually make
Assuming one time zone. A polite 10 AM call to a 212 number is a 7 AM wake-up if the person actually lives in California with a ported number.
The cheapest ways to call United States
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 United States 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 the United States?
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 the United States?
US numbers have no trunk prefix to drop. Dial +1 followed by the 10-digit number (3-digit area code plus 7 digits).
How do I call a mobile number in the United States?
US mobiles and landlines look identical: same area codes, same format, no way to tell from the number. Calls to either usually cost the same from abroad, which is unusual globally.
What is the cheapest way to call the United States?
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.