To call a US phone number from abroad, dial +1 followed by the 10-digit number. The format is +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX where the first 3 digits are the area code, the next 3 the exchange, and the last 4 the line number. From a UK or European phone you can also dial 00-1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. From another US phone you skip the +1 entirely.
The Short Answer
From any international phone: press and hold "0" to get "+", then type 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. Or use "00" instead of "+" on older European phones. WhatsApp, Signal, FaceTime, and iMessage are usually cheaper or free — check if your US contact uses them first. The US does NOT charge you to receive international calls on a US landline, but your home carrier likely charges you to make them.
Full Explanation
The US uses the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), shared with Canada and most Caribbean countries. Every number has 10 digits: a 3-digit area code, then a 7-digit local number. The country code is 1.
- From UK / Europe: 00 1 XXX XXX XXXX (or +1 XXX XXX XXXX)
- From Australia / NZ: 0011 1 XXX XXX XXXX (or +1...)
- From Japan: 010 1 XXX XXX XXXX
- From India: 00 1 XXX XXX XXXX
- From another US phone: Just XXX XXX XXXX
- From mobile: +1 XXX XXX XXXX works from anywhere in the world
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Common Exceptions
Key area codes and number types to recognize.
| Area code / prefix | What it means |
|---|
| 212 / 646 / 332 | Manhattan, New York |
| 310 / 424 | West Los Angeles |
| 415 / 628 | San Francisco |
| 202 | Washington DC |
| 305 / 786 | Miami |
| 1-800 / 888 / 877 / 866 | Toll-free — often unreachable from abroad |
| 1-900 | Premium-rate — avoid, expensive |
| 911 | US emergency number — free from any phone |
Calling 1-800 toll-free numbers from abroad often fails or gets charged as a normal international call. Many US companies list a separate "International customers" number — use that.
- WhatsApp is less common in the USA than iMessage — confirm which app a contact uses
- iMessage works free between Apple devices worldwide
- FaceTime Audio works anywhere with WiFi — free calls
- Google Voice gives free US phone numbers you can use abroad
- Skype still works for paid calls to US landlines at ~2c/minute
- From a US hotel phone, dial 9 first for an outside line, then 1 + number
- US phone numbers never start with 0 or 1 as the first digit of the area code
If you expect to call US numbers often while abroad, buy a Google Voice number (free with a Google account). You get a real US phone number that rings on your laptop or phone — and calls to other US numbers are free.
To call a US phone number from abroad, dial +1 followed by the 10-digit number. The format is +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX where the first 3 digits are the area code, the next 3 the exchange, and the last 4 the line number. From a UK or European phone you can also dial 00-1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. From another US phone you skip the +1 entirely.
The Short Answer
From any international phone: press and hold "0" to get "+", then type 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. Or use "00" instead of "+" on older European phones. WhatsApp, Signal, FaceTime, and iMessage are usually cheaper or free — check if your US contact uses them first. The US does NOT charge you to receive international calls on a US landline, but your home carrier likely charges you to make them.
Full Explanation
The US uses the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), shared with Canada and most Caribbean countries. Every number has 10 digits: a 3-digit area code, then a 7-digit local number. The country code is 1.
- From UK / Europe: 00 1 XXX XXX XXXX (or +1 XXX XXX XXXX)
- From Australia / NZ: 0011 1 XXX XXX XXXX (or +1...)
- From Japan: 010 1 XXX XXX XXXX
- From India: 00 1 XXX XXX XXXX
- From another US phone: Just XXX XXX XXXX
- From mobile: +1 XXX XXX XXXX works from anywhere in the world
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Planning a US trip? Check your SIM, eSIM and call budget
Common Exceptions
Key area codes and number types to recognize.
| Area code / prefix | What it means |
|---|
| 212 / 646 / 332 | Manhattan, New York |
| 310 / 424 | West Los Angeles |
| 415 / 628 | San Francisco |
| 202 | Washington DC |
| 305 / 786 | Miami |
| 1-800 / 888 / 877 / 866 | Toll-free — often unreachable from abroad |
| 1-900 | Premium-rate — avoid, expensive |
| 911 | US emergency number — free from any phone |
Calling 1-800 toll-free numbers from abroad often fails or gets charged as a normal international call. Many US companies list a separate "International customers" number — use that.
- WhatsApp is less common in the USA than iMessage — confirm which app a contact uses
- iMessage works free between Apple devices worldwide
- FaceTime Audio works anywhere with WiFi — free calls
- Google Voice gives free US phone numbers you can use abroad
- Skype still works for paid calls to US landlines at ~2c/minute
- From a US hotel phone, dial 9 first for an outside line, then 1 + number
- US phone numbers never start with 0 or 1 as the first digit of the area code
If you expect to call US numbers often while abroad, buy a Google Voice number (free with a Google account). You get a real US phone number that rings on your laptop or phone — and calls to other US numbers are free.