United States Calling Code: +1
Complete guide to calling United States — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call United States from Abroad
📞 Step-by-Step Dialing Guide
- Dial your country's exit code (e.g. 011 from US, 00 from most countries, + from mobile)
- Dial +1 — the country calling code for United States
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About United States Calling Code
Every country has a unique international dialing prefix; for United States it is +1. The ITU assigns these codes under recommendation E.164. Dial +1 after your country's exit code, then the local subscriber number. United States is in North America.
The ITU-T E.164 recommendation standardizes international numbering, giving every country and territory a distinct prefix. Without the correct prefix, international calls cannot be routed to the right destination.
Where the +1 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +1 is assigned to United States, located in Northern America, with the capital Washington. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to United States from outside the country.
A number displayed as +1 … is in international format: +1 replaces the domestic trunk prefix. From abroad, always drop any leading 0 of the area code and dial +1 + area code + subscriber number.
Calling codes starting with 1 are part of the ITU's regional numbering plan for the area around United States, in Northern America. When saving United States numbers internationally, write +1 followed by the area code without its leading 0 — this format works from every country.
The country code +1 is shared with Canada, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guam, Jamaica, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands. After dialing +1, the following digits (area code + subscriber number) route the call to the correct country, so you must always include the full national number.
United States Phone Number Formats
Numbers in United States use the standard E.164 pattern — +1, then the area code, then the subscriber number. The same layout applies to landlines and mobile phones:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +1 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +1 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within United States: dial the local number directly
In most countries, domestic numbers start with a trunk prefix (often 0) that must be omitted internationally: dial your exit code, then +1, then the local number as written without its leading zero.
Time Zone in United States
United States runs on America/New_York, which is UTC-05:00 UTC. Schedule international calls accordingly — a convenient time for you may be very early or very late there.
Use the UTC offset (UTC-05:00) to plan calls to United States. For most international callers, the practical rule is: schedule business-hour calls to Washington during the overlap between your working day and theirs.
Daylight saving time can shift United States's clock by one hour in summer. For time-critical calls, confirm the current UTC offset rather than relying on the standard value.
Emergency Numbers in United States
If you need urgent help while in United States, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside United States.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| Ambulance | 911 |
Example: Calling United States Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to United States works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the United States country code +1
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +1 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the United States country code +1
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +1 [area code] [number], or +1 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
Leading zeros in domestic area codes are not dialed internationally. Write the number as +1 + area code (no leading 0) + subscriber number.
Calling United States from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing United States (+1) from abroad:
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 011 | 011 1 [local number] |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 1 [local number] |
| China | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| Japan | 010 | 010 1 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| Germany | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| France | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +1 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for United States?
The international calling code for United States is +1.
How do I call the United States from abroad?
Dial your country's exit code (011 from the US, 00 from most countries, or + on mobile), then +1, then the area code and the 7-digit local number.
How do I call United States from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +1, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +1 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within United States?
If you're already in United States, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +1 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of United States?
The capital of United States is Washington. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +1 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in United States?
Police: 911, Fire: 911, Ambulance: 911. These numbers are only valid inside United States.
United States Mobile Phone Prefixes
Mobile phone numbers in United States typically use the following prefixes:
- Most US mobile numbers share area codes with landlines
- No dedicated mobile prefix in NANP
United States City / Area Codes
Major cities in United States and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +1 when calling from abroad):
| City | Area Code(s) |
|---|---|
| New York City | 212, 332, 347, 646, 718, 917, 929 |
| Los Angeles | 213, 310, 323, 424, 747, 818 |
| Chicago | 312, 464, 708, 773, 847, 872 |
| Houston | 281, 346, 713, 832 |
| Miami | 305, 645, 786 |
| San Francisco | 415, 628 |
| Washington DC | 202, 771 |
| Boston | 617, 781, 857 |
| Dallas | 214, 469, 682, 817, 940, 972 |
| Seattle | 206, 253, 425, 564 |
Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: New York City 212 becomes +1 212 + local number.
US Area Codes by State
Browse area codes for all 50 US states, Washington D.C., US territories, and toll-free prefixes:
Other Countries in North America
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling United States from Canada or Anguilla works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +1, then the local number. Within North America, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.