How to Make International Calls from the United States
Your complete guide to calling any country from the US. Learn the correct dialing sequences for landlines, mobile phones, and VoIP services.
Quick Reference: International Dialing Formula
From a US mobile phone, replace 011 with the + symbol.
Calling from a US Landline
To make an international call from a US landline (home phone or office phone), follow these steps:
- Dial 011 — This is the US international access code (also called the exit code). It signals your phone carrier that you are placing an international call.
- Dial the country code — Every country has a unique 1-3 digit code. For example, the UK is 44, India is 91, and Mexico is 52.
- Dial the area/city code — Many countries use area codes to identify regions or cities. Some countries do not use area codes for mobile numbers.
- Dial the local phone number — The remaining digits of the phone number.
Calling from a US Mobile Phone
Calling internationally from a US cell phone is even easier:
- Press and hold the 0 key to enter the + symbol. This replaces 011 and works from any country.
- Enter the country code directly after the + symbol.
- Enter the full number including area code and local number.
+ [country code] [area code] [local number]
Example: To call London, UK: +44 20 7946 0958
Using VoIP Services
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services let you make international calls over the internet, often at much lower rates than traditional carriers.
Paid VoIP Services
- Skype — $0.02-0.10/min to most countries
- Google Voice — Free to US/Canada, low rates worldwide
- Vonage — Unlimited plans to select countries
- magicJack — Flat-rate international calling
Free App-to-App Calling
- WhatsApp — Free voice and video calls
- FaceTime — Free for Apple users
- Viber — Free Viber-to-Viber calls
- Telegram — Free voice calls
Understanding Country Codes
Country codes are 1 to 3 digit numbers assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). They are organized by geographic region:
| Zone | Region | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North America (NANP) | US, Canada, Caribbean |
| 2X | Africa | 20 (Egypt), 27 (South Africa), 234 (Nigeria) |
| 3X-4X | Europe | 33 (France), 44 (UK), 49 (Germany) |
| 5X | Central & South America | 52 (Mexico), 55 (Brazil) |
| 6X | Southeast Asia & Oceania | 61 (Australia), 65 (Singapore) |
| 7 | Russia & former Soviet | 7 (Russia/Kazakhstan) |
| 8X | East Asia | 81 (Japan), 82 (South Korea), 86 (China) |
| 9X | South & West Asia | 91 (India), 92 (Pakistan), 966 (Saudi Arabia) |
Browse our complete directory to find any country code instantly.
Understanding Area Codes
Area codes (also called city codes or subscriber trunk dialing codes) identify specific geographic regions within a country. Key points:
- Not all countries use area codes. Some smaller countries use flat numbering without area codes.
- Area code length varies. Major cities often have shorter area codes (e.g., London is 20, Paris is 1), while smaller cities have longer ones.
- Mobile numbers often skip area codes. In many countries, mobile numbers have their own prefix and do not use geographic area codes.
- Drop the trunk prefix. Many countries use a leading 0 for domestic calls (e.g., 020 for London). When dialing internationally, drop this 0.
Time Zone Considerations
Before placing an international call, always check the time at your destination. Nobody appreciates a 3 AM phone call.
Europe
5-8 hours ahead of US Eastern. Call in the US morning to reach European business hours.
Asia
10-13 hours ahead of US Eastern. Call in the US evening to reach Asian business hours.
Latin America
0-3 hours behind US Eastern. Calling during normal US hours usually works.
View our complete time zones page for current times in every country.
International Calling Costs
International calling costs vary dramatically depending on the method you choose:
| Method | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Carrier | $1.00 - $5.00/min | Occasional short calls |
| Carrier Int'l Plan | $5 - $15/month + reduced rates | Regular callers to specific countries |
| Calling Cards | $0.01 - $0.20/min | Budget-conscious callers |
| VoIP (Skype, etc.) | $0.01 - $0.10/min | Frequent callers, business use |
| WiFi Calling Apps | Free (app-to-app) | When both parties have the app |